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Opinion

Progress to help our most vulnerable

Editorials

West Virginia’s Department of Human Services has its work cut out for it as it attempts to respond to a federal audit of Child Protective Services, but there seems to be a good plan in place. Department Secretary Alex Mayer told the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resource Accountability his agency takes seriously the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General report on West Virginia’s compliance with child abuse and neglect requirements. “These are children’s lives, families’ futures, and the credibility of state ...

Better communication needed on superloads

Editorials

It has been quite some time since a superload for the natural gas industry has made its way through Weirton, or any of our Hancock or Brooke county communities for that matter. So, when a hauler carrying one of these massive pieces of equipment began making its way along some of Weirton’s main thoroughfares last Thursday, it was a surprise to the motoring public. As it turns out, it also was a surprise to municipal officials, including the mayor, city manager, and chief of police, who said they received no prior information on the first of a series of such transports. We, too, ...

Girls wrestling a great addition to OVAC tournament

Editorials

Among the missions of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference should always be expanding the opportunities for student-athletes to compete. The OVAC scored a big win this past week when it announced it will hold a separate girls tournament at its Ron Mauck Wrestling Championships. “I wouldn’t say it’s overdue, but it is time to bring the girls on board,” OVAC Wrestling Commissioner Dan Doyle said. “We’ve had some girls compete in the boys tournament over the past few years, but after doing a survey of the coaches at our workshop in November, we have now reached the ‘critical ...

Remembering where the buck stops

Local Columns

I was very pleased last Monday to hear Gov. Patrick Morrisey say that the decision to leave behind a volunteer contingent of West Virginia National Guard members was his. “I made the decision to have the word come down that we would ask the people if they wanted to volunteer,” Morrisey said during his first press conference with West Virginia media since the shooting on Nov. 26 of two Guard members during their Washington, D.C., deployment by an Afghan national, one of whom died. I was pleased because the weekend after the shooting, a number of social media posts were made on the ...

Problems with system must be addressed

Editorials

As the investigation unfolds into the attack on two West Virginia National Guard members in Washington, D.C., last month, Americans are getting a glimpse into some cracks in the system that must be addressed. Among them is the need to explore better mental health and community support programs for veterans and refugees. Suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been described as a person who was radicalized after he came to the U.S. A volunteer who worked with him and other Afghan refugees said they believed that Lakanwal suffered a mental health crisis after years of likely suffering from ...

Thanksgiving volunteers are appreciated

Letters to the Editor

To the Editor, For over 30 years, volunteers from the Weirton Ministerial Association (WMA), Rotary Club, the Salvation Army and various businesses in our town have donated their time, talent and treasures to sponsor the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Feast for our Senior Citizens and shut-ins of our community. This year was no exception as Jeannie Smith from WMA and Lisa Conti from Rotary, Majors Eric and Tonya Roberts of the Salvation Army, coordinated this effort on Thanksgiving Day. Dozens of volunteers showed up at 7:30 am to pack and deliver meals throughout the city. President ...