Thursday, October 9, 2014
The
Volume 145 Issue 40 50 Cents
Putnam Standard
Forum informs Putnam voters By Michael Circle and Amanda Smythers The Putnam Standard
Mark Hopkins, music teacher at Buffalo for 28 years, explains the new technology at the students’ fingertips to State Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano (left). Student Ambassadors Marcus Tucker and Mandy Smith help show off the school’s technological assets.
Buffalo shows off school to state By Michael Circle michael@theputnamstandard.com
A month after being appointed to the West Virginia Board of Education, State Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano is making his rounds across the state on a 55-county campaign to visit West Virginia high schools. He stopped by Buffalo High School on Monday. “What I’m seeing today is just a phenomenal example of the future of education and I’m very pleased with what I’m seeing,” he said.
When the new high school opened its doors in the fall of 2012, the students were greeted by smart boards, laptops and an abundance of other technologically advanced teaching tools. Martirano said his hope is for other schools to learn from Buffalo’s use of technology and cultivate students for the digital age. “I am just thrilled with the educational opportunities that are being provided at this school,” Martirano said. “Innovation, students engaged and seeing themselves in the future in terms of being productive citizens in society. It’s a wonderful day to
be here.” During the tour, Martirano asked students what he considered to be the most important question of the day, “Are we meeting your needs?” “The critical piece is regarding engagement,” Martirano said. “Engagement in terms of student and staff. What I’m seeing and hearing is teachers that are extremely engaged, who see possibilities for our students, who see students are the future. The basis of this is having our high quality teachers engaging students for See Buffalo, Page 2
Eleven candidates up for election for state and county level positions received questions from community leaders at a forum sponsored by the Putnam Rotary and Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. All Putnam County nominees were invited to attend. Each candidate gave a one-minute opening statement before Moderator Kennie Bass of WCHS-TV opened the floor and accepted questions from the audience. Candidates attending the forum included: Family Court: David Hill and Richard Witt State Senate – 8th District: Ed Gaunch and Erik Wells State Senate – 4th District: Mike Hall House of Delegates – 13th District: Josh McGrath, Michael Ihle and Scott Cadle See Candidates, Page 1
Manchin visits Putnam By Amanda Smythers amanda@theputnamstandard.com
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin spent some quality time in Putnam County last week as he met with residents of Winfield and Teays Valley in a threeevent afternoon, consisting of the first graduation Putnam County’s Veteran’s Court, a town hall meeting with Winfield residents and a special celebration with firefighters at the Teays Valley Volunteer Fire Department.
“This is such an important county,” Manchin said. “This is a growing part of our state. It just continues to grow and is very prosperous and it’s an economic engine, if you will, so it’s great for me to come see how they do it.” Manchin spoke on topics varying from ISIS to Ebola and from gun rights to clean coal technology, openly condemning American involvement against ISIS and See Manchin, Page 15
Putnam schools acquire 700 trauma kits from CAMC By Zach Cumberland zach@theputnamstandard.com Recent school shootings in Kentucky and North Carolina have motivated Putnam County school officials to put more of an emphasis on emergency response procedures, ensuring schools within the county are well prepared in the case of an emergency. The concept began with Conner Street Elementary School, after which CAMC Teays Valley President Randy Hodges became involved in addition to Superintendent Chuck Hatfield. As a result, a committee formed among emergency services, law enforcement and school nurses.
Officials concluded that if the need was there for one school then maybe it was there for all schools. Roughly 680 emergency trauma kits have been placed in 22 schools across the county at a cost of $75,000. Another $5,000 will be spent to give county fire trucks and police cars their own kits. “The real investment was from CAMC,” Hatfield said. “They fully funded the bags for every classroom, so it’s really a cooperative effort.” The emergency kits were distributed in the spring but the training to use them has taken some time. Included in the kits are several different medical items, the first being a multi-trauma sterile dressing, along with stetho-
scopes, blood pressure cuffs for people that are trained to use them, a splint for fractures, a pocket mask in case of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is needed, multiple different bandages, a pair of trauma sheers and triangular bandages. “There is a comfort level in knowing that there is pre-preparation to be ready in the event that something would happen,” Hatfield said. “We feel these kits could make the difference in saving some kids’ lives.” A snakebite kit is also included in case of an environmental emergency. There are several sting and bite antiseptic sticks, bandaging type items for Emergency Services Education Institution Director See Trauma, Page 4 Stephanie Watson explained the contents of the kits.
Harvest Festival on Sat., Oct. 11