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Essay’s truth evident 60 years after written

When I was a teenager in the 1980s, I came across a copy of an essay in the newspaper that made me sit up and pay attention. It was pretty much the reason I began writing in the first place. You see, the words were so impactful, so truthful, that it made me stop and think — really think about the world, about life. When I first read it, the essay was only about 20 years old. But still, it was dead-on accurate and so well-put that I decided to cut the article out of the newspaper and I placed it among my poems, my keepsakes. I still have it to this day, 40 years later. ...

Red versus red: the future of W.Va. politics?

We are more than three months away from the candidate filing period for the 2026 midterm elections. All 100 members of the House of Delegates and 17 members of the 34-member state Senate will be up for election next year. Unfortunately for the West Virginia Democratic Party, most — if not all — of those elections will be settled during the party primaries on May 12 and the early voting period that proceeds that. Republicans control supermajorities in both bodies, with 91 Republicans in the House and 32 Republicans in the Senate. That’s the peak of GOP legislative control at the ...

Youth organizations seeing growth

While many traditional youth organizations seem to be shrinking, or disappearing altogether, there appears to be one bright spot with 4-H. A new club is ready to begin meeting in Chester, with the first official gathering set to take place Oct. 1 at the Chester Municipal Building. It is being assisted through the efforts of the Hancock County Family Support Center. There also are efforts to establish a new club in Weirton, with meetings at the Mary H. Weir Public Library. They join several already established in our area, and, to me, that’s a good thing as it provides more ...

Choose to live for now rather than looking back at life

There are moments when we all either intentionally or unintentionally reflect upon our past. We look back and think about mistakes we have made along the way. Why? Why do we look at where we have been instead of where we are going? Is it because it is easier? Familiar? But what will be? What is to come? Well, that seems kind of frightening, doesn’t it? We never know what will happen from day to day or if we will be even given a tomorrow. Despite how convincing ortalented somebody is at convincing us they can see into our future, they can’t, for only God knows ...

History in the Hills: Volunteer contributions

This next year we have many anniversaries to look forward to at Historic Fort Steuben. Starting in 2026, our nation will celebrate its 250th anniversary and the fort will be ready to share in the festivities. We are actively planning events to make 2026 a fantastic year, not only at the fort, but in the community as well. Also, next year will mark the 20th anniversary of our Concert Series, which began on site with a small stage in the parking lot of the Visitor Center. Now, we are hosting concerts in the Berkman Amphitheater to packed bleachers. Look for a great lineup when it is ...

Guest Opinion: Taking the road to a healthier West Virginia

“Take the backroads, not the highway.” — Minnie Pearl On September 4, we cut the ribbon on something I believe will change lives: a new, $37 million, state-of-the-art outpatient clinic in Elkins, West Virginia, a part of a broader, nearly $1 billion initiative that WVU Medicine is taking to expand healthcare access across our state. The WVU Medicine Elkins Corridor Medical Center represents more than bricks, mortar, and medical equipment. It’s a physical expression of our mission to change the trajectory of healthcare in West Virginia by bringing world-class care to places ...