JULIAN — When they were not battling it out about banning Barbie or coming up with excuses to keep from testing welfare recipients for illegal drugs, the West Virginia Legislature had another hot topic to deal with recently.

The proposal to move more "hardened" criminals into the Donald R. Huhn Detention Center.

At one point, the Division of Juvenile Services (DJS) had considered a plan to move some serious residents (sex offenders) to the Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center and the Donald Kuhn Juvenile Center.

Reportedly the DJS was considering the move of placing juveniles in the division to those centers as an effort to provide them with treatment and rehabilitation options.

Sen. Ron Stollings set up a meeting with Dale Humphreys, director of the center to express his concern about the situation. Also attending the meeting were various delegates, sheriffs and county commissioners along with Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin.

"During that meeting, after significant debate, it was determined that the Donald R. Kuhn Detention Center will remain in the capacity it has for the past few years," Stollings told The Logan Banner in a letter. "That is the sex offender population ages 18-21 will not be transferred to the Donald R. Kuhn Detention Center."

Stollings said the community made it's stance on the matter clear and he was glad the public shared their convictions with him and that a satisfactory result was obtained.

"Currently the Kuhn Center serves as a center for excellence in diagnosing, consulting and prevention," Stollings said. "I congratulate Mr. Michael Hale and all the good people who work at the center as they strive to meet the needs of conflicted youth."