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Washington SWCD: What residents need to know about ticks for summer 2026

As Ohioans head outdoors to enjoy hiking, camping, gardening and other warm-weather activities, they are facing a growing health concern: ticks. Experts report that tick populations are increasing across Ohio in 2026, continuing a trend that has accelerated over the past decade. The rise in tick numbers has also led to an increase in tick-borne diseases, making awareness and prevention more important than ever. Ohio is home to several medically significant tick species, including the blacklegged tick — also known as the deer tick, the American dog tick, the Lone Star tick, the Gulf ...

Cracking the code: Gifts of personal liberty and economic opportunity

This week Lynnda and I were in Florida with our youngest and his family. We arrived a day early and went to Epcot for dinner, the fireworks and The American Adventure attraction, particularly in this 250th anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence. We know the grandchildren will not sit still for a 25-minute show. They are into rides, especially high-speed thrill rides. The American Adventure tells the story of the United States starting with the Pilgrims in 1620. We have seen it many times over the years. It gives me an appreciation of what it took to build the USA into the ...

The Backyard Gardener: Watch out for poison hemlock

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners! The summer growing season continues. The next 2 weeks would be a great time to plant squash such as zucchini and yellow crookneck in addition to another crop of sweet corn and cucumbers. This week I want to talk about an invasive plant spreading rapidly across the valley, poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). I have seen this weed along roadsides, abandoned fields and even hay and crop fields. It was imported into the U.S. as an ornamental in the late 1800s from Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. Rogue plants remained relatively rare ...

“I have never told anyone about what I saw”

Wood County WV paper carrier, June 1980: "I was 12 maybe 13 years old. I had a morning paper route and usually set out around 4:45 am...it was still dark and I was walking down a dead end road and all of a sudden these lights appeared overhead...There were 4-5 separate lights…white, light gold and green colors...the leading edge of the ship/aircraft appeared rounded...I was shaken and walked away fast...A few minutes later, it was gone... I have never told anyone about what I saw..." The National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) is an independent database that has reported UFO sightings ...

MOV Climate Corner: Life’s a beach

Life takes you down many paths, but the best ones lead to the beach. Planning a family get away at the beach this summer? Better hurry up and go while you can. Rising seas and other climate issues are rapidly shrinking the world’s beaches and destabilizing the ecosystems that depend on them. Planning a vacation to Miami, Coney Island or Atlantic City? The greatest number of people and homes in areas at risk from a severe coastal flood by 2050 can be found in Florida, New York, and New Jersey. Scientists have predicted that almost half of the beaches world-wide will disappear by the ...