Thursday, July 17, 2014
The
Volume 145 Issue 28 50 Cents
Putnam Standard
Special Lamb Program benefits youth on both sides
Special lamb project partners, left to right, Mariah Rowsey and Amiah Rice stand with partners Angela Roach and Edainah Young after walking with their lambs George and Cupid.
By Amanda Smythers Slate’s daughter Mariah is Amanda@theputnamstandard.com involved in special lamb, steer showing and the 4-H Horse Show. While the Putnam County Fair “It gives my daughter an eye is home to many unique displays opening experience,” she said. and attractions, one program rises Mariah Rowsey, 16, is partnered above the rest, the Special Lamb with Amiah Rice, 9. They work Program. with their lamb alongside fellow The program, a part of 4-H and 4-H’ers Edainah Young, 16, and facilitated by the West Virginia partner Angela Roach, 16. Young U n i v e r s i t y P u t n a m C o u n t y also showed a steer this week at Extension Office, pairs a seasoned the 2014 fair. 4-H’er with a child who would be “My grandpa helped start it, unable to raise and show an animal which is why I first got involved,” by themselves due to a disability. Rowsey said. “I just like being “I think this program is good involved and getting to spend a for both sides,” said 4-H parent week doing what I like to do. You Angela Slate. learn a lot with it and you get to
meet people you might not meet otherwise.” The girls raised the two lambs together from the age of about one month. When the fair started, all the lambs were about four months old, said Special Lamb Board Member Bill Whitt. “Everything seems to be going smoothly,” Whitt said. “They have all needed a lot of feed, which is a good thing.” Taking care of the lambs takes dedication. “We bathe it, play with it and walk it,” Rice said. “It’s friendly.” See Lamb, Page 7
Meth arrests fall in county By Zach Cumberland zach@theputnamstandard.com
Dalaina McLaughlin has worked with her feeder calves, Bullet and Bossy, since March getting them ready to show at the fair.
Fair grows blue ribbon youth By Michael Circle Michael@theputnamstandard.com
The 4-H and FFA programs in Putnam County help prepare youth for the annual fair as well as their futures. “We are raising blue ribbon kids, not blue ribbon pigs,” said Tim Sayre, family and health agent for West Virginia University’s Putnam County Extension Office. “No matter what color ribbon they get at the fair they
are already winners because they completed their project and saw it through until the end.” Sayre said that the volunteers, 4-H and FFA members and the fair board are the reasons for success. “The Fair Board has been outstandingly cooperative,” he said. “We couldn’t ask for better cooperation or focus on the youth of Putnam County. This fair is a chance for kids to shine, and the kids do it because they love it.
“The county has something to be very proud of. I am fortunate to be a part of it.” Residents visiting the fair have the opportunity to see livestock raised and cared for by local 4-H and FFA youth, including steers, lambs, goats and pigs. Youth use the money from sale towards a variety of personal causes, from resupplying the family for next year’s animal to saving up for college. See Blue Ribbon, Page 6
One year after Putnam County came in third in the state in methamphetamine busts, there has been a large decrease in the usage of the drug. There were 31 meth busts last year alone, which skyrocketed from only nine in 2012. Felony arrests in Putnam County also increased by 61 percent last year. According to Putnam County Sheriff Steve Deweese, the meth problem is fading at a rapid rate right now. “This year we’ve seen a huge decrease,” Deweese said. “It doesn’t really mean we still don’t have meth labs because we do, but
we took a lot of the key players out last year and a lot of large labs.” Deweese said there are currently ongoing investigations and plenty of surveillance is being done. “You’ll have your one pot labs or your mobile meth labs, but I’m talking about huge nice labs,” he said. “We’re still doing surveillance and we’re still doing investigations, but we’ve seen a huge decrease from last year to this year.” Deweese credits the decrease to thorough work and his task force for going out, beating the pavement and doing a good job. He said that the meth use in Putnam County is still going to be See Meth, Page 5
Wright signs with State By Zach Cumberland zach@theputnamstandard.com Winfield High School’s Brandon Wright has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets. “I feel great about my decision. I just want to be myself, play baseball and help the team any way I can,” Wright said. Wright was the leadoff hitter for
the Generals and capped his senior season with a .444 batting average. He stole 29 bases and earned a first-team all-state selection. Wright was also named the Charleston Daily Mail’s Kanawha Valley Player of the Year. “We are happy to get a studentathlete like Brandon in our program,” said West Virginia State Coach Sean Loyd. “He is an excelSee Wright, Page 5
Inside Putnam County Fair photos, pages 8 - 9 n