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Why wait when you can register now

Editorials

Believe it or not, there is another election coming our way in Ohio this fall — a general election Nov. 4, to be exact. And while November may seem far away, deadlines related to that election are coming up quickly. For example, the deadline for petitions to be placed on ballots is Aug. 6. Those signatures collected by people running for elected office take time to acquire. “If they want to run for those offices then they go to the elections office here in Washington County and turn in their collected signatures which are then reviewed by board members,” said Mandy Amos, ...

A tough but very special assignment

Local Columns

A wedding engagement is one of the pivotal moments in any couple’s life. It is one of the things that they will hopefully remember for the rest of their lives. A few months ago, my wife Lori and I got a call from Erik, our daughter Emily’s long-time boyfriend. Erik had been planning ...

The kids really are going to be all right

Editorials

It’s the perfect time of year to stop by farmer’s markets to supplement your weekly (or, at least in my case, it seems almost daily) trips to the grocery store. It’s no wonder so many of us feel better in the summer: It’s not just all the sunshine and fresh air, it’s also the chance to eat garden-fresh heirloom tomatoes and a couple of peaches for dinner just because. (I have no regrets on that meal.) The other day, I was cutting up some cucumbers and little green onions to be tossed with a little dressing and eaten a bit at a time throughout the week, and if I closed my ...

Due Process and Constitutional Amendments

Local Columns

Due process is vital to a functioning democracy. It ensures fairness and prevents unreasonable government action by requiring the government to follow established legal procedures before depriving someone of life, liberty, or property. This protection is crucial for maintaining the rule of law and preventing the government from becoming tyrannical. The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendments are part of the Bill of Rights, the core of the due process of law, and speaks to key aspects of the legal process in the United States. They provide safeguards for citizens and ...

The future my daughter lost and how we get it back

Editorials

2025 is … the year the government of the United States turned its back on science. … the year I became a dad. … the future my daughter should have seems to be more of a dream now. I am not going to lie down and let this future slip away from her, nor should you let it slip away from your kids or grandkids. We deserve clean air, clean water, clean energy, and public lands that are preserved along with a clean environment. It is time to speak up and take action. Here are a few ways to start. ¯ Downloading the Climate Action Now app. Take action: i.e. read an article, sign a ...

Check in with your local VFD

Editorials

Volunteer fire departments across the Buckeye State are experiencing reduced staffing levels at the same time they are receiving an increased number of calls. Of course, most of those who are working in those departments also have full-time jobs; and for many, those jobs are also jobs of service. That’s why the State Fire Marshal Division and Ohio Department of Transportation took a moment Tuesday to recognize the more than 70 ODOT employees who also serve as volunteer firefighters or emergency medical technicians. The event focused on employees in ODOT Districts 5, 9, 10 and 11 in ...