November 3, 2025 • 33 mins
Marisa Clemente, VP of Philanthropy at Undue Medical Debt on how the program works.
Coordinator of the Morgantown Urban Archery Deer Hunt program on donations to food pantries in the federal government shutdown.
James Sanders, Titan Roofing on "Cans for Community coming up Friday and the $1,000 cash prize that will be awarded.
Coordinator of the Morgantown Urban Archery Deer Hunt program on donations to food pantries in the federal government shutdown.
James Sanders, Titan Roofing on "Cans for Community coming up Friday and the $1,000 cash prize that will be awarded.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Kluksburg.
If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call the show
toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two five five. Now Here is your host for the
Talk of the Town, Mike Nolting.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Well, good Monday morning, and welcome to Talk of the Town.
Fair Sky's forty three degrees in the University City of
Metro News Aki Weather says for a Monday, looks pretty good,
some sunshine, high temperature near sixty degrees. I'm Mike Nolting
and you'll find me on the X platform as your
news guy. And our producer today is Sophia Wassick. She's
(00:43):
the voice you'll hear when you call eight hundred seven
six five eight two five five of the text line
that number is.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Three oh four talk three oh four.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Certainly hope to hear from you throughout the course of
the program today. I'm Marissa Clemente is the vice president
of Philanthropy with Undue Medical Debt. Moresci will join us
at nine point fifteen and Undue Medical Debt we'll learn
more about them, but the broad view of undue Medical
Debt is. They're a nonprofit with the mission of helping
(01:17):
people erase medical debt. They do that through fundraisers and
churches and other nonprofit organizations.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
But she's going to tell us just.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Exactly how this program works and maybe how it can
be somehow brought to Morgantown.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
At nine point thirty got Rick Bebout.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Rick is the coordinator of the Urban Deer Archery Hunt
each and every year, and this year that particular endeavors
awfully important with the extended government shutdown and also the
suspension of snap benefits over the weekend. I do understand
that a few hundred pounds of venison have been delivered
(02:00):
or that happened last week sometime last week.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
We're going to talk with Rick.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
We're going to find out how the hunt's going this year,
what they did donate, who they donated it to, how
much longer the hunt's gonna go, and maybe how much
more meat they can produce. Let's take a look at
a couple of headlines, then we'll jump right into the program.
About two hundred members of the West Virginia National Guard
(02:27):
assisted with food distribution efforts over the weekend. A supplemental
nutrition assistance program, or SNAP benefits, did not go out
over the weekend. As the federal government shutdown enters its
second month. A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered
the Trump administration to make those SNAP disbursements partial or
(02:48):
in full by Wednesday. Oh Kanawah County Circuit Court Judge
Richard lindsay he's set to resume hearing today on a
lawsuit that's trying to stop the deployment of the West
Virginia National Guard in Washington, DC. Metro News Statewide correspondent
Brad McIlhenny says it is unclear when that deployment will end,
(03:11):
and he is in the courtroom today. I'm sure he'll
have an update very soon. WVRC Media Cares for Community.
We've got a food drive coming up this Friday that'll
be at the Giant Eagle on University Town Center from
six a m. Until six pm. In addition to the
food drive, Titan Roofing also a co sponsor of this event.
(03:34):
They'll be giving away a cash prize of one thousand dollars.
But to enter the drawing for that cash prize of
one thousand dollars, you have to come up to University
Town Center on Friday.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Say hi, introduce yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
You don't even have to make a donation, and you'll
be in the mix for that drawing for one thousand dollars. Now,
James Sanders, he's the owner of Titan Roofing, and I
believe he is going to join us at some point
during the program.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Today.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Barbara County Board of Education holding a public hearing this
afternoon at five at the Philip Barber High School.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
The board set to.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Vote on a school consolidation plan that would close the
middle schools and send those students to the high school.
Superintendent Eddie Vincent is making that recommendation due to falling
enrollment a proposed total premium increase of three percent. State
workers' health insurance will be the focus of public hearings
(04:34):
for the next three weeks now. Those will begin tonight
in the Highlands in Wheeling. The hearings are hosted by
the Public Employees Insurance Agency's Finance Board.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Education.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
West Virginia co President Dale Lee says a new teachers'
union organization is going to spend more time promoting Peia's
high deductible, low premium plan for some workers. Now, Lee
and others they had hoped that there'd be a special
legislative session on the Peia issue, but it doesn't look
(05:09):
like that will happen. And speaking of state lawmakers, they're
at the Pipestem Resort State Park today and tomorrow for
interim legislative meetings. This afternoon, lawmakers will have the opportunity
to tour the Southern Regional Jail in the Federal correction
Federal Correctional Institution Beckley. And it is a big day
(05:33):
for Montagelia County Schools in Superintendent Eddie Campbell, he is
in Charleston addressing the State School Building Authority. They're meeting
today and tomorrow in Charleston. They're going to be hearing
from a total of thirty one county school superintendent seeking
needs grants for some school construction projects. There is about
(05:55):
one hundred and seventy million dollars in request in total,
with just maybe a little bit more than forty three
million dollars to hand out, so somebody's going to go
away empty. The SBA will make those funding decision announcements
coming up next month, and later on in the program
we'll get into some more detail as to some of
(06:17):
the priority changes that Superintendent Eddie Campbell is requesting locally
and some of the projects that are going to become priorities.
We'll do that later on here this morning, right now,
fair and forty three degrees. When we come back talk
about Undue Medical Debt. Will welcome the vice president of Philanthropy,
(06:39):
Marissa Clemente. We'll do that next. It's nine to twelve
on Talk of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one
ZH four point five w aj R.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Good Monday morning, Farris, guys and forty three degrees in Morgantown.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Glad. That's with this Undoue Medical Debt.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Well, that is a nonprofit that helps people absolve debt
that they have accumulated. And I'm not really sure exactly
how the program works. We're going to find that out.
We've got the vice president of philanthropy, Marissa Clemente. Good morning, Marissa.
How are you?
Speaker 6 (07:31):
Good morning, Mike. I'm so great, How are you? Thank
you for having me?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you here. Marissa. I
guess if we could start here give us a description
of what Undue Medical Debt is and how it works.
Speaker 6 (07:46):
Of course, I also have to quickly apologize. We were select.
They're a charity partner for the Umunsity Marathon. So the
team's a bit I leave a hoarse voice today. But
in terms of our work that undo you know, we're
a very unique and innovative nonprofit by the one C three,
and we purchased medical debt from hospitals and debt collectors
for pennies on the dollar and we abolish it for
(08:09):
people who knew that assistance. And you know, I think
it's important to highlight the reasons why we do this.
And obviously we understand that our communities are stronger and healthier,
you know, when people can get the care they need
when they need it and really without the fear of
what comes next. And so basically, through our unique model,
(08:29):
we uh, you know, one dollar can abolish on average
at least one hundred dollars worth of medical debt. So
it's a very special, you know, extraordinary program that we're
able to provide the leads to folks.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
You know, Marisa, I kind of surf news all the time.
It's what I do, and I happened across a story
that was out of the Midwest where undue medical debt
was part of a program that was able to address
I think it was one point three million dollars worth
of people's medical bills. And they did that through a church.
(09:06):
How does that particular model work.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
Yeah, so you know, I will say our church and
faith communities have been incredible partners in our work. You know,
we allow supporters to designate their gift according to either
state or county, So this allows a lot of our
faith spaceed donors to focus locally. And once again, because
(09:29):
we have this incredible ROI where you know, one dollar
donation equals at least one hundred dollars worth of medical debt,
people are really able to make these extraordinary impacts as
you shared, Mike, on their personal communities, you know, and
help out their fellow neighbor. And I will share which
I can't you know, I can't leave this conversation with
(09:50):
about but to date, untimedical debt has abolished over twenty
three billion dollars in medical debt and that has impacted
over fourteen million in families across the country. So when
we think of that scope and the numbers you've shared overall,
you know, our work is so important now more than ever,
and our faith based communities are really the incredible drive
(10:14):
behind what we do because their congregations are just so
impactful and so willing to help go.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Into some detail about how you achieve this ROI of
up to one hundred dollars for a dollar of course.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
So yeah, so, as I mentioned, we buy it directly
from hospitals and debt collectors for petties on the dollar.
So already, you know, no one is getting rich off
of our model, but it provides these entities. It's a
bit of compensation that will incentivize them to partner with us,
and since we are a five O one de three
in nonprofit, you know, it's a wonderful way for them
(10:48):
to give back to their communities and fit through our model.
You know, we purchase this unpayable debt and bulk directly
from these entities, and we've worked with over three hundred
hospital providers across the country, and once again, they partner
with us because they realize these debts belong to individuals
who simply can't make ends meet, right, and so they're
(11:08):
not going to get these funds from them. And in
terms of the folks who qualify for our program, it's
important to know people cannot apply for it. We look
to folks with families who earn up to four hundred
percent of below the federal poverty level, which kind of
equals a little over one hundred k for our family
(11:29):
of three, or if their debt exceeds five percent of
their annual income, will move forward and abolish this medical
debt for them if they meet one of those two
seas of criteria. And then one thing that I really
love about our works, which is truly the special part
of it, is once it that's required, you know, these
constituents don't have anything to you know, they don't have
(11:51):
anything to do, nothing is expected of them, no strengths attached,
no red tape, and then they're notified in the mail
that their debt has been abolished. So we also removed
that with a credit report, which is important to share.
But I love the part where people can just open
their mailboxes and see this letter because you know, I
don't know about you, Mike, but I don't get good
(12:11):
news in the mail very often. I don't get birthday
cards anymore. So it's really just a beautiful thing. And
it is those letters that people will send in videos
and emails and text messages and just say thank you.
And what's also really nice and a lot of our
faith based partners have enjoyed this component is in the
letter we do a knowledge who has helped to donate
(12:34):
the fund for this abolishment. So it's once again, it's
a really beautiful way to connect our faith community to
people that they're impacting.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
I'd like for you to maybe share some stories things
that you hear from some of the people that benefit
from this program, because when I did some googling and
preparation for this interview, and when you google these people,
I guess some of them aren't even sure that what's
happening is real and they think that it might be
(13:06):
a scam or a hoax.
Speaker 6 (13:09):
You're completely right. We do get some folks who call
us and reach out just to make sure it's accurate,
and those are always nice conversations as well, because once again,
you know, it's a true acts of generosity and algorithm
which we really lean on. You know, I think that's
a great question, and we do hear myriad stories of
what people have experienced with their medical debt, whether it's
(13:31):
a mental, emotional, or obviously financial burden. And we're also
just hearing a lot that folks are suffering, right, They're
choosing between paying this bill or being able to provide
for their children and families, put food on the table,
pay you know, other bills that will keep the lights
on their homes. And you know, I think that in
(13:51):
looking to next year, you know, undo, where we really
talk about the fact that we are an immediate solution
that provides immediate belief right and and the system itself
is broken. But while we are working to advance the
fight in different ways, you know, we it's this debtlieve
(14:13):
part that really helps people uh uh feel less hopeful, less,
you know what I mean. And I think in about
some of the constituents that have wrote to us, you know,
they share that they can focus now more on their
health and their future and they actually will go back
to the doctor and they won't have that sphere of
you know, not getting the help that they need and
(14:35):
or prolong getting healthcare. And that's really what we stand on,
and we want people to go to you know, get
the help that they need when they need it, and
not fear what's next.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
And I think that you also foster maybe that next
group of donors.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
Mm hm, exactly exactly, and I think, you know, it's
important to realize we don't expect anything to come of this,
which is another reason why I think work is so
beautiful and unique. And by that, I mean, you know
it's not it's not to pay it forward mentality. Right.
What we're trying to share is, you know, someone's thinking
of you. We understand that this is a crisis that
the entire country is dealing with, and I think we
(15:15):
all need to realize that medical debt is the only
debt that people do not ask for. So you know,
when you think about the scope of this crisis, it's
a lot of folks who are under insured and a
lot of folks who are struggling and suffering. And I
think it's a really beautiful thing to be able to
say I'm going to help you, I'm thinking of you,
and i want things to get better for you.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
So I'm not trying to oversimplify this, but I think
that you take cases I guess based on a review
of I guess a nationwide accounts payable aging report, and
then you take those the oldest debts and address those
rather than people coming to you and saying, hey, i'd
(15:57):
like to be included in this program.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
How does that part So we.
Speaker 6 (16:01):
Actually have a bit of a more sophisticated system, I
will say, only because we have a team of incredible
engineers that built of software in house that we use.
It's called the Debt Engine, and this particular piece of
software will review all of the portfolios that we have,
the debt portfolios that we source to a hospital or
the secondary market, and they will parse it out according
(16:24):
to the two pieces of criteria that we that I
mentioned earlier. So if a patient falls four hundred percent
or below the federal poverty level, or if their debt
is five percent or more of anual income, will scoop
all of that, you know, all of that debt up
and they will buy it. And so it does have
a range. Right, So we have some debts where people
(16:45):
you know, incurred it within the last six months a year,
and we have some debts that people have incurred over
the last six years. For us, you know, it's it's
the whole point is to make sure that even if
it is debt that's a bit older, it is something
that the patients it no longer has to worry about, right,
that burden is lifted off their shoulders. It's no longer
following them around. So yeah, so our our age criteria
(17:09):
certainly varies, and with our software, you know, we're really
able to assess the folks who truly need our relief
and support versus those who who and by that meaning
those who have the means to pay these bills. I
will also share, you know, our part of our processes,
especially when we partner with a hospital, we're able to
(17:30):
go back and provide them with data that shows that
folks who may not qualify or UNDUS program should qualify
for financial assistance through their the hospital programs. So I
think that's also a really important component because it's you know,
holding the hospital is accountable while understanding that you know,
they don't always have the bandwidth to go through all
(17:52):
of these you know, deadlines, and at the same time
it helps them to strengthen their financial assistance policies by
seeing folks such as the cracks which we see all
the time.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
We've got Marissa Clemente whether she's the vice president of
philanthropy for Undo Medical Debt. You can get more information
at Undomedical Debt dot org. When you go out to
that website, you might come away with a couple of
questions like I did like, like Marissa, what I need
to know on the way out coming out of left field?
Speaker 3 (18:23):
An't you is? Uh? What's your secret for a good
banana bread?
Speaker 6 (18:30):
I will say, A little dove of power cream, Okay,
quarter cup of a little more and it makes it wonderful?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
All right? Perfect?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Well, Hey, Marissa, it's been a pleasure to start my
week with you.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
Thank you episode so wonderfully. I appreciate you all.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
You take care of yourself. Marissa Clemente.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
She is the vice president of philanthropy with Undue Medical
Debt and once again you can get more information about
how this program works.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
At Undo Medical Debt DOT.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Now the federal government shutdown, we're in a all thirty
four thirty three, thirty five, somewhere in that range, but
we have now entered into the second month snap benefits.
We're supposed to be sent out to those cards on Saturday,
but that didn't happen because the federal government shut down.
Coming up next, we're going to talk with the coordinator
(19:22):
of the Urban Archery Deer Hunt program here in the
city of Morgantown, Rick Bbout. They recently just delivered a
few hundred pounds of ground venison that came from right
here in the neighborhoods in Morgantown to help our residents
battle through food insecurity. We're going to talk with Rick
(19:44):
coming up next, talk about that donation that's already been made,
and maybe some donations that are soon to be made.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
We are talking about your town.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Now, back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
A good Monday morning. It is nine thirty five in
the University City. Back in two thousand and eleven, the
Morgantown Urban Archery Deer Hunt got started. Since then, every
year a group of highly trained deer hunters head into
the neighborhoods in and around Morgantown to keep the deer
(20:31):
population at a manageable level. Got the coordinator of that
program on the phone, Rick be About Good morning, Rick,
how are.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
You, sir?
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Good morning, Mike. I'm great.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
It's a pleasure to have you on now. Rick, I
guess tell us about the program. It's been going since
twenty eleven. I believe last year you topped the ten
thousand pound mark.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
A little bit more than that. Yes, it's been a
well rowed machine. We have a greig group of volunteers
a fantastic group of supporters, landowners, other folks in the community.
And with our first donation last week, we actually topped
the fifteen thousand pound mark in our first fifteen years.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
And those are all deer that come within come from
within Morgantown city limits.
Speaker 4 (21:24):
Yeah, deer that are harvested on our urban hunt.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Yep, yeah, yeah, Okay, Now tell us about that donation
last week, Rick, So.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
The first drop off that we've had every year is
a Trinity Episcopal Church. I think it's the top of
Spruce Street, and they feed lunch five days a week.
I think it's an excess of one hundred and fifty
people a day. They have a big chest freezer and
(21:57):
we actually killed it to the rim where we had
to take a little bit out just to be able
to close the door. So that's a great feeling. And
then the remainder of that of that seven hundred and
seventy six pounds, we took over to the Pantry Plus
and they have a really nice facility, which is one
of the limiting factors in a lot of these places.
(22:19):
They just don't have the capacity, you know, to store
the meat. But luckily Pantry Plus they have a really
nice facility, and they've been great partners as well.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Now, how much time is left in the season.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
So the urban season will go through the end of December.
It'll close for a little over a week, it'll open
back up that second Monday. I think it's the fourteenth,
thirteenth of January, and they'll run through the end of
January twenty twenty six. We still got a lot of time.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Go ahead, Rick, I didn't mean to interrupt.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
You, no problem. We still have a lot of time
to be a field. So we're looking forward to keep tidding.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Those numbers definitely. Now, about how many hunters do you
have this year?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Right about ninety we had some folks. We had a
little bit of attrition right at the beginning of the year.
Some folks move, they take another job, whatever. I think
it's right around ninety ninety hunters actively participating in our program.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
And now these hunters all have to complete the National
Bow Hunter Education Foundation course.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
I guess how detailed is that course? Rick?
Speaker 4 (23:38):
Yeah, I'm a certified instructor. I have been for about
five years. We get together in early July, we determine
how many open spots we have. We bring in that
many hunters off our wait list. They go through a
half day to a three quarter day class in the classroom.
In the field, they take a shooting proficiency test, and
(23:59):
then they get to permit their property assignment, and the
first week of September we all get rolling.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Okay, do you have any involvement in the Westover program.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
I know the folks who run it and helped with
them when they got it started, and they're doing a
great job as well. So I look forward that program
to really grow over the next couple of years. But yeah,
they're doing a great job as well.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Now when you take a look at the areas in
the Morgantown, I guess it would make up that hunting
block of acres. Are there any areas that are maybe
a little bit better than others.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
It's pretty equally distributed. The real challenge is some of
the places in town, like Suncrest, is really a hard
nut to crack in terms of you know, property is
big enough to go in and hunt, but you know,
we make do with what we can, and then every
(25:03):
year we're losing properties to development in some different land
land uses. So we just every year sit down and
plan and be the best we can to address evenly
across the entire city.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Well, what's the importance of this program in terms of
controlling the deer population and keeping them from being, you know,
maybe more of a nuisance than what they already are.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Well, the number one is property damage, you know, it's landscaping, vehicle,
deer collisions. And then you know, kind of a secondary
We have a lot of folks in town that are
concerned with limes disease. So the fewer deer, we have,
the fewer chance of carriers for those ticks.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
And have you been able to look at the deer
populations how they've trended over this period since twenty eleven.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Yeah, there was a thermal study done about W wildlife
and W extensions, a night thermal count, and I think
that was in twenty fourteen, and they showed a significant
reduction and that we were holding the deer in most
of the areas they studied at a lower level than
(26:25):
what it was when we started, which was I think
ninety five deer per square mile.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Okay, good deal. Rick B.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Bounty is the coordinator of the Morgantown Urban Archery Deer Hunt. Rick,
keep up the good work. Any idea when your next
donation might be it'll be in.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
A couple of weeks, but if I can, I'd like
to make one plug. We get a lot of calls
every year for folks that hunt in this area and
they want to harve, they want to participate, they want
to be good hunters, they want to give back to
the community, and they want to donate a deer. Well,
the city will only take care of the urban deer processing,
(27:10):
so our donation program is kind of closed with anybody
out there that is interested in donating a deer or
multiple deer this year. Google w V Hunters Helping the Hungry.
You'll go to the West Virginia DNR site all the
information you need to find a local processor so you
(27:34):
can go donate your deer. Unfortunately, there's not one in
Montgelia County at the moment, but there is one in
Marion County, Harrison County, and then scattered through all the
rest of the state. So I would encourage folks if
you're interested in that, look up Hunters Helping the Hungry
and donate a deer to this fall.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Okay, good deal, Hey, Rick, pleasure talking to you.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Hey, thank you very much. Mike, have a great day.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Absolutely, you take care of yourself. Rick b About.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
He is a coordinator of the Urban Archery Deer Hunt,
now topping fifteen thousand pounds in donations to local food
pantries right now. It's nine forty three. When we come back,
going to spend some time with the owner of Titan Roofing,
James Sanders. We're going to talk about the one thousand
dollars cash giveaway, cans for community and of course WVRC
(28:24):
Media we care for the community and we'll be at
the University Town Center on Friday. That's what we're going
to talk about next Talk of the Town AM fourteen
forty FM one oh four point five w aj R.
Speaker 5 (28:51):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two fivey five. This is the Talk of
the Town.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Well, good Monday morning, fair scot in forty three degrees.
Coming up on Friday from six am until six pm.
We will be at the University Town Center, Giant Eagle,
and we'll also be there with our sponsor, Titan Roofing.
We've got James Sanders in studio this morning. Hey, good morning, James.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
How are you sir?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Hey, I'm doing great. How are you, sir.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
I'm doing fine. Good to see you. Good to catch
up with you again. And here we are. We've got
another WVRC Media Cares for Community event.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
What inspired you to get involved in this one?
Speaker 7 (29:32):
Well, I'm much like with the hurricane relief. Anytime that
we can help people, especially local here in our community,
we're all about it. And if it's helping children, helping
veterans possibly, I mean, there's definitely a need. So just
something we love to do.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Yeah, And I think that when you take a look
at the numbers there definitely you've got forty four thousand
plus households here in the county that are receiving Snap benefits.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
So you know, that means that there are forty.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Four thousand households where you know, it's quite possible that
you know, maybe people are not having three meals a day.
Speaker 7 (30:04):
Yeah, And the need's always there, but it's probably there
more now with the stuff that's.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
Going on with the government.
Speaker 7 (30:09):
And so I mean, there's definitely a need and we
just need to step up and help out. Neighbors helping neighbors.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Absolutely, Okay, Now, James, there has been a one thousand
dollars cash prize that will now be awarded as part
of this Cans for Community event.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
That'll be held on Friday. Tell us how that part's
gonna work.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
Yeah, So you do not have to donate in order
to register. Just stop by register with us at the tent.
Donations are definitely welcomed if you would want to, they
would definitely be appreciated. But just trying to move the
needle on this. We'll give away one thousand dollars to somebody.
At the end of the day, we'll draw it out
of the bucket and somebody's gonna be a thousand dollars
richer just for stopping by and meeting us.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
And you know, you don't have to make a donation,
but keep in mind if you do make a donation,
you know you're helping the people that are really they're
caught between a rock and a hard place and it's
really not of their making. We were dealing with politicians
and you know, I'll just leave it at that.
Speaker 7 (31:09):
Yeah, And it's local, it's in the community. It's helping
real people modern Preston County and the great thing about
north central West Virginia and we've seen it over the
last three years when there's a need people step up,
and like I said, it's people helping people, and you're
helping people right here in our own backyard right now.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
The last time that we did this, you brought a
truck and a trailer and then that ballooned, I think,
to another truck and a couple more trailers.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
What are you going to do this time?
Speaker 7 (31:34):
We're gonna start out with two trucks and a trailer
and we would love to be able to go have
to get U hosts. That would be a blessing for
everybody in the area.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
Okay, James, I guess Titan Roofing certainly they do care
for the community, much like WVRC Media. Well what I
guess what does it mean for you to be involved
in something like this?
Speaker 7 (31:57):
This is I love this. Anytime when we can help
people out. We're on a platform with WVRC Media that
reaches a lot of people, and anytime that we can
step up and help somebody in the community in need,
it's just it's it's great to do.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Okay, last thing for you, James, and I know this
is probably not the right time of year, but if
somebody is a roofer looking for a job.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
You want to.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Talk to them?
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Yeah, absolutely, Okay, how can we get in touch with you?
Speaker 7 (32:22):
Yeah, give us a call three oh four two four
four nine two nine to two, or visit our website
titanroofingwv dot com.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
So what do you do during the winter.
Speaker 7 (32:30):
Well, if the weather's great, we can roof all year long.
But we also do siding and we do soft at
Facia gutters, we build decks, anything on the outside of
the house, and then we go in and we do
some interior projects. We just don't advertise them.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Okay, all right, a good deal.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
James Sanders, owner of Titan Roofing, And once again coming
up on Friday, it'll be Cans for Community WVRC Media
and Titan Roofing. Caring for Community will be there from
six am to six pm at the University Town Center
giant E. Non perishable food donations are requested.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Of course, if you'd.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Like to make a cash donation, sure that we can
work that out as well, because you know, with the
governor's program of matching cash donations to the Mountaineer Food Bank,
as I understand it talking with Tom Bloom, that's going
to work very very nicely with their donation program here, Uh, James,
appreciate your time, sir.
Speaker 5 (33:24):
Hey, thank you, sir.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
Absolutely take care of yourself. All right, we'll come back
and wrap things up.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Coming up right after this on Talk of the Town
AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point five W. A.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
J R.
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Kluksburg.
If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call the show
toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two five five. Now Here is your host for the
Talk of the Town, Mike Nolting.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Well, good Monday morning, and welcome to Talk of the Town.
Fair Sky's forty three degrees in the University City of
Metro News Aki Weather says for a Monday, looks pretty good,
some sunshine, high temperature near sixty degrees. I'm Mike Nolting
and you'll find me on the X platform as your
news guy. And our producer today is Sophia Wassick. She's
(00:43):
the voice you'll hear when you call eight hundred seven
six five eight two five five of the text line
that number is.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Three oh four talk three oh four.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Certainly hope to hear from you throughout the course of
the program today. I'm Marissa Clemente is the vice president
of Philanthropy with Undue Medical Debt. Moresci will join us
at nine point fifteen and Undue Medical Debt we'll learn
more about them, but the broad view of undue Medical
Debt is. They're a nonprofit with the mission of helping
(01:17):
people erase medical debt. They do that through fundraisers and
churches and other nonprofit organizations.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
But she's going to tell us just.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Exactly how this program works and maybe how it can
be somehow brought to Morgantown.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
At nine point thirty got Rick Bebout.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Rick is the coordinator of the Urban Deer Archery Hunt
each and every year, and this year that particular endeavors
awfully important with the extended government shutdown and also the
suspension of snap benefits over the weekend. I do understand
that a few hundred pounds of venison have been delivered
(02:00):
or that happened last week sometime last week.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
We're going to talk with Rick.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
We're going to find out how the hunt's going this year,
what they did donate, who they donated it to, how
much longer the hunt's gonna go, and maybe how much
more meat they can produce. Let's take a look at
a couple of headlines, then we'll jump right into the program.
About two hundred members of the West Virginia National Guard
(02:27):
assisted with food distribution efforts over the weekend. A supplemental
nutrition assistance program, or SNAP benefits, did not go out
over the weekend. As the federal government shutdown enters its
second month. A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered
the Trump administration to make those SNAP disbursements partial or
(02:48):
in full by Wednesday. Oh Kanawah County Circuit Court Judge
Richard lindsay he's set to resume hearing today on a
lawsuit that's trying to stop the deployment of the West
Virginia National Guard in Washington, DC. Metro News Statewide correspondent
Brad McIlhenny says it is unclear when that deployment will end,
(03:11):
and he is in the courtroom today. I'm sure he'll
have an update very soon. WVRC Media Cares for Community.
We've got a food drive coming up this Friday that'll
be at the Giant Eagle on University Town Center from
six a m. Until six pm. In addition to the
food drive, Titan Roofing also a co sponsor of this event.
(03:34):
They'll be giving away a cash prize of one thousand dollars.
But to enter the drawing for that cash prize of
one thousand dollars, you have to come up to University
Town Center on Friday.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Say hi, introduce yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
You don't even have to make a donation, and you'll
be in the mix for that drawing for one thousand dollars. Now,
James Sanders, he's the owner of Titan Roofing, and I
believe he is going to join us at some point
during the program.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Today.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Barbara County Board of Education holding a public hearing this
afternoon at five at the Philip Barber High School.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
The board set to.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Vote on a school consolidation plan that would close the
middle schools and send those students to the high school.
Superintendent Eddie Vincent is making that recommendation due to falling
enrollment a proposed total premium increase of three percent. State
workers' health insurance will be the focus of public hearings
(04:34):
for the next three weeks now. Those will begin tonight
in the Highlands in Wheeling. The hearings are hosted by
the Public Employees Insurance Agency's Finance Board.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Education.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
West Virginia co President Dale Lee says a new teachers'
union organization is going to spend more time promoting Peia's
high deductible, low premium plan for some workers. Now, Lee
and others they had hoped that there'd be a special
legislative session on the Peia issue, but it doesn't look
(05:09):
like that will happen. And speaking of state lawmakers, they're
at the Pipestem Resort State Park today and tomorrow for
interim legislative meetings. This afternoon, lawmakers will have the opportunity
to tour the Southern Regional Jail in the Federal correction
Federal Correctional Institution Beckley. And it is a big day
(05:33):
for Montagelia County Schools in Superintendent Eddie Campbell, he is
in Charleston addressing the State School Building Authority. They're meeting
today and tomorrow in Charleston. They're going to be hearing
from a total of thirty one county school superintendent seeking
needs grants for some school construction projects. There is about
(05:55):
one hundred and seventy million dollars in request in total,
with just maybe a little bit more than forty three
million dollars to hand out, so somebody's going to go
away empty. The SBA will make those funding decision announcements
coming up next month, and later on in the program
we'll get into some more detail as to some of
(06:17):
the priority changes that Superintendent Eddie Campbell is requesting locally
and some of the projects that are going to become priorities.
We'll do that later on here this morning, right now,
fair and forty three degrees. When we come back talk
about Undue Medical Debt. Will welcome the vice president of Philanthropy,
(06:39):
Marissa Clemente. We'll do that next. It's nine to twelve
on Talk of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one
ZH four point five w aj R.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Good Monday morning, Farris, guys and forty three degrees in Morgantown.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Glad. That's with this Undoue Medical Debt.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Well, that is a nonprofit that helps people absolve debt
that they have accumulated. And I'm not really sure exactly
how the program works. We're going to find that out.
We've got the vice president of philanthropy, Marissa Clemente. Good morning, Marissa.
How are you?
Speaker 6 (07:31):
Good morning, Mike. I'm so great, How are you? Thank
you for having me?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you here. Marissa. I
guess if we could start here give us a description
of what Undue Medical Debt is and how it works.
Speaker 6 (07:46):
Of course, I also have to quickly apologize. We were select.
They're a charity partner for the Umunsity Marathon. So the
team's a bit I leave a hoarse voice today. But
in terms of our work that undo you know, we're
a very unique and innovative nonprofit by the one C three,
and we purchased medical debt from hospitals and debt collectors
for pennies on the dollar and we abolish it for
(08:09):
people who knew that assistance. And you know, I think
it's important to highlight the reasons why we do this.
And obviously we understand that our communities are stronger and healthier,
you know, when people can get the care they need
when they need it and really without the fear of
what comes next. And so basically, through our unique model,
(08:29):
we uh, you know, one dollar can abolish on average
at least one hundred dollars worth of medical debt. So
it's a very special, you know, extraordinary program that we're
able to provide the leads to folks.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
You know, Marisa, I kind of surf news all the time.
It's what I do, and I happened across a story
that was out of the Midwest where undue medical debt
was part of a program that was able to address
I think it was one point three million dollars worth
of people's medical bills. And they did that through a church.
(09:06):
How does that particular model work.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
Yeah, so you know, I will say our church and
faith communities have been incredible partners in our work. You know,
we allow supporters to designate their gift according to either
state or county, So this allows a lot of our
faith spaceed donors to focus locally. And once again, because
(09:29):
we have this incredible ROI where you know, one dollar
donation equals at least one hundred dollars worth of medical debt,
people are really able to make these extraordinary impacts as
you shared, Mike, on their personal communities, you know, and
help out their fellow neighbor. And I will share which
I can't you know, I can't leave this conversation with
(09:50):
about but to date, untimedical debt has abolished over twenty
three billion dollars in medical debt and that has impacted
over fourteen million in families across the country. So when
we think of that scope and the numbers you've shared overall,
you know, our work is so important now more than ever,
and our faith based communities are really the incredible drive
(10:14):
behind what we do because their congregations are just so
impactful and so willing to help go.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Into some detail about how you achieve this ROI of
up to one hundred dollars for a dollar of course.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
So yeah, so, as I mentioned, we buy it directly
from hospitals and debt collectors for petties on the dollar.
So already, you know, no one is getting rich off
of our model, but it provides these entities. It's a
bit of compensation that will incentivize them to partner with us,
and since we are a five O one de three
in nonprofit, you know, it's a wonderful way for them
(10:48):
to give back to their communities and fit through our model.
You know, we purchase this unpayable debt and bulk directly
from these entities, and we've worked with over three hundred
hospital providers across the country, and once again, they partner
with us because they realize these debts belong to individuals
who simply can't make ends meet, right, and so they're
(11:08):
not going to get these funds from them. And in
terms of the folks who qualify for our program, it's
important to know people cannot apply for it. We look
to folks with families who earn up to four hundred
percent of below the federal poverty level, which kind of
equals a little over one hundred k for our family
(11:29):
of three, or if their debt exceeds five percent of
their annual income, will move forward and abolish this medical
debt for them if they meet one of those two
seas of criteria. And then one thing that I really
love about our works, which is truly the special part
of it, is once it that's required, you know, these
constituents don't have anything to you know, they don't have
(11:51):
anything to do, nothing is expected of them, no strengths attached,
no red tape, and then they're notified in the mail
that their debt has been abolished. So we also removed
that with a credit report, which is important to share.
But I love the part where people can just open
their mailboxes and see this letter because you know, I
don't know about you, Mike, but I don't get good
(12:11):
news in the mail very often. I don't get birthday
cards anymore. So it's really just a beautiful thing. And
it is those letters that people will send in videos
and emails and text messages and just say thank you.
And what's also really nice and a lot of our
faith based partners have enjoyed this component is in the
letter we do a knowledge who has helped to donate
(12:34):
the fund for this abolishment. So it's once again, it's
a really beautiful way to connect our faith community to
people that they're impacting.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
I'd like for you to maybe share some stories things
that you hear from some of the people that benefit
from this program, because when I did some googling and
preparation for this interview, and when you google these people,
I guess some of them aren't even sure that what's
happening is real and they think that it might be
(13:06):
a scam or a hoax.
Speaker 6 (13:09):
You're completely right. We do get some folks who call
us and reach out just to make sure it's accurate,
and those are always nice conversations as well, because once again,
you know, it's a true acts of generosity and algorithm
which we really lean on. You know, I think that's
a great question, and we do hear myriad stories of
what people have experienced with their medical debt, whether it's
(13:31):
a mental, emotional, or obviously financial burden. And we're also
just hearing a lot that folks are suffering, right, They're
choosing between paying this bill or being able to provide
for their children and families, put food on the table,
pay you know, other bills that will keep the lights
on their homes. And you know, I think that in
(13:51):
looking to next year, you know, undo, where we really
talk about the fact that we are an immediate solution
that provides immediate belief right and and the system itself
is broken. But while we are working to advance the
fight in different ways, you know, we it's this debtlieve
(14:13):
part that really helps people uh uh feel less hopeful, less,
you know what I mean. And I think in about
some of the constituents that have wrote to us, you know,
they share that they can focus now more on their
health and their future and they actually will go back
to the doctor and they won't have that sphere of
you know, not getting the help that they need and
(14:35):
or prolong getting healthcare. And that's really what we stand on,
and we want people to go to you know, get
the help that they need when they need it, and
not fear what's next.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
And I think that you also foster maybe that next
group of donors.
Speaker 6 (14:51):
Mm hm, exactly exactly, and I think, you know, it's
important to realize we don't expect anything to come of this,
which is another reason why I think work is so
beautiful and unique. And by that, I mean, you know
it's not it's not to pay it forward mentality. Right.
What we're trying to share is, you know, someone's thinking
of you. We understand that this is a crisis that
the entire country is dealing with, and I think we
(15:15):
all need to realize that medical debt is the only
debt that people do not ask for. So you know,
when you think about the scope of this crisis, it's
a lot of folks who are under insured and a
lot of folks who are struggling and suffering. And I
think it's a really beautiful thing to be able to
say I'm going to help you, I'm thinking of you,
and i want things to get better for you.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
So I'm not trying to oversimplify this, but I think
that you take cases I guess based on a review
of I guess a nationwide accounts payable aging report, and
then you take those the oldest debts and address those
rather than people coming to you and saying, hey, i'd
(15:57):
like to be included in this program.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
How does that part So we.
Speaker 6 (16:01):
Actually have a bit of a more sophisticated system, I
will say, only because we have a team of incredible
engineers that built of software in house that we use.
It's called the Debt Engine, and this particular piece of
software will review all of the portfolios that we have,
the debt portfolios that we source to a hospital or
the secondary market, and they will parse it out according
(16:24):
to the two pieces of criteria that we that I
mentioned earlier. So if a patient falls four hundred percent
or below the federal poverty level, or if their debt
is five percent or more of anual income, will scoop
all of that, you know, all of that debt up
and they will buy it. And so it does have
a range. Right, So we have some debts where people
(16:45):
you know, incurred it within the last six months a year,
and we have some debts that people have incurred over
the last six years. For us, you know, it's it's
the whole point is to make sure that even if
it is debt that's a bit older, it is something
that the patients it no longer has to worry about, right,
that burden is lifted off their shoulders. It's no longer
following them around. So yeah, so our our age criteria
(17:09):
certainly varies, and with our software, you know, we're really
able to assess the folks who truly need our relief
and support versus those who who and by that meaning
those who have the means to pay these bills. I
will also share, you know, our part of our processes,
especially when we partner with a hospital, we're able to
(17:30):
go back and provide them with data that shows that
folks who may not qualify or UNDUS program should qualify
for financial assistance through their the hospital programs. So I
think that's also a really important component because it's you know,
holding the hospital is accountable while understanding that you know,
they don't always have the bandwidth to go through all
(17:52):
of these you know, deadlines, and at the same time
it helps them to strengthen their financial assistance policies by
seeing folks such as the cracks which we see all
the time.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
We've got Marissa Clemente whether she's the vice president of
philanthropy for Undo Medical Debt. You can get more information
at Undomedical Debt dot org. When you go out to
that website, you might come away with a couple of
questions like I did like, like Marissa, what I need
to know on the way out coming out of left field?
Speaker 3 (18:23):
An't you is? Uh? What's your secret for a good
banana bread?
Speaker 6 (18:30):
I will say, A little dove of power cream, Okay,
quarter cup of a little more and it makes it wonderful?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
All right? Perfect?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Well, Hey, Marissa, it's been a pleasure to start my
week with you.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
Thank you episode so wonderfully. I appreciate you all.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
You take care of yourself. Marissa Clemente.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
She is the vice president of philanthropy with Undue Medical
Debt and once again you can get more information about
how this program works.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
At Undo Medical Debt DOT.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Now the federal government shutdown, we're in a all thirty
four thirty three, thirty five, somewhere in that range, but
we have now entered into the second month snap benefits.
We're supposed to be sent out to those cards on Saturday,
but that didn't happen because the federal government shut down.
Coming up next, we're going to talk with the coordinator
(19:22):
of the Urban Archery Deer Hunt program here in the
city of Morgantown, Rick Bbout. They recently just delivered a
few hundred pounds of ground venison that came from right
here in the neighborhoods in Morgantown to help our residents
battle through food insecurity. We're going to talk with Rick
(19:44):
coming up next, talk about that donation that's already been made,
and maybe some donations that are soon to be made.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
We are talking about your town.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Now, back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
A good Monday morning. It is nine thirty five in
the University City. Back in two thousand and eleven, the
Morgantown Urban Archery Deer Hunt got started. Since then, every
year a group of highly trained deer hunters head into
the neighborhoods in and around Morgantown to keep the deer
(20:31):
population at a manageable level. Got the coordinator of that
program on the phone, Rick be About Good morning, Rick,
how are.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
You, sir?
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Good morning, Mike. I'm great.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
It's a pleasure to have you on now. Rick, I
guess tell us about the program. It's been going since
twenty eleven. I believe last year you topped the ten
thousand pound mark.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
A little bit more than that. Yes, it's been a
well rowed machine. We have a greig group of volunteers
a fantastic group of supporters, landowners, other folks in the community.
And with our first donation last week, we actually topped
the fifteen thousand pound mark in our first fifteen years.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
And those are all deer that come within come from
within Morgantown city limits.
Speaker 4 (21:24):
Yeah, deer that are harvested on our urban hunt.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Yep, yeah, yeah, Okay, Now tell us about that donation
last week, Rick, So.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
The first drop off that we've had every year is
a Trinity Episcopal Church. I think it's the top of
Spruce Street, and they feed lunch five days a week.
I think it's an excess of one hundred and fifty
people a day. They have a big chest freezer and
(21:57):
we actually killed it to the rim where we had
to take a little bit out just to be able
to close the door. So that's a great feeling. And
then the remainder of that of that seven hundred and
seventy six pounds, we took over to the Pantry Plus
and they have a really nice facility, which is one
of the limiting factors in a lot of these places.
(22:19):
They just don't have the capacity, you know, to store
the meat. But luckily Pantry Plus they have a really
nice facility, and they've been great partners as well.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Now, how much time is left in the season.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
So the urban season will go through the end of December.
It'll close for a little over a week, it'll open
back up that second Monday. I think it's the fourteenth,
thirteenth of January, and they'll run through the end of
January twenty twenty six. We still got a lot of time.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Go ahead, Rick, I didn't mean to interrupt.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
You, no problem. We still have a lot of time
to be a field. So we're looking forward to keep tidding.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Those numbers definitely. Now, about how many hunters do you
have this year?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Right about ninety we had some folks. We had a
little bit of attrition right at the beginning of the year.
Some folks move, they take another job, whatever. I think
it's right around ninety ninety hunters actively participating in our program.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
And now these hunters all have to complete the National
Bow Hunter Education Foundation course.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
I guess how detailed is that course? Rick?
Speaker 4 (23:38):
Yeah, I'm a certified instructor. I have been for about
five years. We get together in early July, we determine
how many open spots we have. We bring in that
many hunters off our wait list. They go through a
half day to a three quarter day class in the classroom.
In the field, they take a shooting proficiency test, and
(23:59):
then they get to permit their property assignment, and the
first week of September we all get rolling.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Okay, do you have any involvement in the Westover program.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
I know the folks who run it and helped with
them when they got it started, and they're doing a
great job as well. So I look forward that program
to really grow over the next couple of years. But yeah,
they're doing a great job as well.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Now when you take a look at the areas in
the Morgantown, I guess it would make up that hunting
block of acres. Are there any areas that are maybe
a little bit better than others.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
It's pretty equally distributed. The real challenge is some of
the places in town, like Suncrest, is really a hard
nut to crack in terms of you know, property is
big enough to go in and hunt, but you know,
we make do with what we can, and then every
(25:03):
year we're losing properties to development in some different land
land uses. So we just every year sit down and
plan and be the best we can to address evenly
across the entire city.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Well, what's the importance of this program in terms of
controlling the deer population and keeping them from being, you know,
maybe more of a nuisance than what they already are.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Well, the number one is property damage, you know, it's landscaping, vehicle,
deer collisions. And then you know, kind of a secondary
We have a lot of folks in town that are
concerned with limes disease. So the fewer deer, we have,
the fewer chance of carriers for those ticks.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
And have you been able to look at the deer
populations how they've trended over this period since twenty eleven.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Yeah, there was a thermal study done about W wildlife
and W extensions, a night thermal count, and I think
that was in twenty fourteen, and they showed a significant
reduction and that we were holding the deer in most
of the areas they studied at a lower level than
(26:25):
what it was when we started, which was I think
ninety five deer per square mile.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Okay, good deal. Rick B.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Bounty is the coordinator of the Morgantown Urban Archery Deer Hunt. Rick,
keep up the good work. Any idea when your next
donation might be it'll be in.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
A couple of weeks, but if I can, I'd like
to make one plug. We get a lot of calls
every year for folks that hunt in this area and
they want to harve, they want to participate, they want
to be good hunters, they want to give back to
the community, and they want to donate a deer. Well,
the city will only take care of the urban deer processing,
(27:10):
so our donation program is kind of closed with anybody
out there that is interested in donating a deer or
multiple deer this year. Google w V Hunters Helping the Hungry.
You'll go to the West Virginia DNR site all the
information you need to find a local processor so you
(27:34):
can go donate your deer. Unfortunately, there's not one in
Montgelia County at the moment, but there is one in
Marion County, Harrison County, and then scattered through all the
rest of the state. So I would encourage folks if
you're interested in that, look up Hunters Helping the Hungry
and donate a deer to this fall.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Okay, good deal, Hey, Rick, pleasure talking to you.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Hey, thank you very much. Mike, have a great day.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Absolutely, you take care of yourself. Rick b About.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
He is a coordinator of the Urban Archery Deer Hunt,
now topping fifteen thousand pounds in donations to local food
pantries right now. It's nine forty three. When we come back,
going to spend some time with the owner of Titan Roofing,
James Sanders. We're going to talk about the one thousand
dollars cash giveaway, cans for community and of course WVRC
(28:24):
Media we care for the community and we'll be at
the University Town Center on Friday. That's what we're going
to talk about next Talk of the Town AM fourteen
forty FM one oh four point five w aj R.
Speaker 5 (28:51):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two fivey five. This is the Talk of
the Town.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Well, good Monday morning, fair scot in forty three degrees.
Coming up on Friday from six am until six pm.
We will be at the University Town Center, Giant Eagle,
and we'll also be there with our sponsor, Titan Roofing.
We've got James Sanders in studio this morning. Hey, good morning, James.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
How are you sir?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Hey, I'm doing great. How are you, sir.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
I'm doing fine. Good to see you. Good to catch
up with you again. And here we are. We've got
another WVRC Media Cares for Community event.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
What inspired you to get involved in this one?
Speaker 7 (29:32):
Well, I'm much like with the hurricane relief. Anytime that
we can help people, especially local here in our community,
we're all about it. And if it's helping children, helping
veterans possibly, I mean, there's definitely a need. So just
something we love to do.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Yeah, And I think that when you take a look
at the numbers there definitely you've got forty four thousand
plus households here in the county that are receiving Snap benefits.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
So you know, that means that there are forty.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Four thousand households where you know, it's quite possible that
you know, maybe people are not having three meals a day.
Speaker 7 (30:04):
Yeah, And the need's always there, but it's probably there
more now with the stuff that's.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
Going on with the government.
Speaker 7 (30:09):
And so I mean, there's definitely a need and we
just need to step up and help out. Neighbors helping neighbors.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Absolutely, Okay, Now, James, there has been a one thousand
dollars cash prize that will now be awarded as part
of this Cans for Community event.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
That'll be held on Friday. Tell us how that part's
gonna work.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
Yeah, So you do not have to donate in order
to register. Just stop by register with us at the tent.
Donations are definitely welcomed if you would want to, they
would definitely be appreciated. But just trying to move the
needle on this. We'll give away one thousand dollars to somebody.
At the end of the day, we'll draw it out
of the bucket and somebody's gonna be a thousand dollars
richer just for stopping by and meeting us.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
And you know, you don't have to make a donation,
but keep in mind if you do make a donation,
you know you're helping the people that are really they're
caught between a rock and a hard place and it's
really not of their making. We were dealing with politicians
and you know, I'll just leave it at that.
Speaker 7 (31:09):
Yeah, And it's local, it's in the community. It's helping
real people modern Preston County and the great thing about
north central West Virginia and we've seen it over the
last three years when there's a need people step up,
and like I said, it's people helping people, and you're
helping people right here in our own backyard right now.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
The last time that we did this, you brought a
truck and a trailer and then that ballooned, I think,
to another truck and a couple more trailers.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
What are you going to do this time?
Speaker 7 (31:34):
We're gonna start out with two trucks and a trailer
and we would love to be able to go have
to get U hosts. That would be a blessing for
everybody in the area.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
Okay, James, I guess Titan Roofing certainly they do care
for the community, much like WVRC Media. Well what I
guess what does it mean for you to be involved
in something like this?
Speaker 7 (31:57):
This is I love this. Anytime when we can help
people out. We're on a platform with WVRC Media that
reaches a lot of people, and anytime that we can
step up and help somebody in the community in need,
it's just it's it's great to do.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Okay, last thing for you, James, and I know this
is probably not the right time of year, but if
somebody is a roofer looking for a job.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
You want to.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Talk to them?
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Yeah, absolutely, Okay, how can we get in touch with you?
Speaker 7 (32:22):
Yeah, give us a call three oh four two four
four nine two nine to two, or visit our website
titanroofingwv dot com.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
So what do you do during the winter.
Speaker 7 (32:30):
Well, if the weather's great, we can roof all year long.
But we also do siding and we do soft at
Facia gutters, we build decks, anything on the outside of
the house, and then we go in and we do
some interior projects. We just don't advertise them.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Okay, all right, a good deal.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
James Sanders, owner of Titan Roofing, And once again coming
up on Friday, it'll be Cans for Community WVRC Media
and Titan Roofing. Caring for Community will be there from
six am to six pm at the University Town Center
giant E. Non perishable food donations are requested.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Of course, if you'd.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Like to make a cash donation, sure that we can
work that out as well, because you know, with the
governor's program of matching cash donations to the Mountaineer Food Bank,
as I understand it talking with Tom Bloom, that's going
to work very very nicely with their donation program here, Uh, James,
appreciate your time, sir.
Speaker 5 (33:24):
Hey, thank you, sir.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
Absolutely take care of yourself. All right, we'll come back
and wrap things up.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Coming up right after this on Talk of the Town
AM fourteen forty FM one oh four point five W. A.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
J R.
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