Just a few thoughts to end out the week, and the month, as we all try to do whatever we can to take our minds of the ongoing frigid temperatures.

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It came down to the last few days, but many of the races set to go on our local ballots have started to fill up.

As of Friday morning, there were four candidates for three seats on the Brooke County school board and two candidates for Brooke Commission. Three (Two Republicans and one Democrat) have stepped up for the Hancock County Commission race, with eight now vying for one of the three seats on the Hancock County Board of Education. That includes all three incumbents.

The race for the District 1 Senate seat got more interesting Friday morning after Del. Shawn Fluharty announced his plans to run. Unless another Democrat files before Saturday night’s deadline, that means he will face the winner of May’s Republican primary between Joe Eddy and incumbent Laura Wakim Chapman.

On the House of Delegates side, as of my writing this anyway, District 3 is showing two candidates (one Republican and one Democrat) on the Secretary of State’s website. An independent candidate also had declared for the seat, but is not reflected on the SoS’s online listings.

District 2 currently has two (one Republican and one Democrat) on the official list, although one previously announced candidate told me earlier this week he has his registration in the mail to Charleston.

District 1 still only has one candidate, with incumbent Pat McGeehan.

Keep in mind, there’s still some time left, which means opportunity for more surprises.

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Speaking of the cold, I’m ready for it to be over. There’s still some snow removal to do at my house, but, between the single-digit and sub-zero temperatures and my not getting home until after dark most days this week, it’s been difficult to get to the work.

I’m seeing some forecasts of us getting up into the 20s this weekend, and possibly even into the low 30s on Tuesday, so I’m hopeful to get at least a little more shoveling done and to put out some salt in the hope it will be a little more effective in the coming days.

At the least, I want to clear out a better path for our mail carrier. There’s not much room for her to get to our boxes after the state’s plows pushed so much snow onto the side of the road.

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My Wednesday night included attending and covering a nice reception to celebrate the recent retirement of Rik Rekowski as director of the Mary H. Weir Public Library.

I’ve known Rik for much of my adult life, having met him shortly after coming on board with the newspaper in 2001.

Although, looking back, it’s possible I had met him much earlier. I had forgotten Rik’s first job in Weirton was to oversee the local Bookmobile, of which I have fond memories from its visits to Colliers Primary in the mid 1980s. It was through the Bookmobile that I first learned the importance of libraries and was introduced to the works of Twain and others. Later, using the library card I had obtained through the Bookmobile, I was able to start borrowing materials from the Mary H. Weir Public Library. That included some of its movie collection, including the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit which was my introduction to Tolkien.

For many in our community, the library is going to be quite different without Rik. I wish him well in this new chapter of his life, but know he’s going to be missed by many.

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After a delay because of the aforementioned weather, the Hancock County Board of Education is set to have its first meeting this Monday since being taken over by the state. It is set to include financial reports following the studies and investigations of the last few months, along with some personnel moves and other items agreed to by the state superintendent of schools.

I’m sure it will be the focus of a great deal of Hancock County’s residents.

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I easily could go on with various other observations, but my focus must shift to finishing up our weekend edition, which you, hopefully, are now reading. Beyond that, let’s all try to rest up whenever we can, take care of ourselves and each other, and get ready for an interesting next few months.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)