December 7-8,2012
Find Out What Over 32,000 Monthly Viewers Already Know!
STANDARD – A level of quality.
“Daily Issues Online” www.theputnamstandard.com
"Buffalo for Senior Citizens" A buffet dinner will be held at the Buffalo Diner on Saturday, Dec 22, 2 PM - ?. There will be a variety of food selections with the cost of the dinner being the focus of this event. Admission cost is a MERCHANT GIFT CARD, of any amount. (Example: a gift certificate or card from any of our local merchants - Buffalo Foodking, Buffalo Drug, Stokes, Exxon, Angalenos, Tammy's Restaurant, Dollar General, Buffalo Diner, Buffalo Shopping Center, Fruth, Foodland, Rite-Aid, Walmart, Kroger's, Edible Arrangements, Home Depot, etc). The gift card donations will be collected at the door on the day of the event and distributed to Buffalo and local area senior citizens, in a random manner. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the volunteers organizing this event: Melody Matthews, Trojan Car Club, Warren and Jesse Shamblin, and of course Billy & Deanna Desimone, owners of the Buffalo Diner.
HOW TO REACH US PHONE: (304) 743-6731 FAX: (304) 562-6214
l
50 Cents Volume 143
l Issue 48
Christmas Parade Sweeps through City By Justin Waybright justin@theputnamstandard.com
HURRICANE - Christmas spirit filled Main Street Saturday afternoon. The enchanted atmosphere was alive with lights, sounds and cheer. Holiday lights and flags hung from telephone poles. Business owners along the street stood outside their shops to enjoy the annual Christmas event. Members of the Hurricane Civic Chorus played seasonal melodies before hundreds of people, young and old, as they stood on sidewalks and watched a festive parade sweep through the area. It was as if the city stopped
This decked-out tractor caught the attention of bystanders during Hurricane’s Christmas Parade. It was one of many custom floats and rides that participated in this year’s event. Photo by Justin Waybright.
business, gathered families and came together to share a special evening. Boys and girls scrambled for candy thrown by parade participants. Toddlers sat on their father’s shoulders to catch a better glimpse of all the action on the street. Cameras flashed and snapped while antique cars, customs floats and groups of distinguished men and women passed underneath a perfect sunset. Joy and excitement were written on the faces of young boys and girls. They were ready for Christmas. Tracy Britt enjoyed the parade. “This is fun,” the Nitro resident said. “It really seems to bring the community together.”
Career Fair Offers Brighter Future By Justin Waybright justin@theputnamstandard.com
HURRICANE - In a dry economy and in a financially burned season, many residents found hope and a brighter future during a career fair last Wednesday at Valley Park. More than 25 employers and job agencies packed into the commons area and welcomed crowds of people to their booths. This marked the first time for this well-received event in the county. Gary Walton, the Executive Director of the Putnam County Development Authority, was pleased early in the event. “I see people coming in and out and this is great,” Walton said. The low unemployment rate spurred this event, he said.
Denise Strain, a marketing director for Advanced Technical Solutions (ATS), discusses internships with one of the many guests during a career fair at Valley Park. The fair was sponsored by the Putnam County Chamber Commerce, Putnam County Development Authority and Workforce West Virginia. Photo by Justin Waybright.
“Companies are expanding and many are finding it more and more difficult to find employees because Putnam County has such a low unemployment rate.” The county’s unemployment rate is 5.1 percent, down almost one percent from last year, according to statistics from the United States Bureau of Labor. Kanawha and Cabell counties are 6.1 percent. A handful of new businesses have come into the community, looking for employees, said Putnam Chamber of Commerce President Marty Chapman. “We are very blessed in Putnam County,” Chapman said. “While others struggle, we’re sort of an anomaly, because we are growing and our business comSEE CAREER ON PAGE 5
The Putnam Standard VISIT US ONLINE AT: WWW.THEPUTNAMSTANDARD.COM