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Christmas is starting in the Ohio Valley

The gatherings of family and friends, with plates of food, often surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday are only a few short days away, but as musical group Big Bad Voodoo Daddy sing, “Christmas is starting now.” Of course, if you look at many of the national retail outlets, it started around mid October, but why nitpick? No, for our area, Christmas is officially under way. Last week, Weirton officials held a private tree lighting ceremony in the city’s north end, seeing a long-held tradition return once again. Down in Wheeling, the Fantasy in Lights Parade was held Friday ...

An historic moment for West Virginia broadband

For years, government leaders and internet providers have worked to close West Virginia’s digital divide and bring affordable high-speed internet service to every home in our state. Last month, a landmark Broadband Summit in Charleston aimed to chart a path to finish the job. The timing couldn’t be better as the state prepares to receive over $1.2 billion in federal broadband investments, courtesy of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law championed by Senators Capito and Manchin. And with more than a quarter of West Virginians still lacking any options for high-speed service, the ...

Thanksgiving 2024: Gobbler tales of the past revised

We all have the bad taste from the bitter election, so let’s turn the page where we find American Colonial history and the names of William Bradford, governor of Plymouth, and Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoags, and a three-day celebration of the first Thanksgiving! “Falcons Wing, Turkey Pole Down take us back to Old Plymouth Town ...” — Aunt Clara in the episode of the “Bewitched” TV show, “A Thanksgiving to Remember,” on Nov. 23, 1967. Telling gobbler’s tales in front of a hearth with a flickering bright fire glowing, giving off the warmth of love during the ...

History in the Hills: A talk on the Civil War

This past week, I had the opportunity to speak at the Civil War roundtable in Wheeling. The talk was held at the Ohio County Library in the auditorium on the lower level and there was a good turnout. I had a great time speaking to the group. Roger Micker, who asked me to speak, did so about a year ago after one of our Union Cemetery tours and I was honored to do it. Joining the ranks of presenters who have spoken to the group is humbling as despite my best efforts, the Civil War is something I am not an expert on. I had spoken to a Civil War roundtable before, once in ...

The people picked Trump. Now to deliver solutions for all

Today, we celebrate the strength of our democracy. In record numbers, Americans from every corner of this country cast their ballots, showing up and making their voices heard. This turnout reaffirms a commitment to our democratic ideals that we can all be proud of. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the poll workers who worked tirelessly to ensure this election was safe, fair, and accessible. They exemplify the spirit of service that sustains our democracy. I also extend my congratulations to President Trump on his victory. He is our President, and I am committed to supporting him in ...

West Virginia knows how to fight against opioid abuse

West Virginia is no stranger to a tough battle, a hard fight, or a difficult task. That’s the Mountaineer spirit that defines us, our culture and history, and most recently, the ongoing battle with substance abuse and addiction that is devastating this great state. In April 2015, I hosted an opioid summit in the Eastern Panhandle. At that time, we were just learning how bad the situation was and starting to devise strategies to address the problem. We’ve learned a lot since that summit, particularly when it comes to what works and what doesn’t. We’ve learned that the most ...