Thursday, May 22, 2014
Putnam Aging senior picnic a success, Page 16
l
50 Cents Volume 145
Buffalo’s Isaiah Robinson and Gabe Garrison pose with their track coach Richie Wyant. The seniors will attend West Virginia Wesleyan in the fall and compete on the track team.
Robinson, Garrison to continue track careers By Matt Gajtka matt@theputnamstandard.com
Isaiah Robinson and Gabe Garrison have been friends since they were kids growing up in Midway. They've played on the same sports teams countless times and will graduate from Buffalo High School together on June 2. They're also both state-bound track athletes hoping to lead the Bison to glory at the Class A state meet after claiming individual regional titles May 14, with Robinson prevailing in the 800-meter run and Garrison besting the field in the 110-meter high hurdles. As of last week, they have one more thing in common. They'll be attending West Virginia Wesleyan in the fall. On May 16, the day Robinson had his official Wesleyan signing ceremony in the Buffalo auditorium, Garrison also announced he would be attending the Buckhannon-based college as an encouraged track walk-on. Robinson, the state runner-up in the 800 last year, has excelled at that distance for several years, although he thinks he might run the
George Washington named School of Excellence By Kelly Stadelman kelly@theputnamstandard.com
George Washington Elementary School was named one of just three Schools of Excellence in the entire state of West Virginia for the 2014-15 school year. “We are just waiting for the big letters to go on the front of the school,” Principal Mary Beth Myers said with a smile. High test scores, leadership and interactive programs and outstanding staff helped the school earn this prestigious award, Myers said. “Everyone at the school contributed to completing the application,” she said. “The state is looking for what you are doing that is outside the basic requirements. I put out questions to the staff and they collaborated together on the responses.” The application has eight categories, with the first section asking about student focus and support. “They want to know about our academic achievements and how we meet the needs of our students,” Myers said. “We teach so-
Students from George Washington Elementary second grade pick Swiss chard from their raised garden bed in the high tunnel. The pilot Farm to Table program is one of the reasons it was named a Schools of Excellence for 2014-15. cial studies, math and science through a program called Global Prepared Students.” The program, unique to George Washington Elementary,
involves putting students from kindergarten to second grade together in the same classroom. “It is amazing how they help each other and learn,” she said.
PHONE: (304) 743-6731 FAX: (304) 562-6214
“Throughout the three years they complete all of the courses for the three subjects.” SEE SCHOOL ON PAGE 15
Andes re-elected to county commission By Kelly Stadelman kelly@theputnamstandard.com
SEE CAREERS ON PAGE 4
HOW TO REACH US
l Issue 20
Rock Branch Community Bank held a ribbon cutting for its Scott Depot branch. Pictured left to right, Richard Shell, owner of Budget Blinds; Christina McNealy; Susan Hager; Steve Dorsey; Krysten Wolfe; Brittany Cyrus; Dr. Sami Ghareeb; Joe McDonie, president and CEO; Hurricane Mayor Scott Edwards; Linda Sullivan; Tonya Reed, branch manager, and Karen McDonie.
Bank opens branch in Scott Depot By Kelly Stadelman kelly@theputnamstandard.com
Rock Branch Community Bank’s new location will help the “hometown bank” better serve its customers. The Putnam County bank held a ribbon cut-
ting on May 15 to mark the historic event of the opening of its first branch in Scott Depot. The main location opened in Nitro in 1996. “We have been looking at this location for a couple of years, since Sheetz made plans and
Putnam County voters opted to keep Commissioner Steve Andes for a third term and retained three current school board members, but there will be a change in the Family Court judge position. Andes, the current commission president, easily won the May 13 Republican primary, beating Jerry Dials by more than 1,200 votes. Andes secured two-thirds of the vote to Dials’ 33 percent. No Democrat filed for the office, so Andes will continue with another six-year term. “I want to continue to keep taxes low improve public safety and continue work on the county’s water projects,” he said. “I would also like to get more ball fields built SEE ANDES ON PAGE 2
SEE BANK ON PAGE 10
Inside This Week: WAVE POOL OPENS - PAGE 5 SPORTS - PAGES 7-10
WWW.THEPUTNAMSTANDARD.COM