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SMART529 helps students to stand out

For nearly a quarter century, West Virginia families (and a select number of families nationwide) have had the advantage of being able to plan for their children’s education using the state’s SMART529 program. It has helped families save for post-secondary and other educational expenses, and is ever-adapting to better serve educational needs. For example, a July 5 update “permits students and adults who do not select the traditional college path to be able to use funds from a 529 account to pay for job training programs by organizations outside of mainstream colleges and ...

Applefest a sweet event for the community

A tradition that has brought residents of the Tri-State Area together for nearly 50 years will be renewed this weekend. It’s the 46th Wellsburg Applefest, which will run Friday through Sunday along several blocks of Charles Street and the Wellsburg Town Square. The festival celebrates the town’s connection with the Golden Grimes apple, which was discovered in 1832 on a farm owned by Thomas Grimes that was located along Washington Pike. Seeds for the apple, which is related to the Golden Delicious, West Virginia’s state fruit, were first planted, legend has it, by Johnny ...

Slow progress is still some progress

Slow progress is being made toward improving circumstances for state Child Protective Services workers and the young people they serve. Last week, state Department of Human Service Secretary Alex Mayer announced decreases in child welfare vacancies, which sit at a rate of 8.5% as of Sept. 1, compared with a peak of 27.3% in 2023. In his announcement, Mayer focused on CPS vacancies in Doddridge, Pleasants, Upshur, Lewis and Ritchie counties, about which concerns had rightly been raised by Third Judiciary Circuit Court Judge Tim Sweeney in February. Mayer had been among those DHS and ...

West Virginia youth should embrace voting

There are few duties more important for American citizens than casting their ballots in elections. It is their opportunity to actively influence the way governments operate. And there’s no reason to wait to exercise that right, so it was good to see West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner at Wheeling Park and John Marshall high schools last week touting the importance of registering to vote — and getting juniors and seniors at those schools to register that day. He reminded students that even those who were 17 years old could register and vote in the November general ...

Be courteous with the clean up

It’s that time of year in the city of Weirton, when residents have an opportunity to dispose of many of those household items which may no longer be functional or have just been taking up too much space. Weirton’s Fall Clean Up will be held Oct. 6-10, with a metal items collection set for Oct. 2-3. The main clean up collection is limited to household items, with crews not picking up materials such as construction-related items, vehicle tires or parts, tree trimmings, brush, propane tanks, air conditioners, lawnmowers, paint, oil, antifreeze, or hazardous materials. The metal ...

Parks continue to face challenges

For years now, the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation has warned of the need to renovate Starvaggi Memorial Pool in order for it to continue for generations to come. The proverbial can was kicked down the road by various city administrations, most of whom cited a lack of funding or simply not feeling the project was a priority. Finally, some officials took the need seriously enough to pledge approximately $1 million, and the efforts to come up with a design began. Parks officials had hoped the renovations could begin this summer, so much so that they initially decided to go ...