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Looking for spring’s arrival

Regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil and his furry woodchuck pals said this morning, reality is on the calendar, and that indicates we have reached the midpoint between the end of fall and the start of spring. Groundhog Day lore relies on Punxsutawney Phil and his fellow forecasting groundhogs to tell us if there will be six more weeks of winter ahead or if we can expect an early spring. And it’s all based on whether or not the groundhog sees its shadow, according to the animal’s handlers. It’s great fun and a chance to relax a little and direct our attention to Gobblers Knob ...

Remembering all of our American history

Black History Month 2026 offers a chance to look at the impact Black Americans have made on our lives, and a special chance to reflect on an event that has been a part of the nation’s calendar for 100 years. “A Century of Black History Commemoration” is the theme that has been selected this year by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the founders of Black History Month. It’s a wide-ranging topic, and one that puts the focus on how the commemoration of Black history has evolved during the past 100 years, and the impact it has had on the status of ...

Get out and support small business

Been stuck in the house for a while? Made one last run at the big box store before the snow, ice and frigid temperatures hit and haven’t spent an extra dime since? One day, we will be through this arctic spell. We’ll need to venture out and do a little shopping. Maybe we’ll just be ready to eat at a restaurant after having gone through everything in the pantry at home. When that time comes, consider spending your money with a smaller, locally owned establishment. Those who have either been forced to close or have seen VERY little traffic because of this weather may be in ...

Working to uplift all West Virginians

How many of us regularly see social media posts and advertorials touting something along the lines of the top hidden gems to retire to in West Virginia? They’re everywhere. And most seem to be aimed at luring non-West Virginians to a few select locations after their retirement. But what if you already live here? What is the retirement landscape like, then? Well, according to WalletHub’s “2026’s Best and Worst States to Retire,” the Mountain State is fourth worst in the nation. There is one almost-bright spot. Our state ranks 18th for affordability and fifth for adjusted ...

Better protections a necessity

West Virginians got a horrific reminder last week of the depth from which those trying to reform the work of the state Department of Human Services are trying to climb, with news that on Feb. 15, 2025, 11-year-old Miana Moran of Taylor County died in a case that has led to murder charges for her primary custodian. Miana was a sixth grader in virtual schooling through Upshur County Schools, according to a report by WCHS. A criminal complaint filed in Taylor County Magistrate Court said she weighed 43 pounds at her death. According to the WCHS report, Miana was wearing a pull-up diaper ...

A fix is needed for our school districts

The state taking over local school districts, such as what happened recently in Hancock County, has become more common in West Virginia in recent years. With the state’s takeover of Hancock County Schools, there are now 10 county school districts out of the state’s 55 that are under some form of state control, whether that’s a complete take over or a state of emergency, where the county and state are working together to stave off that full takeover. So nearly one-fifth of all West Virginia school districts are in such peril that the state is either monitoring their decisions ...