The Putnam Standard

Page 1

Friday, Oct. 12, 2012

EXTRA ONLINE EDITION

RUDI RAYNES-KIDDER JOINS PUTNAM ROTARY CLUB. PAGE 5

Foundation awards grants to local projects CHARLESTON -- The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants for several projects in Putnam County at its September meeting. Among the grants approved for Putnam County were: • City of Hurricane. Funding will support the Trail Project, a plan to construct a 1/2-mile, 5foot wide, walking/jogging trail around the city park to benefit area families at no cost to participants. $20,186. • Hurricane High School. Project will improve the baseball facilities, including step installation and hillside seating for spectators. $17,500. • Rivers to Ridges Heritage Trail Inc. Project will involve planning and facilitating the construction of recreation areas located within the boundaries of Putnam County, including Hometown, Red House, Winfield and Buffalo. $5,000. • Town of Buffalo. Funding will support the Recreational Infrastructure Project, which involves the planning and installation of a walk trail and renovation of the town's gazebo. $7,000. The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation was created in 1962 by and for the people of the Greater Kanawha Valley area. This area encompasses the six county region of Kanawha, Putnam, Boone, Clay, Lincoln and Fayette. The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation is the largest Community Foundation in the State of West Virginia and is celebrating its 50th year anniversary this year.

Toyota awards local golfer new Tundra for hole in one STAFF REPORT BUFFALO -- Toyota Motor Manufacturing, W.Va., Inc. in with Special cooperation Olympics West Virginia, awarded a Toyota Tundra to Jack Richards on Thursday, Oct. 11, for his Hole In One Shot at the 15th Annual Toyota/Special Olympics West Virginia Golf Classic which was held on Monday, Sept. 10, at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, Hurricane. The keys to the Tundra, valued at over $39,000, were awarded to Richards at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, at Toyota’s Buffalo, plant by Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia President Yogi Suzuki. The Tundra was the prize for hitting a hole in one shot from the 12th Hole during the tournament. The Toyota-Special Olympics Golf Tournament is a private fund-raiser wholly underwritten by Toyota. Since its inception 15 years ago, the tournament has raised more than $739,000 to benefit Special Olympics West Virginia. John Corbett, executive direc-

Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia President Yoji Suzuki presents the keys to a new Toyota Tundra to Jack Richards and his wife, Vicky, Thursday at Toyota’s plant in Buffalo. Richards won the truck for making a hole in one at the recent Toyota/Special Olympics West Virginia Golf Classic. tor for Special Olympics West Virginia stated, "The money that this golf tournament raises goes to provide training and

competition for children and adults who are mentally challenged. This training helps them to develop confidence not only

when competing but also in life. We are grateful for Toyota's generosity and their continued support of Special Olympics.”

Putnam judge answers second statement of charges By Lawrence Smith www.wvrecord.com

CHARLESTON – Albeit nearly a week late, a Putnam family law judge has replied to a second set of ethics charges. William M. Watkins III on Oct. 10 filed his answer to the statement of charges brought against him by the Judicial Investigation Commission on Aug. 31. The statement, which acts like an in-

dictment for disciplinary purposes, accused Watkins, 58, of 24 violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct in complaints filed against him by Rev. Arthur D. Hage, Sharon Stinson, Robert Harper, Tammy Jo Lambert and Mark Halburn. Videos Hage, Harper and Lambert accompanied with their complaints showing Watkins using abrasive and foul language in their hearings have

found their way onto the Internet, including YouTube. The video from the May 23 hearing in Hage’s case showing Watkins screaming so loud that the courtroom microphones become distorted has been viewed nearly 200,000 times, and has garnered international media attention. Though Watkins’ answer was due by Oct. 4, his attorney, Robert P. Martin, asked that it

still be accepted. He cited a breakdown in communication between Watkins and himself due to his “living in semi-retirement in Pocahontas County.” In his answer, Watkins either admitted to all the allegations or acknowledged transcripts of hearings were correct. This included him referring to the biological father of Sharon SEE CHARGES ON PAGE 3

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