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Fresh West Virginia political potpourri

For those sitting on the edges of their seats waiting to hear news that U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., has begun his signature drive to get on the November general election ballot as an independent candidate for governor of West Virginia by the Aug. 1 deadline, please don’t hold your breath. This Thursday, Manchin will be co-headlining a fundraiser for Huntington Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor Steve Williams with former one-term Democratic governor Bob Wise in the lobby of the Hotel Frederick in downtown Huntington. Much as I stated in a previous column, Manchin’s ...

Keep an open dialogue with recreation

It would appear plans for renovations to Starvaggi Memorial Pool are finally going to move forward following years of discussion. Opened in 1968, the pool and the park in which it is located were built under the guidance of Michael Starvaggi, and donated to the city by Starvaggi Charities. There have been some updates to the facility over the years, such as the locker room areas and the addition and subtraction of some amenities, but, for the most part, the actual pool itself hasn’t changed in the almost 60 years it has been in operation. Officials warned more than a decade ago ...

Protecting yourself and your loved ones

He was a U.S. Navy veteran from Charles Town. After serving his country, he went to work for the federal government. He saved his money, invested it wisely, and accumulated enough to enjoy retirement. But he was lonely and so he passed his time at the local American Legion to be around other people. The veteran’s cognitive abilities were in decline, something recognized by Sam Bunner, an employee at the Legion. Sam befriended him, and became a caretaker of sorts, taking him to doctor appointments, and ultimately to a lawyer to sign a power of attorney. Sam used that power of attorney ...

History in the Hills: Looking at early news

A few weeks ago, I read the editorial in the Steubenville Herald-Star that commemorated the birthday of the newspaper. According to the story, June 7, 1806, “was the day Lowry and Miller published the first edition of their newspaper, the Western Herald, from a small house on North Third Street in Steubenville. After surviving several mergers and changes in ownership, that publication became the Herald-Star in the late 1800s.” Thinking about the age of the paper, it is fascinating to imagine that there was a fully operational newspaper in the town considering it had been a ...

Today we celebrate national ‘Let it Go Day’

I read online that today is national “Let it Go Day.” I can take that as meaning one of two things. First, I can let things go and not worry about them. Like the dishes or the laundry. Or running the vacuum or cutting the grass. Just let it go and not have to worry about it for those 24 hours. And yet, whenever I actually do put things off and instead, focus on myself and do things which make me happy for a little while, I feel as if I haven’t done anything productive with my day. It is as if I have thrown away the time God gifted me. Believe me, I would ...

The state is only making matters worse

Just when I think that the West Virginia Department of Human Services and the Governor’s Office can’t handle this situation surrounding the death of 14-year-old Boone County girl Kyneddi Miller any worse, something happens each week that makes me shake my head. I’m no lawyer, but to paraphrase the great comedian Lewis Black, I know how to read. While not being a lawyer, I am a former state government communications professional (four years for the Senate, one and a half years for the Secretary of State’s Office). I say that above in order to say this: DoHS could have kept these ...