From the Charleston Gazette
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia has fired the longtime chief inspector of its growing beekeeping industry, and at least one legislator wants to know why.
Delegate Ray Canterbury told fellow House members Tuesday that George Clutter was dismissed as the state's apiarist last week.
Canterbury, R-Greenbrier, blames the state Department of Agriculture for the firing and wants Clutter reinstated. An agency spokesman declined comment.
Canterbury, a bee enthusiast, says Clutter helped nurture the industry from scattered hobby clubs to more than a thousand beekeepers with 20,000 hives. He is also known for sporting a beard of live bees at fairs and festivals.
Other lawmakers cautioned against targeting the Department of Agriculture's budget to retaliate for the firing.
This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping
www.BeeCulture.com, one sponsor of the EAS meeting this summer www.easternapiculture.org
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia has fired the longtime chief inspector of its growing beekeeping industry, and at least one legislator wants to know why.
Delegate Ray Canterbury told fellow House members Tuesday that George Clutter was dismissed as the state's apiarist last week.
Canterbury, R-Greenbrier, blames the state Department of Agriculture for the firing and wants Clutter reinstated. An agency spokesman declined comment.
Canterbury, a bee enthusiast, says Clutter helped nurture the industry from scattered hobby clubs to more than a thousand beekeepers with 20,000 hives. He is also known for sporting a beard of live bees at fairs and festivals.
Other lawmakers cautioned against targeting the Department of Agriculture's budget to retaliate for the firing.
This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping
www.BeeCulture.com, one sponsor of the EAS meeting this summer www.easternapiculture.org
