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Experiencing the calm before the storm

Here we are, with West Virginia’s primary elections on Tuesday and the conclusion of one of the more vitriolic campaign seasons I’ve ever witnessed. I’m a political junkie, but this campaign season has been political overload, with all the TV and radio commercials, mailers, and even text messages from candidates. I know many of you feel the same way because you let me know. Medium Buying, a company that focuses on broadcast media ad buys, did a breakdown of how much Republican candidates for governor paid for their media ad buys, determining that more than $22 million has been ...

Let us all hope it never happens again

I’ve probably met members of the Glenn family at one point or another over my years working for this publication, but I wouldn’t say I necessarily know them...certainly not as well as my colleague Fred Miller. I know their family farm, though. I have family who lived on Sheperds Valley Road, so, at least a couple of times a year as I would visit for family picnics and such, I would see the sprawling acreage of the Glenn family farm traveling along Route 8. The green roof on the barn. The houses, nestled in the hills. The sight was always comfortable and familiar in a strange ...

History in the Hills: Remembering low water

A few weeks ago, the Ohio River flooded. In the first few days of April the creeks, springs and waterways in our valley were spilling their banks. Kings Creek escaped its course and easily overtook the roads. It reminded me of the flooding of the early 2000s along the creek, but the one that hit Kings Creek the hardest was the flood of 1912, which wiped out almost every bridge on the waterway. Each was a covered bridge and after that flood, there was no longer that type of structure over Kings Creek. In April, water rushed through our valleys and emptied into the river, which crested ...

A Mother’s Day letter … through the years

To Whom it May Concern, I’m not really sure what is going on. I have no idea how I got here or why. All I do know is that every day I am getting a little bigger. Each moment, I am getting a little stronger. And that is because of you. You see, everything I am is because of you and the choices you make. When you eat, I eat. When you sleep, I am busy growing. Funny how that works. My life is dependent on you. And the sad part is I don’t even know your name. I have never even seen your face. But from time to time, I will hear your voice. It sings “Take it or Leave It,” ...

Checking the poll positions going into the primary

We are now nine days out from the May 14 primary, with early voting continuing this week until Saturday. And as I write this, I cannot tell you how the Republican primary for governor will go. As you all well know, I don’t do predictions. All I can do is tell you what the political weather is like at this moment. If the election were held at this very moment, it sure looks like based on polling and money expended that Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is the favorite, with former state lawmaker Moore Capito and Huntington businessman Chris Miller duking it out for the role of ...

Hall of fame provides example to others

It is important to recognize and remember those who have made significant contributions, whether to a business, a school or an entire community. Brooke County’s school district has multiple halls of fame, with those established to recognize graduates of the county’s school system, athletes and teachers and staff. Weirton Madonna, also, has a hall of fame to recognize its graduates for their accomplishments in life. New Cumberland has one, and, since 2008, the City of Weirton has one. The Weirton Hall of Fame recognizes those who have lived in Weirton for a minimum of five ...