Thursday, July 10, 2014
The
Volume 145 Issue 27 50 Cents
Putnam Standard
Fair set to begin Saturday By Amanda Smythers amanda@theputnamstandard.com
The Putnam County Fair kicks off this Saturday, and officials are saying this will be the best one yet. “We’re in full swing,” said Janice Luikart, who is one of three livestock chairmen. “We have a lot of setup to do. We have a lot of exciting things this year.” Exciting is right, with eight straight days of entertainment including animal showing, Tate Stephens, a carnival, motocross and all the food you can eat. For the first time, the Putnam County Fair is hosting the Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean, which President Mike Beller says will be a fun event for the whole family. “We have some new acts on the ground,” he said. “It is going to be really exciting.” Admission to each day of the fair is $8 per day for ages 5 and up, with children under 5 admitted free. On Sunday, the price will be $5 for everyone 5 and up and on Tuesday, seniors will be able to get in for $6. Season passes are available for $30 each, which allows unlimited visits to the whole fair. “We’re a ‘one price covers all’ fair,” Beller said. “Families can bring their kids and they can ride all night - they don’t have to keep buying tickets.” Family fun is showcased throughout the week, said 2014 Putnam County Fair Queen Ivy Sovine. See Fair, Page 7
T.J. Pauley cruises down a water slide at Buffalo’s July 4th celebration.
Fireworks light up the sky above Valley Park in Hurricane as the community celebrates Independence Day.
Festivals highlight the Fourth Car show, parade, rides in Buffalo Hurricane showcases fireworks
By: Zach Cumberland zach@theputnamstandard.com
The weather was ideal for the 2014 Independence Day celebration in Buffalo. A light breeze blew as the sun shined down. The day started with the “Let’s Get Fit” 5K run/walk at 8 a.m. Shortly after, historic vehicles started arriving for the annual Trojan Club Car Show at the gazebo area. Cars of all makes and models were present, some nearly 100
years old and others brand new. In total, 107 cars and ten bikes appeared. “I just completed the Hot Rod Power Tour, which involved driving through seven cities in seven days,” said Scottie Hill, a Trojan Club Car Show participant. “I drove just short of three-thousand miles and was one of the only guys around here who made the whole trip. They call us ‘long-haulers.’” The best in show award went
See Buffalo, Page 16
By Michael Circle michael@theputnamstandard.com
Fourth of July festivities held in Hurricane’s Valley Park were full of music, laughter and cheers. The celebration included live bands, a parade down Main Street, free food and a surprise skydiving show. The Hurricane Civic Chorus kicked off the fun and the shows showed no sign of stopping until the last explosive flash of the fireworks. Shows included performances by The Appalachian
Fiddlers, The Velvatones, Chloe Sergent and headliner Colton Pack. A concert of American Celebration music and marches from the armed forces rang out from the gazebo on Main Street as the Hurricane Civic Chorus performed for a street crowd. “The music goes with the occasion,” conductor Larry Stickler said. “It’s a great example of the Fourth’s celebration music.” Stickler has been the conductor See Hurricane, Page 13
School board discusses growth, adopts new policies By Zach Cumberland zach@theputnamstandard.com Population growth in one Putnam County school area has caused the school board to contract with a company to construct an auto-loop for parents. The Putnam County Board of Education unanimously approved the bid by Asphalt Contractors
& Site-Work Incorporated in the amount of $50,873 for the construction at West Teays Elementary School. Superintendent Chuck Hatfield said it was the lowest bid received. He said that for several years the board has been working to try to get traffic off Teays Valley Rd., not only at West Teays, but at Mountain View as well.
“We don’t have near the problem at Mountain View, because we have a nice long driveway and a Superintendent loop, so at West Teays, what we’re Chuck Hatfield proposing to do, is to bring another swears in road in and loop it around the soc- School Board cer field and back into the school,” President Hatfield said. “We think that will William Legg probably bring an estimated 100 for another term. See School, Page 14
Inside Putnam County Fair guide, page 5 n