Wednesday, July 18, 2012
EXTRA ONLINE EDITION
THE PUTNAM COUNTY FAIR CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY. PAGE 5
Red House man sentenced for drug distribution
Animal Shelter construction could begin in August By Jack Bailey
STAFF REPORT RED HOUSE -- A Putnam County man has been sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison for illegally distributing prescription drugs. Kevin Caleb Barrett, 23, of Red House, previously pleaded guilty in April to aiding and abetting the distribution of oxymorphone, also known as “Opana.” He was sentenced on Monday, July 16. On Nov. 18, 2011, law enforcement officers with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) utilized a confidential informant to make a controlled purchase of oxymorphone pills from the defendant. Barrett admitted that at the time, he served as the middleman to complete an illegal pill transaction between the informant and his known associate. The defendant further admitted that the informant picked him up in Dunbar and drove to a predetermined location in Huntington. The defendant admitted that when they arrived in Huntington, he met with Jacob Hatfield and gave Hatfield $1,250 in exchange for 25 40-milligram oxymorphone pills. Following the illegal transaction, Barrett returned to the vehicle and gave the pills to the informant. This case was prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by SEE SENTENCE ON PAGE 3
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WINFIELD – Work could begin on the new Putnam County Animal Shelter by mid- to late-August, following a special meeting of the Putnam County Commission on Monday, July 16. The Monday meeting featured the first reading of an ordinance for financing of the Animal Shelter. A second reading of the financing ordinance and a public hearing on the ordinance will now take place at the Commission's meeting on Aug. 14 at 9 a.m. Following the Aug. 14 meeting, if the financing ordinance is approved, work on the new shelter could begin quickly, according to County Manager Brian Donat. “Following the second reading on Aug. 14 we hope to be able to close on financing fairly quickly and turn the contractor loose on the project,” Donat said. At the July 16 meeting, Donat also presented financing proposals for the project. Ohio Valley Bank offered the best fixed rate terms with 3.95 percent over 20 years or 4.2 percent over 30
Work could begin by mid- to late-August at the site of the new Putnam County Animal Shelter on the Eleanor side of the Ross Booth Memorial Bridge at Winfield. Photo by Jack Bailey years. Commissioners voted 2-1 to accept the Ohio Valley Bank proposal, but have not yet decided
whether to take the 20 or 30 year option. Commissioner Steve Andes voted against the Ohio Valley
Bank proposal. Andes said that while he supports the need for a SEE SHELTER ON PAGE 3
Tomblin requests major disaster declaration STAFF REPORT CHARLESTON -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government to assist with the ongoing recovery and repair efforts in West Virginia following the storms, which ripped through our state between June 29 and July 10. The disaster declaration includes Putnam County, among
several other counties in West Virginia. If granted, the major disaster declaration would provide infrastructure repair, in addition to the federal assistance the state is currently receiving to address imminent health and safety concerns. "With the vast majority of West Virginians having their power restored, our efforts are now fo-
cused on cleanup and repair. That is why I am requesting additional assistance from the federal government," said Tomblin. "If granted, this new declaration will provide financial assistance to our state agencies, counties, cities, towns and public service districts." The line of severe storms, with near hurricane force straightline winds, crossed West Virginia
June 29 creating unprecedented damage to electrical and telecommunications infrastructure, with power outages occurring in all 55 counties. The damage is still being assessed, but initial estimates show the financial losses, emergency response and repair costs could exceed millions of dollars. SEE DECLARATION ON PAGE 3
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