News

The Summer Crisis Program through Washington-Morgan Community Action can provide assistance to families

Local News September 4, 2026

From July 1 through Sept. 30, 2026 income-eligible Ohioans can receive assistance in paying their electric bill, purchasing an air conditioner or fan, or making repairs to their central air conditioning unit through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program. The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households that have received a disconnection notice, have already been disconnected, are trying to establish new electric service, require air conditioning, or have a household member age 60 or older. Assistance is also available for ...

Washington County Jail appropriation leads to discussion on costs to house inmates

Local News September 4, 2026

MARIETTA – Washington County Commissioners on Thursday approved the sheriff's office request for additional appropriations in the jail fund, leading to a discussion on jail capacity and costs. for the housing of inmates at the Monroe County Jail at the Washington County Commissioners ...

Local events

Local News September 4, 2026

Meetings ¯ PERI (Public Employees Retiree Inc.) Washington County Chapter 51 will hold a meeting at 11 a.m. Sept. 8, at the Marietta Township Community Building, 260 Sandhill Road, Reno. The guest speaker will be Andrea Bussert from A.M.B.A. to discuss the upcoming open enrollment on health care benefits. All state, county and township retired employees are welcome. For questions, call 740-434-7617. ¯ The Washington State College of Ohio Board of Trustees will hold its monthly meeting at 4 p.m. Sept. 21, in room H108 of the Main Building. ¯ Palmer Township will hold meetings at ...

Wood County assessor calculating number to seek for budget fix

Local News September 4, 2026

PARKERSBURG – The Wood County Assessor's Office is working on coming up with a dollar amount to request from County Commissioners to make up for a projected budget shortfall. Commissioners and Assessor John Kelly discussed the matter during Thursday’s regular meeting. Officials have discovered the office will be short around $357,000 in the Assessor’s Valuation Fund by the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, 2027. Kelly has been looking at ways to address the shortfall by cutting expenses, having already let two people go from his office, instituting a spending freeze and ...

Picture This: Washington County Fair Eve

Entertainment September 4, 2026

MARIETTA - The Washington County Fair officially starts on Saturday, though some events are planned for tonight and preparations are well underway. The event will mark its 175th anniversary from Saturday through Tuesday at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Today * 6 p.m. Beef Jackpot Show, ...

Who works for whom? Ohio man’s podcast explores data centers, AI

Local News September 4, 2026

Data centers have emerged as a central battleground in the 2026 midterm elections. As they have, a Columbus man has spent many months traveling the country learning what the fuss is about: Complaints of noise and pollution, strain on the electricity grid, loss of local control to fabulously wealthy tech giants — and the possibility that a trillion-dollar speculative bubble is about to burst. In addition, data centers power AI chatbots that have been accused of engaging in sexual conversations with minors and failing to discourage them from suicide. Even among adults, excessive use of ...