Ahh where to start...this is one of those hilariously sad stories that is hard for me to fathom. To all the smokers who don't think that second-hand smoke doesn't harm people you need to see a therapist because you are in serious denial. To the businesses are complaining about losing business, you need to realize that the ban isn't going away and next summer when the ban starts up again you're crying and complaining isn't going to do any good (hopefully). Here's the big big issue, if second-hand smoke wasn't harmful to my health I wouldn't care as much(although the smell is also disgusting).....people who chew smokeless tobacco hey I'm all for it because if they want to put their own lives at risk that's cool but they aren't hurting me. Also, I as a non-smoker have avoided businesses who are too smokey and nasty, so businesses are just worried about losing the business they already had and not concerned about the business they can get. Sadly there are a lot of ignorant people in West Virginia (and apparently Harrison Co.) who can't understand simple concepts and facts; smoking in general is literally a waste of life and a waste of money. Hopefully the common sense fairy will visit Harrison Co. soon, not going to hold my breath though.

Non-smokers are a bunch of babies... All they do is whine and complain about how bad smoking is and how they don't want their kids to do it. GET OVER IT. Smoking never killed nobody in my family! I don't know nobody who die from smoking. The non smokers just make up lies and propagate these lies in our schools.

If you don't like the smoke, eat at home! In these hard economic times a smoking ban is going to hurt businesses.. Should we allow our businesses to go out of business because some minority can't stand the smell? Should we allow anyone who complains get their way? This is America! And we needs to live like Americans! FREE!

Lets put in a tube system that channels all the smoke to the board that made these decisions or give smokers a personal tent when entering these establishments so they get their monies worth of inhalents.

Whether you support smoking or not smoking in public, the point is this is AMERICA, we have too many soldiers give their lives to protect our freedoms and rights. The Government has no business stepping in and making laws that take away those rights. We as americans need to come together and learn to compromise and come up with solutions that suite both sides of the arguement, learn to compromise and have a little give and take. We cannot infringe on the rights of smokers and we cannot infringe on the rights of a non-smoker----i hope in the end a solution is found that makes both sides of this story happy.

SPINELESS Politicians!! Grow a backbone, walk on two legs, and do your job -- you are the department of HEALTH -- help me and mine stay healthy, PLEASE ; and tell the Commissioners to shut up and let you do your job -- afterall, that is why they appointed you

Well thanks -- now I can come back to Marion County to eat after my late in the day business in Harrison County. During the last 20 days, I have enjoyed stopping to have a bite and watch sports in a Harrison County restaurant that has big screens etc., since I no longer had to tolerate the second hand smoke. The bartender, a non-smoker, often commented how much more she was enjoying her job without having to breath smoke -- she has no choice if she wants to support her children. Anyway, now I can go back to my old haunt with its 40" tube TV -- where they are not allowed to smoke according to the new Marion law. How is making bartenders and waitresses breathing deadly cigarette smoke any different than making a coal miner work in coal dust? He does not have to work in a coal mine either. (I do think Franternal clubs should be exempt provided they have an annual vote available to all of their members. It is open to members only,)

I think it should be up to the owner of the establishment to decide if it wants to have smoking, a smoking section, or flat out no smoking. It isnt up to other people to take away the RIGHTS of other people because they choose to smoke or an establishment owners rights who wants to have smoking in THEIR own business. Our troops fought for our country, and many have died and continue to do so, to ensure our people have rights, and now every time we turn around our rights, the most simple of them are being taken away, be it smoking, putting a picture of Jesus up somewhere, or saying a prayer in school. So much for the good ole USA, the land of opportunity and the land of the free.

Amazing. What a sham. It's not about health, but about a few making money at the expense of addicts. Two of the Harrison County commissioners, former smokers, have had heart bypass surgery, yet still advocate smoking. I guess the pursuit of profit is a loftier goal than providing clean, safe air for employees and patrons. I, for one, will remember that our County Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of repeal of the smoking ban. I hope that many of our Harrison county voters rebel and rid our county of this buffoonery. West Virginia politics, what a joke.

IF a bored of health could be sued for malpractice, Harrison and Mon Counties would be a plaintiff lawyers dream!

I grew up in Harrison county and now live in Taylor. What a joke. Yes, D the rest of us should not have to pay extra for our healthcare because of anyones choice to smoke. Sure 80/20 is better, but if you get seated near the entrance to the smoking area, look out. Sure, the smokers will not be as apt to sit in the smoking area of the bar/eating establishments for hours on end and the owners will cry the blues about it, BUT IF some study would be done as to how many more eating customers might be attracted to the establishment without smoke, it might just offset the business lost to the smokers. Of course we don';t want to step on the toes of the drinkers that are also smoking and the possible health benefits that might be realized by just 1 less drunk driver on the roads of Harrison county on any given night.

Technology today allows smokers and non smokers to share spaces with out a problem.The REAL problem appears to be intolerance and unwillingness by non smokers to allow a ""choice". Would you like to walk in a grocery or cafe and be told "step on this scale" and be told you are too fat or skinny and may only choose form certain foods on the menu or certain aisles?How about showing a copy of your bloodwork or DNA and be told you are only allowed these designated choices as we do not want to pay for your healthcare or we will not hire you because of your genetics. How about not being allowed to have your drink of choice? How about NOT having CHOICE of ANYTHING. The clothes you wear, the church,the doctor, dentist,career. What if you are tested and it is determined that you will only be allowed in specific careers based on your scores or the needs of your government. I suggest you think VERY carefully about depriving others of choice for you too may be denied in the future. Do NOT think it can not happen to YOU. It has already happened years ago in Germany. INTOLERANCE

Welcome back Harrison County to the stone age. The comments from some in attendence will be silented in 18 months before the regulation goes back into effect. I just wonder which ones in that room will have passed on.

if the biggest complaint was letting the bingo halls have smoking and not the smaller establishments.just make it 100% no questions. you know whats good for the goose is good for the gander.or is somebody on the take?

Isn't that just wonderfull!! Now we all get to hang out and eat and enjoy some second had smoke at the same time. My wife and I eat out 2-3 times a week and I will NOT eat at any dining establishment that allows smoking, period. WV is so backwards and pathetic...can't wait to leave!!!

I for one would like to thank the Harrison - Clarksburg Board of Health for succumbing to a few complaints from local smokers and suspending the smoking ban until 2010. I, for one, have enjoyed frequenting local dining establishments the last 20 days, and not having to worry about deadly second-hand smoke and leaving smelling like smoke. Suspending this ban until 2010 is a joke. The Board of Healthe ought to be ashamed of themselves for making our county that much more unhealthy. What a shame.

I agree that the county would have a better chance of making a smoking ban work if it were a statewide ordinance, but, I also think that club owners reacted too quickly to squash the county ban. There are many people who have refrained from entering clubs that are too smokey. I beleive that if given the chance, the clubs would have regained and possibly exceeded their numbers if the ban was kept in place. I know several people who will not go to the FOP for a meal just because of the smell of smoke as you enter the front door. It's a shame that the CBH broke so easily...

I can't believe the Health Dept caved in on this important lesigation. If the Health Dept does not drive this who will?

I know a couple who own a local bar, and are also smokers. They intended to voice their opinion at this morning's meeting, and I hope they were able to. Ordinances of this nature can have far too much negative impact on bar & tavern business, and could force many small Mom & Pop businesses of this nature to close their doors. That would be sad, as these folks are living the American Dream, owning their own business, why take that away from them? Non-smokers should know by now, the places they can go to avoid tobacco smoke, why not just keep going there? Likewise, Smokers know where they are not allowed to smoke, so just don't smoke there. Banning smoking in public places altogether is too extreme a step to take in Harrison County or even worse, Statewide. I am glad that folks showed up to voice their opinion and the Ban was suspended, valid points must have been made or the ban would still be in effect. Congrats, Bruce & Kathy!!!