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Celebrate our state and its traditions

For nearly 100 years, Mountain State residents have carried on the summer tradition of celebrating our state and its people with the West Virginia State Fair. Having kicked off its 99th annual event in Lewisburg Thursday, the fair will run through Aug. 17, featuring rides, entertainment, lots and lots of food, shopping and other vendors, livestock events and much more. Remember, some of those food vendors will be competing in the Best New Fair Food contest. The possibilities are delicious. But Lewisburg, in Greenbrier County, isn’t exactly around the corner for many West ...

Continuing a peach of a tradition

For 61 years, the annual Peach Festival has been a mainstay for the St. Thomas Episcopal Church and the Weirton community. That tradition will continue Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., as the church offers a variety of peach-centered treats, along with sandwiches and other refreshments, with a variety of attractions and entertainment also in the works. This year, that includes a classic automobile show, vendors, an inflatable attraction for the kids, and more. Area residents will be able to stop by Saturday to get their fill of shortcakes, ice cream, pies and more. The Peach ...

Lots to do locally

If you have found yourself thinking that summer is slipping away, you really are not that far off. Kids will be returning to school in a few weeks, and that means high school football will be back. In fact, while football players and other fall sports athletes are going through training work, some activities already have started —the golf season is underway, and soccer and volleyball will be starting in about a week. Another reminder is in the annual sales tax holidays. While West Virginia’s has passed, Ohio’s annual tax break will continue until 11:59 p.m. Thursday. With all ...

Annual 5K race is fast approaching

The end-of-summer racing tradition in the Weirton area is fast approaching. For close to 30 years, the Marland Heights 5K Classic has been a competitive race, a community event and a yearly milestone as the summer season begins to wind down. It brings together athletes of all levels, as well as families and more who set off along the course through the Marland Heights area of the city. This year’s race is set for Friday at Marland Heights Park, and whether you are a seasoned runner, a beginner or just someone who wants to get in a bit of a walk, we hope you will take part. There ...

CIS program making a difference for students

For many years now, West Virginia’s public schools have served as much more than a place where students spend about six hours a day learning reading, writing and arithmetic. They have become a place where teachers and administrators are taking in loco parentis to new levels. They have become health clinics, resource centers, food pantries and clothes closets. “Everyone in this room, you all have washed clothes at school, gotten a child out of class who doesn’t feel well,” said West Virginia first lady Cathy Justice during a celebration of the Communities in Schools program ...

Medicare allegations must be looked into

At the time when Congress launched Medicare Advantage several decades ago, the theory was insurers would make Medicare more efficient, have an incentive to keep patients healthier and save money for the government in the process. Those at the forefront of promoting the concept probably never anticipated that one day a national newspaper would have on its front page the headline “Medicare paid $50 billion to insurers for untreated ills.” Yet that was the headline in the July 9 edition of the Wall Street Journal that no doubt evoked gasps from folks that have placed their trust ...