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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the editor: AI: Frankenstein’s monster

Investigations into the negative consequences of data center operations have revealed many potential environmental disasters. But these all pale in comparison to the warnings now being issued by AI executives and engineers. These experts admit that they cannot control the AI bots they have created. The term "Frankenstein monster" is no longer a metaphor. In light of their most dire predictions, the purported benefits of AI and political considerations such as competition with China are not our chief concern. Our elected officials must act to kill this monster. Ending data centers ...

Letter to the editor: Learn about candidates

Election Day is fast approaching, Nov. 3. Here is a chance for you to meet the candidates Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Marietta High School auditorium on Davis Avenue, Marietta. The candidates’ forum is sponsored by Living Democracy: Engaging Citizens, a local nonpartisan group whose mission is to inform and educate citizens in the Mid-Ohio Valley about how our government and democracy work. Meet the candidates for two Washington County Commissioner positions, Ohio House District 94 and US House of Representative District 2. The audience will have an opportunity to ask ...

Letter to the editor: Unanswered questions

Reference: This letter concerns the subject of Frack Water and is in response to the article by Gwen Sour printed in the Sept. 5, issue of the Marietta Times. It was stated that the city tests selected wells monthly for VOCs and for chloride and conductivity. Begging questions, such as: •Why aren't all wells tested? What proportion of the wells is tested? Is the well testing organization certified by the US EPA as proficient and competent? •Are the personnel involved in taking samples, preparing samples and doing the actual testing properly and recently trained, tested ...

Letter: Trump still using liar’s playbook

“I cannot tell a lie,” young George Washington told his father when asked if he’d cut down a cherry tree. Ever since, Americans have opted to think their first president was a model of truth. Most of us have had the notion that our presidents were honest, even referring to Abraham Lincoln as Honest Abe. For the most part, we have felt that our presidents were basically above board. Until, that is, President Donald Trump came along and proved that Americans could embrace a president who lies morning, noon and night — on social media, in interviews, in the White House, on the ...

Letter: Service disconnection may have been caused by brine

The Aug. 27 article titled “Knox Energy disconnects service for 43 customers in Belpre area” neglected to note that dozens of Wilson Energy production wells now spew toxic, radioactive wastewater (aka brine) that has migrated from injection wells – instead of natural gas and oil. The number of local production wells destroyed by brine penetration has increased in the past few years. As owner Bob Wilson stated, "conditions have worsened." The fractured geology of Washington County is not suitable for the high-pressure and ever increasing volume of brine that is being pumped into ...

Marietta’s gas aggregation

I was doing an annual review of my natural gas bills recently and came across some interesting facts that I suspect very few Marietta residents know. In 2024, the City of Marietta entered into a municipal natural gas aggregation agreement with Eastern Power and Gas that was supposed to provide residents with a fixed price of $3.85 per MCF. Eastern subsequently told the city it could no longer perform under that contract. In March 2025, Marietta City Council approved an amendment that ultimately replaced our fixed-price protection with a variable rate tied to Enbridge's monthly Standard ...