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Bringing the thunder

Area residents will start the countdown to the Fourth of July holiday this weekend in Wintersville. Thunder in the Ville, which will run Friday and Saturday, has for nearly three decades served as the Tri-State Area’s unofficial start of the Independence Day holiday. The formula for its success is simple — it offers a weekend of fun, activities for adults and children, vendors, food and, of course, fireworks. It’s a tradition that will be renewed at the Jefferson County Airpark. The festival will get started at 4 p.m. Friday, with opening ceremonies set to begin at 6 p.m. That ...

WVU needs to make the cuts that matter

West Virginia University’s board of governors appears to be continuing the cost-savings and right-sizing measures that are meant to stabilize the financial position of the state’s flagship institution of higher learning. Meanwhile, they’re raising tuition again — 5% this year after the 3% increase approved last year. The board decided to cut bachelor’s degree programs in chemistry, math and aviation management at West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley and cut bachelor’s programs in recreation, parks, and tourism resources and wood science and ...

Jerry West’s legacy will live on

Since 1975, the “Pride of West Virginia” moniker has been bestowed upon the West Virginia University Marching Band. But the true pride of our beloved state — arguably its most famous and acclaimed son — was born 37 years earlier in Chelyan, W.Va. On May 28, 1938, Jerome Allen West — known in his adult years as “Mr. Clutch,” “The Logo,” “Zeke from Cabin Creek” and more — came into this world, and over the ensuing 86 years he made just about every Mountaineer proud. West died June 12 at his home in Los Angeles with his wife by his side. From his prep playing ...

Investing in our agriculture

West Virginia is more than coal mines, timber operations and chemical plants. We are a state of farms, too — feeding our families, neighbors and communities for generations. But until recently, the Mountain State included the only land-grant school in the country not to have a school of agriculture. Fortunately, West Virginia State University no longer bears that distinction. This week, officials gathered in Institute, W.Va., to celebrate lawmakers’ passage of a bill that will provide $50 million to build a new lab that will then hold the state Agriculture Department ...

Recovering our patriotic spirit

West Virginians have always prided themselves on being patriotic citizens who answer our country’s call. And for generations, that was true. Now, according to WalletHub’s “Most Patriotic States in America (2024),” our status on that front has plummeted. We now learn the state is 41st in the report’s overall rankings. Even in the most obvious category — one in which the Mountain State has performed admirably for decades — we are faltering. Military engagement here is a surprising 32nd in the country. The figure takes into account average military enlistees between 2015 ...

Protect your pets from the heat

Have a hard time dealing with the sudden oppressive heat after getting into your parked car over the past few days? You immediately either rolled down all the windows completely or cranked the A/C as high as it would go, didn’t you? Now, think about those few moments of discomfort and imagine how very much worse it is for animals who are left in parked cars for an extended period of time on days like these. “A parked car can become an oven under the sun, even in mild temperatures,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “When it’s a comfortable 70 ...