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Keeping the tradition alive

While the once-great facilities of Weirton Steel, and their successors, appear to be no more, that doesn’t take away from the history and traditions for which they stood. That includes an annual picnic where long-time steelworkers gather to reconnect and relive their experiences as they contributed to the building of America and the rest of the world. For more than 70 years, the Weirton Steel 25-Year Club has organized a picnic for employees and retirees with at least 25 years in the local steel mill. It is a summer tradition which has brought individuals from across the country back ...

Thirty years of community spirit

Whether you live in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia — or just about any part of the Tri-State Area — the second week in July always has held a special place. That’s when the annual Follansbee Community Days event is held. The annual festival, which will be celebrating its 30th year, has become one of the region’s most-anticipated events, and opens its three-day run Friday. As always, the event, which will be centered on the parking lot of the Follansbee Community House behind the Bluewave Center along state Route 2, will feature plenty of activities for people of ...

Enjoy some local Greek hospitality

For close to four decades, members of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church have welcomed the community to join them in celebrating their history, their culture, and, especially, their food. While some things have changed over those years, the hospitality offered by Weirton’s Greek community has remained. It will be on display this Friday as the 37th Weirton Greek Festival returns, providing area residents with plenty of food, friendship and entertainment. With a menu full of local favorites such as Greek chicken, fish, grape leaves, spanakopita, baklava, and, of course, the Super ...

Eliminating income tax must be goal

The past year has been a marked improvement for taxpaying West Virginians when it comes to their overall tax burden. The state’s personal income tax dropped from 6.5% to 5.1%, and if you pay your personal property taxes on your vehicles correctly, you’ll qualify for a full refund of what you paid in 2024 during tax season next year. All in all, it’s been a good start to much-needed reform of the state’s tax code. But we must move quicker, with the goal being the total elimination of the state’s income tax. Consider those of us living in the Northern Panhandle, in an area ...

Youth planning for the future

While some older Mountain State residents are worrying about ways to avoid leaving the planet in shambles for future generations, plenty of younger residents are already doing something about it. They were honored for their efforts during the 2024 Youth Environmental Day at North Bend State Park this spring. West Virginia’s Youth Environmental Program is not a recent creation. The first event was held back in May 1964 at Holly River State Park. Since then, the annual event has moved to North Bend, and has become a showcase of the work being done by young people through their ...

Stay safe in the swimming pool

Pool season is here, and the sounds of people playing in the water are a sure sign that the summer season is really heating up. But the fun of playing in the water can quickly turn tragic. Almost 400 children younger than age 5 drown every year in swimming pool accidents across the country, and more than 3,200 go to a hospital emergency room after a near drowning. A child can drown in 2 inches of water in under five minutes and never make a sound. Children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more children ...