Thursday, November 6, 2014
The
Volume 145 Issue 44 50 Cents
Putnam Standard
Bancroft fatal shooting involved close friends By Amanda Smythers amanda@theputnamstandard.com
When Heather Ennis heard screams outside shortly after 3 p.m., she thought there was a fire. “I expected to see the trailer on fire,” she said. “He was on the ground screaming and that was my first thought – that was the first thing that would seem extreme enough for that kind of reaction that could possibly happen around here.” In the Old Ferry Trailer Park in Bancroft on Oct. 28, 20-yearold Troy Cobb, a recent graduate
of Poca High School, was fatally shot in the head, dying seconds before ambulances arrived on the scene. The alleged shooter? His best friend and Smailes roommate, 23-year-old Jacob Smailes, who is now being held without bond, charged with first-degree murder. “I’ve never seen anything more horrible in my life,” said Tiffany
Loudermilk, a neighbor and the last one to see Cobb alive. “It was graphic. I close my eyes and I see it.” The scene couldn’t be more confusing for friends and neighbors, who said Cobb and Smailes were rarely apart, acting more like brothers than good friends. “The only time they were ever apart was when he was at school See Murder, Page 10 Troy Cobb and Jacob Smailes were roommates in the Old Ferry Trailer Park in Bancroft.
Lady Generals seek another soccer title By Zach Cumberland zach@theputnamstandard.com
Five Hurricane softball players have made verbal commitments to play at the next level. From left: Courtney Rogers (Wheeling Jesuit), Amber Null (Morehead), Madison Casto (Campbell), Emily Davis (Alderson Broaddus) and Cassie Sargent (Wheeling Jesuit).
Hurricane softball players excel By Michael Circle michael@theputnamstandard.com
The Winfield girls soccer squad, in search of its third consecutive state title, took a big step toward achieving that goal when the Generals defeated the Huntington Highlanders in the Section 4 Regional championship game. The Generals came out of the gates playing like the No. 1 ranked team in the state. Junior Jordan Pauley launched a line drive kick that hit off the Huntington keeper’s fingertips and went into the side of the net, putting Winfield up 1-0 just 10 minutes into the Oct. 30 contest played at Cabell Midland High School. Huntington had trouble keeping the ball out of its own end all night. The Highlanders were barely able to move it across See Girls Soccer, Page 12
Market wants new place By Zach Cumberland zach@theputnamstandard.com
Five members of the Hurricane Redskins softball team have verbally committed to colleges to play at the next level. Seniors Madison Casto, Courtney Rogers, Emily Davis and Cassie Sargent, as well as junior Amber Null, have all made commitments to play with four different colleges. “It’s really exciting,” Casto said. “I’m excited to go there and get started at the next level. I’m going to miss the school, but I’m ready for college.” Casto has committed to Campbell University in Four of the players played together on the 2008 state champion team in the 9/10 year old division.
See Softball, Page 7
The Putnam County Farmers Market is looking for a new location to sell its produce. Farmers Market President Chrissy Foster addressed the school board members during Monday’s meeting. She said that the members of the Farmers Market want to move from Hurricane City Park to the 25acre lot adjacent to Hurricane High so they can have a more permanent location.
Foster said she would also like to begin a Future Farmers of America club (FFA) at Hurricane High, which would grow produce for the market. “The park has been great,” Foster said. “But we are somewhat restricted. A permanent structure would allow us to expand what we do. We could do out of season activities and things like that.” The market opened in 2009, but Foster said one of the main See Market, Page 6
Putnam Co. Land Delinquents, See Page 17