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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 ...

How to read Mon Power and Potomac Edison bills

Today I would like to take a look at Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison’s monthly electric bill and explain it to you. At the top right of the bill is the date the bill was sent. Right under that is the 12-digit account number. In bolded black lettering inside a blue box is the amount due. Right under that is the due date. In the top left of page one, under the company’s name, is the period the bill covers. Below that should be your name and the billing address for where service is provided. Immediately below that, bracketed between two page-wide bars containing a blue field ...

Thank you for letting me be your Community editor

Last week, it was brought to my attention that I have been the newspapers’ Community editor for an entire year, as Janice Kiaski was kind enough to bring in doughnuts for the office in celebration of her one-year retirement anniversary. I had no idea it had already been a year. It sure has gone by rather quickly. Janice stopped before I arrived at work. I missed the opportunity to let her know that her gesture was truly appreciated. I could tell someone had been to the office, as there was a box of k-cups waiting for me at my desk. Thank you, Janice for the wonderful ...

EPA short-circuits the U.S. power grid

On April 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a blitz of regulations targeting the nation’s fossil-fuel power plants. In the center of the EPA’s crosshairs is America’s coal fleet, which remains a workhorse source of power across the country—and the leading source of electricity in more than a dozen states. EPA’s suite of rules—anchored by a series of unachievable and exorbitantly expensive technology mandates—will force the closure of the nation’s existing coal plants nearly overnight. They’ll also make it all but impossible to build new ...