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Labor Day and West Virginia

I would like to wish you all a prosperous and happy Labor Day. When I think of Labor Day, I envision the machines manufactured by workers that freed us from a totally agricultural-based society. This advancement in machines enabled us to develop electricity, lighting, and, above all, refrigeration. The latter allowed us finally to conquer every corner of the world. Above all, Labor Day honors men and women who have been the backbone of our workforce, whether in the field or the factory. A great part of that honorable group included the men and women who filled the Ohio River ...

Tell them your stories, they’re gonna need them

Once again, I am going to quote Benson Boone. He is the young singer I mentioned in my last two columns. He sings “Beautiful Things,” the song which my grandson just loves. Only this time, I am going to reference a song he entitled, “Momma Song.” It, too, is beautiful. But unlike last time, I won’t ask you to listen to it. Instead, I am going to quote a couple of the lyrics. You may wonder why I am using this space to quote the words of someone else? After all, this is Julie’s article, not Benson Boone’s. And yet, his words are ones I wish I could have ...

History in the Hills: Art all around us

We get to do some fun things here at Historic Fort Steuben. We operate the historic fort, plan the concert series and operate our Christmas at the Fort event. At the visitor center, we host a variety of events every year. We have the fort festival, quilt show, art show and a variety of exhibits and displays. This September, we are sponsoring a photography show in the exhibit hall with the theme “Scenes, Places and People of the Ohio Valley.” The exhibit showcases photography from all over the valley within a 65-mile radius. Special thanks are needed to Gina Judy, Dennis ...

West Virginia is moving to offense in the ‘Backyard Brawl’

For too long, West Virginia has sat at the bottom of health, education, and economic rankings. Policymakers have spent decades trying to solve these problems, but frustratingly little progress has occurred. Action, not platitudes, is needed for true growth. If we want to truly move the needle, we must stop treating the symptoms and instead focus on the real disease: for too long, our state simply didn’t do enough to create an attractive enough investment and regulatory climate. That’s why I signed an Executive Order establishing an economic Backyard Brawl on my first day in ...

Road tripping around West Virginia

One of the great things about being a news reporter is getting to sometimes hit the road and explore parts of the state I’ve never been to, as well as meeting the people who make this state go. Last Wednesday, I hopped in my car and drove from Charleston to Mason County. I’ve been reporting about the impending sale of West Virginia’s state-owned long-term care facilities, so I wanted to take some photos of the one closest to me, which is Lakin Hospital a few miles outside of Point Pleasant along Route 2. I was only a few miles away from Lakin when there it was: a pothole right ...

Go slow when considering speed limits

Just about each month, the Weirton Traffic Commission convenes a meeting to consider requests for changes to traffic and parking regulations in the city. Many of those months, there is at least one request going before the commission focused on the matter of speeding (real or perceived) on a street or neighborhood. They come from residents and elected officials alike, many noting concerns for the safety of people in those areas as they feel motorists are driving too fast for a particular street, or not paying attention, with the fear of people – especially young children – being ...