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Letters to the Editor

Injection Wells

On Monday evening (July 16), I attended a public meeting at Warren High School, hosted by Buckeye Environmental Network, about a proposed Class I injection well in Washington County. The well - proposed by DeepRock Disposal Solutions - would inject up to 6,000 barrels of toxic industrial waste per day into deep shale formations near a known aquifer, and within just 400 feet of an existing injection site. According to public records, the proposed well will operate at pressures exceeding 13,000 psi—approaching levels known to trigger seismic activity. While the operator claims the well ...

Thank you for donations

The Washington County Democrats would like to thank all those who donated cash or items for the Drop in Center, to help in their mission to provide services for the homeless. These gifts were collected during the July First Friday event. Local Democrats will again be outside Democratic headquarters on Putnam Street this First Friday, August 1, and will be collecting paper products, hygiene items, laundry soap, or cash donations to benefit residents of the Eve Shelter for victims of domestic violence. Come and join us for good music, icepops, and an opportunity to help those in our ...

Washington Co. Commission needs to address brine issue

Kudos to Marietta City Council and member, Harley Noland for taking the issue of brine disposal in Washington County seriously. A public meeting attended by 150 residents of Washington County was held by the Buckeye Environmental Network at Warren High School on July 17, 2025. The organizers shared information on class II injection wells, which store the toxic wastewater produced by hydrauclic fracturing or fracking. Wells in Washington County are used extensively to store the waste from oil and gas operations, putting local water wells at risk. Analysis by the Ohio Department of ...

Injection Wells

I recently attended a meeting hosted by the Buckeye Environmental Network at the Warren School in Vincent, Ohio. The topic of the meeting was wastewater injection wells. I live in downtown Marietta, on Washington Street, which is also State Route 7. Dozens of brine trucks drive past my house every day so I am very aware of the issue. What shocked me was the proximity of the injection wells to the City of Marietta water wells which supply water to more than 15,000 people who live in Marietta, Devola and Reno; they are less than two miles apart. At the meeting I heard from well owners ...

Endorsement for Ramaswamy

In 2012, I was invited to a conference held by the Milton Friedman Institute in Indianapolis. The Institute invited 20 or so legislators from around the country to discuss school choice issues and how much progress had been made to that point. Like most conferences we heard from a variety of speakers, one of whom was Tony Bennett (not the singer and not the basketball coach), the Superintendent of Education from the State of Indiana. Bennett oversaw the institution of educational reforms including expanding School Choice options for then Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Bennett made a ...

Harmar Days Festival

As the City Council representative for Marietta’s 4th Ward, I’m writing to express my enthusiastic support for this year’s Harmar Days Festival, happening July 25–27 in Harmar Village. This festival is one of our community’s cherished summer traditions - full of live music, local vendors, family fun, and a spirit of neighborly pride. But more than that, Harmar Days serves a purpose that hits close to home for so many: raising funds to help restore the Historic Harmar Railroad Bridge. Thanks to a recent state grant of nearly $1 million, we’re beginning to see real momentum ...