Breaking News

Opinion

We blinked ... and more than half the year is gone

Local Columns

I cannot believe that on Friday, it will be the Fourth of July. How has more than half of the year already passed us by? Evidently, we blinked. You know, I may have to super glue my eyes open so that life slows down a little. How can it be that when you are young, the days, the weeks, the years drag on and on? Why does it seem like time moves so slowly? When you are young, it’s as if the hands on the clock stand still or are stuck in the same position, day in, day out. And then, when we are older, we can never get those same clock hands to slow down? Not for a ...

Celebrating our nation’s independence

Local Columns

By this time next week, many of our local communities will be wrapping up the celebration of the birth of our nation. The Independence Day holiday often involves parades, fireworks, street festivals, family picnics, or a variety of races. Wellsburg’s festivities already began, with a block party Friday night. The community will offer free concerts in Wellsburg’s Central Park several nights over the next week. Sunday is scheduled for a fishing tournament, with registration at the 12th Street boat ramp from 7 to 9 a.m., and a cornhole tournament at Central Park later in the ...

Guest column: Improving health outcomes for West Virginia’s veterans

Local Columns

Mesothelioma is a rare malignancy affecting people exposed to asbestos. Each year, across all cancer diagnoses, mesothelioma accounts for fewer than 3,000 cases. As a result, research interest in this condition is limited, with dire consequences for patients. Of all cases identified, veterans account for a substantial portion, as during the Cold War era, asbestos was extensively used by the U.S. Military throughout all its divisions. Among these, Navy veterans carry the highest burden of asbestos-related diseases, as they often worked in confined spaces below decks, where the ...

Guest column: Happy birthday, America

Local Columns

Happy birthday, America. I always look forward to the Fourth of July celebrations and festivities, including family get-togethers and long-lasting picnics. This year, I hope for additional prosperity for our state and a revival of traditional industries that have made us strong. Among those is the coal industry. Coal remains essential to the production of electric power in West Virginia. And for that matter, to the entire eastern United States. Coal continues to underpin our economy, and the industry is one of the largest employers in the state. As I have said in the past, ...

Carry on that Blue Don spirit

Editorials

Our region received another hard dose of reality last week when it was learned that officials at Weirton Madonna High School made the decision to suspend the school’s football team for the coming season. It was a decision that — for now — ends a long tradition of successful seasons at the school. Fans have cheered the Blue Dons on to six West Virginia Class A state championships (in 1968, 1971, 1972, 1987, 2009 and 2013;) the Catholic state title in 1975; and 11 Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A championships (in 1962, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1987, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 ...

Enjoy the holiday fireworks safely

Editorials

The Fourth of July is a time traditionally shared with family picnics and get-togethers. Many of those celebrations will be accompanied by a few bangs, booms and splashes of color and sparks. And, while we hope everyone will have a good time, we ask, once again, that you leave the fireworks to the professionals. Summer, especially the weeks that surround the Independence Day holiday, offers the promise of relaxing, care-free enjoyment, but this time of year can be dangerous. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 14,700 fireworks-related ...