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December is here but at least we have music

Well, I blinked. And now, it is somehow December already. How does that happen? I am seriously still working on September at the moment. December is the one month that I am never ready for, even though I have 11 months in advance to prepare. Yet, somehow it still always sneaks up on you whether you are ready for it or not. I hate that. I mean, the month of December expects a lot out of us. It requires you to have motivation … so you can do your all of your holiday decorating. It requires you to have money … so you can buy presents that cost too much, are items which nobody even ...

Pressed for information in state government

As we get closer to the end of the administration of Gov. Jim Justice and transition to the incoming administration of Governor-Elect Patrick Morrisey, I’m looking forward to a change in how state government communicates with the public and press. For example, once again the West Virginia Department of Human Services decided to take something that should not have been all that controversial and make matters worse all because of their dislike of media scrutiny. On Tuesday, DoHS announced the closure of the West Virginia Children’s Home in Elkins effective Dec. 31 due to issues ...

Christmas is starting in the Ohio Valley

The gatherings of family and friends, with plates of food, often surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday are only a few short days away, but as musical group Big Bad Voodoo Daddy sing, “Christmas is starting now.” Of course, if you look at many of the national retail outlets, it started around mid October, but why nitpick? No, for our area, Christmas is officially under way. Last week, Weirton officials held a private tree lighting ceremony in the city’s north end, seeing a long-held tradition return once again. Down in Wheeling, the Fantasy in Lights Parade was held Friday ...

An historic moment for West Virginia broadband

For years, government leaders and internet providers have worked to close West Virginia’s digital divide and bring affordable high-speed internet service to every home in our state. Last month, a landmark Broadband Summit in Charleston aimed to chart a path to finish the job. The timing couldn’t be better as the state prepares to receive over $1.2 billion in federal broadband investments, courtesy of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law championed by Senators Capito and Manchin. And with more than a quarter of West Virginians still lacking any options for high-speed service, the ...

Thanksgiving 2024: Gobbler tales of the past revised

We all have the bad taste from the bitter election, so let’s turn the page where we find American Colonial history and the names of William Bradford, governor of Plymouth, and Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoags, and a three-day celebration of the first Thanksgiving! “Falcons Wing, Turkey Pole Down take us back to Old Plymouth Town ...” — Aunt Clara in the episode of the “Bewitched” TV show, “A Thanksgiving to Remember,” on Nov. 23, 1967. Telling gobbler’s tales in front of a hearth with a flickering bright fire glowing, giving off the warmth of love during the ...

History in the Hills: A talk on the Civil War

This past week, I had the opportunity to speak at the Civil War roundtable in Wheeling. The talk was held at the Ohio County Library in the auditorium on the lower level and there was a good turnout. I had a great time speaking to the group. Roger Micker, who asked me to speak, did so about a year ago after one of our Union Cemetery tours and I was honored to do it. Joining the ranks of presenters who have spoken to the group is humbling as despite my best efforts, the Civil War is something I am not an expert on. I had spoken to a Civil War roundtable before, once in ...