Putnam County Story Archives - Page 2 of 8 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Putnam County Enacts Measure Some Say Could Restrict Drag Shows

The language of the ordinance is identical to one adopted earlier this month in Jefferson County, West Virginia.

The Putnam County Commission approved an ordinance Tuesday that could restrict drag shows.

With a 3-0 vote, Putnam County’s commissioners banned minors from seeing certain adult performances in unincorporated areas of the county.

Although the ordinance does not specifically single out drag, opponents say that is the intent.

As written, the law does not appear to prohibit a drag show at a city park in Hurricane where the Putnam Pride festival is scheduled to take place this weekend.

The language of the ordinance is identical to one adopted earlier this month in Jefferson County, West Virginia.

As the ACLU of West Virginia points out, drag performances are protected speech. Federal courts have recently blocked similar laws in Florida and Tennessee.

Native W.Va. Filmmaker Combines Hollywood And Home

Jillian Howell began making movies as a grade schooler. The Putnam County native now works in Hollywood, but her passion is telling stories on film about West Virginians who inspire her.

Randy Yohe talked with the Disney production coordinator and documentary filmmaker about her show business start, her latest project and her drive to support Mountain State arts.

The transcript below has been lightly edited for clarity.

Yohe: It seems your passion for filmmaking began in Scott Depot, West Virginia at a young age, with a toy that my sister had as well. Tell me about that.

Howell: When I was seven, Santa Claus brought me a Barbie video camera. I made videos constantly with my dolls, and with my family that recorded straight to VHS. I taught myself stop animation with my brother. I was just constantly making things, and it wasn’t really until YouTube started in 2006, that I really started making things that other people were able to watch. I taught myself how to video edit on my mom’s Windows XP Movie Maker, and was able to start creating things to put on YouTube, and classmates were able to see them. I started entering video contests. In high school, I created Music Video Monday, which was also on our morning announcements that took off on the internet as well. There weren’t a lot of film opportunities for kids my age, there wasn’t a curriculum kind of tailored to it. It started with making my own opportunities.

Yohe: You’re now with Walt Disney Animation Studios in Los Angeles. Tell us about that job.

Howell: I got my first internship through West Virginia connections at Disney Parks internal ad agency, where I interned for a year and a half and then just kept pounding the pavement. I knew I wanted to work in animation production management, and didn’t know when I was in college that was a career path. I’ve been at Disney Animation since 2019. I started as a production assistant on Frozen II, and went on to be a production assistant, or as we call it, a PA, on Raya and the Last Dragon and then a production coordinator on some park attractions, Strange World and I’m now working on Wish.

Yohe: Even though you’re in Los Angeles, it seems your heart remains in West Virginia. You’re ready to debut a three-year-in-the-making documentary on your childhood best friend Zane, and that’s also the title. Tell us about his story.

Howell: I met Zane in fourth grade when he was seated next to me at Scott Teays Elementary School. I had never really had the opportunity to become friends with someone who had special needs and hadn’t really seen anyone fit into the mainstream. I feel like Zane was this bridge that connected what is a self-contained classroom to the mainstream classroom.

Zane is very unabashedly joyful, friendly and hilarious. He can make me laugh. I’ve always enjoyed every moment with him and sharing those stories with my family. I had been thinking about making a character piece on Zane, and decided to kind of just go for it. By the time that we scheduled the first interview, Zane had lost his job that he had for four years at Lowe’s. A very important thing about Zane is that he is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. He loves working. He just lost his job to regular layoffs, it wasn’t anything that he did personally, so I think that made it even harder for him.

A key component in Zane’s story, and in Zane’s success, is his mom Anne. Anne was actually studying special needs before she even knew that Zane was going to be diagnosed with an intellectual disability. She has a doctorate in special education. She is his biggest advocate, and also an advocate for so many folks with special needs. Zane has a huge heart, and a lot of faith. I wanted to capture that really charming character, but also show his mom’s tenacity to be able to continue to move forward in a situation that is really frustrating. Eighty percent of folks with special needs are often unemployed, but they offer so much to the workforce. We just have to really give them a chance, and be willing to make some accommodations for that.

I just want people to fall in love with him. The best way I know how to do that is through film and through sharing his story.

Yohe: West Virginia has recently restored its film office and restored its film tax credit to help make the state globally competitive as a production site. What kind of impact do you think that that will have?

Howell: I think the ripple effect of having a film office in West Virginia is big. When you see West Virginia represented in media, in film, and television, you really become the ambassadors for the state. You are able to show off the state in a way that makes people respect our state and see what we have to offer. I think the more that we open the door to those opportunities, we’ll see our state continue to be respected and grow.

Yohe: Tell us about your online social hub, Shine On WV.

Howell: Once I started realizing there were so many West Virginians working in important, artistic fields, and we just weren’t talking about it, it was just kind of like household chatter. I decided we had to create a database of creative West Virginians, and give them a chance to tell their story and share their work. It’s been really tremendous to just kind of start to see the connections that we can make. I just really want to break down the barrier to that. It is great to have a career in the arts. It takes a lot of passion, a lot of patience, and figuring things out. I’m tired of hearing that art is not a career option. It just takes a lot of creativity to figure out how to pay your bills, and to also sustain that lifestyle.

Yohe: You’ve got a lot of irons in the artistic fire. Going forward, your personal career goals, I imagine will springboard from Zane, to what filmmaking end?

Howell: I think that my dream changes a lot, but I know that it involves producing films. I have several ideas of my own films that I want to make. I’m helping produce an indie feature right now. I have so many different passions that it used to feel impossible for them to all kind of align and come together. I’m starting to realize that I can kind of continue to create those opportunities for myself, even though it’s exhausting. I have set boundaries for myself to really kind of stop and self-analyze, rest and take care of myself. My husband will say I’m not great at it, but I have gotten a lot better at it.

Gov. Justice Requests Disaster Declaration Due To Flooding

Gov. Jim Justice has asked President Joe Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency approve a disaster declaration for West Virginia because of flooding from last month.

According to a news release, Justice declared a state of emergency for Cabell, Putnam, and Roane counties related to the flooding.

“As with all disasters, I directed our state agencies to use every tool and partnership to respond to immediate needs and document damages that our citizens and communities are experiencing,” Justice said in a statement on Friday. “I am absolutely focused on bringing West Virginians the disaster relief needed to help get things back to normal.”

In May 6, West Virginia experienced large-scale flooding throughout the state. Some of the flooding in Huntington included rapidly moving floodwaters several feet deep covered cars along one neighborhood.

The governor’s request for a disaster declaration includes individual assistance with the possibility of receiving Hazard Mitigation Assistance and Small Business Administration Disaster Loans. The May 6 flooding event did not meet FEMA’s threshold to request public assistance.

State Of Emergency Declared For 3 W.Va. Counties

Gov. Jim Justice declared a State of Emergency for Cabell, Putnam and Roane counties Saturday due to heavy rainfall Friday that caused significant local flooding.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Gov. Jim Justice declared a State of Emergency for Cabell, Putnam and Roane counties Saturday due to heavy rainfall Friday that caused significant local flooding.

Click here to read the proclamation.

A severe rainstorm caused flooding, power outages, and road blockages across all three counties. Weather reports indicated between two and four inches of rain fell Friday.

Heavy rains are not expected to continue but lighter rain will continue through Saturday with a half to three quarters of rain falling since midnight.

The Associated Press has confirmed at least one death in West Virginia as a result of flooding. Emergency crews recovered the body of a Milton man Friday evening after he was swept away by floodwaters.

Many major rivers throughout the state are high but are expected to crest below flood stage, according to the National Weather Service. Officials are keeping an eye on the Ohio River. It is expected to crest close to flood stage by Sunday.

Justice authorized the West Virginia Division of Emergency Management to support local counties and to use all state resources necessary. The state Emergency Operations Center is coordinating with officials in the declaration areas to determine their needs.

This state of emergency will remain in effect for 30 days unless terminated by a subsequent proclamation, according to the governor’s office.

The governor’s State of Preparedness for all 55 counties, which he declared Friday, remains in effect.

State Charter School Board Approves First 3 Charter Schools In West Virginia

Updated on Nov. 10, 2021 at 4 p.m.

During its Nov. 10 meeting, the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board approved the first three brick-and-mortar public charter schools in the state’s history.

The schools will be located in the Eastern Panhandle, the Morgantown area and in Nitro in Kanawha County.

Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy will be based in Charles Town and serve children from kindergarten to 10th grade in Jefferson and Berkeley counties. It will be overseen by an education service provider called ACCEL Schools based in Ohio.

Nitro Preparatory Academy will also be run by ACCEL Schools and will be based in Nitro. It will serve children from kindergarten to 8th grade in Kanawha and Putnam counties.

“We congratulate the school boards of Eastern Panhandle Prep and Nitro Prep on the approval of their applications today,” said Chad Carr, executive vice president of ACCEL Schools. “We look forward to working with them and with both communities to begin serving students in fall 2022.”

Both schools expect a max enrollment of about 600 students.

In north central West Virginia, West Virginia Academy will be based in Morgantown and serve children in Monongalia and Preston counties. The school is expected to enroll a little more than 1,300 students and offer kindergarten through 12th grade.

“We are very excited about our approval and we are pressing forward to be ready for opening day this next fall,” said West Virginia Academy President John Treu. “Our approval along with two other schools is a major victory for West Virginia students and families who want a meaningful choice in public education … We will also raise the bar for the local school districts and improve education systems.”

In contrast, representatives from the state’s two largest teacher unions said they were not pleased with the news.

West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee said he’s “disappointed” and feels the move by the state’s charter school board goes against a decision made last year by two county school boards that denied the creation of a charter school.

“When [the West Virginia Legislature] couldn’t get the [Monongalia and Preston county school boards] to authorize [West Virginia Academy], the legislature went back and created a board that essentially is made up of charter advocates, so I’m not surprised at all that they would authorize three schools,” said Lee. “What worries me is the money they will take away from our [traditional] public schools.”

American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia President Fred Albert argued the schools are not being set up in areas of critical need in West Virginia.

“The three new charter schools will be opened in areas of the state with exceptional existing public schools and a higher socioeconomic population compared to most communities in West Virginia,” said Albert. “If charter schools are really designed to improve education, why are they being opened in affluent, well-performing school districts instead of in poverty-stricken, disadvantaged communities?”

Chairman of the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board Adam Kissel said the new schools will provide more options for West Virginians.

“This is a great day for West Virginia’s children and families,” Kissel said. “Each school is unique, and each child is unique. When families have more education choices, more kids will be in schools that fit their needs the best.”

The West Virginia Professional Charter School Board is expected to meet again on Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. to discuss three proposed statewide virtual charter schools.

“All three [virtual school] applications are excellent,” said Kissel. “So the board will need to distinguish the relative demonstrated merit using objective criteria within the board’s discretion.”

Kissel said during Wednesday’s board meeting that they are still seeking an executive director.

West Virginia passed its first charter school legislation in 2019. In 2021, the law was revised by the legislature to allow up to 10 brick-and-mortar public charter schools to be approved within a three-year period. The law also permits virtual public charter schools, and it created the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board.

In 2018 and 2019, West Virginia public school teachers went on a statewide strike to demand better pay, health benefits and to speak out against the creation of charter schools in West Virginia.

A lawsuit remains pending in Kanawha County Circuit Court claiming the state’s charter law is unconstitutional, because it allows for charters to open without approval from local voters.

Community Groups In Putnam, Kanawha Prepare To Distribute 1,000 Naloxone Kits Wednesday

The West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy is piloting a new event Wednesday, called Save a Life day, where more than 15 sites across Putnam and Kanawha Counties are prepared to distribute 1,000 naloxone kits to anyone who comes their way.

Naloxone is a drug used to reverse the effects of an overdose – it can be administer by either a syringe or a nasal spray, like Narcan.

The event is an effort from the state ODCP, with funding from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the CAMC Foundation.

Participating organizations include churches, clinics and community groups. Peer recovery coaches will be at most sites to offer recovery resources and educational materials.

Dr. Lindsay Acree, an assistant professor at the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy, trains people to give and administer naloxone.

“Naloxone is really, it’s a life-saving drug,” Acree said. “It does not treat the substance use disorder, but it keeps people alive. And that’s really what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to keep people alive, so that they have the opportunity to go into recovery.”

The event is made possible in part after a new law went into effect this year, establishing a community distribution model for naloxone, meaning any governmental or non-governmental organization with a standing order from a pharmacy can hand out this medication.

“It’s a little easier for someone that’s already in the community to get out there and reach individuals that need naloxone than it is for other individuals,” Acree said. “If there’s that community connection, that helps … so that they can actually reach the people that need it.”

Most sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Charleston:

Cabin Creek Health Systems Admin Building at 104 Alex Lane

Risen City Church at 1410 4th Ave.

West Virginia Health Right at 1520 Washington St E

Drop-in Center, 1001 Smith St.

South Charleston:

Cafe Appalachia at 206 D St.

Cross Lanes:

Cross Lanes United Methodist Church, 5320 Frontier Dr.

Chesapeake:

Chesapeake Healthcare Center, 11950 MacCorkle Ave.

Dunbar:

Serenity Club, 1225 Ohio Ave.

Elkview:

Elkview Baptist Church at 1150 Main St.

Hurricane:

Church of Christ at 600 Midland Trail

Montgomery:

The Grid (Bridge Valley Community and Technical College) at 807 2nd Ave.

Nitro:

Kingdom Life Fellowship at 405 1st Ave S.

Scott Depot:

Church at the Depot at 6496 Teays Valley Road

Sissonville:

Sissonville Health Center at 6135 Sissonville Dr.

St. Albans:

Gateway Church of Christ at 422 B St.

Winfield:

Winfield United Methodist Church at 20 Radwin Dr.

Emily Allen is a Report for America corps member.