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Exploring West Virginia’s haunted hideaways

October has begun, which means the season of ghosts, goblins and other spooky creatures is officially under way. Of course, there are those of us who have been observing that time of year since mid- to late-August, but celebrate as you will. West Virginia has opted to mark the time of year as it has with many other things in recent years, by turning it into a marketing campaign. West Virginia is pretty well known for its haunted locations, legendary spots and native cryptids. From Mothman to Sheepsquatch, the West Virginia Penetentiary and spots on just about every college or ...

A rational look at renewables

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia welcomes all forms of energy production. The idea of electricity powered by alternative fuels is popular across the United States and resonates across the globe. These fuels include gas, solar, wind, coal, and even nuclear energy. In line with that, the Commission is seeing an increased number of applications to approve alternative fuel developments in the Mountain State. Our record shows we have welcomed every alternative fuel application we have received. A quick review of what has happened recently will give you an idea of the ...

Our stories shape the stories that matter most

It seems like about every time I am out in the public, no matter what the occasion, once someone realizes I own the local paper they seem anxious to tell me something. And in more cases than not, it is how something someone has read impacts their lives. For example, the man that caught me in the local grocery store and proceeded to tell me he knows exactly when we deliver our paper there. He picks it up each week as soon as he can to see the public notices. In many cases it is the first notice he gets of something new coming to town or the streets in his neighborhood are up for ...

I would like to discuss politics … but I cannot

I learned from a very early age there are two things you should never discuss with anyone. One is religion. And the second is politics. Most of you already know this. But for any younger people who may not have heard, you might be wondering why. These are the two forbidden topics of conversation. When you get older, you’ll understand better. Religion and politics always seem to cause an argument whenever either issue comes up. If I were to talk about religion and my perspective on what I believe, many of you probably wouldn’t read this column anymore. If I ...

Riding the special session rollercoaster

My wife and I somehow survived Disney World last week with two parents who haven’t been there in decades and their three daughters ages 12, 7, and 5. All while dodging a hurricane at the end of the week. Now I’m flying into the hurricane that is Monday’s special session of the West Virginia Legislature. This could all change by the time you read this, but as I write this Sunday afternoon, I’m hearing that the Legislature could very well gavel in at 11 a.m., quickly pass some of the 19 supplemental appropriations bills on the special session proclamation, and adjourn until ...

Hoping to expand on the local voices

You may notice a few more local voices on the Opinion/Editorial pages this week. Between three letters to the editor and two longer-form column contributions, it’s always good to see the thoughts of our own neighbors being published in our newspaper. My hope is that will continue in the coming weeks, especially as we are a little more than a month away from the general election and I’m certain there are residents who have thoughts on the various candidates and issues set to appear on their ballots. We do have some policies for our letters to the editor submissions, which can be ...