The Putnam Standard

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Community newspapers prove that American journalism is alive, well and living in the rural areas, small towns and suburbs of our land.

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New owners bring new focus to Rides Restored

(From left) Jeremy Fisher and Doug Sims took over management of Rides Restored in February and are in the process of buying the business. Behind them, through the glass windows, they plan to add an expanded waiting area and additional office space. Photo by Jack Bailey

By Jack Bailey jackbailey@theputnamstandard.com

TEAYSVALLEY–Thesignoutsideof Rides Restored lets passersby on busy Route 34 know that something new is going on inside the 20-year-old auto bodyshop.

“UnderNewManagement”thesign proclaims, and the bustling auto body shophasbeensinceFeb.1.

Entrepreneurs Doug Sims and JeremyFisherareintheprocessofbuying theshopandturningitintoafullservice collisioncenterthatwilldoworkonany SEE RIDES ON PAGE 3

HOW TO REACH US PHONE: (304) 743-6731 FAX: (304) 562-6214

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50 Cents Volume 143

l Issue 10

Putnam “Future 4-H’er” for 2011 SUBMITTED ARTICLE ELEANOR -- Wyatt Austin Dolin of Eleanor has been named the 2011 Putnam County’s “Future 4-H’er.”

Born on October 3, 2011 at 9:49 p.m., the 6 lb- 12 oz- 20” baby boy was brought into the world at CAMC Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Charleston.

His proud parents are Matthew and Tonya Dolin of Eleanor, along with grandparents Terry and Oma Rayburn of Eleanor, and Stanley and Cathy Dolin of Liberty.

The Putnam County Future 4-H’er contest is a way to recognize potential 4-H’ers born during National 4-H Week in the first week of October every year.

The Putnam County Leader’s Association sponsors the contest and the proud recipients shall receive a homemade quilt (shown in picture) which dis-

Wyatt Austin Dolin was recognized as 2011 Putnam County’s “Future 4-H’er plays representation from each

of the 23 4-H clubs in Putnam

County along with various baby gifts donated from each of the clubs.

A special “How-How” goes to Mr. Wyatt Dolin and his parents.

For those future parents who are expecting during the first week in October, keep your eyes peeled for the 2012 contest announcement in August.

The baby and parents must be residents of Putnam County, and the parents willing to share photos for publicity purposes when the baby is recognized.

The Putnam county “Future 4-H’er” is selected by the first pre-registered child born during National 4-H Week or the closest date after.

For additional information, please contact Beth Baldwin, 4H Extension Agent at the Putnam County Extension office at (304) 586-0217, or via email at Elizabeth.Baldwin@mail.wvu.e du.

GeorgeWashington Slept Here

By David Payne Sr. davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com

The trip that brought Washington to Mason and Putnam counties was a pursuit that combined the founding fathers greatest passions – adventure, advancement of the public good, and making money.

The George Washington who made that 1770 trip into the unknown wasn't the old, stoic, haggard-looking man seen on the dollar bill and bank-lobby portraits. He was a tall, muscular man who could out-throw, out-wrestle, out-swim, out-run

This 1772 portrait was painted by Charles Wilson Peale two years after George Washington briefly traveled through the Kanawha Valley showing how he would have looked at the time – minus the Virginia colonel's uniform.

virtually anyone in North America. Even several years later, during the Revolutionary War, there were numerous instances of him taking on and defeating all comers at wrestling in the Continental Army.

But the driving force that sent Washington on that long journey from Mount Vernon to present-day Pittsburgh and then down the Ohio River wasn't a desire for exploration, it was real-estate speculation.

Bill Reynolds of the Campus Martius Museum in Marietta, Ohio, said Washington was one of many wealthy Virginians in-

terested in owning land in present-day West Virginia.

“If you had the means to pull it off, it was a very popular thing to do,” he said.

Reynolds said that while Washington played a minor role in the vast amount of land speculation in the Ohio Valley area, one fact set him apart from the others – he came out to look for himself.

Washington set out on his trip in October 1770, traveling down the Monongahela River to present-day Pittsburgh and then down the Ohio. Besides looking SEE WASHINGTON ON PAGE 3

The Putnam Standard SEND YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS TO US AT P.O. BOX 186 CULLODEN, WV 25510

Page 2 – March 5-9,2012 Rummage Sale at St. Paul's United Methodist Church When: Saturday - March 17th Time: 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Where: 20th St, Nitro The youth will be selling hotdogs.

St. Francis School Open Enrollment St. Francis School, 525 Holley Street, St. Albans is accepting registrations for the 2012-2013 school year for grades preschool through fifth. St. Francis offers a high-quality academic program in a safe, Christian environment.

Three-year old and four-year old preschool programs are licensed

by DHHR and focus on socialization, language development, and fine and gross motor skills. Students in grades K-5 receive instruction in the core subjects as well as computer, music, art, physical education, Spanish, and character education. Extra curriculum programs include basketball, theater arts, choir, chess and 4th and 5th grade band. St. Francis offers before and after school care programs for children in all grades. Registration forms may be obtained on the school website www.sfswv.com, or by calling the school office at (304) 727-5690.

Kindergarten and Preschool Roundup will be held on Tuesday, March 13 from 11:30am – 2:30pm.

4th Annual Putnam County Rotary hosting Annual Charity Raffle Putnam Rotary is offering tickets for its annual charity raffle.

"We're not selling tickets," said Chet Marshall. "We're offering an opportunity to get something in return while supporting college scholarships and local community improvement projects."

The club this year awarded two scholarships for Putnam high school students, an increase made possible by funding through the annual raffle.

All income from ticket sales goes to charitable projects. The club will pay the cost of prizes.

Three drawings for prizes were made. The first drawing for $500

Community Calendar was held on February 14th.

The second drawing will be held on March 13 and a final drawing will be made on April 10 for a grand prize of $1,000.

All drawings will be at noon at the First State Bank Community Room. Holders of the winning tickets do not need to be present to win.

Easter Eggs The women of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Nitro are making candy Easter eggs in the following flavors: peanut butter, cherry nut; maple nut, coconut and butter cream. All eggs are half-pound and cost $4.00 each.

To place an order please call 304 755-3561. Orders must be placed

by March 21st.

ASEP Coaching Classes to be held in March ASEP coaching class will be held March 11-13 at South Charleston High School for those interested in coaching a secondary school sport. Register at www.wvssac.org.

Town of Buffalo to host “All Horse Parade” The Town of Buffalo will be celebrating its 175th Anniversary this April 2012.

There will be an “ALL HORSE PARADE” on Saturday April 14, 1 PM. Starting at Buffalo High School, traveling north on Rt. 62 to 18 Mile Creek Road, then back through Town again, returning to the school. We are looking for participates of equine in any form – riding, buggy/carriages driving, leading – ponies, horses, mules.

There is a bank account set up for donations of anyone who would like to support this event.

Please contact Bill 304-2680269 for more information or the Town of Buffalo 304-937-2041

Network Of Women (NOW) Monthly Meeting Date: March 15, 2012 Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM at the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Office.

About NOW: This committee is led by women in business in the community. Programs are de-

Winfield, West Virginia, USPS 451-160 The Putnam Standard (ISSN, 451160) is published weekly at P.O. Box 179, Winfield, WV 25213. Yearly subscription rates: In-County $22.00; In-State $38.00; Out-of-State $48.00. Bill Unger, Publisher. Periodical Postage paid at Main Post Office, Winfield, WV, and additional mailing offices under the act of March 3, 1979. Postmaster: Send Address changes to the Putnam Standard, P.O. Box 179, Winfield, WV 25213. We reserve the right to accept or reject and to edit all news and advertising copy.

signed to support women in the business community. Typical programs conducted throughout the year are a blood drive, the “Uniquely Me” Program, “Ladies Night Out” and “In the Know”.

The group also participates in “Bell Ringing” for the Salvation Army and collected non-perishable food items throughout the year and distributed to the local food pantry to give back to the community.

NOW is open to all women working for and with Putnam County Chamber member businesses interested in expanding their professional, personal and social relationships with other women.

Passport Day in the USA – March 10, 2012 Event: Passport Day in the USA 2012 Date: Saturday, March 10, 2012 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: South Charleston Public Library, 312 4th, South Charleston, WV, 25303 (304-7446561).

Order Your Easter Eggs NOW The United Methodist Women of Forrest Burdette United Methodist Women are taking orders for ½ pound Easter Eggs, available in vanilla, coconut, cherry nut, maple nut and the most favorite of all, peanut butter. Each egg is hand decorated.

Cost $3.50.

The eggs will be available for pick on Saturday, March 31st, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Forrest Burdette United Methodist Church, 2848 Putnam Avenue in Hurricane. Also, on that day, books, crafts, baked goodies and hot dogs will be on sale for the Spring Festival.

To place an order, call Jan, 304562-2053 or email your order to jrowsey593@aol.com with the subject Eggs!

Historic Preservation development grants Available Applications are being accepted through March 31, 2012, for historic preservation development grants through the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Approximately $500,000 will be available for grant awards, contingent upon appropriation of funds from the West Virginia Legislature or the United States Congress.

Eligible projects include the restoration, rehabilitation or archaeological development of historic sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Properties owned by church organizations or used exclusively for religious purposes are not eligible for funding. Privately owned properties are eligible only in instances where there is evidence of public support or public bene-

fit. In addition, governmental properties that are not accessible to the public are not eligible.

For more information about the historic preservation development grants or a complete program description, including funding priorities and selection criteria, visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org/shpo/forms. html, or contact Pamela Brooks, grants coordinator for the SHPO, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 720.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts with Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary. The Division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the Division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

St. Francis Bingo St. Francis Church at 525 Holley Street, St. Albans holds Bingo every Monday evening beginning with Early Birds at 5pm. Concessions are available. Please call (304) 727-3033 for more information.

Election Workers Needed If you are registered to vote in Putnam County and would like to work as an election worker in the May 8, 2012, primary election, please contact the office of the Putnam County Clerk at 304586-0202, by March 30. Workers will be placed on a first come basis. Both evening and day training sessions will be available.

Home repair program in need of Applications for Summer Workcamps Applications are currently being accepted from Putnam County homeowners who live within a 30-minute drive of Winfield High School for the Reach Workcamp program. From July 15-28 volunteers from the Christian-centered organization will be in Putnam County performing basic home repairs that homeowners are unable to perform for themselves. There is no cost to the homeowner.

Types of work that Reach Workcamp volunteers perform includes constructing ramps, roof work, painting work (both interior and exterior) and drywall work. HVAC work is not available through the program.

Applications for the program are available at Eleanor Town Hall and Winfield City Hall. Application deadline is early April.

If you have questions, or for more information, call Mike May at

The Putnam Standard (304) 741-8022.

Cabin Fever!

‘Boys Day In’ will be held March 10, 2012 at The Commons of Putnam County Valley Park (formerly the Museum In The Community) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Ages 1 to 12 will enjoy handson activities, games and more!

The event is free of charge and refreshments will be served.

For more information call Karen Haynes at 757-7584 or Putnam County Parks & Recreation 562-0518 ext 10.

Appalachian Uprising announces Line-up The 2012 Appalachian Uprising music festival has announced its full lineup with such national headliners as 14-time Grammy Award winning bluegrass bandleader Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, The Punch Brothers, The Infamous Stringdusters, David Mayfield Parade, Jessica Lea Mayfield and many others.

Held at Steve and Gina Ceilec's Eden Valley Farm in Scottown, Ohio, the 11th annual music festival and campout that draws in thousands of acoustic music fans from around the country is set for May 31 through June 2.

The rest of the lineup includes: Mountain Heart, Don Rigsby and Midnight Call, Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain, Johnny Staats and The Delivery Boys, Chris Jones and The Nightdrivers, The Vespers, Cumberland River Band, Sasha Colette and The Magnolias, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Atomic Duo, Billy Two Shoes and Tyler Childers.

Tickets are now on sale at the web site, www.appalachianuprising.net. Three-Day pass AU 2012 is $90. Ticket price includes free camping, showerhouse, and parking. Kids under 12 admitted free with paid adult.

2nd Annual Taste of Putnam Putnam County Kiwanis invite you to come out on Sunday, May 20th at Valley Wave Pool for a funfilled family oriented event!

Enjoy Picnic in the Park featuring the unique culinary offerings of Putnam County.

ALL area restaurants and Chefs are encouraged to participate. No other event offers this type of exposure, marketing or branding opportunity to reach new customers.

To sign up or for more information contact Michael Henshall at michael.henshall@suddenlink.net or 304-993-7650.

Tickets on sale for St. Jude Dream Home The chance to win a dream home while supporting a good cause is on hand again as tickets for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway are now on sale.

Tickets for the giveaway have

The Putnam Standard been available since Friday, Feb. 24, at Peoples Federal Credit Union branches, Burdette Camping Center, participating Good Neighbor Pharmacy locations, ProBuild, by visiting www.dreamhome.org. or by calling 1-800-592-1582. Tickets cost $100 each.

The St. Jude Dream Home house is located in the Cobblestone Subdivision in Scott Depot, WV and is valued at approximately $460,000. The house features four bedrooms, four baths, a large upstairs bonus room, finished basement with two bedrooms and more.

Additional prizes include shopping sprees and gift cards, a fourday Bahamas cruise and a two night hotel stay at the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort.

PCTC Career Day Putnam Career & Technical Center is sponsoring a Career Day for high school students, adult students and community members on Thursday, March 29th, at the PCTC in Eleanor.

Area employers, labor unions and post-secondary school representatives will be in attendance to discuss career opportunities with all participants.

All community members who are seeking employment and/or post-secondary training are encouraged to attend. Times will be 8:50 until 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.

It is suggested that participants dress appropriately and bring resumes with them for potential employers. There are no fees for this service which is a School-toWork activity.

Community News

March 5-9,2012 – Page 3

WASHINGTON FROM PAGE 1 for real estate, he was very interested in developing easier ways for Virginians to trade with the outside world. He envisioned a system of canals and roads to access not only the developing west, but the important trade routes to the Great Lakes. Washington writes of the possibility of connecting the country by building a road to the headwaters of the Little Kanawha River for wagons, which would then transfer their cargo to boats bound for the Ohio River. He also writes of using the Muskingum River as part of a transportation system from Virginia to Lake Erie.

It was a time of relative peace with Indian tribes in Western Virginia and Ohio and Washington gleaned a great deal of information from them, even running into a war buddy, Kiashuta, an Indian leader who served with Washington during the French and Indian War at the mouth of Lee Creek (present-day Belleville, W.Va.).

The two old friends spoke of peace and opening trade between the people of Virginia and the Mingo tribe. Kiashuta gave Washington some buffalo meat and spoke of places where great herds of buffalo used to be and that buffalo could still be found further downriver. Those entries are significant because they give historians a point of reference for when buffalo (actually the now extinct Eastern bison) began to disappear from West Virginia and Ohio. Several of Washington's entries speak of

where Indians told him buffalo had but recently vanished or where his party saw or followed old buffalo trails, but he never saw a single bison along the Ohio River.

However, it wasn't buffalo, but instead real-estate speculation that sent Washington on his trip up the Kanawha River.

“A little before eight o'clock,” Washington writes in his diary, “we set off with our canoe up the river to discover what kind of lands lay upon the Kanawha.”

Washington estimates his total distance traveled up the Kanawha at 14 miles, which would have put him at presentday Arbuckle in Mason County.

However, other clues suggest he traveled several miles farther upriver - and into present-day Putnam County - than he believed.

In his diary, Washington mentions “two right smart creeks” entering the Kanawha from the east about two miles apart. This may be a reference to Thirteen Mile Creek at Leon and Eighteen Mile Creek some two miles downriver. From Eighteen Mile Creek, Washington says he traveled another four miles upriver, but it appears he may have underestimated this distance as well. Washington's description indicates a couple of curves and then a two-mile straight stretch upriver from Eighteen Mile Creek, which would point to the Buffalo area as his farthest upriver point traveled.

Washington's description of the bottomland (certainly his

primary interests), also indicates Buffalo as the sight of his farthest travel up the Kanawha River. Going upriver, he describes several small bottoms on the east side of the river, which appear to be the Leon/Grimm's Landing areas.

The exact place of Washington's camp isn't known. Whenever Washington camped at the mouth of a creek, he mentions it, but there is no mention of any creeks near his camp near present-day Buffalo. It was there Washington saw – and shot – his first bison.

“We encamped and went a hunting; killed five buffaloes and wounded some others --- three deer, etc.,” Washington writes in his diary. “This country abounds in buffalo and wild game of all kinds, as also in all kinds of wild fowl, there being in the bottoms a great many small grassy ponds or lakes, which are full of swans, geese and ducks of different kinds.”

While Washington hunted, other members of his party went further upriver to see what the land was like.

“Some of our people went up the river four or five miles higher and found the same kind of bottom on the west side (presentday Winfield) and were told by the Indians that it continued to the (Kanawha) Falls which they judged to be 50 or 60 miles higher up. This bottom next to the water (in most places) is very rich. As you approach to the hills you come to a thin white-oak land, and poor. This hills as far

as we could judge were from half a mile to a mile from the river, poor and steep in the parts we could see, with pine growing on them,” Washington writes.

Washington used the information gleamed from his Kanawha River trip to claim more than 23,000 acres of land in Kanawha, Putnam and Mason counties, around present-day Point Pleasant, Nitro and St. Albans as well as a small tract of land east of Charleston, which some historians cite to claim Washington as the first oil-and-gas speculator.

Washington describes the uniqueness of the site in his will: “a bituminous spring which it contains, of so inflammable a nature as to burn freely as spirits and is as nearly difficult to extinguish.”

In his will, Washington estimated the 18th Century value of his Kanawha-Valley land claims at $200,000 ($2.5 million today).

He had hoped to open the land for settlement and make himself richer in the processes. He lived to see neither.

Five years after his KanawhaRiver visit, he led the Continental Army in a desperate eight-year war against the British Empire. After the Revolutionary War ended, brutal war with Indians continued in the Ohio Valley, stalling settlement of new lands.

He was never able to find a buyer.

Contact David Payne Sr. at davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com.

gether.

“Doug and I worked together before, and he taught me a lot,” Fisher said. “We have always had a good working relationship.We talked a lot about this, and we both wanted to have our own business so we would have the freedom to do things how we wanted to do them.”

Sims said that going forward, he andFisherwantRidesRestoredtobe more than simply a collision center.

“We don't want to be just another bodyshoporacollisioncenter,”Sims said. “We want that personal relationship with our customers. We wantthemtoknowiftheyaredriving by and feel like stopping in to have a cup of coffee then they can do that.”

At 10,000-square-feet, Rides Re-

stored is much larger than it appears from Route 34. Fisher said one of the things they want to do is take part of that space and build a waiting area for customers, in addition to additional office space.

Throughout the large interior of the building, Rides Restored holds a fewsurprisesthatmostcollisioncenters can't boast of. For starters, it has one of the largest paint bays in the area. At 34 feet long and 15 feet high, the large paint bay is able to accommodate trucks and campers and other large vehicles.

The shop also has a smaller paint bay and the ability to mix their own colors on site.

Counting Sims and Fisher, Rides Restored has five employees. Of the

other employees, all are seasoned veterans with one working at Rides Restored for 16 years and another for 12 years.

Fishersaidthatthecollisioncenter willacceptalltypesofinsurance,and will provide free estimates.

“There are a lot of people who live in Putnam County who are taking their vehicles to Charleston or Huntington to have work done,” Fisher said.“Nowtheycankeepthemhere.”

Simsadded,“Thisiskindofanuntapped resource for Putnam County.

And it is in the perfect location, right between Interstate 64 and the new U.S. 35. We are a full collision center now.Bringithere,andwecanfixitfor you.”

Fisher added, “Have it towed here and we can take care of it.”

Rides Restored is open MondayFridayfrom8a.m.to5p.m.eachday.

Rides Restored is located at 4316 StateRoute34,betweenInterstate64 and the new U.S. 35.

Formoreinformation,contactthe company at (304) 757-8574.

RIDES FROM PAGE 1 makeormodelofcar.Forthepastfive years, Rides Restored has specialized in working on older model cars for collectors and auto enthusiasts.

Thepairsaidthattheyhadbeenin themarkettoeitherstartabodyshop from the ground up or purchase a shop of their own, when they approached the owner of Rides Restored about acquiring the business.

“This business has great curb appeal,” said Fisher, who has about 8 years of experience in the auto body industry.“Everythingishere.Andjust look at the area.There are not a lot of shops in this area of Putnam County.

This is a real diamond in the rough.”

Sims, who is several years Fisher's senior, said that when the two of them started talking about whether to build a shop from the ground up or buy an existing shop, both men mentioned Rides Restored.

“I said let's buy something,” Sims said. “And we both mentioned this place right off the bat.”

Sims and Fisher are St. Albans residents who have worked together in the auto body industry in the past.

Despitetheiragedifference,Fisher is 27 and Sims will be 57 in May, the pairbecamefastfriendsandtalkedat length about going into business to-

– seeks an experienced manager to lead our four-room surgical suite, PACU, and outpatient surgical services. All aspects of preoperative nursing to include general surgery, OB/Gyn, and orthopedics. This individual will perform all managerial functions for the department and has overall responsibility for coordination of the OR and PACU. BSN required, MSN preferred.

Previous OR/PACU experience and managerial experience strongly preferred. Minimum of three years of clinical experience required. Competitive pay and benefits. E-mail resume to: ASurface@stj.net or fax to: 304-473-2163. www.stj.net

EOE, ADA

Community News

Page 4 – March 5-9,2012

It’stimetoSPRINGFORWARD! With warm days of Spring just around the corner, and the Summer heat soon to follow, folks are getting ready to shed the bulky clothes of winter for t-shirts and shorts! Although we haven’t had too much bad weather this year, most people say that they are ready for the sunshine!

One sign that longer days are getting closer is the change to Daylight Savings Time which begins on Sunday, March 11th.

Be sure to change your clocks – and while you’re at it - change the batteries in your Smoke Alarm.

One Stop Secures Education Grants for 23 Schools CHARLESTON, WV – One Stop a chain of convenience stores headquartered in Belle, WV, recently announced that they have successfully secured $500 grants for 23 West Virginia schools through the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Program.

Michael Graney, President of One Stop, said, “One Stop is a part of many communities throughout the state and we are proud to be able to support our local schools. It is our hope that these grants will help enhance educational opportunities for our state’s children.”

Graney said secondary schools in the state of West Virginia include Kanawha, Cabell, Raleigh, Logan, Putnam, Mercer, Harrison, Monongalia, and Jackson Counties received grants. One Stop representatives worked with school officials from around the state and ExxonMobil to apply for the funding.

Local schools receiving aid include: Cabell County: Milton Elementary Beverly Hills Middle Altizer Elementary Putnam County: Rock Brand Elementary For additional information, contact Michael Graney or Kim Dunlap at (304) 926-3002 or via email at mgraney@itjusttakesonestop.com or kdunlap@itjusttakesonestop.com or visit the website @ www.onestopwv.com.

March Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to ALL Thelma Hutchinson Sharon Morrison Andy “A.J.” Jones Sheila Rolfe Mary Adkins Dewey Lewis Corinthia Cunningham – (March 9th) Judy Hicks (March 12th) Kim Zimmerman (March 12th) Marissa Sargent Dennis Bowen Arron Chapman

Austin Morrison Ed Adkins Walter Meadows Shirley Rolfe Clyde Bess Jr. Joyce Bostic Janit Bowen Alvie Clark Chad Clark Rebecca Copley Cookie Easter Mona Evans

If you - or someone you know - will be celebratrating a birthday in the coming months...

Call 304-743-6731 and give us their name - OR just email the information to trudyblack@theputnamstandard.com

The Putnam Standard

Debbie’s Poetry Corner

By Debra J. Harmes-Kurth

Send your poetry to Debra Harmes-Kurth 1042 Pike Street • Milton,WV 25541 In the last column I wrote about choosing a topic for a poem, which can be something you observed, felt, or remembered. Once you have chosen a topic the next step is to get your thoughts on paper. You can do this in any way, which is comfortable for you. I write down everything that comes to mind either in prose form or just short lines of thought. I find that once I get all my ideas on paper I am able to decide which are important enough to me to include in my poem. Once and awhile you will write a line that you just love, that seems to encapsulate a vivid image or thought.

However when you start putting your poem together that line just does not seem to fit with the rest of the poem, this has happened to me more than once. If this happens don’t try to make it fit into your poem just because you really like it, but save it for different poem, that line is like a small gift that can be used at another time.

Ok, this is what we have accomplished so far: we have chosen a topic, gathered our thoughts and observations together, and we have written down our ideas. The next step is putting the poem together, which is what I will be writing about in the next column. So, until next time keep reading and writing. You can send your poems to the above address (or even stop by), or you can email them to cabellputnamstandardpoetry@hot-

mail.com.

Ol' Winter Wind Have you ever seen ol' winter wind As it swiftly passes by ..

The only signs are dancing leaves Swaying branches, keeping time ..

Have you ever heard ol' winter wind With a 'puff' as clouds drift by ..

It takes off your hat and rattles your soul Down the chimney it scoots with a sigh ..

Have you ever felt o' winter wind With a bite of a tooth so sharp ..

Freezing hands reach out and nip your face As the sky plays its bitter harp ..

Ol' winter wind, lift, drifted and blew So quietly, with a shrill, fell from sight ..

Your presence sends a chill, your face to conceal I bid you farewell and goodnight ..

Ella J. Woodall - Lewis Center, Ohio ***** Fate By the time we know what we want to do life has tied us down.

Few leave the life

they have built, abandon mate and children to pursue their dreams.

Eleanor Michael, Elkhart, IA ***** Why Why did you have to grow up?

Often I dream when you were small we were a team.

It was never you nor I but we.

I would sit under a tree sing you to sleep.

I watched your face with all its grace, as I held you in my embrace knowing one day you would be gone, with all your charms from mamma’s arms.

Mary Ellen Davis, Buffalo,WV ***** Mud River Eulogy Flowing color of earth ambling past, once a lifeblood drying up and dying fast.

Sunlight penetrating her shallow clay ocher, awaiting fallen tears that often awoke her.

Forgotten battles once fought over her esteem, no more respect afforded this dying stream.

But when the heavens weep she will roar, Reminding us of her once lifeblood forever more.

Rod Sargent, WV.

Century Farm Program POINT PLEASANT - The Western Conservation District is looking for eligible Century Farms in the counties of Mason, Jackson and Putnam. In 2011 there were 14 farms in the Western Conservation District area designated as Century Farms.

The West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts began the Century Farm Program in

2011 to recognize farms in West Virginia that have been maintained by the same family for at least 100 years.

To qualify, ownership must be kept in the same family for at least 100 years. This ownership can be through husband, wife, children, brothers, sisters, nephews or nieces. A summary listing all past owners and their

relationship must be submitted along with an application form.

The farm must consist of at least 10 acres of the original tract and the current owner must generate at least $1,000 annually from farm products.

Farms that are eligible will be recognized this fall by the Western Conservation District and presented with a West Virginia Century Farm sign. Please contact the Western Conservation District at 304-675-3054, or by email wcd@wvca.us , to request an application.

The Putnam Standard

Community News

March 5-9,2012 – Page 5

Putnam commissioners begin work on county budget for 2013

By Jack Bailey jackbailey@theputnamstandard.com

WINFIELD – The Putnam County Commission will have a number of tough decisions to make as it crafts the overall county budget for the fiscal year that will begin July 1.

At the Commission's meeting on Feb. 28, commissioners heard from 10 offices and departments that receive funding from the County Commission, with several asking for increases over what was budgeted for the current fiscal year.

County Manager Brian Donat said that any increases over the county's current $18 million fiscal year budget will have to be weighed carefully, as the county's regional jail bill has continued to escalate in the past few months and shows no signs of going back down.

“It gets tougher every year,” Donat said following last week's nearly five hour meeting. “In the last three years or so we haven't seen a significant amount of growth. At the same time we have seen a significant increase in the regional jail bill going forward. That will put a crunch on the overall budget.”

Donat told commissioners that the county's regional jail bill jumped to more than $119,000 in December and stayed at $118,000 for January.

“And I've talked to a number of people in law enforcement and they don't anticipate that coming down,” Donat said, adding that if the trend continues, the regional jail costs for the fiscal year will wind up being $200,000 more than the county budgeted.

Despite those rising costs, several agency heads appeared before the County Commission last week asking for increases in their budgets for the 2013 fiscal year beginning July 1.

Putnam County Sheriff Mark Smith asked for $42,000 in additional funds for the coming year in order to purchase ammunition.

He said that with the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, ammunition has been more difficult for his department to obtain.

He said that he wants to start ordering more ammunition in bulk so that it will be on hand when his department needs it.

As an example, he said that one specific type of ammunition he ordered in August still has not been received by his department.

Smith also asked for an increase in his budget for salaries for his higher ranking officers.

Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Sorsaia also came before the Commission asking for additional funds in his budget for salaries. Sorsaia asked for an additional $50,000 in his budget in order to raise the salaries of some of his assistant prosecuting attorneys that he said were “grossly underpaid.” He said that the raises are needed in order to remain competitive with private sector law firms.

Sorsaia said that the last time he attempted to hire an attorney to fill an open position in his office he found several people interested in the position, but they would have had to have taken a $10,000 to $15,000 pay cut to go work there.

Sorsaia said that his goal is to raise his assistant prosecuting attorneys salaries to $75,000 a year.

Also appearing before the Commission, Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood made an impassioned plea for more money to raise the salaries of workers in his department.

“I asked last year and I want to ask again this year,” Wood said. “It (pay raises) is needed.

They work hard for the people.

They're here every day. I beg you all to step up to the plate.”

Putnam Circuit Clerk Ronnie

Matthews also asked for an increase in his budget for the next fiscal year in order to hire a new full-time court clerk to work in the circuit court courtroom of Judge Stowers. Matthews said that he was compelled by state code to provide the full-time clerk to the circuit judge.

Matthews said that he was asking for an increase in his budget from $509,260 this year to $557,486 next year with the bulk of the increase going toward the new court clerk.

Others were more modest in their budget requests for the coming year.

Gary Walton, director of the Putnam County Development Authority, asked for a 4 percent increase in the amount of funding his agency receives from the County Commission.

Walton said that the Development Authority has had a busy year and if a number of prospects he has been meeting with decide to locate in Putnam County the county will have to begin development of the second phase of its business park.

Assessor Sherry Hayes asked for an increase in her budget for part-time help because she said that she expects to lose three employees of her office this year, including two long-time employees who are retiring.

Hayes said that the employees have all agreed to work on a part-time basis until full-time replacements are hired and trained.

Other departments such as the Health Department, Parks and Recreation and the Day Report Center did not ask for any increases next year, just the same amount they received during the current fiscal year.

In other news at the Feb. 28 meeting, Lowell Wilks of the Rivers to Ridges Heritage Trail, asked the commission for a

$12,500 contribution for his organization to help support a visit by Americorps members to Putnam County in April and May. Rivers to Ridges was previously known as the Kanawha Gateway Heritage Area and has been bringing Americorps members to the area the past few years to work on a variety of projects.

This year, Wilks said, Americorps members are slated to work on a new trail in the Red House area; work on a variety of projects at Valley Park; and also work in the Buffalo area on a variety of projects.

Wilks said that in all 10-12 Americorps members would be in the county for 4-5 weeks working on the projects. The money he requested would go toward materials for the projects they would be working on.

Commissioners said that they would make a decision on Wilks' request after finalizing the county budget for the coming fiscal year.

In other news at the Feb. 28 meeting, commissioners said that they wanted to move forward with a plan to extend water service to residents of Manilla Ridge.

Commissioners listened to presentations on two possible options to extend water service along Manilla Ridge with one option being to phase the project in over time, and the second being to proceed with extending the service to nearly 50 residents using a main six-inch

line.

Ultimately, commissioners said that they would prefer to pursue the six-inch line that would reach more residents.

A public hearing must now be held on the proposed project and that hearing will take place at the commission's March 13 meeting.

Following the public hearing, funding for the project would be pursued with the application for $1.5 million from the HUD Small Cities Block Grant Program.

In other news at the Feb. 28 meeting, commissioners approved a number of applicafor Community tions Participation Grants.

If awarded, the grants would for the following: • $3,000 for interior renovations at the Hoge House in Winfield; • $5,000 for bathroom and shower facilities for the Putnam County Fair; • $5,000 for a new amphitheater for the Putnam County Fair; and • $9,000 for various renovations and upgrades at Valley Park.

The Putnam County Commission will hold a special meeting on Saturday, March 10, beginning at 8 a.m. to work on the county budget for the next fiscal year.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the County Commission will be Tuesday, March 13, beginning at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Winfield.

GOERING AND HIS GANG A talk by

Ken Hechler Moderated by Paul Nyden

Thursday, March 8 6:30 PM VFW Post 9097 3236 Teays Valley Road

FREE • PUBLIC INVITED

Former congressman Ken Hechler was a major in the U.S. Army when he interviewed Hermann Goering and other top Nazi officials at the end of World War II. He will share his story at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Teays Valley.

Presented by the West Virginia Humanities Council.

Page 6 – March 5-9,2012

Community News

Hechler to Speak About Interrogating Nazi Officials at the End ofWorldWar II CHARLESTON, WV — Before he came home and was elected to public office, U.S. Army Major Ken Hechler interrogated captured Nazi officials for the War Department prior to the start of the Nuremberg Trials in 1945. Among those he interviewed was Hermann Goering, Adolf Hitler’s second-in-command and commander of the German Luftwaffe.

Hechler will discuss the experience and his book on the subject, Goering and His Gang, at VFW Post 9097 on Teays Valley Road at 6:30 PM on the evening of March 8.

Charleston Gazette investigative reporter Paul Nyden will serve as moderator. The presentation is a free program of the West Virginia Humanities Council. The public is cordially invited to attend.

Hechler is a former U.S. Congressman, West Virginia Secretary of State, White House staff member for President Harry Truman, Columbia and Marshall University professor and an author. His books include: Insurgency: Personalities and Politics of the Taft Era; The Bridge at Remagen; West Virginia Memories of President Kennedy; Working With Truman; and Super Marine! The Sgt. Orland D. “Buddy” Jones Story. The Bridge at Remagen was made into a major motion picture of the same title by United Artists. Now well into his 90s, Hechler continues to travel the country addressing veterans groups.

For more information contact Mark Payne, Program Officer for the West Virginia Humanities Council, at 304-3468500 or payne@wvhumanities.org.

The Putnam Standard

Early voting schedule for Putnam County released

By Jack Bailey jackbailey@theputnamstandard.com

WINFIELD – Early voting for the May primary election will begin in Putnam County on April 25, according to a schedule released last week by Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood.

The voter registration deadline for the May 8 primary is Tuesday, April 17, Wood said.

Early voting will begin on Wednesday, April 25, and will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day.

Early voting will continue as follows:

• Thursday, April 26, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, April 27, from 8 • a.m. to 4 p.m.; • Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; • Monday, April 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday, May 1, from 8 • a.m. to 4 p.m.; • Wednesday, May 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; • Thursday, May 3, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, May 4, from 8 • a.m. to 4 p.m.; and • Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 5, will be the last day for early voting, Wood said.

All early voting will take place on the second floor of the Putnam County courthouse in Winfield.

On Election Day, May 8, voting will take place at individual precincts throughout the county from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wood said that anyone with any questions should contact his office at (304) 586-0202.

More information is also available online at www.putnamelections.com.

Cadet Grady Layne Grigsby Hicks graduates from Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy KINGWOOD, WV - The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is pleased to announce that Cadet Grady Layne Grigsby Hicks, the son of Jintana Hicks and Brandon Wymer of Scott Depot, has completed the requirements for graduation. Cadet Hicks is one of 114 graduates from thirty-five (35) counties across the State of West Virginia. Class 2-11 is the thirtyseventh class to complete this West Virginia National Guard Program. Commencement exercises were held Friday, December 16th, at the Craig Civic Center in Kingwood, WV. MG (Ret) Allen E. Tackett congratulated the Cadets and introduced the commencement speaker.

Ms. Joanne

Grady Layne Grigsby Hicks is one of 114 to graduate from West Virginia National Guard Program.

Tomblin, First Lady of West Virginia, gave the commencement address.

While attending the Academy, Cadet Hicks of Platoon 3 was recognized for receiving the Instructor's List (4 times), Mentorship Award, Academic Most Improved, Level I PT Award, as well as obtaining the First, Second, and Third Phase Completion Ribbons.

Cadet Hicks also participated in

the Presidential Physical Fitness Program. During their time at the Academy, Cadet Hicks served in the following leadership positions: Asst Platoon Leader (2 times).

All graduating Cadets have completed the 22-week residential phase of ChalleNGe which includes activities in eight core component areas ranging from Service to Community to Employability Skills. In addition to classroom studies, the Cadets traveled to the Nation’s Capitol in Washington, DC. Cadets in this class provided over 5000 hours of Service to Community for such organizations as the Mountaineer Area Rescue Group, Trout For Cheat, Inc., Burlington Apple Butter Festival, and Valley Elementary School. Following graduation, these Cadets will begin a one-year post-residential phase of ChalleNGe that includes placement activities in education and/or employment.

Applications are currently being accepted for Class 2-12 that begins in July. Call toll-free at 1-800529-7700 for more information.

The Putnam Standard

Community News

Local coalition works to tackle health, wellness issues that face Putnam County

By Jack Bailey jackbailey@theputnamstandard.com

TEAYS VALLEY – The headlines are as common as they are troubling.

West Virginia is among the nation's leaders in obesity; prescription drug abuse is high among youth and adults alike; and alcohol abuse remains a lingering problem.

One local group is working to combat these and other problems that face Putnam County.

Putnam Wellness is a coalition of concerned citizens and service providers from across the county who are interested in substance abuse prevention, and the health and wellness of all Putnam County citizens.

The group meets monthly, on the second Friday of each month, at a different location around the county. The next meeting is set for March 9 at noon.

The meetings are open to the public and attendance varies depending on what may be hot topics of the day, according to Alisha

Smith of the Regional Family Resource Network who serves as a point of contact for the Putnam Wellness group.

Among some of the activities that Putnam Wellness is involved with are supporting 24-7 Clubs in local schools. The 24-7 Clubs encourage students to not do drugs.

So far 24-7 Clubs are in place at Hurricane High School, Hurricane Middle School, George Washington Middle School, Poca High School and Poca Middle School.

The goal is to have a 24-7 Club at every middle school and high school in the county, Smith said.

Putnam Wellness has also served as one of the sponsors for community drug take back events where people are able to turn in unused prescription drugs. The next such drug take back event is set for April 28 in Putnam County and Smith said that every municipality in the county has signed up to participate this time around.

People wanting to turn in unused prescription drugs will be able to visit their local police sta-

tion or municipal building on April 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to drop off any unused prescription drugs.

Another program Putnam Wellness is involved with is in conjunction with the Teays Valley Church of God and is called the 'Keep a Clear Mind' program. The program includes 20 fifth grade students and provides 'conversation starters' to encourage the students and their parents to talk about drugs, alcohol and even other issues such as bullying.

Other activities with which Putnam Wellness is involved take place throughout the year, and Smith said the group encourages those who are interested to contact them or to attend one of their monthly meetings.

Putnam Wellness has a Facebook page that users can like to receive updates on the group's meetings and activities.

In addition the group has a website that can be found at http://regionalfr n.org/putnam.html, or people may call 304-414-4470 for more information.

March 5-9,2012 – Page 7

Spring is in the Air! Join the Arbor Day Foundation in March and Receive 10 FreeTrees

The Arbor Day Foundation is making it easier for everyone to celebrate the arrival of spring through planting trees.

Join the Arbor Day Foundation in March 2012 and receive 10 free white flowering dogwood trees.

"White flowering dogwoods will add year-round beauty to your home and neighborhood," said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Dogwoods have showy spring flowers, scarlet autumn foliage and red berries that will attract songbirds all winter."

The free trees are part of the nonprofit Foundation's Trees for America campaign.

The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting, between March 1 and May 31, with enclosed planting instructions. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge.

Arbor Day Foundation members also receive a subscription to Arbor Day, the Foundation's bimonthly publication, and The Tree Book, which contains information about tree planting and care.

To become a member of the Foundation and receive the free trees, send a $10 contribution to TEN FREE DOGWOOD TREES, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410, by March 30, 2012. Or join online at arborday.org/March.

Send us your community news.

We welcome news of local events and happenings in the area.

Call 304.743.6731 today!

New Confidence School on track for Fall Opening

By David Payne Sr. davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com

Putnam County Schools officials say they are making progress on the new Confidence Elementary School building and are - pardon the pun - confident it will be opening its doors to students this fall.

“We are very excited,” said Colleen Huston, Confidence principal. “It's hard to believe this is really going to happen.”

Brad Hodges, assistant superintendent of Putnam County Schools, said officials expect the new Confidence Elementary building to be complete by July.

“We're making progress. The concrete slabs are in place and the exterior walls are up. We've got 98 percent of the interior walls, 70 percent of the roof and are putting brick on the exterior.

We expect to be finished by midJuly or late July and that will give us a couple of weeks to get everything moved and ready for school to start,” he said.

Huston said students have been following the progress with excitement.

“They e-mail us pictures of the new school as they make progress and we hang those at eye level in the hallways for the kids to see. They are very excited.

It's amazing how it went from level ground to now we have a building, they can see hallways and classrooms.”

The new $8.8 million school will have about 39,000 square feet of space, with 13 regular classrooms, two prekindergarten and two kindergarten classrooms (pre-K and kindergarten classrooms feature an adjacent bathroom), a media center, computer lab, kitchen, office, commons area that will serve as a lunchroom, gym, art room, music room and a work area for teach-

ers.

The school is designed to house approximately 250 students. That will be a welcome change at the school, most of whose students now learn in portable classrooms outside of the main school building.

“We actually have more kids in the portables than in the main building,” Huston said. “It really creates a problem when you have bad weather – rain, snow or ice – because they have to go in and out so much. They have to enter the main building for lunch, gym, computer lab and it's in and out all day. When you do a shelter-in-place, you've got everybody out in portables.

We've got six classrooms in

portables and everything you do is inconvenient.”

Hodges said the current Confidence school was built in the late 1940s.

“It's one of the older buildings we have in the county and it's getting to the point where it needs to be replaced,” he said.

Officials had to install portable classrooms to make room for all the children, but the portables themselves are becoming rundown and expensive to maintain.

“The problem with the portables is most of them are old and outdated. As with any old building, you have to replace the HVAC, roofs, etc. They are getting to the point where they are starting to wear out,” Hodges said.

The Confidence school is part of the $56.7 million bond which Putnam County voters approved in 2009 for construction at numerous schools in the county.

That amount is coupled with $21.7 million in matching funds from the West Virginia School Building Authority. The bond is building three other new schools – Winfield Middle, Poca Middle and Buffalo High, as well as constructing auxiliary gyms and renovations for Winfield Elementary, Hurricane High, Poca High and Winfield High schools and the complete renovation of Poca Elementary School.

Contact David Payne Sr. at davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com.

Community News

Page 8 – March 5-9,2012

Twinkie Cake

(Ann Burger) 1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix (9x13 pan) Filling 1 cup milk 5 tbsp flour Cook to make paste, let cool.

1-1/2 cup sugar 1 stick butter softened 1 cup solid Crisco 2 tsp clear vanilla Bake cake and cool completely. Split to make 2 layers.

Beat together in bowl the sugar, butter and Crisco. Beat until sugar dissolves. Add paste continue beating, add vanilla. Put filling between layers. To make SUZIE Q – use chocolate cake mix.

LOCAL DIRECTORY

SecretaryOfStatelaunchesAlertSystemto Beard Mortuary notifyBusinessOwnersofPossibleIdentityTheft Only area funeral home certified to CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie E. provide green Tennant’s Office is notifying more than 60,000 business owners funeral services in across the state of the safeguards now in place to protect them from business identity theft. the Tri-State Area Whenever a change is made to an online business record, an alert will be sent to the email address on record for that business. In that alert email, business owners will be directed to access the Secretary of State’s online database to check the information to ensure its accuracy.

The email alert will also include information on how business owners can protect themselves from business identity theft, such as frequently changing passwords and regularly monitoring the information filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.

This alert system comes during a very busy time for business owners, who are filing annual reports with the Secretary of State’s Office by the thousands. Filing by mail is still an option for business owners, but more are taking advantage of the convenience of filing their annual report online. Since January 1 more than 11,000 annual reports have been filed using the online business portal www.business4wv.com.

Business owners can also sign up for text message alerts on the Secretary of State’s website. Those text alerts will contain information of interest to small business owners, such as reminders of filing deadlines or workshops hosted by the Secretary of State’s Office.

Hurricane Town Elementary School students meet the Governor

Hurricane Town Elementary School students Bryce Ward, Cole Stover and Trevor Dunlevy, joined by their parents and Dale Lee, President of the West Virginia Education Association, visited Gov. Tomblin in the Governor’s Office on Feb. 22. Photo courtesy of the Governor's Office.

Send us your community news.

We welcome news of local events and happenings in the area.

Call 304.743.6731 today!

Main Office • 2761 Main Street, Hurricane 304-562-9931 • 304-562-2642 (fax)

Main Office Loan Center Office 2761 Main Street • Hurricane, WV 25526 2761 Main Street, Hurricane 304-562-5055 • 304-562-9109 (fax)

Interstate Office 300 Hurricane Rd. • Hurricane, WV 25526 304-562-9005 • 304-562-7092 (fax) Valley Office 3058 Mount Vernon Rd. • Scott Depot, WV 25560 www.putcobk.com 304-757-2477 • 304-757-2503 (fax)

304-562-9931 304-562-2642 (fax)

The Putnam Standard

SUBMITTED ARTICLE HUNTINGTON - Green burial is a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that furthers legitimate ecological aims such as the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat.

In conjunction with Rosemount Memorial Gardens, Huntington, WV, Beard Mortuary is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral services by the Green Burial Council; a tax exempt, non-profit organization working to encourage environmental sustainability in the funeral profession.

Green services allow for a funeral to take place without the use of toxic or non-biodegradable materials/chemicals.

Fully bio-degradable caskets and shrouds are made available to enclose and transport the deceased.

The burial is then made directly in the earth at the beautiful new Rosemount Memorial Gardens green burial section with no vault.

This allows the body to return to its natural elements in the way that nature intended.

Body preparation suitable for a green funeral service accommodated by Beard Mortuary consists of the use of all natural topical sprays and compounds and/or arterial embalming with natural essential oils.

No formaldehyde based chemicals are used. Home wakes, public visitations, church funerals and graveside services are options that may be arranged within the time frame that a green funeral allows.

For more information please contact Shane Ritchie at Beard Mortuary, (304) 522-8253, on the web at www.beardmortuary.com, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/beardmortuarywv.

The Putnam Standard

Outdoor News

March 5-9,2012 – Page 9

Lack of habitat diversity hurts State's Wildlife

David Payne Sr.

By David Payne Sr. davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com

Therewasatimewhenmostofour state'sforestslayinmuddyruinswith vast swathes of forest laid waste by timber or coal interests to fuel the progress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Runoff from the deforested hillsides filled the streams with silt.

We'vedoneagreatdeal sincethen toimprovethequalityofnatureinour state,butintheprocess,maybewe've conserved a bit too much.

Treesarefreetogrowlikeneverbefore and acre upon acre of clear-cut

forest is a thing of the past. Old farms that haven't been worked in decades are grown over with forest.

That'scausedtheWestVirginiaDivisionofNaturalResourcestorethink its deer management plan to fit the habitat of today.

There is little diversity and that is hurtingourstate'swildlife.Oneofthe first things you learn as you earn the Forestry merit badge in Boy Scouts is the importance of forest succession.

It's a cycle that has gone on since the beginningoftime.Itstartswithadevastating event, such as a fire, that lays waste to the area.

At first grasses grow and over time opportunistic plants that spread seeds over a wide area (such as raspberries carried by birds) take hold.

Over the next few years, shrubs leadtobrushandthenfaster-growing trees start to dominate.

Eventually, fast-growing trees take over,whichareeventuallyreplacedby the larger trees you'll find in a mature forest.

Itmightseemobviousthatbyleaving forests alone, the natural order of thingswillberestored,butthat'swhat we've been doing.

What we have now is a state covered by primarily oak and hickory

forests in a relatively mature stage of succession.Lookatthewoodsalmost anywhere in this state and you'll see trees roughly the same type, age and size wherever you go.

That is definitely not the natural order of things.

Recent living memory can recall the days when much of the state was devoted to family farming, which carved fields from the forests. Surrounding those fields was scrub growth and with the forests themselves provided a wonderful diverse habitat for wildlife. As people moved from those farms after World War II, those fields grew over with brush, which provided decades of great habitat for our wildlife. But those brushy areas are now relatively mature forests. Another thing you learn intheForestrymeritbadgeisthatbasicallythemorematureaforestis,the less wildlife it can support.

That habitat we had following World War II was probably closer to ideal than anything we've had since the turn-of-the-century devastation.

I suppose the ideal habitat would be the type we had before settlers built the first homes here in the late 18th and early 19th Centuries.

IwasreadingGeorgeWashington's

diary from his 1770 trip through the area recently for a story in this week's edition. Washington spends a great deal of time describing the land and what it was like. He makes not only massive trees, but a wide diversity of trees and habitats. He described the Kanawha Valley around the Putnam/Mason County line as having lakes and wetlands in the valley itself, with oak and hickory trees a little higher up. On the ridges, were pines.

Therewerealsoopenareas,especially in the river bottoms, where the bison lived.

Washington's1770snapshotofour state's habitat represents the ideal of variedhabitatsallowingforecological diversity. It's the variable habitat that God designed our animals to live in. I think most environmentalists would saythatthewaytorestoretheancient habitat would be to simply leave the forests alone. The problem is, we've removed most of the management tools God used when humans weren't in charge here.

One important missing tool is the American Chestnut. It used to be the most important source of food for many animals. Thanks to a disease accidentally introduced from China, those chestnut trees are all but gone.

The American Chestnut Foundation is working tirelessly to create blightresistantAmericanChestnut,butunfortunately, we won't see any forests of them in our lifetimes.

More importantly, we've all but taken forest fire out of the equation.

There's an old Indian saying that in the old days a squirrel could travel from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River without touching the ground just by going from tree to tree. Well, where a squirrel can go, so can a forestfire.Acoupleofcenturiesago,afire could burn millions of acres of mature forest, making room for new plants to grow and allowing the succession process to begin anew. Obviously, we couldn't let that happen now.

Some clear-cutting here and there would certainly change things for wildlife, but timber companies are usingmostlydiametercuts(whereall trees over a certain diameter are cut and others left alone). I don't see us returningtoahigh-land-useagrarian society anytime soon.

I suppose all we can do is manage ourownlittleplotsofearthasbestwe can.

Contact David Payne Sr. at davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com

DNR Officials propose bold Deer Season Changes

By David Payne Sr. davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com

In hunting seasons past, shooting two deer in one day could get you a ticket and an appearance in magistrate court, but this year, West Virginia wildlife officials may be asking hunters to do just that.

The two-deer-daily limit is one of several major regulations in Division of Natural Resources proposals geared to encourage hunters to harvest more female deer in an effort to curtail growth of the state's deer herd.

Among the proposed changes would be to require hunters (both gun and archery) in counties with high deer populations to kill an antlerless deer before they are allowed to kill a second buck and allow hunters to take up to two deer per day, as long as one of the deer is antlerless. Since a single buck can impregnate numerous does, biologists use the harvest of female deer to control population size.

“We're not saying the deer population is about to collapse,” said Paul Johansen, DNR game management chief. “We are saying that the high percentage of our state won't support as many deer as it would when

The West Virginia DNR is proposing changes to deer season regulations to encourage hunters to harvest more does. Photo by Mark Shock and made courtesy of West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. conditions were more suitable. We are going to adjust some of our management objectives to bring our goals more in line with carrying capacity.

“We've retooled our operational deer plan and come up with some new concepts that have some innovative twists to it that we think hunters will find attractive,” Johansen said. “When we updated it, we looked at a lot of additional data sets we hadn't traditionally used, including forestry inventory information.”

West Virginia, state officials say,

just won't support as many deer as it once could. The issue is simple, too much mature forest and not enough habitat diversity, Johansen said.

“West Virginia is much more heavily forested than it used to be, compared with 40 or 50 years ago, when we had more small scattered farms across the landscape. Fields designed for cattle or used for other agriculture has changed and many of those fields through forest succession have evolved into heavilyforested stands. Generally speaking, if an area is extremely heavily forested, it is less suitable for deer,”

he said.

A perfect deer habitat would have about 30 or 40 percent of open areas among forested conditions, Johansen said.

Ironically, one of the major reasons for the habitat decline is a lack of clear-cutting by timber companies. After several years of growth, clear-cut areas make excellent deer habitat. A lack of those types of areas scattered among older-growth forest give animals fewer options to find food, Johansen said.

“If hard masts (tree nuts) aren’t available, deer will find an alternative source of food. If conditions are not favorable, deer will switch to grazing,” he said.

That habitat change can be clearly seen in old photographs, according to Jeff McCrady, DNR wildlife biologist.

“We had a lot of great habitat from back beforeWorldWar II when people were farming,” he said. “If you look at photographs from the 1930s and 1940s, you won't see a lot of forest in the background – usually you'll see pasture. AfterWorldWar II, people left the farms for industrial jobs and didn't have to eke out a living on these hilly farms, so the farms grew back into brush and woods.

When those farms were in that real brushy stage, it was ideal for deer, grouse, etc. to live.

“If you want lots of deer, you do a little clear-cutting, not that it will benefit right away, but an eight-ornine-year-old clear-cut is ideal. The habitat situation isn't something the DNR can control, the land the DNR owns is miniscule compared to private and we can't control what happens on private land,” McCrady said.

Johansen said that having more deer than habitat can comfortably support leads to smaller deer.

“If you look at the data we've collected, the size of our deer aren't as large as they were in the 1960s and early 1970s.They just don't have the nutrition to reach their full potential,” he said.

The proposed changes will be up for public comment during the DNR sectional meetings this month throughout the state, including one at 6 p.m. March 12 at the West Virginia Pumpkin Park office building in Milton.

The final proposals will be voted on by the DNR commissioners in late April.

Contact David Payne Sr.at davidpayne@theputnamstandard.com.

Leisure

Page 10 – March 5-9,2012 Across 1. Kuwaiti, e.g.

5. Erased 10. Boor’s lack 14. Box office take 15. Start of a refrain 16. Bounce back, in a way 17. Brawl 18. Three-___ fork 19. Heroin, slangily 20. Beginning 22. Equips for military duty 24. Lively intelligence 26. Home, informally 27. “Potemkin” setting 30. Wears away 32. Machine to cut and bundle grain 33. Banquet 34. Blouse, e.g.

37. Driver’s licenses, for one (2 wds) 39. Deer-like 41. “For shame!”

42. Exactly (3 wds) 44. Chemical cousin 45. Statue base 47. Most desperate 48. “Beat it!”

49. Harvest fly 51. More loyal 53. Pomp 57. Grasp

The Putnam Standard

58. Retain with stone 60. “Field of Dreams” setting 61. Carbon compound 62. Fragrant resin 63. Alpine transport 64. Contradict 65. Big Bertha’s birthplace 66. Toy that comes easily to hand

Down 1. City on the Yamuna River 2. Commuter line 3. Above 4. Residential suburb of Washington, D.C. 5. His “4” was retired 6. Frock wearer 7. Imaginary 8. Type of guitar 9. Carpenter’s groove 10. Blue book filler 11. Computer’s interval between request and delivery (2 wds) 12. Mariner’s aid 13. Clothing 21. Claim 23. Lower surface 25. Forgive

27. Final notice 28. Lover of Aeneas 29. Vertebrate’s brain 31. Iroquoian language 35. Aces, sometimes 36. Chipper 38. Bags with shoulder

straps 40. Excessive desire to eat 43. Those who steal 46. Forte 48. Backgammon piece 50. ___ de menthe 51. Abandon

52. Algonquian Indian 54. Gray wolf 55. “Shoo!”

56. Hawaiian tuber 59. Bolivian export

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

WORD SEARCH Above Aeroplanes Alphabet Areas Axis Bloody Bowl Brake Brass Build Clearing Close Coil Crow Dialog Dive Duke Ears Given Hair Heart Hike Inks Into Juicy Keys Kills Legal Lies Lift

Lively Male Meals Nasty Naval Nurse Nuts Orbit Palms Points Rags Rate React Recall Reed Rests Rink Riot Rise Roam Roll Sail Salt Site Skies Snap Sons Straws Study Taps

Tart Team Thee Tore Troubles Vans Walnut Wash Week

Obituaries

The Putnam Standard OPAL MAE COSSIN KEITH E. DENISON FRANK ALAN DILLARD CARY DOOLEY JAMES VIRGIL FARMER LOYCE MAE FARMER JIM HAMMOCK JR. EDNA MAE "PRISSY" HARPER REGINALD D. HUGHEY NELLIE DELORES BARNETTE JIVIDEN STEPHEN GREGORY JOHNSON DAVID RAY KNIGHT ROBERT L. MAYS SR. NAOMI "MAWSIE" HOUCK MCDAVID BRIDGET BETH MELVIN JEROME CURTIS NEAL MILDRED HUFFMAN PARKER MARGARET ELOISE RAMEY RUTH L. RHODES HUBERT C. "HERB" SHARP BONNIE B. (POWERS) SIDLER JOAN CAROL VAUGHAN CARL LEE WARD JOYCE KATHLEEN WHITTINGTON

OPAL MAE COSSIN Opal Mae Cossin, 77, of Red House was called home by her Heavenly Father on Friday, February 24, 2012.

Mae, as she was known by her friends and family, was a faithful member of Grandview Baptist Church for forty years. Before moving back to West Virginia in 1971, Mae and her husband Herb were faithful members of the First Baptist Church of Groveport, Ohio. While there, they ran the bus ministry, taught Sunday school and Bible study. The family has owned and operated Cossin's Exxon and Country Service since 1971 and until her illness in June, Mae was a constant figure there six days a week. She loved seeing all the customers who stopped by daily. Called "Mom," "Ma," "Grandma," or "Granny," she was a confidante to many and was loved by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed by all those in her circle of life.

Mae was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis Null and Marie Mason Null; infant sister, Mary Lou Null; sister, Ruby Null Pate; brothers, Lewis "J.R." Null, Denver "Buck" Null, James "Jimmy" Null; and her son, David Cossin.

Survivors include her husband of sixty years, Herb Cossin; daughters, Judy Cossin (Norman) Arthur of Red House, Sharon Cossin (Mike) Powell of Orange, Calif.; son, Danny "D.J." Cossin of Red House; grandsons, Paul (Jan) Babbitt of Black Betsy, James "J.R." Cossin of Red House, Kajun Cossin of Nitro, and Jesse Cossin of Red House; granddaughters, Tonya Wilson (Dan) Pignata of Petluma, Calif., Sheila Witt (Billy) Webb of Red House, and Kelli Cossin Epling of Nitro; as well as 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held

Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at Raynes Funeral Home Eleanor Chapel, Eleanor, with Pastor Woody Willard and Pastor Scott Casto officiating. Burial followed in Grandview Church Cemetery, Red House.

Online condolences may be sent to the Cossin family and the online guestbook signed by visiti n g www.raynesfuneralhome.com.

Raynes Funeral Home, Eleanor, was in charge of arrangements.

KEITH EMERSON DENISON Keith Emerson Denison of St. Albans passed away February 26, 2012, after a long illness.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine Sutler Denison; parents, Wade and Myrtle Denison; brother, Glen Denison; and sisters, Edith Carson and Helen Williams.

He is survived by his sons, Keith E. Denison II and wife, Patsy, of St. Albans and Douglas M. Denison and wife, Jacquey, of St. Albans; and niece, Kathryn Atkins and husband, Edward, of Charleston. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Brian Denison of Winfield, Kristi Sutphin and husband, Bob, of St. Albans, Doug Denison and wife, Cayce, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Chris Denison and wife, Erin, of Mt. Holly, N.C., and Adam Denison of St. Albans; and 10 great-grandchildren, Tori, Lindsay, Cassie, Grace, Sam, Joey, Brayden, Baker, Eamon and Nora.

Keith served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a glider pilot in World War II, and was part of the European Air Transport Service. He worked for Union Carbide at Tech Center in the graphic arts department, and retired after 45 years of service.

A celebration of Keith's life was held Wednesday, February 29, at First Presbyterian Church, St. Albans with the Rev. Paul Romine officiating. Burial with military honors followed in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans.

The family suggests memorial contributions are made to First Presbyterian Church, 201 Kanawha Terrace, St. Albans, WV 25177.

The family would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses and staff at CAMC Memorial and General Division and Dunbar Care and Rehabilitation for their care.

Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans, was in charge of arrangements.

FRANK ALAN DILLARD Frank Alan Dillard, 34, of Pond Gap passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at CAMC General Division due to injuries from an ATV accident.

He was a Protestant, and a laborer at Kenny's Machine Shop in Pond Gap. He was also a number one tile setter.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ira Dillard; and broth-

ers, Ira Franklin Dillard Jr. and Joey Dillard.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca L. Barker Dillard at home; mother, Ellen Smith Dillard of Pond Gap; stepson, Daniel White of Charleston; stepdaughter, Cassie White of Charleston; sisters, Cindy Moore of Belle and Shellie (Timothy) Parsons of St. Albans; the love of his life, his step-granddaughter, Faith Coffman; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Saturday, February 25, at Cooke Funeral Home Chapel, Cedar Grove, with Pastor Terry Johnson officiating. Burial followed at Dillard Family Cemetery, Big Laurel.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cooke Funeral Home, P.O. Box C, Cedar Grove, WV 25039, in memory of Frank A. Dillard.

Condolences may be sent to the family via our website, www.cookefuneralhome.com.

Cooke Funeral Home, Cedar Grove was in charge of arrangements.

CARY DOOLEY Cary Dooley, 55, of Nitro passed away Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at Hubbard Hospice House.

In honoring Cary's wishes, he was cremated. Cooke Funeral Home and Crematorium, Nitro assisted the Dooley family.

JAMES VIRGIL FARMER James Virgil Farmer died Feb. 24, 2012, in Clarksburg, W.Va., at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. He was born Aug. 15, 1923, in Paige, W.Va., the ninth and last surviving child of the late William A. and Susan McElyea Farmer.

Formerly of Man and then Ona, W.Va., Mr. Farmer had been a resident at the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility in Clarksburg for the past year. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Madeline Anderson Farmer, and his son-in-law, Jerry Hill.

Mr. Farmer was a member of Barboursville Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, and for many years was a member of Mallory Baptist Church, where he served as song leader, adult Sunday school teacher and member of the deacon board. He sang bass in both choirs of Barboursville and Mallory Baptist churches. Mr. Farmer served on the executive board of the West Virginia Baptist Convention and on the National Board of American Baptist Churches.

He was a graduate of Oak Hill High School, attended Beckley College, and was a graduate of Toledo Barber College. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army Corps of Engineers in Italy. After working as a barber for many years in Man, Mr. Farmer retired as a Nationwide Insurance agent. He was active in the Man Rotary Club, in

March 5-9,2012 – Page 11 which he had served as president and sergeant at arms, was a former member of the Milton Rotary Club, and was also a Paul Harris Fellow.

Mr. Farmer had been a member of the Logan County Emergency Ambulance Service Authority. He was a proud member of the Democrat party.

Mr. Farmer is survived by his daughter, Nina Farmer-Hill of Huntington, W.Va.; and his son, John Farmer and his wife Jo Carol of Bridgeport, W.Va. He is also survived by a granddaughter, Susan Stone and her husband Aaron of Huntington; two grandsons, James Hill and his wife Megan of Bridgeport, and Isaac Farmer of Bridgeport; and a great-granddaughter, Isabella Stone of Huntington.

Funeral services were held at Wallace Funeral Home, Barboursville, on Monday, February 27. Graveside services followed at Highland Memory Gardens, Godby Heights, W.Va. The family requests that donations are made to the Resident Fund at the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility, One Freedoms Way, Clarksburg, WV 26301.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/wallace.

LOYCE MAE FARMER Loyce Mae Farmer, 81, of Hurricane, formerly of Nitro died Friday, February 24, 2012, at Putnam Care and Rehabilitation, Hurricane.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth "Red" Farmer; her parents, Joel and Bessie White; and a nephew, Bud Wiles.

Loyce retired from the Putnam Courthouse and had worked at A.W. Cox Department Store, Nitro Hardware and FMC. She is survived by her three daughters, Deborah Davis of Hurricane, Diana Nicolaisen and husband, Dan, of Hanover, Md., and Sue Farmer Lee of Kingman, Ariz. She is also survived by her two grandsons, Kenneth (Sally) Gowins of Fort Benning, Ga., and David Nicolaisen of Annapolis, Md., both of whom she was so proud. She delighted in her greatgrandchildren, Kody, Kaleb, Emily and Liam Gowins.

She is also survived by two sisters, Joyce Howell of Winfield and Linda White of Nitro; and five nieces and their families. She is also survived by her special fam-

ily, Margie and Jerry Riggs of St. Mary's and Joel and Sara Loyce Riggs.

Funeral services were held Monday, February 27, 2012, at Chapman Funeral Home, Hurricane, with Randy Satterfield and Carlton Schooley officiating. Burial followed at Grandview Memorial Park, Dunbar.

She was faithful in her love and service to the Lord and devoted to the loving care of her brothers and sisters in Christ.

Loyce's family would like to express sincere thanks to all the staff at Putnam Care and Rehabilitation. Their care and loving attention to our mother enriched the last months of her life.

You may share memories or condolences with the family at www.chapmanfuneralhomes.co m.

JIM HAMMOCK JR. Jim Hammock Jr. of Buffalo passed away Thursday, February 23, 2012, at CAMC Teays Valley Hospital.

He was a 30-year resident of Buffalo, and was retired from Iron Workers Union Local 301, with 46 years’ service, where he was past local president, past assistant business agent and past apprentice coordinator and teacher.

Jim was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Kathryn Adkins.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife, Emily Batman-Hammock; son, James E. Hammock III and wife, Brenda, of Buffalo; daughters, Dawn Marie Karnes and husband, Rex, of St. Albans and Cheryl Ann Vaughn and husband, Mitch, of Dallas, Ga.; sister, Linda Jones of Gauley Bridge; and brothers, Jerry E. Hammock of South Charleston, Allen Hammock of Cross Lanes and Keith Hammock of South Charleston. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Bryan Karnes, Jessica Ervin, Kristina Boley, Paul Adkins, Jennifer Perkins, Ashley Hammock, Desiree Thompson and Justin Hammock; and greatgrandchildren, Breeanna Karnes, Cathryn Karnes, Ella Karnes, Christian Sargent, Riley Boley, Logan Boley and Macy Ervin.

A Celebration of Jim's life was held Sunday, February 26, at Cooke Funeral Home, Nitro.

The family suggests memorial contributions are made to either the Putnam Animal Shelter or the American Cancer Society.

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Obituaries

Page 12 – March 5-9,2012 lences at www.cookefuneralhome.com.

EDNA MAE "PRISSY" HARPER Mrs. Edna Mae "Prissy" Harper, 100, of Cross Lanes, formerly of Buckhannon and Nitro, went home to be with the Lord February 23, 2012.

Mrs. Harper was a retired nurse from Union Carbide and a former nurse for Ohio Apex in Nitro. She was a former member of Light Chapel Church in Buckhannon.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fay Harper; parents, Wousley and Blanche Radford; brothers, Baker, Benjamin and G.W. "Dub" Radford; sisters, Evelyn Peter and Margaret Pack; and grandson, J. Scott Brown.

Mrs. Harper is survived by her daughters, Fannie Brown of Florida and Sara and husband, Ron Turley, of Cross Lanes; sister, Elizabeth Welsh of Ohio; grandchildren, Rodney and wife, Jean Brown, of Florida, Jim and wife, Vicki Henson, of Virginia and Rhonda and husband, Chuck Elliott, of Cross Lanes; great-grandchildren, Stephen, Christopher, Harper, Haylee and Seth; stepgrandsons, Douglas and Karson Mott; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Hospice Care, especially Tony Dunlap, Kim Cyrus and Mary Motley and good friends, Chelsea King and Carolyn Parrish.

"On February 23 we lost our very own living legend, Edna Mae Harper, 'Grannie,' who, at 100 years old, 'finally met her man at those pearly gates.' While we're heartbroken inside, we're so grateful for the life lessons she taught us as children. Her caring, kindness, compassion towards others, and the non-judgmental love she showed. Thank you Grannie for loving us just the way we are. If it wasn't for you, we may not have turned out to be who we are today. May you finally rest in peace."

A tribute to the life of Mrs. Edna Mae Harper was held Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at Mt. Herman United Methodist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

The family suggests donations are made to HospiceCare.

The family requests that you share a memory of "Prissy" or "Grannie" by visiting www.hardingfamilygroup.com.

Gatens-Harding Funeral Home, Poca, assisted the Harper family.

from the Windsburg Inn, Colonial, Va., after he retired with over 21 years as a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Vietnam and Korean wars. He was a member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion Post, St. Albans.

Surviving are his loving wife of 57 years, Mary Ann Nelson Hughey; daughter and son-inlaw, Judy K. and Bruce W. Wilson of St. Albans; and one grandson, Cody A. Wilson. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, including nephew, Gene Nelson and his wife, Theresa, of South Charleston.

Graveside services were held Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans, with military honors.

Minister Eddie Cooper officiated.

Online condolences may be made at www.bartlettchapmanfuneralhome.com.

Funeral Bartlett-Chapman Home, St. Albans, was in charge of arrangements.

NELLIE DELORES BARNETTE JIVIDEN Nellie Delores Barnette Jividen, 82, of Ripley passed away Sunday, February 26, 2012, at Jackson General Hospital following an extended illness.

She was born March 13, 1929, in Liberty, Putnam County, daughter of the late Harold Barnette and Eva Katherine Fisher. She was a sales clerk for several area retail stores, and a homemaker.

Surviving are her daughters, Sheila Thornton Bias (Craig) of Ripley and Shirley Whittington (Woody Baldwin) of Winfield; grandson, Charles Savilla; and great-grandchildren, Manny, Chase and Johna Savilla. She also loved her pets, Sissy, Punkin, Diva and Roxie. They brought her great joy and comfort.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to cousins, Roy and Wanda Fisher and Richard and Bernice Shinn. Nellie looked forward to their daily conversations. Their faithful inquiry and support to the family was appreciated beyond measure. A very special thanks also goes to her long-term caregiver, Eileen Tackett, who became one of the family.

It was Nellie's wish that no public service or visitation was held.

Honoring those wishes, she was cremated, and a private family service will be conducted at a later date.

Donations honoring Nellie's life may be made to the West Virginia Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 11657, Charleston, WV 25339.

REGINALD D. HUGHEY Reginald D. Hughey, 80, of St. Albans passed away on Saturday, February 25, 2012, at St. Mary's Medical Center, Huntington.

He was born November 4, 1931, in Ashford to the late Linville and Enola Barker Hughey. He was also preceded in death by three sisters; and three brothers.

Reginald was a retired chef

STEPHEN GREGORY JOHNSON Stephen Gregory Johnson, 33, of Dunbar passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

He was a 1996 graduate of St. Albans High School; a Navy veteran; and a carpenter by trade.

Stephen was an avid WVU fan,

and a loving, caring individual who would drop everything to help out a friend or family member, in spite of his chronic pain.

He leaves behind his mother and stepfather, Kathy and Steve Bradley of St. Albans; father and stepmother, Blake and Roxie Johnson of Culloden; brother, Kevin; grandmother, Kathryn Leasure of St. Albans; stepsisters, Sheri Bourrie of Buford, Ga., and Nikki Black of Elkview; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and pets who will miss him dearly, but take some comfort in knowing he is now free of his pain and suffering.

The family wishes to thank the VA Hospital staff for their care and support during the last eight months.

A Celebration of Stephen's life was held Saturday at Cooke Funeral Home, Nitro.

The family suggests that donations are made to a charity of your choice in Stephen's name.

In keeping with the wishes of Stephen's mother and father, he was cremated.

You may express online condolences at www.cookefuneralhome.com.

DAVID RAY KNIGHT David Ray Knight, 53, of Charleston passed away February 20, 2012, at Hubbard Hospice House.

He was born August 1, 1958, in Charleston to the late James "Red" and Ernestine Knight.

Brothers, Jimmy, Johnny and Billy, also preceded him in death.

David is survived by a son, Jeremy Monk of Germany; sister, Rebecca (Johnny) Sloan of Nitro; brother, Michael Knight of Kershaw, S.C.; several nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and great nephews.

David's family would like to extend a thank you to the doctors and staff at Hubbard House.

A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

At David's request, he was cremated.

The family suggests donations are made to Elk Funeral Home, 2001 Pennsylvania Ave., Charleston, WV 25302.

Arrangements were in the care of Elk funeral Home, Charleston.

ROBERT L. MAYS SR. Robert L. Mays Sr. of Hurricane, W.Va., and Venice, Fla., loved the hymn "I'll Fly Away," and at the age of 84, in the presence of God, he was granted his angel wings on Feb. 24, 2012. He was surrounded by the endless love and care of his family in the peace and comfort of his home in Hurricane, W.Va. Bob was one of the most special people you could ever have known. He was a loving Christian, son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor and friend to many. The number of family and friends whom he loved and loved him as well are too numerous to count.

The Putnam Standard He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Lois Bryant Mays; his son and daughter-in-law, Robert L. and Susan Mays Jr. of Ocala, Fla.; his daughter and son-in-law, Tamila S. and John D. Williams of Hurricane, W.Va.; four grandchildren, Heidi Jasper and Heather Mays of Ocala, Fla., Ashley S. Christopher and Tyler Mays Williams of Hurricane, W.Va.; two great-grandchildren, Scout and Gus Jasper of Ocala, Fla.; one sister and her husband, Joan and Carroll Davidson of Fairfield Glade, Tenn.; two brothers and their wives, Max and Marcy Mays of Meadview, Ariz.; and George and Barbara Jones of Huntington.

Preceding his death was his mother, Princess Jones, age 100.

Bob was well known throughout the Huntington and Charleston, W.Va., area and never met a stranger. He was one of those rare gifts from God that was loved, admired and respected by everyone around him.

He served in the Merchant Marines at the end of World War II. He was a member of Church in the Valley in Milton, W.Va., which he helped to found. He was a former member of Highlawn Baptist in Huntington, W.Va., where he was chairman of the deacon board, chairman of the advisory board, the Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher and always helped with the youth, and was a member of the East End Kiwanis. He was also a parttime member of the First Baptist Church in Venice, Fla., where he and his wife attended during the winter.

Bob was an avid hunter and has numerous trophies from hunts he enjoyed all over the world, including many of the lower 48 United States, Alaska, British Columbia and Africa. He was also a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. He belonged to Gideons International and was a Kentucky Colonel.

Bob was also a former board member of Putnam County Bank in Hurricane, W.Va. Bob was the founder and former owner of Standard Food Service in Hurricane, W.Va., which is now known as U.S. Foodservice of W.Va. He was former chairman of NIFDA (National Institutional Food Distributor Associates), as well as a board member for 16 years.

The family would like to personally acknowledge and thank all the caring hands that lovingly cared for Bob to help make his final wishes come true. For those wishing to make donations, please send them to Jim Franklin Ministries, P.O. Box 233, Lesage, WV 25537; jimandsongs@aol.com.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, at Church in the Valley, Milton, W.Va., with Rev. Jim Franklin and Rev. Robert Johnson officiating.

Entombment followed in Ridgelawn Memorial Park, Huntington. Henson Mortuary, Barboursville, assisted the family with

arrangements.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.hensonmortuary.com.

NAOMI "MAWSIE" HOUCK MCDAVID Beloved Mother and Grandmother, Naomi "Mawsie" Houck McDavid, 89, of Culloden, passed from this life Feb. 25, 2012, at home surrounded by her loved ones. "Mawsie" was born April 1, 1922, in Carter County, Ky., to the late Mary Jane (Gollihue) and Willis V. Houck.

Mawsie spent her life in service to others. She served her country during World War II, working in a defense plant in Cleveland, Ohio, as a "Rosie the Riveter," while her husband served in the Army in the European Theater.

Mawsie was a member of First Baptist Church of Hurricane.

In addition to her parents Mary Jane (Gollihue) and W.V. Houck, Mawsie was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Oney McDavid; infant daughter, Sandra Jane; brothers, Lawrence, John, Jack, Bill; and sisters, Mayme Fleming and Mary Hyde.

She is survived by a loving family, William Terry (Brenda) McDavid, Jill (Lionel) Kozee, Wendy (Joe) Nicholas, Rebecca (Todd) Bennett, William Matthew (Janine) McDavid, Libby Smith, Scott Harris, Alexa Harris, Isabella Harris, Hunter McDavid, Grace Bennett, Kate Bennett and Zachary Bennett. She also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A private family gathering was held to honor Mawsie's life.

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Academy, 2635 Main St., Hurricane, WV 25526 or Hospice Care, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W, Charleston, WV 25312.

Online condolences may be sent to the McDavid family and the online guestbook signed by visiting www.raynesfuneralhome.com.

Raynes Funeral Home, Eleanor, was in charge of arrangements.

BRIDGET BETH MELVIN Bridget Beth Melvin, 27, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2012, after a courageous battle with lupus.

She was born September 24, 1984, in Charleston to Paul Robert and Patricia Melvin of Charleston.

She was a first grade teacher at Troutman Elementary School, Troutman, N.C. She was a collegiate swimmer with Wingate University, and was also a member of the Nitro High School State Championship Swim Team, Nitro. She was a former member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Nitro, and attended St. Therese Catholic Church in Mooresville.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her fiancĂŠ, Jarod William Demmons of Mooresville;

Obituaries

The Putnam Standard sisters, Melissa Marie Melvin of Raleigh, N.C., and Pamela Jean and husband, Jacob Martin Morris, of Durham, N.C.; and her beloved dogs, Piper and Bailey.

To celebrate her life, a Memorial Mass was held Monday, February 27, at St. Therese Catholic Church.

Memorials may be made in her honor to the Lupus Foundation of America, Piedmont Chapter, Inc., 4530 Park Rd., Suite 302, Charlotte, NC 28209. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville assisted the Melvin family.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavincook.com.

JEROME CURTIS NEAL Jerome Curtis Neal, 59, of Charleston departed Earth on February 16, 2012. Born the tenth child of the late Richard and Mary Frances Neal, Jerome grew up in St. Albans. He came of age in a family whose love for each other was as large as they were in numbers.

In his early years, Jerome was passionate about his participation in youth baseball, basketball and boxing, being quite the athlete. He attended St. Albans High School, but later graduated from Belpre High School in Ohio. After graduation, he attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, and from there joined the United States Air Force.

Jerome was talented in electronics, which led him to travel with bands, setting up sound equipment. He enjoyed traveling and being with friends, and was a very giving person who always wore a smile.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Shirley Neal and Dorthea Poole; and brothers, Palmer Neal and Richard Neal Jr. He is survived by his daughter, Shuranda Glenn of Atlanta, Ga.; four grandchildren; sisters, Virginia L. Farmer of St. Albans, Marilyn Gray of Spartanburg, S.C., Sandra Francis Wood of Travelers Rest, S.C., Rosita Neal of Chicago, Ill., Regina Marshall of Piedmont, S.C., and Deborah Zeigler of Charleston; brothers, William R. Neal ofWashington,W.Va., and Ryland Neal of Taylors, S.C.; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Saturday, February 25, at St. Paul Baptist Church, St. Albans.

The family requests that condolences are sent to St. Paul Baptist Church, St. Albans.

Preston Funeral Home, Charleston was in charge of arrangements.

Jerome will be sadly missed by his family and his many friends.

MILDRED HUFFMAN PARKER Mildred Huffman Parker, 89, of Raleigh, N.C., formerly of St. Albans, was called home to the arms of her Heavenly Father on Sunday, February 26, 2012.

Born in Charleston on March 29, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Beulah Blake

Huffman, and wife of the late Albert Denson Parker. Mrs. Parker was preceded in death by her brother, Paul Huffman; sisters, Dorothy Young and Betty Payne; and her loving granddaughter, Kelly Davis.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother but, most importantly, she was a Saint of God. Mom loved the Lord and served him faithfully, and was a known prayer warrior.

Psalms 116, verse 15: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

She is survived by her nine children, daughters, Ruth Ann Davis of Allen, Texas, Pattie (Walter) Chapman of St. Albans, Mary Lou (Mervin) McComas of Fayetteville, N.C., Elaine (Ronnie) McClaugherty of Teays Valley, Rebecca Wills of Indian Land, S.C., and Suzan Schieve of Raleigh, N.C.; sons, Doug (Nancy) Parker of Rochester, Wash., Jeff Parker of Raleigh, N.C., and Tom (Christy) Parker of Wake Forest, N.C.; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday, March 1, at Hafer Funeral Home, with burial following in Elk Hills Memorial Park, Big Chimney.

MARGARET ELOISE RAMEY Margaret Eloise Ramey, 71, of Hurricane, W.Va., formerly of Crown City, Ohio, passed away Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.

She was born May 8, 1940, in Huntington, W.Va., daughter of the late William Gerard and Lenore Marie Belcher Blake. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Ramey; son, Brian Ramey; and sister, Irma Blake.

She is survived by one daughter, Debbie (Bruce) Black of Hurricane, W.Va.; two sisters, Mary Alice Nichols and Donna Fulks; a special sister-in-law, Marsha Bryan; and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were conducted Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, at Miller Cemetery, Miller, Ohio, by Pastor Galloway.

Hall Funeral Home, Proctorville, Ohio, was in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall4.

RUTH L. RHODES Ruth L. Rhodes, 90, formerly of Culloden, passed away Friday, February 24, 2012 in New Oxford, PA. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at Heck Funeral Home, Milton with Rev. Arthur Backus, Jr. officiating. Burial followed in Valley View Memorial Park, Hurricane.

She was born November 28, 1921 in Summersvile, WV, a daughter of the late Arthur and Mertie Backus. She was also preceded in death by her husband, James N. Rhodes.

Mrs. Rhodes was a graduate of

St. Mary’s School of Nursing and retired as a Registered Nurse in the Coronary Care and ICU at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston She is survived by one son, Bruce Rhodes of Cincinnati, OH; one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Wayne Fake of Dover, PA; six grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Heck Funeral Home assisted the family.

Memorial donations may be made to: Alzheimer's Association - P.O. Box 96011; Washington, DC 20090.

Online condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.heckfuneralhome.com.

HUBERT C. "HERB" SHARP Hubert C. "Herb" Sharp of Charleston passed away February 8, 2012, at the age of 77. He retired from Barrack's Automotive in Charleston, where his co-workers lovingly referred to him as "Papa Smurf." Herb was a 12-year veteran of the United States Navy, having served during the Korean War. He was a very patriotic person who was proud to be an American.

He was affiliated with the Church of God. He prayed daily, and kept the Eternal God close to him. Herb also served as a Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader in Pack #65, Troop #30 and Troup #64.

He is survived by his loving wife, JoAnn of Charleston; sons, Bob Sharp (Marie), and grandchildren, Marshall and Colleen Sharp, all of Charleston, Steven Sharp of Hurricane and Herb Sharp of Charleston; brothers, Tom Sharp of Elkview, Bob Sharp of Charleston and Rex Sharp of Florida; and many nieces and nephews. The family would also like to recognize special friends, Petey and Dora.

Herb's family loved him very much, and we were thankful for his presence in our lives. He will always be missed, and we are thankful for the years we had together.

A celebration of Herb's life was held Saturday, February 25, at Emmanuel Baptist Church with John Havier officiating.

The family would be thankful for donations to be made to Gideons International at www.gideons.org.

Arrangements were in the care of Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

BONNIE B. (POWERS) SIDLER Bonnie B. (Powers) Sidler, 75, of Apple Grove, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis, OH. She was born June 27, 1936, in Ashton, WV, a daughter of the late Charley Powers and Clara Bell (Young) Powers.

Bonnie was a member of Barton Chapel Church in Apple Grove, and the Hannan High School

March 5-9,2012 – Page 13 Alumni. She was also a graduate of Hannan High School Class of 1954, a rural mail carrier and homemaker.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Eugene Sidler Jr.; and brothers, Claude, Charles, Arlie, Carmen, Hollis, Kenneth, and Gene Powers.

She is survived by her children, Joseph A. Sidler of Apple Grove, WV, Harold E. "Butch" (Nyla) Sidler III of Albuquerque, NM, Cathy Ann (Randy) Smith of Durham, NC, Bonnie Jean Sidler of Apple Grove, and Meggan Marketa Sidler of Apple Grove; eleven grandchildren, Joey Sidler, Jessica Sidler, Rocky Sidler, Kelly Sidler, Christopher Sidler, Kimberly Sidler, Christy Simmerman, Julie Moore, Brad Smith, Patrick Ward, and Chelsea Ward; eight great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and many special friends.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 29, 2012 in the Barton Chapel Church at Apple Grove with Pastor Bob Isaacs and Retired Rev. Paul Powers officiating. Burial followed in the Barton Chapel Cemetery.

Wilcoxen Funeral Home in Point Pleasant was in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be made at www.wilcoxenfuneralhome.com.

JOAN CAROL VAUGHAN Joan CarolVaughan, 59, of St. Albans passed away Monday, February 27, 2012, at her home.

Born August 30, 1952, in Charleston, Joan was the daughter of the late Boyd Elkins.

She was a graduate of University of Charleston, receiving her B.S., R.N. degree, and worked as charge nurse for the American Red Cross.

She was a member of Gateway Christian Church, St. Albans.

Joan is survived by her husband, John R. Vaughan; sons, Chris Wayne Kinder of Hurricane and Mark Richard Vaughan of St. Albans; mother, Katheryn Sample Prater, and stepfather, Lake Prater, of Ashland, Ky.; brother, Rex Elkins of Damascas, Va.; and granddaughter, Ella Grace Kinder of Hurricane.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 29, at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans. Burial followed in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes.

You may share memories or condolences with the family at www.bartlettchapmanfuneralhome.com.

CARL LEE WARD Carl Lee Ward, 70, of Pliny died February 22, 2012, at his home following a courageous fight against colon cancer.

He was the son of the late Jesse S. Ward and Virginia L. Ward. He was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley W. Prell.

Carl attended South Charleston High School, where he was a

member of the 1959 State AAA Basketball team, and Clemson University in South Carolina. He was employed by Union Carbide; Tech Center; West Bend Company of Wisconsin; and Teays Valley Heating and Cooling. He thoroughly enjoyed long hunting trips with his friends; traveling; and being with his family. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Lloyd Ward; daughter, Dawn K. Selbe; son, Trevor Ward; stepsons, Patrick O'Dell, Jeffrey O'Dell, Matthew O'Dell and Chris O'Dell; 12 grandchildren, who were much loved; sister, Deloris Egnor; and brother, Carmon Ward.

Carl requested cremation services by Cooke Funeral Home and Crematorium, Nitro. A memorial celebration was held Monday, February 27, at First Baptist Church of St. Albans with Pastor Joel Harpold officiating.

The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to David Lee Cancer Center; Kanawha Hospice; Dr. Jubelirer; Dr. Stanton; and Dr. Hamrick and for their loving care and kindness.

JOYCE KATHLEEN WHITTINGTON Joyce Kathleen Whittington, 86, of St. Albans passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2012, at Teays Center, Hurricane.

Born January 9, 1926, in Charleston, she was a daughter of the late Hollie Cecil and Emma Cobb Taylor. Also preceding her in death were her husband, Elmer Franklin Whittington; her sister, Belva Jean Hopkins; and her brother, Royce Taylor.

She attended Teays Valley Missionary Baptist Church, and was formerly employed by the National Bank of Commerce, Charleston and as a manager of the Russell Stover Candies department of Stone & Thomas, Charleston.

Surviving are her daughter, Joyce Whittington Smith and her fiancé, Patrick N. Dean, of Lake St. Louis, Mo.; her son, Kim A. Whittington and his wife, Amy, of St. Albans; her sister, Iris "Claudine" Clemons of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; her brother, John Taylor of Scott Depot; her grandsons, Shaun Smith and William Tyndale Whittington; and her greatgrandsons, Trenton Brooks and Elijah Smith.

Funeral services were held Saturday, February 25, at Teays Valley Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. John D. Smith officiating. Burial followed in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes.

Online condolences may also be made by visiting www.chapmanfuneralhomes.com.

The family suggests memorial contributions are made to Teays Valley Missionary Baptist Church, 3926 Teays Valley Rd., Hurricane, WV 25526.

Chapman Funeral Home, Hurricane was in charge of arrangements.

Classifieds

The Putnam Standard MOBILE HOME PARTS

WINTER SPECIALS – Doors, Skirting, Windows, etc. (304) 391-5863. (rtc 10-11 hmo) SERVICES

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Free estimates. (4tp 2-7) EMPLOYMENT

COMMERCIAL CLEANERS IMMEDIATE OPENINGS - Buffalo, full-time, Day & Evenings.

Benefits and Vacation. Must pass background check.

304-768-6309. (4tc 2-14 occ)

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WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VACANCIES An Equal Opportunity Employer C O O R D I N ATO R , DIVISION OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, OFFICE OF CHILD NUTRIT I O N , CHARLESTON, WV Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution of higher education (Master’s degree in business or CPA preferred).

Two year’s experience in finance, accounting, auditing or administration (School Finance or Child Nutrition Program experience preferred).

Extensive experience and knowlwith edge computers, including use of word processing, spreadsheet, and data base applications.

Knowledge of generally accepted auditing standards accounting and principles for governmental entities.

Knowledge of Federal regulations, state statues and department policies related to the administration of Nutrition Child Programs. Capability and willingness to travel extensively.

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educational level.).

CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIVING OF APPLICATION (Eastern Daylight Time): 3/15/2012 @ 4 p.m.

Application/complete job announcement @ http://wvde.state.w v.us/wvde-vacancies. Application can be mailed, email lbryant@access.k12.wv.us or faxed 304-558-0216 to Liz Bryant, WV Department of Education, Bldg. 6, Rm. 264, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., E., Charleston, WV 25305-0330.

Phone: 304-5582702.

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CLASSIFIED ADS GET RESULTS GIVE US A CALL AND ADVERTISE HERE 304-743-6731

MOBILE HOME PARTS: WINTER SPECIALS – Doors, Skirting, Windows, etc. (304) 391-5863. (rtc 10-11 hmo)

SERVICES: CREATIVE CONSTRUCTION – 304-544-6304. Contractorʼs License #WV043966.

Free estimates. (4tp 2-7)

FOR RENT: 2 BEDROOM HOME, ONA – Reduced rent for retired female to care for 3-year-old next door, 6-8 days/month. 304-412-1926. (2tc 2-21)

HOUSE FOR RENT – Milton, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, brick. $700 month/$500 damage deposit. 304-743-0334, 304-939-2294. (1tp 2-28) MILTON APARTMENT FOR RENT – 1 BR upstairs. Electric range/refrigerator.

Walking distance to stores/school. No pets. $350/month + 1 month security. 304743-8606. (2tp 2-21)

EMPLOYMENT: CCCSO IS GROWING – We are looking for CNAʼs and Home Care Aide that would like to grow with us. Starting wage: CNAʼs $8.75; Home Care Aid $8.00. For more information please contact Mrs. Perry at 304-529-4952. (2tc 2-21)

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Page 15 – March 5-9,2012

Community News

The Putnam Standard

Toyota to expand production capacity, add 80 new jobs at Buffalo plant

By Jack Bailey jackbailey@theputnamstandard.com

BUFFALO – Toyota Motor Manufacturing announced last Thursday that they will expand their production capacity of sixspeed automatic transmissions at their plant in Buffalo beginning later this year.

The expansion in production will mean an additional investment of $45 million at the Buffalo plant and will result in the creation of 80 new jobs in Putnam County. The expansion will raise total employment at the plant to 1,200 and bring total investment

by Toyota in Buffalo to $1.3 billion. It is the second expansion at the Buffalo plant announced during the past year.

“The continuing expansions at Toyota Motor Manufacturing of West Virginia speak volumes about the company's positive experience of doing business in Putnam County,” said Putnam County Commissioner Joe Haynes. “The fact that a world class company like Toyota chooses to locate here and continues to grow their business,

Toyota Motor Manufacturing announced last week that they would expand production capacity of six-speed automatic transmissions at its Buffalo plant. The added production capacity will result in 80 new jobs. Photo courtesy of Toyota sends a positive signal to other new or established businesses who might be considering our county. We are business friendly in Putnam County, a fact reinforced by this latest decision by one of the world’s most respected companies.”

Putnam County Chamber of Commerce President Marty Chapman welcomed the news of Toyota's expansion.

“Toyota continues to be everything you would want a corporate citizen to be,” Chapman said. “They kept their people working during the down time brought on by the devastating

earthquakes in Japan and now they are continuing to expand bringing more good paying jobs to our region. We truly appreciate everything they have done for Putnam County and its citizens.”

The increased production capacity will begin in November and will be completed by July 2013. Production capacity will increase from 400,000 six-speed transmissions a year to 520,000 a year.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia Inc. currently builds six-speed transmissions for the Avalon, Camry, Lexus RX350, Sienna and Venza.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing's Buffalo plant as seen by the air. With the plant's most recent expansion announcement, a total of 1,200 people will be working in Buffalo. Since breaking ground on the plant, Toyota has invested a total of $1.3 billion in the facility. Photo courtesy of Toyota “I am so pleased that for the second time in approximately a year, Toyota will expand the Buffalo plant due to the success of their diligent, hard-working, and devoted employees,” said West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

“Toyota’s commitment to excellence coupled with the strong West Virginia work ethic is a match made for positive economic growth benefitting both the company and the community.”

U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito echoed similar comments.

"I am thrilled to learn that Toyota will create 80 good-paying jobs in West Virginia. Toyota has

been an important partner to the West Virginia community for over a decade, providing over 1,000 jobs and support to local families,” Capito said. “Our economy is still struggling to recover, and the fact that Toyota continues to expand in the Mountain State is a testament to the strength of the West Virginia work force.”

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, DW.Va., who was instrumental in helping bring Toyota to Putnam County, said that he was pleased with the company's announcement.

“This is great news for Toyota’s workers and the company’s plant in Buffalo,” Rockefeller said.