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Improve cooperation for our future

Sitting in the Weirton Council Chambers Friday morning, I was amazed to see representatives of so many of our local communities gathered in one room for a common cause. The amazement was two-fold. First, because there was such a cooperative spirit being generated for a particular goal, not just from the elected officials of Weirton, but also county commissioners, legislators, and officials from several other area communities. Secondly, and to be quite blunt, typically the only time I see such a collection of local officials for any purpose is while attending a chamber of commerce ...

History in the Hills: Taking a look back

I can’t believe it is 2024 already. My wife and I were just commenting on how fast everything seems to go. Days move into weeks, months and years seem to move so fast. This year I am going to try to make it a point to slow down and take things day by day, especially when it comes to the kids. They grow so fast and when I mentioned this to my 4-year-old she said, “Daddy we have to grow.” That is true but I would like to hold on a little tighter some days. I always find it interesting to look back at where we have come from occasionally. Looking back gives us a better sense of the ...

Helping to give others an opportunity to shine

I chose to write the above article after a good friend of mine informed me that the city in which I live would be hosting a Tim Tebow dance for those with disabilities and special needs. A dance for those who otherwise might not have the opportunity to attend a prom during their lifetime. I thought to myself, “What an amazing idea.” What a beautiful moment this would be. Not only for them, but for their parents, for the volunteers and even for Tim Tebow, himself. So, I decided to do some brief research and went online so I could see for myself exactly what this Night to Shine ...

Some political potpourri for the new year

Well, here we are. It is 2024 and I’m heading into the new year kind of blind. It’s natural to try to make some predictions or express some expectations when a new year approaches, but when it comes to West Virginia politics I find it hard to see what the future holds. As a reporter, I try to avoid making outright predictions, especially about races. I might have personal opinions about who might win this race or lose that race, but I try not to broadcast those opinions publicly. For example: it might be easy to say at this moment that Gov. Jim Justice will win the Republican ...

A glance back at the local news of 2023

This will be my final column of 2023, and, as I look back on some of the news stories, it certainly has been a year full of ups and downs. In this business, we are constantly bombarded with information, so much of our work tends to blur after a while. There are those things that stick out when thinking over the last 12 months, though. There were memorable moments, and a couple I would rather forget. Among them was having the opportunity to actually go inside a portion of the Weirton tin mill during a visit from Sen. Joe Manchin. I mentioned it in a previous piece, but it was ...

Why a dog license is important to my family

I chose to write the above article for the following reason: The Friday night before Christmas, my 14-year-old dog got loose. And I didn’t know what to do except panic. I have no idea how it happened. But my best guesstimate would be it occurred when someone came over and left the back door open for just a moment too long. It was in that instant she must have planned her route. Miss Mia made that split-second decision to high-tail it out of there. And she did. Inconspicuously. To this day I am still quite puzzled how her wobbly back end and scrawny little legs found the strength to ...