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50 Cents Volume 144
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Spring and Summer Fun: By Justin Waybright justin@theputnamstandard.com
HURRICANE - Valley Park is bustling with a plethora of events throughout spring and summer. Virtually every weekend, activities will be offered for area families. The excuse of nothing to do is laid to rest by the Putnam County Parks and Recreation Commission. Commission Director Scott Williamson’s goal has always been to provide good, clean family-fun to residents. He believes the upcoming months are chalked full with great entertainment. The best part: most events are free. “We try to make everything free or at a minimal cost, because SEE FUN ON PAGE 9
Mingo Shooting Hits Home By Justin Waybright justin@theputnamstandard.com
WINFIELD - The recent killing of Mingo Sheriff Eugene Crum hits home for officers, deputies and troopers everywhere. Crum was known for his aggressive attack on area drug problems. What Crum aimed to accomplish is the same thing Putnam County Sheriff Steve Deweese is striving to achieve. Since taking office in January, his 42member department has completed 29 felony and 154 misdemeanor arrests, not including through the month of March, according to reports. This accomplishment is worthy of celebration, but Thursday, the atmosphere was somber in the county’s sheriff department. “What happened in Mingo County affects myself and all other deputies,” said Deweese, wearing a mourning stripe across his badge. “It’s alarming - it hits
home, and I hate it for the sheriff who lost his life for trying to make the community safer.” The saddened sheriff continued, “My prayers and thoughts are with his family and the entire law enforcement community.” County leaders also feel the tragic change in society. Putnam Administrator Brian Donat looked back through the years of his life and compared them to recent times. “Obviously, we got a problem people are lashing out in very violent ways,” he said. “This is completely shocking, but tragedies like Mingo and Newtown are almost expected they’re becoming normal.” Donat said officials constantly create new and better ways to enhance security at the Putnam County Courthouse. “We want to have as much security as we can to protect people without it being burdensome on those who are here to conduct their business,” he said.
The war is on - Putnam Chief Deputy Jack Luikart uses years of DEA, Metro Drug Unit and law enforcement experience to punch holes through the area’s drug trade and violent crime trends. The Mingo County tragedy will fuel Putnam Sheriff Deweese and his force to work even harder to protect the county’s residents. Photo by Justin Waybright Sometimes increased security at the courthouses is not enough. In the upcoming weeks, the mili-
tary man will rely on an angel army to protect him. “The main thing is to keep faith in the Lord to watch over you,” said Deweese. State leaders expressed worry for area sheriffs and law enforcement members. Delegate Harry Keith White, DMingo wrote in a statement, “To think he [Crum] was gunned down in broad daylight highlights the dangerous position our men and women in law enforcement place themselves in every day.” Putnam Chief Deputy Jack Luikart is one of those men. On Thursday, fewer than 24 hours after the horrific tragedy, emotion filled his office. “It’s a sacrifice you know you may have to make - every one of us is willing to make that sacrifice when we sign the oath,” the 26year-law-enforcement-veteran said. An atmosphere of grief overSEE SHOOTING ON PAGE 8
Music: a Man’s Best Friend
HOW TO REACH US PHONE: (304) 743-6731 FAX: (304) 562-6214
l Issue 12
By Justin Waybright justin@theputnamstandard.com
HURRICANE - Inside an empty room, a man sits with a 1975 Fender Stratocaster on his lap. His fingers run up and down the neck of the six-string guitar. The young man’s head moves forward and backward in
rhythm with every note plucked and chord strummed. The musician closes his eyes and strums a melody that pierces through the atmosphere. It’s as if his soul speaks through the vintage guitar. For Neil Curry, music is life. It’s his best friend: a voice for the voiceless; an expression of raw emotion. “Playing the guitar, for me, is
like a spiritual cleansing to help keep me going,” the veteran music teacher explained. “Even in my darkest moment, I can pick up my guitar and play - it’s like my friend to talk to.” The joy and peace he feels from strumming the guitar is contagious. If playing guitar is a disease, it’s one he wants to spread throughout Putnam County and the state.
“I want to spread that same joy of expression to children and adults, and show them through hard work and practice, they can be successful and enjoy something they can play until the last days of their life,” said Curry. The benefits of learning guitar are vast, he said. From creating ways to express one’s self to deSEE MUSIC ON PAGE 11
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