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What’s not to love about autumn?

I can remember a time when autumn was simply amazing. Cool breezes on amber days. Fallen leaves in colors one could only imagine. Yet, here they were … a mix of hues intertwined. Yellows, oranges, reds and browns … each a masterpiece all its own, appearing as if strategically placed by the author, himself, who created them. And every time the wind blew, you could somehow detect a faint glimpse of what heaven must smell like. Hints of pumpkin, apple, cinnamon ... collectively filling the air. Autumn used to be a beautiful time. At least in my mind. But all ...

History in the Hills: Ghosts of the past

This week is Halloween, and usually around this time of year, I get in the mood to read a good spooky tale or ghost story. I guess this is to prepare me to write a good local history tale of my own. Believe it or not, it is hard to find honest-to-goodness ghost stories from our area. They are just not written down. Rather, they are spread by word of mouth and passed down. I have heard of a few and many of those I have related in these columns during the past six years, but I am always on the hunt. For me, just because a story doesn’t have a “ghost” component, doesn’t mean it ...

Let Babydog eat cake while D.C. idles

You’d be forgiven if you were to think that West Virginia only has one U.S. senator instead of two. Because based on appearances, Sen. Jim Justice appears to be doing the bare minimum. Sure, Justice is casting votes. If he has missed any, I’m unaware. The same goes for committee meetings. Justice is attending meetings, casting votes and sometimes making speeches, though many times those speeches have little to do with whatever the committee is discussing that day. But is doing the bare minimum enough? One of my favorite movies is “Office Space.” In one scene, a server played ...

Officials should always explain their vote

Tuesday night’s vote on a proposal to adjust the pay scales for the non-union employees at the City of Weirton wasn’t so much a surprise that there was dissent, but by how much. The amendment to Ordinance 1313 was voted down by a vote of three in favor and four against. If you’re interested in learning who voted which way, there was an article in our Thursday edition reporting on the vote, as well as some of what was said when the item came up for consideration. Whether you agree with the idea of these non-union workers receiving these pay adjustments or not, the fact is this ...

Government should stay out of contract negotiations

For decades, I had the privilege of serving as president and CEO of Eagle Manufacturing, a company based right here in West Virginia. Over those years, I understood the importance of sitting down together with my employees, talking through challenges and building trust over time. That approach worked for us, and it works for countless businesses across our state. That’s why I’m concerned about a new proposal in Washington called the Faster Labor Contracts Act. While its name makes it sound like common sense, the reality is that this legislation is unnecessary and could make things ...

Let’s take a magical tour to find out what’s happening at the PSC

One thing I admire about younger generations is how engaged they are with electronics And they display no fear of facing new challenges. So, let me invite you on a little magical tour of my own, by way of the Public Service Commission. You may groan at the thought, but the Commission truly touches each of you in many ways every day. Paying attention to what we do is very important to you, and could become habit-forming. And we all like to be in the know, and there is no better place for that than here. As with many mysteries, one needs the key to unlock the puzzle. In this ...