December 28-29, 2012
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50 Cents Volume 143
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`Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ – Proverbs 22:6.
Program offers help to Problem Gamblers The Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia, the program that operates the statewide 1-800-GAMBLER help-line for problem gamblers and their loved ones, is offering a support group in Teays Valley to help individuals struggling with a gambling addiction. The agency, in conjunction with Fred Clark, offers therapy group sessions for one and a half hours a week for the duration of three months. Clark, a longtime mental health therapist and Nationally Certified Gambling Counselor, will facilitate the group. Through the 11 years of operating the 1-800-Gambler helpline, the Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia has received nearly 10,000 calls from problem gamblers and their loved ones. One of the main reasons Teays Valley was chosen as a site for this type of treatment is the helpline receives many calls from the Cabell, Kanawha, and Putnam county areas. Kathleen O'Neil, coordinator of this project for the Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia said, "Teays Valley is in close proximity of where we receive calls from this three-county area." Anyone who thinks they or a loved one may have a gambling problem is urged to call 1-800-GAMBLER to find out more.
Hurricane Red Hot Show Choir to Light up 2013 Dinner Theater Red Hot Show Choir will host its annual Dinner Theater. Seven state championships follow these students to a show that Director Kaitlin DeSpain says will be exciting and different. “We’re going to have a little of the old, but with a fresh spin,” said DeSpain. Audience members will enjoy a dinner, complete with roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, rolls, drink and dessert. From its beginnings in 1994, the Red Hot Show Choir
By Justin Waybright justin@theputnamstandard.com
HURRICANE – Inside the arts and cultural center of a local high school, underneath hundreds of gold trophies, students tune guitars, perfect vocals and try on costumes. Behind them the words: “Practice like a Champion Every Day” are painted on the wall. In days, this dedicated group of 55 young men and women will prove why their show choir reigns supreme in the state. From Jan. 4 to 6, the
The Red Hot Show Choir will perform Jan. 4 to 6 during its 2013 dinner theater. Tickets are available now. Courtesy Photo.
SEE THEATER ON PAGE 4
Celebrate the spirit of New Orleans at the party of the year Carnaval New Orleans benefits Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet CHARLESTON – Slip through cypress trees and Spanish moss into the revelry of a celebration on Bourbon Street at Carnaval New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Clay Center. The popular masquerade will benefit the education programs of the Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet. Discover the mystery of the swamp and the magic of the French Quarter with authentic Louisiana cuisine prepared by Embassy Suites, cocktails, live music and more on a bewitching night in the Big Easy. Enjoy live entertainment straight from the
bayou as the Grammy Awardwinning Rebirth Brass Band and “the prince of New Orleans piano” Davell Crawford brings funk, soul and R&B. Other entertainment includes original dance routines by The Charleston Ballet and a performance of “Appalachian stompgrass” by W. Va. string band The Wild Rumpus. Carnaval New Orleans is being organized by the volunteer group Friends of Clay Center, with the help of Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet staff, board members and volunteers. Friends of Clay Center Board President Madeleine Nibert said the group wants to deliver a fresh take on a New Orleans-themed
party. “Instead of doing our own version of Mardi Gras, we want to celebrate the dark, soulful side of New Orleans,” she said. “The theme – ‘Voodoo on the Bayou’ – is a tribute to the spirit of the city and all the things that make it such a fun, interesting place.” The event will also include a live auction and, for the first time, an online silent auction through BiddingForGood.com, an auction website for nonprofits. The silent auction will open January 3 and close during the event on January 19. Nibert said the online auction is open to both ticket buyers and people not in attendance. “The silent auction is just an-
other way for people to show their support for the Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet,” she said. “Even if they can’t attend Carnaval, they can still take part in the fun and support two important organizations.” Bids can be placed online through the website and by mobile phone. “For event guests not comfortable with mobile bidding, no worries! We’ll have plenty of easyto-spot volunteers on hand to provide assistance or place bids for them,” Nibert said. The silent auction will feature a variety of trips, autographed merchandise, gift certificates and SEE PARTY ON PAGE 5
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