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Stay vigilant against fraud, abuse

Mirroring the landscape of the state itself, monthly tax collection figures can be a matter of ups and downs in West Virginia. The trick is for state officials not to go overboard when there are ups and not to be surprised when there are downs. Last month, we got an “April surprise” in the form of tax collections 26.8% above estimates. May’s numbers, however, came in shy of projections — $154,000 below what revenue officials had expected. (While some segments continued to be up, May personal income tax collections were 6.5% below the estimate for the month). An overall ...

Martin memories take center stage

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

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 ...

Enjoy some local fairs and festivals

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 ...

Either work together or move over

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 ...

Remember their courage, sacrifice

Today marks the 81st anniversary of D-Day, and it is appropriate that we honor those who were willing to stand tall against what some considered to be nearly impossible odds to defend our freedoms. Because of the sacrifices that were made on that day — June 6, 1944 — along the beaches of Normandy, France, Allied forces were able to continue on their mission of defeating Adolph Hitler, the Nazis and the Axis forces that had brought a reign of terror and tyranny to Europe. The actions of the Allied forces that day created a true turning point in history. They came at a time when ...