Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

Something is rotten in Denmark, if Denmark was Washington County

I recently returned to Washington county after a 40-year absence. Today, along with 8 other members of the public, I attended the Washington County Board of Election meeting in order to get myself more familiar with the place I grew up. The meeting itself seemed pointless, regardless of where you stand on the state of election preparation in Washington county or election integrity as a whole. Within the first 2 minutes of public commentary, the board, through its full-time bureaucratic staff, indicated it had not had time to address two specific public concerns it was presented with ...

Power to the people

Elected politicians work for us! Whether we always feel like they do a good job is another thing. But either way, the biggest check and balance on politicians is that they know they’ll have to answer to voters every few years, if they want to be re-elected. If a politician doesn’t vote the way his/her community wants, they’re not likely to be a politician for very long. Every part of our political process in Ohio is usually made by elected officials who are accountable to Ohio voters. Issue One takes that power away from the accountable elected officials and puts it in the hands ...

Pedestrian and Cyclists Safety

Fourth Ward Council Representative Erin O’Neill identified and brought attention to a critical community safety issue: improper and dangerous operation of motor vehicles on city streets. Children, pedestrians, dog walkers, tourists, those with mobility challenges and bicyclists all are unnecessarily threatened by speeding, reckless operation and especially distracted driving. Speed limits, crosswalks, red lights and turn signals all seem to be options rather than safety laws ignored by more and move motor vehicle drivers. Speeding drivers on Greene and Phillips have made it ...

Help Save a Community Landmark

The oldest continuously operating church in the Northwest Territory, First Congregational United Church of Christ, the Church of the Pioneers, is showing it’s age. While the sanctury and church proper remain in good shape, the Fellowship Hall needs some major repair. The Fellowship Hall is best known to the community as the site of the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. For years folks gathered to enjoy pancakes and sausage prepared by Kiwanians, the proceeds of which supported the good works of the Kiwanis Club. Sadly, in late 2023 a catastrophic failure of the main trusses in the ...

Back to school safety is a community responsibility

As we enter the new school year, it is crucial for everyone in our community – students, parents and all who travel during peak traffic hours – to remember the importance of obeying speed limits, especially in areas heavily traveled by students. At a recent Police and Fire Committee meeting, I presented data, courtesy of the Marietta Police Department, that highlights ongoing concerns with speeding in our city, particularly in areas like Davis Avenue, where many students drive and walk. Traffic enforcement data from January 2023 to the present shows that officers logged 596 screens ...

Thank you to sponsors

Little Muskingum Grange #2621 wishes to thank the sponsors of their fourth annual catfish tournament and other events of the grange. We are also very appreciative for all those who showed up to fish and support us. We also wish to thank Bob Echart for allowing our organization to use his dock area for sign up and weigh-ins. We will have the fifth annual tournament the Saturday after Memorial Weekend so put this date in your 2025 calendar! The grange, founded in 1867, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, fraternal organization that advocates for rural America and agriculture. The grange has a ...