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Huntington, West Virginia www.herald-dispatch.com First Edition 50¢

Doctors worry about painkiller ban

By TOM BREEN
The Associated Press
aminophen, which is the leading
cause of liver failure in the U.S.
done, according to the federal
Drug Enforcement Administra-
of prescription painkillers in the
country, according to the DEA.
Alvin “Woody” Moss, a professor
at the West Virginia University
FRIDAY CHARLESTON — Patients get-
ting treated for pain could face
That ban would include popu-
lar brand-name drugs like Vico-
tion, with the majority contain-
ing acetaminophen.
“The problem is, we use Vico-
din and medications like that to
School of Medicine and the direc-
tor of the West Virginia Center for
July 24, 2009 short-term difficulties if the fed-
eral government implements a pro-
din, Lortab and Percocet along
with generic versions.
A ban, however, could have
unintended conse-
treat what’s classified as moder-
ate pain,”
End of Life Care.

posed rule that would ban some
of the most popular prescription
painkillers.
The Food and Drug Adminis-
tration is considering a proposal
by a panel of experts to prohibit
a range of medications that com-
bine narcotic drugs with acet-
Drugs like the f irst two, quences for people s a id D r. Please see PAINKILLERS/7A
which blend acetaminophen who rely on those
with hydrocodone, are among medications, espe- The FDA is considering banning painkillers
the most commonly prescribed cially in states that contain the drug acetaminophen due to
pain medications in the country. like West Vir- the liver damage that can possibly occur. The
In 2006, there were nearly 131 g i n i a , wh ich risk is increased when people mix prescription
million prescriptions written for has one of the medications with over-the-counter products like
products containing hydroco- highest rates of use Tylenol, which also contain acetaminophen.

Managing Wage hike helps

workers, challenges
At least 20
to lose jobs
Still bowling
strong
minimum wage business owners at Lawrence
Ironton native
Rolland Mayo County office
celebrated his 100th Jobs and Family Services
birthday the only
way he knows how, suffers 30% funding cut
by participating in By DAVID E. MALLOY
his weekly bowl- The Herald-Dispatch
dmalloy@herald-dispatch.com
ing league. He was IRONTON — More than 20 employees
honored with a cer- of the Lawrence County Department of
emony and tokens Job and Family Services will be laid off in
about two weeks because of a 30 percent
of recognition. cut in state funds.
Sports / 1B T he two-yea r “Not only is
state budget enacted it frustrating,
last week was “cata-
National Mall strophic” to the county
department that pro-
I don’t under-
stand it. State
a national vides funds for such government is
programs as Medic- in disarray. It’s

disgrace? aid, food stamps, child

support, foster care
affecting peo-
ple’s lives We’ve
Crumbling side- and children services,
among others, said had a 30 percent
walks and reflect- Gene Myers, director cut. We have to
ing pools filled of the county depart- deal with it. It’s
with green, smelly ment of job and family
not going to
services.
water are threaten- “Ohio ranks 50th for be easy.”
ing the beauty of services for abused, Jason Stephens
our nation’s capital. neglected and depen- Lawrence County
dent services,” Myers
Nearly $400 million said during a Lawrence
commissioner
is needed to fix up Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch County Board of Com-
the national park. Brandon Casamassima serves the lunch crowd Thursday at Stewart’s Hot Dogs in Huntington.
missioners meeting at the courthouse
Thursday morning. “We won’t be able to
Nation & World / 5A

H
provide (some) basic services.”
U N T I NGTON — For $6.55 an hour to $7.25 today. rather than state guidelines. “Not only is it frustrating,” Commis-

Dog days Brandon Casamassima, a

job at Stewart’s Original
Hot Dogs is getting him
West Virginia actually raised its
minimum wage to $7.25 last year, but
there were several exclusions.
Also, there are several industries that
automatically fall under federal param-
eters, including those that deal with
sioner Jason Stephens said. “I don’t under-
stand it. State government is in disarray.
It’s affecting people’s lives. We’ve had a 30
of summer through the summer until he starts
graduate school at Marshall Univer-
Barbara McClure, administrative sec-
retary for the West Virginia Division
children or the elderly, auto dealerships,
real estate, banking and financial enter-
percent cut. We have to deal with it. It’s not
going to be easy.”
Humans aren’t sity. of Labor, said almost all the businesses prises, mining, hospitals and others. “I’m really disturbed by the state’s bud-
the only ones who He’s been on the job about a month in the state are covered under federal But all will be subject to this 11-per- get,” Commissioner Les Boggs said. “All
suffer during the and making minimum wage. The good guidelines because businesses that gross cent federal increase, which is expected three of us are distraught about it.”
news for Casamassima and employees more than $500,000 annually, or engage to generate $5.5 billion in consumer After the layoffs, the department will be
extra hot days of like him throughout the country is that in interstate commerce, are covered left with more than 60 employees.
summer. Ten to 20 the federal minimum wage rises from under federal law and adhere to national Please see WAGE/7A Myers said he would begin notifying the
minutes in a car on affected employees Thursday. Any employ-
ees represented by the American Federation
an 80-degree day Story by Jean Tarbett Hardiman / The Herald-Dispatch of State County and Municipal Employees
is enough to kill
a pet. Keep your Please see COMMISSION/7A
furry friend safe
with some tips from
Petland. Existing home sales Woman charged in 10th prostituion arrest
Community / 1C
show signs of recovery After nine convictions, woman charged tution, and two have
resulted in felony

Index
WASHINGTON — The U.S. housing with third-offense felony, could face prison prison time.
The most recent
market is finally on the mend after its By CURTIS JOHNSON Mary Lynn Smith/McDaniels, 34, c a me i n Aug u st
Bridge 3D Local 3A most far-reaching collapse in 70 years. The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington was arrested Wednes- 2007, when she was
Business 5B Movies 5C That could help rebuild consumer confi- cujohnson@herald-dispatch.com day at the intersection of 14th Street c h a r ged a s pa r t
Classified 1D Nation 5A
Comics 7C Obituaries 2C
dence and revive the economy. HUNTINGTON — A nine-time con- and an alley between 6th and 7th of a l a r ge - sc a le
Editorials 6A J. Spencer 4C For the first time in five years, sales of previ- victed prostitute spent 24 days out of avenues, according to a criminal prostitution raid.
Smith/McDaniels
Horoscope 5D Sports 1B ously occupied homes rose for the third consec- prison before the Huntington Police complaint filed in Cabell County Smith/McDaniels
Life 4C Television 5C utive month in June, while foreclosure sales and Department arrested her once again. Magistrate Court. was given a one- to
the glut of homes on the market both declined. She was incarcerated in the Western three-year prison sentence, which
© Regional Jail at 11 p.m. and charged she was allowed to serve on home
Champion Publishing, Inc. More on 5A with third-offense prostitution, a confinement. But that privilege was
www.herald-dispatch.com felony and the state’s most serious revoked five months later, and she
Huntington, West Virginia prostitution charge. Bond was was ordered to serve the original
Vol. 109 No. 205 set at $15,000. prison sentence.
Lesser prostitution Smith/McDaniels was discharged
charges often mean fines from Lakin Correctional Center in
and short jail stays, but Mason County on June 28.
only a handful of repeat Of the 6,285 people currently in the
offenders are sent to state’s prison system, only four are
prison. Smith/McDan- being detained on prostitution-related
iels’ record includes at charges, the state Division of Correc-
least 12 arrests for prosti- tions reported Thursday.

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