LARRY HARLESS PULLED FROM OHIO RIVER - Jackson County Activist Protested Economic Development Funding

(04/01/2004)

Well-known political activist Larry Harless, 62, has been pulled from the Ohio River after apparently jumping off a bridge at Ravenswood. The Jackson County lawyer was identified by his sister after a 911 call reported the incident at 11:30 a.m. today. Police officials say they are not labeling the death as a suicide yet because they are still investigating. Harless had challenged the awarding of $225 million dollars in state economic development grants around West Virginia, some of them to projects he claimed had little to do with creating jobs. Harless challenged the Wise administration's and Legislature's plan to use limited video lottery proceeds to repay bonds that would be sold to finance economic development projects across the state. He said West Virginians did not intend to legalize poker, keno, blackjack and other games when they approved the lottery. The state Supreme Court ruled against him. Harless was a long-time activist who was a one-time teacher, union organizer, all-state high school basketball player and political candidate.

Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001