Thursday, July 17, 2014
It’s Fair time for Cabell County By Amanda Smythers amanda@theputnamstandard.com
The 31st Annual Cabell County Fair kicks off Saturday, July 19 at Barboursville Park and continues through the following Saturday, July 26 at Milton Pumpkin Park. “The fair has always been my life,” said Fair Board Secretary Rosella Call. “I love the atmosphere and the experience for kids who never get to see animals otherwise.” The fair atmosphere is getting an upgrade this year, Fair Board President Brian Clagg said. “The fair has some improvements,” he said. “One of the problems we assessed last year was the atmosphere, the reason being that we have our entertainment in a closed building. This year, we have an outdoor stage for the first time in a long while.” The outdoor stage will host Aly’An and Jeff Bates on Friday, July 25 and Matt Stillwell and the Upstage Contest winner on Saturday, July 26. The Upstage Contest, Call said, is a type of “American Idol” contest for Cabell residents and is new to the fair this year. “It’s almost like an idol type thing,” Call said. “The top ten will sing Wednesday night [at the Performing Arts Center] and the winner will open for Matt Stillwell Saturday night.” According to Clagg, attendance for the fair has dropped in recent years, something he attributes to
Barboursville Little League advances, Page 16 50 Cents Volume 116 Issue 27
New transportation complex ready By Amanda Smythers Amanda@theputnamstandard.com
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abell County Schools new transportation complex is open and running thanks to a team effort led by Assistant Superintendent Mike O’Dell. The $7.6 million project is located on Cox Landing Lane on the grounds of the old Cox Landing Middle School across from Cox Landing Elementary School. “We really, as a district, have done a great job for our transportation system,” said Superintendent Bill Smith. “We ended up with a high quality project.” The complex has been the culmination of around nine years of work, O’Dell said. With renovations happening through this past school year, they finally began the move on June 1 and are now in the final stages of moving in. “We’re about 99 percent finished,” O’Dell said. “We’re just wrapping up odds and ends.” The move itself, however, wasn’t easy. “It took a month to get through the move,” said Chief Mechanic Charles Justice. “All of our guys helped. We had to get all the parts over here. Now, we’re still in the process of reorganizing.” The new complex has plenty of room for organization. There are three separate rooms for parts, with items as small as nuts and
A bus wash is a key part of the new Cabell County Schools transportation complex, which is ready this school year after nine years of preparation and work. bolts and large as bus tires. The complex also houses office space for department personnel, locker rooms and lounges for staff and the jewel of the building: a high tech meeting room facility. The room, which has large open windows, a built in projector and tables and chairs on wheels, fits up to 125 people and has a
kitchen attached to it. “We had nothing for staff development,” O’Dell said. “We have nothing else that is handicap accessible.” O’Dell said they held the last principal’s meeting of the school year in the room and received a lot of positive responses. “I love it,” Smith said. “We’re
going to be able to use it for the whole district.” O’Dell said the transportation department would get priority standing for the room, but that its overall uses are limitless. “It’ll be well used,” he said. “That’s why I’m calling it a comSee Bus, Page 2
See Fair, Page 10
Cabell officials and residents tackle drug problem By Amanda Smythers amanda@theputnamstandard.com
Cabell County community groups, elected officials and residents sat down together to discuss solutions for the drug abuse problem plaguing the county. The meeting, held at Cabell Midland High School on Monday, was a legislative town hall organized by state Del. Carol Miller, Del. Kelly Sobonya and Sen. Evan
Jenkins. Sobonya said she brought this meeting together after witnessing the frustration and hurt due to drugs in the community. “I’m concerned for everyone’s children and families,” Sobonya said in a private interview. “I know through my role as a state legislator, I’ve come across a lot of people who have dealt with and struggled with addiction, including, like I mentioned, my nephew.”
Sobonya wasn’t the only one personally affected among the crowd of nearly 75 in the CMHS auditorium. When she asked the crowd to raise their hand if they had been affected by addiction in the community, every single hand was raised. “It has always been there,” said Barboursville Police Chief Mike Coffey before the meeting. “SomeSee Drugs, Page 4
Barboursville Mayor Paul L. Turman, Sr. (left) and Police Chief Mike Coffey listen to the legislative panel at the drug town hall.