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Vandals put city officials in no-win situation

Too many in our communities have grown addicted to harassing public officials and public workers for both not doing enough with our money AND spending too much of it. Meanwhile, there is an element of troublemaker that just wants to cause problems for all sides. In Belpre, city officials have, indeed, worked hard to listen to residents’ needs and concerns. They have tried to address what they can, make repairs and improvements and generally improve quality of life in the community when, and this is essential, it is in their power and within their budget. Nonprofit organizations do ...

Get on the road for an Ohio vacation

Efforts by those promoting Ohio as “the heart of it all” have caught the attention of researchers studying road-trip destinations across the country. In fact, according to WalletHub’s “Best and Worst States for Summer Road Trips (2026),” Ohio is ranked tenth. The Buckeye State is 24th for costs, 25th for safety and 14th for activities. In Ohio, those dealing with a vehicle break-down will be second-least in the country for repairs, according to the study. Good to know, even if your “road trip” is just to work and back every day. In other categories, researchers said Ohio ...

Family right to make difficult decision to report

Most Americans have the idea of “if you see something, say something” burned into their minds. But acting on it — especially when what you see is a family member behaving worryingly — can be a little tougher. Family members of Tycen Proper, of Danville, Ohio, made the right decision and had the courage to follow through with it. In doing so, they may have saved many lives. Proper was allegedly part of what the U.S. Department of Justice has described as a plot to attack the Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250 June 14. He is 19 years old and facing charges of conspiracy ...

Time for real talk about death penalty in Ohio

There are 27 states in which the death penalty is still legal. Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine would like to make it 26. Earlier this week he said he believed the death penalty should be abolished in the Buckeye State. His position is that the death penalty is no longer a deterrent to violent crime. “I do not believe that argument today can be successfully made, nor do I believe that there’s any chance in the future the facts that I’ve cited to support that belief will change,” he said. “Therefore, I believe Ohio should abolish the death penalty.” DeWine’s position is no surprise. ...

Juneteenth must be both celebration and inspiration

Given so many politicians’ efforts to block thorough and accurate teachings of our country’s history — for example, a fair look at the Civil War and what caused it — it is possible some Americans are unaware that it was not until June 19, 1865, that the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation took place. The proclamation had been issued Jan. 1, 1863. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865. But it was another more-than two months before Major Gen. Gordon Granger was able to order enforcement of the proclamation in Texas. Almost immediately, ...

Fast food spending sign of bigger problem

Here in Appalachia, we know how to make good food at home — when we can. What comes out of our gardens and woods is better than much of what is prepared at a five-star restaurant. But the trouble is these days, not everyone has a garden or the luxury of time to head into the woods, let alone time to prepare such meals. And affordable, accessible, fresh and healthy food is not always an option either, in a region riddled with food deserts. So families turn to what is available, and do their best to afford it. In fact, a recent WalletHub survey that looked at the cost of fast food as a ...