A Neighborhood Watches
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Posted: 8:10 PM May 13, 2008
A Neighborhood Watches
The Highlawn neighborhood in Huntington has been making news recently with several fires.
Reporter: Bill Murray
Email Address: bill.murray@wsaz.com
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The Highlawn neighborhood in Huntington has been making news recently with several fires.

Many older homes have been sold and converted into apartments and the neighborhood is seeing its share of drug related activity.

Robbie Campbell said is pays to get involved. For one, it seems his neighborhood is burning around him. And there also seems to be a growing drug problem, that’s seeping in.

Campbell said, “There’s a place right here on the corner. It doesn't even have glass in the windows, but there's people who live there and we know what they do.”

Thomas May owns the home on Collis Avenue that is the scene of Huntington’s latest murder investigation. In this, Bradley Watson is accused of murder after allegedly setting the fire. A 61 year old woman was trapped on the second floor and died.

May said, “My son and granddaughter came close to almost getting burned up. If it hadn't been for the lady upstairs a hollerin', they probably would have been burned up.”

The city's Fire Marshall, David Bias, confirms the Highlawn neighborhood has seen a slight spike in calls in recent months.

Bias said, “We have seen an increase when drug element is introduced in the neighborhood, we have seen an increase of those type fires.”

May doesn't know why Bradley Wilson set his home on fire. He said he’d seen him around the neighborhood and property before, with a former tenant. And he plans on seeing him again when he goes to court.

Highlawn Neighborhood Watch presenting workshop on "Creating a Drug Free Neighborhood" will be on May 17th. The workshop is the 3rd in the series of Safe Neighborhood Workshops. It will be held 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Medical Center's Heart Institute in room 205.

The workshops are free open to anyone in the Huntington area.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Bev on May 14, 2008 at 11:07 PM

This just proves my point. Two comments on this story and one isn't even on point. Come on people, do you even care about your homes???
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Posted by: Mike on May 14, 2008 at 04:46 PM

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH IS CERTAINLY A GOOD DETERENT TO CRIME.ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DONT HAVE A POLICE DEPT. SUCH AS HUNTINGTON. THE H.P.D DONUT GANG IS WORTHLESS WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. HOWEVER WHEN IT COMES TO CRISPY CREAMS THEY ARE TOP NOTCH. U WANT FRESH DONUTS JUST LOOK FOR THE DONUT GANGS CRUISERS.
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Bev on May 13, 2008 at 09:07 PM

If we do not get involved we might as well turn our deeds over to these criminals. I for one am not willing to allow this to destroy my neighborhood. We haven't lived here as long as a lot of my neighbors but I think 18 years is long enough to call it home. My son grew up here and we have made many friends. We are not going away quietly. If you sell drugs in Highlawn you will be reported to the police. If you don't like it LEAVE.
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