Breaking News

Opinion

Martin memories take center stage

Editorials

Visitors from around the Tri-State Area, the nation and the world are gathering in Steubenville this week to celebrate the memory of Dean Martin. His name still carries that touch of magic, and will forever be associated with the cocktail-cool era. And, while the world remembers him as one of the greatest performers of all time, residents of our area still sometimes think of him as Dino Crocetti, the guy who was born in Steubenville on June 7, 1917. Martin, and his pals in the Rat Pack — Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford — helped set the tone for ...

Increased fee keeps 911 reliable

Editorials

It was a headline-grabber indeed for those who chose to present a change by the West Virginia Public Service Commission as meaning cell phone BILLS increasing 10% in the state. But the reality is significantly less frightening. Beginning July 1, cell phone users in the Mountain State will notice a 10.2% increase in the wireless enhanced 911 fee (WE911) on their bills. There will also be an 8-cent wireless tower fee and a 29-cent public safety wireless fee. The total amount of the fee will go from $3.64 to $4.38. That’s 74 cents a month; $8.88 over an entire year. Breathing a little ...

Reporter's Notebook: Tackling CON, by appointment only?

Local Columns

Continuing on from last week’s column on the certificate of need repeal drum beats, Gov. Patrick Morrisey added new appointees to a board that makes decisions regarding certificate of need applications submitted by current and potential health care providers for new services. Last Tuesday, Morrisey appointed former lawmaker Heather Glasko-Tully, former West Virginia Republican Party chairman Doug McKinney, and former Attorney General staffer Robert Cheren to the state Health Care Authority. According to State Code, the Health Care Authority – created by the Legislature in 1983 - ...

Enjoy some local fairs and festivals

Editorials

Whether you’re looking for the chance to spend some quality time with friends and family, an opportunity to make some new friends or just trying to find something special to do during the next several months, you need only look at the many fairs and festivals that are scheduled to be held throughout the Tri-State Area. Their themes vary widely, and events held across our region feature activities for people of all ages. You can find many listed in the special section that will be included with today’s newspaper. Consider a random sample: • The life of Dean Martin, the ...

History in the Hills: Weirton’s lost treasure revisited

Local Columns

I have been doing these articles for a while now — almost six years to be exact — and I have really enjoyed it. Spending time researching stories in our area and finding out little-known facts has been a blast. This article this weekend will be the 150th article in my little series, and I thought it would be fun to reprise an article that so many have complimented over the years. It is one of my favorites. Most children are excited by buried treasure, and my son, Paulie, is no exception. There is something exciting about hearing a story, finding a treasure map and following it to ...

Either work together or move over

Editorials

There’s nothing quite like listening to bureaucrats and corporate representatives bicker while something of vital importance to ordinary citizens hangs in the balance. But that’s just what happened Tuesday when West Virginia Public Service Chairwoman Charlotte Lane had to call out electric utilities, internet service providers and state officials for dragging their feet on establishing rules for expanding fiber broadband on existing power poles. Though a group of representatives for Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power, MonPower and Potomac Edison, several internet service ...