Trending
Work on the Veterans Memorial Bridge continues, with crews on the span for several days in recent weeks.
We made it through the first inspection closure planned as part of the work, which had been announced earlier this year as being focused on repairs and replacements to one of the suspension cables on the span. Now, we have learned there are plans for eight more closures for the project.
While the initial closures were limited to four hours each night, and set for weekends after midnight to cause less of a disruption, these next closures won’t be as friendly to cross-state traffic.
According to the West Virginia Division of Highways, closures of the Veterans Memorial Bridge are planned from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Oct. 22, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Oct. 23, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Oct. 28, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., Oct. 30.
Remember those dates and plan your routes and schedules accordingly, as these closures will mean traveling either to Wellsburg/Brilliant or Chester/East Liverpool if you need to cross the Ohio River on those nights.
******
Members of the West Virginia House Democratic Caucus came to Hancock County Wednesday as part of their second-annual Kitchen Table Tour.
While this event was advertised as not being about campaigns, it very much was. It’s election time, after all, so, of course, there is going to be an opportunity for candidates to talk about their platforms. It don’t mind that so much. Republicans had an event in Wellsburg the week before.
What was interesting to me about this event was the way it brought politicians from other parts of the state here, to the Northern Panhandle, to answer questions from the people. It wasn’t what we’re used to around here where candidates come in, wait their turn, are given three to five minutes to talk about themselves, and then later in the evening might be called upon to answer a question where they are challenged to make a promise on a particular topic.
There was some control of timing and other things, but it just felt more informal and conversational in many ways; almost like a true town hall which I’ve often said we need to see more of from our elected officials.
I would encourage officials from both sides of the aisle to have similar events moving forward - especially in non-election years.
******
John Deskins, Ph.D., director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research within the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, made his latest visit to the area Tuesday morning to provide an updated outlook on our local economy.
Ladies and gentlemen, while it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, it also wasn’t great. Through his research, Dr. Deskins is anticipating very little growth for our region and state in the next few years, at least without some major interventions.
I’ve attended several of his presentations over the years, and much of the suggestions made have been pretty consistent - reverse population loss, invest in childcare opportunities, find ways to diversify the economy, invest in new housing, improve the educational systems, improve healthcare, and find ways to get more adults into the workforce.
Those all make sense, and yet West Virginia has, for some reason, had difficulty accomplishing any of these tasks. When the federal government has to use a separate color for West Virginia in some of its statistical tracking measures because we’re so far below everyone else, it should be a concern for everyone. I don’t care which political party has the majority. If real effort isn’t made, then we’re going to remain at the bottom of every important category for years to come.
******
In other matters, Halloween is coming up quickly. This year, it looks as if everyone is planning to have their trick-or-treating on Oct. 31 (few, if any, high school football conflicts this time around). There also are some trunk-or-treat events coming up to give the local youth some extra sugar leading up to the official spooky celebrations.
Stay safe, and have fun if you decide to partake.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is part of the news staff of The Weirton Daily Times. He can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)