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Continuing a peach of a tradition

For more than 60 years, the annual Peach Festival has been a mainstay for the St. Thomas Episcopal Church and the Weirton community. That tradition will continue Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., as the church offers a variety of peach-centered treats, along with cabbage rolls, haluski and other refreshments, with a variety of attractions and entertainment also in the works. This year, that includes a car cruise, craft and food vendors, an inflatable attraction for the kids, and more. Area residents will be able to stop by Saturday to get their fill of shortcakes, ice cream, pies ...

Preparing for the hunting seasons

It feels as though we are still in the thick of summer now, but West Virginia’s hunting seasons start at the end of this month, with the Aug. 30 kick off of the early split of the black bear firearms season. Then there’s squirrel season; bow season for deer, black bear and wild boar; turkey season; early firearms season for antlerless deer and of course, traditional buck firearms season running Nov. 24 to Dec. 7. If the thought of all those excuses to spend a little time in the woods has got you ready to break out the orange, hold on a minute. Have you completed your hunter ...

West Virginia needs to invest intelligently

In announcing that it turns out there WiLL be a larger-than-predicted surplus to start fiscal year 2026 in West Virginia, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said “We’re saving money, we’re running government more efficiently, and we’re making decisions to say when we’re going to spend money, let’s make sure we spend it on the things that really matter and drive economic growth.” So what really matters? A few studies released recently might give us some clues. West Virginia is 46th in the country for state health care systems, according to WalletHub — ranking 49th for cancer rate, ...

Keep art, history alive

Kyle Holbrook’s name has become a familiar sight on the walls of Steubenville. During the past couple of years, the work of the muralist who grew up in the Pittsburgh suburb of Wilkinsburg has captured portions of the city’s history. In 2023, Holbrook painted a Stop the Gun Violence mural inside the entryway to the Northend Market and Deli on North Sixth Street. He returned to the city last year to create the Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery mural on Court Street, across from the Jefferson County Courthouse. Holbrook is back in town to help restore and refresh the ...

Flood studies are necessary

Time and again West Virginians in all corners of the state have had to deal with storms, flooding and mudslides that wreak havoc on lives and communities. This has gone on for generations, and after each disaster, there is always the question: Why does this keep happening? Gov. Patrick Morrissey announced this week a couple of flood mitigation studies that might help get to the bottom of that. Federal and state funding will amount to $6 million for studies of both the Upper Guyandotte River and Kanawha River Basin watersheds. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will play a significant ...

Beware of disaster scams

As Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance finally makes its way to desperate West Virginia counties, the state attorney general also is issuing a warning: Beware of scams. Sadly, those who are most in need of help are often the most enticing targets for online predators who have gotten very good at robbing people. Scams have already surfaced, with one technique being for the caller to pose as a FEMA employee. “During disasters we often see the best in West Virginians — our generosity and volunteerism is second to none,” Attorney General J.B. McCuskey said. “But ...