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Opinion

Capital project investments a big deal for communities

Editorials

State Sen. Brian Chavez, R-Marietta, gave us a little window this week into the work our elected officials do in Columbus that doesn’t always make the state-wide headlines, but means a great deal here at home. Sure, those folks tackle big issues such as education, housing, healthcare, law enforcement … taxes … and the decisions they have a significant impact on all our lives. But they also — particularly when it comes time to work on the budget — make decisions that will improve quality of life in our communities. Speaking about his own 30th Senate District, Chavez announced ...

The Backyard Gardener: Watch out for poison hemlock

Home and Garden

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 ...

Blood donors needed as much as ever

Editorials

There’s a lot to be cheerful about as the end of the school year, warmer weather and the arrival of the travel/vacation season have most people in more chipper moods. But for some, summertime coincides with the “100 deadliest days,” the period from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day during which there is a dramatic increase in serious incidents such as car accidents, ATV crashes, sports-related injuries and other summertime activities. Sharon Kesselring, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Ohio Valley called it “trauma season.” Meanwhile, Kesselring said ...

Lawmakers must remain focused on healthcare

Editorials

Increases in healthcare costs are stressing individuals and families more in West Virginia than in nearly every other state. The Mountain State has the fifth highest cost of health care as a share of median monthly household income in the country, at 9.14%. Only Mississippi, Maine, Oregon and Alaska are worse, in WalletHub’s report “States Where People Spend the Most and Least on Healthcare.” West Virginia’s extremely low median household income certainly plays into the ranking, but the rise in healthcare costs has outpaced inflation everywhere in the U.S. Twenty years ago, ...

Shine light on JobsOhio

Editorials

King Bureaucracy and its robe of red tape aren’t exactly the model for how to get things done effectively and efficiently. But state government agencies are bound to operate transparently enough that Ohioans can SEE what they would like to improve. JobsOhio brags on its own website that it operates in the shadows, using public money. “We’re private, which means less red tape,” the agency tells prospective development partners. “We ensure your confidentiality and safeguard you from unexpected setbacks.” Given such a message, combined with JobsOhio’s mixed-at-best success ...

Community, company support student success

Editorials

It’s easy to ignore those requests to round up your purchases for donations at big national chains. After all, we don’t see the results of all that accumulated small change. But here in Washington County, one establishment is a little different, as those who round up their purchases at Par Mar Stores are primarily responsible for the nearly $300,000 that was awarded to 167 local students this year. During an event honoring the top eight Par Mar Scholarship winners, recipient Austin Williams found out his entire college career will be covered. “I didn’t think I’d be able to go ...