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History in the Hills: Some hard times

Local Columns

My dear wife is a great cook. She works hard to provide wonderful nutritious meals to us every day regardless of how tired she is, how much work she did that day or despite the natural fact that sometimes our kids are less than excited about finishing their peas and carrots. She has sometimes made our pantry stretch between trips to the grocery store. We try to make do with what we have and do our best not to waste anything. In the summer we have a garden and, as a result, can much of our produce; we make maple syrup from maple sap in the early spring; in the fall we make apple sauce ...

The vital role of West Virginia’s Notaries Public

Local Columns

In an age where identity theft, fraud, and misinformation are increasingly prevalent, the role of the Notary Public has never been more critical. Often working quietly behind the scenes, Notaries serve as impartial witnesses to the signing of important documents, helping to deter fraud and ensure the integrity of our legal and civic processes by verifying the identities of individuals who sign documents. In West Virginia, more than 35,000 commissioned Notaries Public are performing this essential function every day, each one a guardian of trust in our communities. Notaries are woven ...

Take steps to keep your lungs healthy

Editorials

With Halloween just behind us and Thanksgiving coming up in a couple of weeks, it might be easy to forget that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. You should not. Lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, is the second most common form of cancer, with only prostate cancer being more common in men and breast cancer more common in women. Estimates are that 226,650 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed this year (115,970 of which will be in women and 110,6800 in men) and, sadly, that there will be 124,730 deaths due to lung cancer this year (64,190 of which will ...

We all have a role in our family

Editorials

Among the many other designations for November is National Family Caregivers Month — a time to recognize the role played by those who sometimes jeopardize their own long-term financial, physical and mental wellbeing to instead care for a loved one in need. According to data from AARP West Virginia, approximately 26% of Mountain State adults fall into the category of being a family caregiver. These people are often unpaid — and on their own — taking care of older parents, spouses and others for whom no one else has stepped up. In fact, AARP estimates there is approximately $3 ...

Focus on health a long-term concern

Editorials

As Americans try to focus on upcoming holidays and rapidly approaching New Year’s resolutions, data accompanying this National Diabetes Awareness Month reminds that many of us have some work to do regarding our health. This is no time for nasty digs about SNAP and the health of those living in states with high numbers of people living both below the poverty line and in food deserts. In fact, where access to affordable, nutritious options is limited, health woes that go far beyond hunger are plentiful. It’s no surprise, then, that WalletHub’s “Most Overweight and Obese ...

A positive reminder ahead of the holidays

Editorials

Interactions between residents and law enforcement aren’t always a positive experience, but, for years, Hancock County’s sheriff’s deputies have rallied each holiday season to showcase the better parts of those relationships. For almost 40 years, the Hancock County Deputy Sheriffs Association has organized a Shop With A Cop campaign, reaching out to the community for support in providing a brighter holiday for some of our residents who might otherwise not have such a merry Christmas. That tradition continues this year, let by Deputy Chance Weyand and Sgt. Hugh Tate. Donations ...