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Republicans need to broaden their knowledge

The United States is the only country in the world that has the problem of “mass shootings” on a regular and escalating basis. The guns of choice are those that do the most damage, and kill the most people, in the least amount of time. The Republicans are on the wrong side of this issue, even though most Americans want Congress to ban these weapons and pass common-sense legislation. Likewise, most Republicans are on the wrong side when it comes to strengthening the EPA, and holding large companies accountable for the damage they do to the environment. With Republican help, ...

Reflecting on high school plays

My sister (Mary Antons) and I saw the show yesterday afternoon (Sunday, February 26). Was truly remarkable. (If a bit long.) A testament, in my opinion, to what remarkable achievements our youth are capable of, given the opportunity. Both the message of the musical, the staging, the lighting, the sets, the small live band accompaniment in the orchestra “pit” plus the performers themselves. And, such a pleasant way for our families to spend a Sunday afternoon together! When my sister and I arrived about 15 minutes before the 2 p.m. showtime, streams of families were arriving ...

The dangers of vaping

Vaping devices date back to 2003 and were originally invented as an alternative to conventional cigarettes for adult tobacco users trying to quit. However, they did not gain popularity until more recently, and instead of attracting adults looking to quit smoking, they are responsible for why e-cigarettes have been the most used tobacco product among youth since 2014. With vaping being a more recent trend, there is still so much we don’t know about their potential health impacts. However, we know enough to declare it a nationwide public health crisis. So, what exactly is a vape? Vapes ...

Across-the-board accountability needed for Northfolk Southern tragedy

The corporate bombing of East Palestine is one of the most damning indictments of our entire political system that I have ever witnessed. There are no partisan divisions to delineate who is at fault here, but rather, a clear and stark dividing line between those at the top, and those at the bottom in our society. The most obvious culprit here is, of course, Norfolk Southern. They’ve invested over $18 billion in stock buybacks over the past five years, deliberately choosing to rake in obscene profits instead of updating their Civil War-era braking systems. Rules in place under the ...

Residents hoped for more from clinic

By Amanda C. Davis Special to The Times EAST PALESTINE — Residents trickled in Tuesday at First Church of Christ where a clinic was set up to provide health assessments for those experiencing symptoms related to the Feb. 3 train derailment that included cars carrying toxic chemicals. The Ohio Department of Health and Columbiana County Health Department teamed up to provide referrals, mental health services, assessments and the opportunity for residents to talk to a nurse or toxicologist. Matthew Stokes, of Union Township, Pa., works as a fabricator and welder at CeramFab on East ...

Regulations needed

In last weekend’s edition of the Marietta Times there was a column describing the lack of confidence that the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, have, in the wake of the derailment earlier this month, for government and government officials. The column put a special focus on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Michael Regan. While there is good reason for the residents of East Palestine to lack confidence in government, any failures that the government has shown in responding to this crisis pale in comparison to the negligence, profit-driven insensitivity, and ...