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An address of hope, inspiration

The Civil War was far from over on Nov. 19, 1863, when the dedication ceremonies were held for the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg. Politicians and dignitaries had gathered in the small Pennsylvania town to remember the battle of July 1-3 of that year in which Union forces had defeated Confederate armies in what proved to be a major turning point in the war. The dedication came more than a month after the reburial of Union soldiers from their battlefield graves had started on Oct. 17. The featured presentation was supposed to be made by Edward Everett, a prominent ...

We all have a chance to save a life

The American Red Cross Ohio River Valley Chapter is looking for some help from its “Friends” in another plea to get potential donors to step away from their busy schedules to roll up their sleeves. As a celebration of 30 years since the start of the beloved sitcom “Friends,” the Red Cross hopes donors will grab a friend “and be there for patients by making a blood donation.” Those who do so between Nov. 18 and Dec. 8 will get two pairs of Friends+Red Cross socks. Think of it as being an act in the spirit of “Friendsgiving.” “Festive activities and busy calendars ...

Holiday activities are fast approaching

We’re solidly into November, and, while the weather has not really offered much to indicate it, the calendar reminds us that the spirit of the holiday season is ready to shine brightly in communities throughout the Tri-State Area. Area activities got underway Wednesday in Weirton, when the annual North End Christmas Tree Lighting was held at the corner of Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. That spirit will continue to shine in Weirton on Nov. 23, with the Christmas on Main Street event. Scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in front of the Millsop Community Center, it will ...

We’re entering the season of giving

Tri-State Area residents take pride in doing what we can to take care of one another. If there is a need, we try to meet it. Given that there are still so many struggling throughout the region, that need is not likely to lessen any time soon. It is fortunate, then, that according to WalletHub’s report on Most Charitable States, that our region has a couple of the highest-ranking states: Pennsylvania is ninth, according to the Washington, D.C.-based personal financial website, while Ohio is 16th. West Virginia ranks 44th. Pennsylvania ranks 10th for volunteering and service, and ...

Priorities misplaced in SSAC debacle

Across West Virginia, boards of education are showing students where their priorities lie — and the rest of the country can see it, too. Movement to address chronically low performance — bottom of the barrel in a significant number of categories for so many years that it has become a running joke — has come at a pace that gives lawmakers time and reason to expand access to charter and non-public schools. Meanwhile, some could argue the flurry of legal filings that has led to this week’s mess in high school sports could have come at the beginning or at any point in the season. ...

Chaos in our high school sports

Chaotic. Is there a better term right now to describe the situation with high school sports in West Virginia, where the start — and the matchups — of both the football playoffs and the small-school volleyball tournament remain in doubt? Who would have imagined that, in 2024, local judges would be asked by county boards of education to order the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to not only change its rating system to determine the playoffs pairings, but also to determine exactly which teams make postseason play? Who would have imagined that these judges — ...