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Christmas trees can tell a story all their own

There is something about the soft, steady glow of a Christmas tree. Have you ever taken the time to notice? Christmas trees can tell a story all their own. No matter what city, what town you may live in, if you were to walk past the windows of each and every home on any given block, you would see that no two stories are quite the same. In some living rooms, the trees stand tall, triumphant. The floor beneath is nearly hidden from view. These are the homes where wrapped boxes are stacked high. Each gift contains a curled ribbon and bows to add to the anticipation. Tags ...

History in the Hills: Christmas time is here

Christmas time is finally here. It always seems like a long time coming. In our house, we usually start to decorate early because we have family visiting around Thanksgiving that we generally don’t see before the big day. Our tree was put up, (this year two of them) and because we moved recently, we needed to go through all the decorations and find new places for them, which is always a fun time. Opening boxes of decorations is always a trip down memory lane for me because the sight of these things brings back many memories of those who have given them to us over the years. We ...

Starting to see the ballots take shape

While the 2026 primary election won’t be truly observed for another five months, the reality is the election season will get fully under way in just about four weeks. We’ve already heard from a few individuals who have filed pre-candidacy paperwork, but the official filing period for the 2026 election cycle in West Virginia is scheduled from Jan. 12 to Jan. 31. There are other deadlines for write-in candidates, as well as those seeking certain offices as a non-partisan candidate. All of that information can be found through the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, which ...

Remain vigilant against scammers during the holidays

As West Virginia’s chief business registration and licensing official, it is the Secretary of State’s responsibility to license non-profits and charities that operate and solicit donations in West Virginia. We keep a list of approved charitable organizations and fundraisers readily available on our website at the following link: https://erls.wvsos.gov/OnlineCharitiesSearch/Search The holiday season is a time of joy, generosity, and togetherness. Families gather, communities celebrate, and people extend kindness to others. Unfortunately, this spirit of goodwill also creates ...

Let there be light

The holiday season should be a time for reflection. We have much to be thankful for at this time of year. But sometimes we forget. First of all, I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year. I think back on all the sacrifices our ancestors made to get us to where we are today. What a hardy bunch they were. This was especially true in our state, where access to the land was never easy. Many families came down the Ohio River from the Pittsburgh area. My family eventually settled in the Ohio River town of St. Marys. Or else, they hacked their way ...

Tell businesses to procure their own electricity –– it will build a stronger economy and protect West Virginians’ pockets

The cold days of winter have barely set in, and electricity is already one of the biggest concerns in West Virginia. At kitchen tables, in campaign speeches, and at national energy forums, people are asking the same questions: How do we keep power affordable? reliable? All while demand grows? At local hearings, residents are worried about rising bills. At economic-development meetings, leaders are debating how to power energy-hungry data centers. And just the other week in Charleston, energy experts at the West Virginia Energy Summit outlined a stark reality: demand is climbing, costs ...