On Friday, March 13, 2009 Our WV State Apiarist, George Clutter, was ask to meet someone at the Subway in Webster near his home.? He was handed a letter signed by Janet Fisher, Deputy?Commissioner of the WV Department of Agriculture.? 
This letter unceremoniously told George that he was dismissed from his position without cause.?I see this as?disrespectful to the man who done nothing but help the Department of Agriculture and the beekeepers of West Virginia.

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To date, there is still no reason given to George for his dismissal.? His employment record has been exemplary.? There has not been any incidents of reprimand or counsel given to George by either written or verbal communications. If you were fired wouldn't you want to know why?? 

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During George Clutter's tenure as the State Apiarists,?he has been instrumental in developing a apiary program that is envied nationally by other state apiary specialist.?? He has?been asked to speak at several out of state venues regarding the success of the Apiary Program in WV.? ?

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George assisted in the creation of a third full time inspector position,? which currently has been knocked back to two positions.? He has been working on the reinstatement of the beekeeping programs for 4-H and FFA which will help to replenish beekeepers in our state by?introducing the youth to beekeeping.?

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Most recently, George has been instrumental in getting $200,000 allocated from the WV Legislature to help replace YOUR lost bees,?feed for?YOUR surviving bees and medications for 16,000 registered hives in WV.??? George has been involved in many other issues and programs for our state including Bear Damage medigation and avoidance measures.? 

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At this stage, we must ask prudent questions about the beekeeping industry in West Virginia.?

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If the department could not get to all the beekeepers and hives wanting and needing inspections because they did not have enough inspectors, what are they proposing to do now that they have depleted the staff by one third???

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If infected or diseased hives are not detected or recognized, due to the lack of man hours,? how long will it take for the spread of the contaminate to occur to?other hives?

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How will this effect the new and developing Queen Breeding Program since all hives must be inspected prior to the sell of any bees?

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Ask yourself why this has happened. Would you like to be treated this way? Fired without cause at some restaurant down the road? 


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