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History in the Hills: Consider shared tasks

These past few weeks have been tough for folks in the Weirton area. The ongoing water issues have pretty much taken much of our attention. Since we live on Weirton Heights, we are still under a boil order, although we are blessed to have some water when so many don’t. It makes me thankful for so many things we take for granted these days, like turning on a light, running hot and cold water, being able to go to the store and buy essentials and the like. With those little things in mind, we are still very blessed despite the current water issues. With all the days off my kids have had ...

Flipping out over the 91st House District

The fight over whether to appoint a Republican or a Democrat to the 91st District House of Delegates seat is a fascinating one for me, a former legislative staffer who nerds out on these kinds of questions. But we will have to wait until May for the matter to be decided. I’ve had a story in the papers nearly every other day regarding the writ of mandamus lawsuit filed by the West Virginia Democratic Party, so I won’t go into the minute details. But here is a summary: Voters in the 91st District in Berkeley County voted for Republican Joseph de Soto in May over Tammy Hess and ...

It’s probably all going to get worse

I decided to make a little detour after leaving the Hancock County Commission meeting Thursday afternoon, driving down to River Avenue in New Cumberland for a quick stop at the Arthur Watson Overlook. Driving to and from work each day, I get a bit of a view of the Ohio River while crossing the Veterans Memorial Bridge, but, as I make every effort to be diligent and pay attention to traffic patterns and surrounding vehicles, it only amounts to a quick glance. Visiting downtown New Cumberland is one of the few places really available to get a good look at what’s going on with our ...

Freedom also means freedom from

In America, the concept of freedom is sacrosanct. We wear it like a badge of honor, invoking it in defense of our choices, our beliefs, and our very way of life. Yet, too often, our conversations about freedom focus only on what we are free to do, ignoring an equally critical dimension: what we are free from. True freedom, as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution, is not just the ability to exercise our rights but also the assurance that we are protected from forces that would strip those rights away. Freedom From Disease The Preamble to the Constitution promises to “promote ...

Budget planning

I would like to suggest a way today to help you pay utility bills. Planning how to stretch your dollars might not be exciting, but it makes loads of sense. When I plan how I’m going to spend my money, I eliminate as many unknowns as possible. Most utilities are willing to help in your planning, too. They will offer you what they call a budget billing plan. These plans aim to smooth out billings during higher-cost months to make bills easier to handle. If your home has a gas furnace, then you expect higher gas bills in the winter. If your home is air conditioned, then you might ...

We need those three minutes and 51 seconds

We all have that song. That one song where even if we are having one of our worst days, it can suddenly turn around and become better in just a heartbeat. You unexpectedly hear it come on the radio … and for those few moments, for that brief instant, we are all right again. Every single one of us has that song. There’s just something about it that brings us a joy like no other song ever could. Perhaps it is an oldie, one that takes you back to a time when you were young and living your best life possible. Maybe there is a classical piece that makes you close your eyes ...