By their nature, colonoscopies can’t help but inspire and invite punny jokes. I’ve been on the giving and receiving end of this, so to speak, but more recently the latter. One well-meaning, ever encouraging friend of mine hugged me two days before I was to have the procedure. Realizing ...
Most of you who know me, or have read very many of my column, know I’m appreciative of those who work to preserve our local history and culture. I’ve often talked about how wonderful it is that we have museums, art galleries, public displays and more to showcase what has made our area ...
(Scriptures for today but first prayer.) (Galations 5: 1) For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 1) According to the the Founding Fathers, tyranny shall not prevail and it is our duty to “root it out” wherever it rears ...
The Ohio River was vitally important to our ancestors here in the valley. For thousands of years, people have lived right here on this land, and the river and hills serve as an ever-present backdrop that is just as familiar to us in 2019 as it was to our ancient ancestors. On this ancient ...
I’m going to take a break from the political races and talk about an issue that concerns me greatly: the division in our country. Nationally, an example of this divide can be found in the response to daytime talk show host Ellen Degeneres sitting next to former President George W. Bush at a ...
Now if I were Janice, where would I have put a book of stamps with frogs on them? The book of stamps I just saw, honestly. They were right here, and now they’re gone. Poof. Another successful unsupervised disappearing act in the Kiaski household. I try to talk logic to myself whenever I ...
The care of area animals is important to many of our residents. Many of us, at one time or another in our lives, has had a pet of some sort. Whether it has been a dog or a cat, or perhaps something more exotic, care of animals is important to those willing to open their hearts. Some ...
In Numbers 11, we hear about the Israelites grumbling and complaining. Frequently, when I run into church people who constantly complain, they say; that’s just the way I am. Many people also say this about other behaviors. It does not just apply to complaining. People who have frequent ...
It looks like monied front-runner Stephen Smith might be getting some serious challengers for the Democratic primary for governor. That’s good, because that primary needed some excitement. It also needed more traditional West Virginia Democrats, which it looks like it is getting. I broke ...
Between the time I’m writing this and the time that you’re reading this, the weather supposedly will have changed from summer in October to actual fall in October. I love Ohio and the fact that we can have all four seasons in one week or two and then do it all over again. Nothing like ...
I’ve written previously about some of the discussions currently being held by members of the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation in planning for the future of the city’s parks and playgrounds. Earlier this year, the board decided to either shut down or no longer maintain five smaller ...
Many times we don’t realize how close God really is. We think He’s way, way out there in another galaxy, millions of miles away. The truth is, we don’t have to go to a place in search of God. God is as close to you today as the person sitting next to you. When the apostle Paul visited ...
Whether we realize it or not, our history is tied to the Ohio River. Flowing through our community over millennia, the river cut the Ohio Valley deeply, giving us the landscape we are all familiar with. Looking back to the earliest history of this area, we can assume that there has been ...
There’s a reason people think President Trump has a cult of personality, but it may not be the reason you think. Yes, there are those who think Trump was delivered to us by God and that his decisions and actions are imbued with divine providence and authority. But that sort of stuff is ...
Social media anymore is so filled with misinformation that sometimes my tolerance for nonsense breaks. I’m at that point now with the falsehoods being spread by lawmakers, activists, and even some media in regards to Automatic Voter Registration, or AVR for short. First, the usual ...
My thoughts have turned recently to what I am and what I’m not. The latter would include not being a world traveler or even a U.S. one for that matter, which sometimes makes me feel a bit guilty or at least a little uncomfortable in circles where the conversation flows freely about joyful ...
Unfortunately, trash along our roads is an everyday thing in our world. People eat in their vehicles, and instead of keeping it until they reach their destination, they throw it out their windows. Items fly out of the back of trucks. We drop papers as we walk along the sidewalk, not even ...
The September legislative interim meetings start this morning, as does the resumption of the special session. You thought that was over? Nope. The special session for “education betterment,” called by Gov. Jim Justice the day after the 2019 legislative session ended on March 9 after he ...
“Oh, that Linda!” That’s the reaction Better Half and I always say collectively or independently whenever a package arrives from my oldest sister, who lives in South Carolina. If ever there were a generous, gift-giving spirit it is Linda, and I have been the beneficiary of her good ...
This past week, representatives of the West Virginia Department of Transportation were in our area as part of a public workshop to receive comment on a series of alternative proposals for improvements to state Route 2 through New Cumberland. In particular, the area identified as Ridge Avenue, ...