Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Local newspaper subscribers look forward to the ‘leisure’ pages in their paper… where they can relax with a puzzle or two: Crossword, Sudoku, or Search-a-word.
CONGRATULATING 2012 GRADUATES PAGES 9-16
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50 Cents Volume 143
Bancroft Awarded Work Zone Sign Package BANCROFT - The Town of Bancroft applied for and was awarded a Work Zone Sign Package valued at approximately $3000. One of twelve municipalities awarded this package by the West Virginia Local Technical Assistance Program (WV LTAP), Bancroft will use the package to improve work zone safety during road maintenance, utility operations, and incident management. The Town of Bancroft was selected because of its demonstrated need of work zone traffic control devices and commitment to work zone safety. Other municipalities who received these sizeable packages were the Town of Albright, Town of Ansted, Village of Beech Bottom, City of Hinton, Town of Masontown, City of McMechen, City of Paden City, Paige Kincaid Public Service District, City of Point Pleasant, Town of Pratt, and the City of Smithers. The Work Zone Sign Package Program is one of the many services offered by the WV LTAP to improve highway safety across the state. These packages consist of traffic control devices that communities can use to warn and guide traffic around and through road construction and maintenance zones.
Putnam BOE and W.Va. Supreme Court begin Anti-Truancy Partnership By David Payne Sr. davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Robin Jean Davis and the Putnam County Board of Education signed a memorandum of understanding at the May 21 meeting to create a truancy probation officer position for the county. The memorandum sets in motion a partnership between the county and the court to create a truancy probation officer position for the county. The officer will have the full authority of the court to enforce court orders and will be employed by the court. The officer will be a court employee, but the county will reimburse the state for the cost. Officials expect to have an officer on the job by July.
Davis said that such cooperative efforts between the court and other counties has led to a significant decrease in truancy.
“The results have been very positive,” she said. Twenty Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Phillip Stowers said
SEE PUTNAM BOE ON PAGE 4
Rate would go from $25 to $37.50 for most homeowners By Jack Bailey jackbailey@theputnamstandard.com
PHONE: (304) 743-6731 FAX: (304) 562-6214
WV Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Robin Jean Davis signs a memorandum of understanding at the May 21 Board.
that this arrangement gives the county the power to hire a probation officer, with full court authority, something the county would not be able to do on its own. While the officer will be employed by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, the county will ultimately be picking up the bill for the salary. If a student doesn't comply with the Truancy Diversion program, called Truancy Triage, a hearing in circuit court is conducted within 10 days. The program was started in 2009 to reduce the number of cases that reach circuit court. Stowers said that the number of truancy cases that reach circuit court declined more than 60 percent between 2005 and 2010. This, despite the fact that the
Fire Board seeks to increase Fire Service Fee
SEE BANCROFT ON PAGE 8
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WINFIELD – For the second time in the past year the Putnam County Fire Board is asking the Putnam County Commission to raise the county's fire service fee. Fire Chiefs from throughout Putnam County appeared at the Commission's Tuesday, May 22, meeting and asked for an increase that was roughly half of what they asked for last year when they approached the Commission. Last year, after debate and a public hearing on the proposed increase the Commission
did not approve the increase. Putnam County Commissioner Steve Andes, who also serves on the Fire Board, said at Tuesday's meeting that the need for an increase is now even more apparent than it was last year. “The bottom line is that we need an increase and we need it quick,” Andes said, noting that costs have continued to rise for everything that the fire departments need to operate from gasoline to replacement parts and equipment. Tim McCoy of the Bancroft Volunteer Fire Department outlined the latest request on behalf of the Fire Board.
The proposed rates are based on the size of a structure. For residential homes up to 2,500 square feet the current fire service fee is $25 and under the proposed increase would go up to $37.50 a year. For residential homes 2,501 square feet and over the proposal would raise the fire service fee from $30 to $45 a year. Last year, the Fire Board asked for the fire service fees to double. “When we met previously and asked for additional fees we heard what you and the public had to say,” McCoy said. “We took that into consideration and the amount we are asking for
now is less.” McCoy said that since the fire service fee was implemented in 1986 it has not been increased. Since that time, however, costs have continued to rise each year. “It is not keeping pace with our expenses,” McCoy said. “The Fire Board cannot continue to run at a deficit. This (proposed increase) will allow us to pay the bills.” Overall, the proposed fee increases would bring the Fire Board an estimated $1.1 million a year. Currently, the fire service fees bring in $700,000 a year. SEE FEE ON PAGE 4
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