Thursday, December 13, 2012
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WV Encyclopedia Remembers Silver Bridge Collapse CHARLESTON WV – e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, found at www.wvencyclopedia.org, will include a special homepage feature about the Silver Bridge Collapse on its December 15 “This Date in History.” This year marks the 45th anniversary of the disaster. The online encyclopedia also includes a full article and illustrations related to the tragedy. The bridge spanning the Ohio River at Point Pleasant collapsed on Friday, December 15, 1967, at about 5 p.m. There were 37 vehicles on the bridge with 67 people in them at the time of the collapse. Of these vehicles, 31 fell with the bridge. Twentyone people escaped injury or were rescued from the river. There was a total of 46 fatalities, including five killed on the Ohio shore. For 16 days federal, state, local, and private organizations conducted extensive rescue and recovery operations. The Silver Bridge, so named because it was the first bridge in the area to be painted with aluminum paint, had been designed by the J. E. Greiner Company of Baltimore. The bridge was built by the American Bridge Company of PittsSEE BRIDGE ON PAGE 4
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You Know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and…Spot? By Justin Waybright justin@theputnamstandard.com
HURRICANE — Ruff! Ruff! Ruff! Even the dogs got into the Christmas spirit this month. During the annual Reindog Parade, every dog had its special day. On Dec. 8, more than 20 dogs, big and small, pranced onto the floors of the commons area at Valley Park. From mastiffs to pugs, the furry pets strutted their stuff amid camera flashes and cheers from the large audience. Bull dogs were decked out in Santa hats and Schnauzers were covered in jingle bells. “It’s great to offer this event,” said Scott Williamson, Putnam County Parks and Recreation Director. “We try and offer a variety of activities in the park for everybody’s interest.”
Lilly, an English Bulldog, rescued from Chillicothe, Ohio, wins an award during the annual Reindog Parade at Valley Park in Hurricane. More than 20 dogs hit the spotlight inside the commons area. Money raised from the event will go toward enhancing and enlarging the dog park. Photo by Justin Waybright. Putnam County Commissioner Joe Haynes watched children and parents smile while their dogs walked in the spotlight.
“It’s important this day and age to have as many family-friendly activities as we can,” Haynes said. “We try to do something all year
long and have as many free activities as we can.” Many participating dogs were from rescue shelters across the Tri-State. Owners were happy to not only win awards with their dogs, but to offer them a good life. “This is wonderful,” said the owner of a winning English Bulldog. “We rescued her from Chillicothe, Ohio, and we have a great dog.” The parade wrapped up at 10:30 a.m., and was called a success by Williamson and Haynes. Both men praised the hard work of the county’s Parks and Recreation crew. “We have a great crew at the Park that’s focused on being family-friendly,” said Haynes. Williamson agreed, “We are very pleased with our group of workers,” he said.
WVSU Commencement set for Saturday, Dec. 15 Two ceremonies will recognize 150 graduating students INSTITUTE, WV – Approximately 150 students will graduate from West Virginia State University on Saturday, Dec. 15, during two commencement ceremonies to be held on the school’s Institute campus. The first ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will be for students graduating from the College of Professional Studies, the largest of the four colleges that make up WVSU. The second ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. and will be for students graduating from the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Business and Social Sciences and the College of Natural Science and Mathematics. Both commencements will take place in the P. Ahmed Williams Au-
ditorium, on the second floor of Ferrell Hall. Dr. Lawrence Crawford, a highly successful entrepreneur and dentist, will be the commencement speaker at both ceremonies. Crawford is currently the chairman and CEO of Diversity-Vuteq LLC, a supplier of molded plastic parts and assemblies for the automotive industry. Diversity-Vuteq LLC is an international joint venture between Crawford and Vuteq, a major Japanese automotive parts supplier that supports Toyota operations in Indiana and Mississippi. Crawford is also the co-founder of VITEC-USA, a supplier of plastic fuel tanks and systems to the automotive industry. VITEC was the first
major manufacturing business in the Detroit Empowerment Zone and records annual sales of more than $150 million. In addition to Crawford, WVSU President Brian O. Hemphill will also speak at both commencement ceremonies. WVSU Board of Governors Chairman Larry L. Rowe and Vice Chairman L. Vincent Williams will provide greetings from the Board. Dr. R. Charles Byers, WVSU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, will provide closing remarks. The Yellow Jacket Battalion Color Guard will post colors for both ceremonies, while the WVSU Brass Ensemble, under the direction of Scott Woodard, will provide the musical
prelude. Two honorary doctorate degrees will also be awarded on Saturday, one during the 10 a.m. commencement, and one during the 2 p.m. ceremony. WVSU holds commencements in December and May of each year. The December commencement recognizes those students from both the summer and fall semesters who have completed the requirements for their degrees. West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi-generational institution, SEE WVSU ON PAGE 4
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