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American Legion Post 89 in Wheeling Looking For A Chance to Improve

Post 89 under new management

Photo by Scott McCloskey A capacity crowd packs council chambers at the City-County Building Tuesday for a public hearing concerning the future of the American Legion Post 89 in East Wheeling.

WHEELING — Leaders of the American Legion Post 89 came to Tuesday’s public hearing on the bar’s future with a plan for improvement — if Wheeling City Council gives them the chance.

Two weeks after City Manager Robert Herron and Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger recommended council declare the 1419 Jacob St. bar a public nuisance and shut it down, Legion members announced that manager Eugene Bernie has resigned.

“We realize there are some major problems there. We are going to eliminate that,” Ralph Edwards, Post 89 commander, told council with a standing-room-only crowd in attendance.

Schwertfeger and Herron spoke as the two witnesses for the city Tuesday during the hearing. During his talk, Herron handed out copies of a photo showing convicted murderer Dallas Michael Acoff shooting a pistol from the stoop of the American Legion in October 2015.

“We’ve seen a huge spike in crime” near the Legion building and in East Wheeling as a whole, Schwertfeger said, summarizing his report to city council earlier this month recommending that the club be declared a public nuisance. That report includes a list of violent crimes in the area, including shootings, malicious assaults, robberies, prostitution, fighting and drug distributing.

Schwertfeger acknowledged not all of those crimes can be attributed directly to the club, but he said many can be.

Among those speaking in favor of keeping the bar open was West Virginia NAACP President Owens Brown, who told council they’re not listening to a community he said has been “somewhat segregated and labeled” for generations.

“The problem I see is this: We have a community here that appears invisible to city council. I believe when the community speaks, you should take notice of that,” he said, noting he believes city council doesn’t relate to them. “It appears you are here to rule over, instead of govern.”

Brown said it’s “untrue” that crimes occurring outside the club should be associated with the establishment.

Before comments were heard, Edwards gave council an overview of a remediation plan that includes closing the bar by midnight or 1 a.m., instead of the current 3 a.m. or 4 a.m.; employing new management; and ensuring that people other than members and their guests are not allowed inside. In addition, Edwards said the club will post a large sign saying “Under New Management,” and the club will continue to enforce a list of patrons not allowed to enter the club.

“We are willing to do what we have to do to keep this ship afloat. … I’m not going to have anybody mess that up,” Edwards said.

Next, council will consider the recommendations it heard during the hearing and decide whether to close the bar or allow it to remain open with certain conditions, according to City Solicitor Rosemary Humway-Warmuth.

Council members posed questions about the plan.

“Is there a need for two American Legions within a block?” Vice Mayor Chad Thalman asked Legion member Demetrius Lathon, a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who said he will be heavily involved in improving the club.

Thalman was referring to American Legion Post 1, which is located nearby on 16th Street.

“I would say so, yes,” Lathon said. “It’s a historical black Legion. It means a lot to the people there,” he said of Post 89.

James Martin, the new manager selected by the post, is a Vietnam War veteran who worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 40 years.

“I would do anything I could to help the post,” he said. “I would personally come and meet with the city manager and police to work out and formulate a plan. God bless Post 89. God bless the American Legion and God bless America.”

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