Hinton City Hall Closes in Wake of Altercation
By David M. Kinchen

HINTON—The city hall here was closed Friday, Sept. 6 following a Thursday incident between Councilman Bobby Wheeler and Melvin "Rex" Cyphers, a police consultant hired by Mayor Cleo Mathews. A special city council meeting will be held at noon Monday, Sept. 9, Wheeler said.

Council President Larry Meador closed the facility in response to complaints by employees, including City Manager Cindy Cooper and Deputy City Clerk Billie Jean Gill, who allegedly were fearful of working in the building with Cyphers, 52, a retired State Police Trooper.

Cyphers was free on bond Friday after being charged with three counts of battery—including two counts on police officers—after allegedly attacking Wheeler, 68, a retired railroad detective. Also arrested by Hinton police officers was Cyphers’ wife, Connie, who was charged with obstruction on battery on a police officer. She was later released on bond.
Wheeler was taken to the Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Fairlea where he was treated and released. He says the hiring of Cyphers is unnecessary because the police department is running smoothly, a view not held by Mathews who was lectured at length on police department personnel and managerial issues by Police Chief Tim Adkins at the August city council meeting. Mathews, a former president of the State Board of Education, defeated longtime Mayor James Leslie Jr. last year.

Wheeler, who says he has to return to the Fairlea medical facility for additional X-rays and further treatment, added Saturday he’s still feeling pain in his upper torso, including his neck.

Wheeler adds that he most likely will press charges against Cyphers. Cyphers was not available for comment Saturday.
Hinton businessman Richard S. Leftwich says the heavily publicized incident at city hall can only have a negative effect on businesses wishing to relocate to Hinton and Summers County. In the past few years, a number of high-tech and service businesses have opened offices in Hinton, prompting plans for a three-story, $6-million tech center.

Leftwich, who owns Hinton Hardware, believes the completion as soon as possible of the delayed Hinton Tech Center on Summers Street near city hall is more important than hiring a police department consultant with vague powers.