St. Clairsville officer reflects on community support after stroke
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- St. Clairsville Mayor Kathryn Thalman became emotional Monday while reading a letter from police Officer Greg Clark, who suffered a stroke while on duty in February.
Clark was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown following the stroke and has been recovering since.
In his letter to council, Clark thanked Thalman, Police Chief Matt Arbenz and members of the St. Clairsville Police Department for their support during his recovery.
"I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to Mayor Thalman for her kindness, encouragement, and unwavering support through this journey," Clark wrote. "To Police Chief Matt Arbenz and every member of the St. Clairsville Police Department, thank you. Serving alongside so many of you over the years has been one of the greatest honors of my life."
Clark also thanked those who visited him, called, prayed for him or otherwise offered encouragement, as well as those who helped organize a steak fry benefit in his honor.
The May event at the city's Recreation Center amphitheater drew hundreds of residents.
"The time, effort, and love you poured into that event is something that my family and I will never forget," Clark wrote.
He specifically thanked Tonya Hutchinson for organizing the benefit, as well as Recreation Director Eric Gay and Rec Center staff member Eric Timko for helping make the event possible.
Clark also thanked city council members and the entire community for their support.
"Whether you volunteered your time, donated, attended the benefits, sent a card, offered a prayer, visited, participated in my welcome home celebration, or simply reached out to my family. Please know that every act of kindness made a difference," Clark wrote.
"St. Clairville has always been more than just a place where I worked; it’s been my home."
Thalman became emotional while reading the letter.
"It makes me cry every time I read it. Thank you, guys. There’s a million-dollar letter, and we all own a part of it. Thank you," Thalman said. "Please reach out to him, call him and pray for him. I’ve never seen a community come together like this."
Council member Mike Smith asked Thalman or Assistant Police Chief TJ Stewart to determine whether Clark needs anything.
"We have to find out if he needs anything because when you ask him, he of course says no," Smith said.
Council then turned its attention to concerns about the city's growing deer population.
Council member Mike Kasper said residents have been contacting him frequently about the issue and suggested sending a questionnaire with the next electric bills to ask residents how they believe the city should address it.
Council member JC Thrash and Service Director Scott Harvey previously attempted to find a solution but were unsuccessful.
Harvey said public safety is the city's top concern, but the Ohio Department of Natural Resources requires a drone flyover to determine whether the city actually has an overpopulation problem.
"There’s a formula they use, but you have to use a drone flyover, which is expensive," Harvey said. "The other thing is that allowing people to hunt in the city was pretty complicated. There’s a process to that."
Thalman said she recalled ODNR telling her that deer belong to the state and that killing one in the city could result in a $2,500 cost per deer.
Harvey said ODNR ultimately recommended that the city take no action.
He agreed with Kasper that the city should send a survey with the next electric bills.