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Understand your West Virginia-American water bill

Today, I would like to assist you in reading your water bill. Your West Virginia-American Water bill includes lots of useful information apart from – but included with – your billing statement. So, when you open a bill from this company, it may contain several pages. But let’s just look at page two, which is what I want to discuss with you. Half-way down the left-side of the second page is a section listed as “account detail.” This explains your entire bill in detail. I’m going to help you navigate the language. Look at the very bottom left of your bill. That tells you ...

It’s not about the price you pay … but rather, the cost

When I was a year old, we had a dog named Fluffy. Around the age of 8, my brother and I were allowed to visit the pound to get another dog for our small family. We chose the sad one lying in the corner as opposed to the one jumping on the bars, excited to see us. Funny how I remember that all these years later. My mom named her Poco. (Yes, after the band.) However, as a child, you do not fully understand exactly what a dog adds to your life. So, following her loss, it ultimately cost us some sadness. Time passed by. Life went by. And it wasn’t until I bought my first home ...

Will the House of Cards stand or fall?

As your state government reporter based in the State Capitol Building in Charleston, I cover the West Virginia Legislature, but I do not cover individual legislative races. My focus is covering statewide state and congressional races. There are just too many House of Delegates and state Senate seats for one person to cover one-on-one. Your local newspaper is better capable of covering individual legislative seats. But I do enjoy doing analysis of legislative seats. Naturally, all of the media attention is on the Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, governor, and even some of the ...

Looking forward to the world going dark

The world is counting down to a moment where part of the world will go dark. Not literally, of course, but it may seem that way for those within the path of totality for the solar eclipse set to take place April 8. A solar eclipse takes place when the moon passes between Earth and the sun and, from our perspective, completely covers the sun, thus causing a shadow to cover portions of the world. It will look as if a halo of light will surround the blacked-out sun. Our area won’t be in the path of totality, but we should still be able to see quite a show from much of the Ohio ...

History in the Hills: Traveling through history

This weekend is Easter and typically we try to spend it with my wife’s family in New York City. Spending time away from home and the same old routine is good for a change, not to mention the great time spent with family. This trip there won’t be much time for sightseeing, but we may try to stop at a few places along the way. For my son Paulie, one of the best parts about the trip, not only seeing grandparents, is the anticipation of traveling. He loves getting up early, packing into the car before daybreak and starting our journey. I remember loving that, too, as a child. It ...

This Easter, take a moment … and thank Him

Easter was always one of my favorite days of the year. When my children were little, we would dress in our Sunday best and go to church. They never complained as I fidgeted with their ties. Such little gentlemen when they wanted to be. And fortunately, that was most of the time. Once inside the church, they were always so well-behaved. Sitting quietly while the preacher spoke his sermon. Many adults don’t even act that way. Watching them walk down to the front pews during the children’s sermon and trying to answer the questions asked of them. I miss that. I ...