Wednesday, August 22, 2012
EXTRA ONLINE EDITION
FALL SPORTS PAGES 7-14
Groundbreaking set for Tuesday for Animal Shelter
Nippon Thermostat to expand Putnam plant By Jack Bailey
By Jack Bailey
jackbailey@theputnamstandard.com
jackbailey@theputnamstandard.com
WINFIELD – A groundbreaking ceremony to start construction of a new Putnam County Animal Shelter has been set for Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Earlier this month, the Putnam County Commission passed an ordinance to finance construction of the new animal shelter. The financing closed on Friday, Aug. 17, and BBL Carlton, the contractor on the project, began work to clear brush on Monday. The new animal shelter will be located on the Eleanor side of the Ross Booth Memorial Bridge at Winfield. It will replace an existing facility in Winfield that has been in use for 27 years. As envisioned by the architectural firm Silling Associates, the new animal shelter will feature 46 kennels for dogs, nearly double the capacity of the current shelter, and will also feature a system that will keep the kennels easier to clean. The new facility will also feature inside and outdoor “bonding areas” where those looking to adopt a dog or cat will have time to play with the animal. The facility will also have two entrances, one for the public looking to adopt an animal, and a separate entrance where animals are brought into the building. Once construction begins, depending on the weather, it is hoped that the new animal shelter can open to the public by late spring or early summer 2013.
FRAZIERS BOTTOM – Nippon Thermostat of America announced plans on Tuesday to invest $4 million to expand its operations in the Putnam Business Park, creating an additional 30 jobs. West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin joined with county officials and company representatives in making the expansion announcement. "Over 10 years ago, Nippon Thermostat chose to open its first North American facility in West Virginia, and I'm honored that they chose to stay and grow here in the Mountain State. This $4 million expansion will more than double the current work force and create tremendous opportunities for the people of Putnam County," Tomblin said. The Nippon Thermostat plan was the first company to open in the Putnam Business Park in 2005 and Gary Walton, executive director of the Putnam Development Authority said that the company has been a good corporate citizen. "Nippon Thermostat has been
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (center) joined with employees of Nippon Thermostat and county officials in a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday to celebrate the company’s announcement that it would expand its operations in the Putnam Business Park and add an additional 30 jobs. Photo by Jack Bailey an active member of the local and business community for many years now," Walton said. "We are pleased that they have chosen to grow with us and cre-
ate more jobs in West Virginia." Walton served as the master of ceremonies for the announcement of the company's expansion plans. Following the official
announcement, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the expansion project. SEE EXPANSION ON PAGE 20
Appraiser sentenced as part of mortgage fraud scheme STAFF REPORT CHARLESTON – A former West Virginia licensed real estate appraiser was sentenced Tuesday to one year and six months in federal prison for his role in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme involving an upscale Putnam County subdivision.
Mark E. Greenlee, 50, of Charleston, previously pleaded guilty to charges of aiding and abetting wire fraud in September 2011. Greenlee admitted that he prepared a false and fraudulent appraisal in 2006 in furtherance of a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme perpetrated
by Deborah L. Joyce and others, in the Stonegate subdivision in Hurricane. Greenlee is the second real estate appraiser prosecuted as part of the Stonegate mortgage fraud investigation. The court handed down the 18-month prison sentence resulting in part from the defen-
dant’s delayed cooperation in the investigation. In November 2008, federal agents executed a search warrant on the homes of defendants Greenlee and Joyce. Greenlee refused to cooperate at that time. SEE SENTENCE ON PAGE 3
The Putnam Standard SEND YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS TO US AT JACKBAILEY@THEPUTNAMSTANDARD.COM