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In our offices, our staff typically has two times where we have an opportunity to take stock in some of the moments of the previous year.
One is when contest time rolls around, usually February or March, when we work to look for potential entries to send up against other newspapers in the state.
The other, of course, is the end of each calendar year when we put together our annual Year in Review section. Our executive editor, Ross Gallabrese, spent quite a few hours this year going through stacks of newspapers, picking out a variety of events featured in both The Weirton Daily Times and the Herald-Star for the last 12 months. City editor Mike McElwain put together the graphic elements and designed the pages.
That was all included in our newspapers this past Friday, providing a reminder to our readers of some of the comings and goings of 2024.
While we try in this business to remember as much of what we've covered as possible, the truth of the matter is there is so much going on, and often at such a hectic pace, that, after a while, it tends to blur together.
Much of the year, for better or worse, seemed to revolve around the various elections held at each level of government.
It certainly was on our minds quite a bit, as we worked to track down and reach out to the candidates, especially those seeking local offices.
There were a handful of meet-the-candidate and candidate forum events held in Hancock and Brooke counties this year, although I certainly would have liked to have seen more.
The noticeable thing, for me, was the seeming lack of any campaigning by major candidates in our area. Patrick Morrisey made a couple of quick and quiet trips to the Northern Panhandle, and Glenn Elliott came up from Wheeling during some of the candidate events.
Gov. Jim Justice visited, but it was as part of official business as governor, not for his campaign for U.S. Senate. We didn't even get any "D List" representatives for any of the presidential campaigns this time around.
So much of the elections were pretty much decided in May, but it still makes one wonder how much of a priority candidates see our needs in the Northern Panhandle. We may have to make sure we continue making noise so people remember we're here, especially as we continue our work to build our future.
Speaking of, there has been quite a few efforts toward that building this year, with Weirton officially breaking ground on two major infrastructure projects to expand both the city's water and wastewater treatment plants.
Those will help to provide increased capacity for treatment so any new businesses and residents are guaranteed to receive water and sanitary services. Officials have noted for a while now that current capacity is maxed out, so these are long-needed projects.
Form Energy officially opened its doors to Form Factory 1, with a big celebration of employees and their families, elected officials and other guests. The company already is beginning its expansion plans, which are more visible to those driving along County Road following the demolition of the old stock building.
The first structure for the Park Drive development is nearing completion, with much of the infrastructure for the area in place and ready to go. I've heard most, if not all, of the retail spaces have been spoken for, and I'm sure there will be a big push starting for the residential spaces. It wouldn't surprise me if the effort to construct additional buildings begins sooner rather than later.
We also got word that federal funding was awarded to be put toward the replacement of the Market Street Bridge. That was going to take some time to complete as it was, and hopefully, won't be affected by the changes in political administrations at the state and federal levels. It is something we can all agree is needed.
Weirton Medical Center announced it will become a full member of the WVU Health System, something set to occur Jan. 1.
There were down moments, as well.
Cleveland-Cliffs officially announced the closure of Weirton's tin mill, bringing to a close more than 100 years of metal manufacturing in the community. The announcement later in the year of a plan to bring a transformer factory to the city brought some hope, but there will be a wait for that, too.
Heavy flooding hit some of our communities in early April following days of rain, resulting in weeks of cleanup. Thankfully, as we tend to do, our people came together to help our neighbors make it through the damage.
This damage was followed weeks later by a tornado, which destroyed several homes and businesses in Hancock and Jefferson counties. Rebuilding has started for many of those affected, but their lives will not be the same.
The educational offerings in our area also was altered with the closing of Eastern Gateway Community College in Steubenville, leaving hundreds of students of all ages unsure of their futures.
Much has happened in 2024 here in the Ohio Valley.
As we begin 2025 in the coming days, let's hope for more good than bad in the new year, with continued opportunities for all to grow and prosper.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)