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A fresh batch of Thanksgiving potpourri

Gov. Jim Justice is likely giving thanks right now with U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., planning to retire at the end of his 2024 term and spending the next several months on a tour of the U.S. to find himself. Justice also is thankful, I’m sure, to have another poll showing him with a far-and-away lead in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate next year. According to a poll by Mark Blankenship Enterprises, a long-time Republican-leaning polling firm in the state, 61% of Republican and independent respondents said they would vote for Justice while 28% said they would support U.S. ...

How important are parks to the people?

In September, this newspaper published an editorial under the “Our Opinion” urging patience from residents when it comes to some of the proposed recreation projects in Weirton, in particular the planned renovations to Marland Heights Park. The Weirton Park Board has recognized the importance of the city’s recreationa offerings for as long as they’ve existed. Members also are aware of the need to invest in the upkeep and improvement of those resources in order to make sure they are still here for future residents. They haven’t always received the support necessary to do such ...

For West Virginians, paper healthcare information is a must

There’s a reason we say that West Virginia is “Almost Heaven.” Our state’s wild and wonderful mountains and hollows are what make it special, and it’s why so many people are proud to call it home. As we all know, living in a place as mountainous as West Virginia doesn’t come without its challenges, chief among them access to broadband. That makes it nearly impossible to ensure every West Virginian has access to certain digital tools. West Virginia ranks near the bottom in broadband access, and our access to wireless cell service has even shrunk in recent years. That’s ...

Wishing good hunting, West Virginia!

Good luck this hunting season! Thousands of men, women, and children look forward to the fall hunting season, which starts the last Saturday in September. Most eagerly await deer season, which kicks off near Thanksgiving. While you’re out there communing with nature, you could also do all your non-hunting buddies, and me, a great favor. I’m appealing for your help this year to perform a friendly civic duty. I want you to troubleshoot for the state and your utilities. If you see a downed power line, a leaking oil pipe, or smell the distinct odor of escaping natural gas, please ...

Here are several things I am thankful for

This week, many of us will give thanks. If we are fortunate enough to be able to gather around our family’s or friend’s table for Thanksgiving dinner, most of us will probably even state aloud something in our lives for which we are thankful. I mean, after all, it is in the holiday’s title. It doesn’t always have to be the grandest, most-important things in life, either. We can be thankful for the smaller things, too. Like everyone, I am naturally thankful for my family. My children and grandson. For my mother and step-father, my brother, my dogs and most importantly, ...

Dominoes can fall in both directions

For years, I have talked about writing a book about West Virginia political dynamics over the last nearly 14 years called “Domino.” The book would focus on the state’s political history beginning in 2010 with the death of former U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, a giant in Congress and in the Democratic Party. But the book would largely follow U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., from his final year as governor to whenever his time at the U.S. Senate would be done. Well, we now know when that will be. Manchin will retire from the U.S. Senate when his term ends in 2024. You’d think with ...