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History in the Hills: A ride down memory lane

My trips on County Road in Hancock County recently have been difficult. I think most folks who have to drive toward New Cumberland in the past few weeks have encountered the folks cutting trees along Route 2. Although it’s important to do, the delays have been inconvenient. I am amazed, though, how the tree cutters can use their equipment to cut such high trees with such precision. Waiting in the traffic along the road has given me time to think about the history of that particular stretch of pavement. I consider that stretch from the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and County Road ...

All about the Benjamins in West Virginia

Elections are never over until they are over. As the old saying goes, the only poll that matters is the poll voters take on Election Day. But fundraising is important. Sure, an argument can be made that there is too much money in politics. I have never really subscribed to that. If that panhandler is allowed to sit outside my car window at the local stoplight and that be protected by the 1st Amendment, then money donated to political candidates should be every bit as protected. The only thing I ask is that I have full transparency in who donates. I enjoy going through campaign ...

Taking hold of the reins of leadership

It’s that time of year, again, where I write a column in the hopes of promoting the Leadership Ohio Valley program organized by the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce. As always, I’m going to be open about the fact that I’ve been active with the chamber for several years and currently chair the Education Committee under which the Leadership program is put together. I’m also on the chamber’s board of directors. Before any of that, though, I participated in the program myself. At the time, it was called Leadership Weirton, and it provided me with an opportunity to learn more ...

There is nothing good on television anymore

This week, I am looking for some suggestions. I can not stand the humidity and therefore try not to go outside whenever it is 85 degrees or higher. And that has pretty much been our entire summer, thus far, unfortunately. I actually used to enjoy this type of weather. Now that I am much older, I absolutely abhor it. So, perhaps my favorite thing to do when I am stuck indoors is to simply sit in an air-conditioned room and watch television. Preferably with cake. There aren’t too many hours in which I am able to do this, however, as I am either at work, cleaning the house or ...

Putting West Virginia in a tax cut pickle

Gov. Jim Justice put West Virginia legislators and even the two candidates for governor in a pickle when he challenged lawmakers last week to give him an additional 5% cut in personal income tax rates on top of a likely smaller income tax cut trigger. I’ve attended every end-of-fiscal-year tax revenue report given by Justice. At one of those events, they handed out Hawaiian leis following revenue numbers for the governor’s second year in office. That was the year following the big budget hole, the fight with the Legislature and the silver platter of cow dung. Since then, the ...

Is the system broken beyond repair?

Typically, we would be able to say that one debate doesn’t hang the entire campaign, but that’s when there are four or five debates scheduled. This year, there are only two – the first we have seen, the second won’t be until September. That’s because, this year, both presumptive nominees opted not to participate in the debate schedule planned by the Commission on Presidential Debates. We’ve all, no doubt, read or listened to the criticisms from that first debate. Trump lied. Biden seemed confused. Daggers have been flying around ever since. I’m not necessarily a fan ...