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Ask for state help after tornadoes

Editorials

Though much of the talk about three tornadoes that struck last week has focused on West Virginia, the twisters were born in Washington County, where damage was significant. But though state help is already on the way in the Mountain State, with the hope that a federal declaration will be made soon, assistance may be harder to come by in Ohio. According to Washington County Emergency Management Director Richard Hays, only occupied residences count as “damaged property,” though he is still sending all his documentation to the state for assessment. "For the county ... I've been ...

Cracking the Code: Go your own way

Business

This week the grandson of my neighbor who was in the the July 4th ATV accident in our neighborhood, rang my doorbell. “Do you want to play basketball Mr. Kozera?” I was surprised and happy to see him. He looked fine. “Are you allowed to play basketball.” “Yes, as long as I don’t overexert myself.” He told Lynnda and I how the accident happed, the ambulance ride, the concussion and overnight at the hospital. Young people heal fast. We played PIG, a stationary shooting game. It was good to be able to play with him again. I asked why he and his friend weren’t wearing ...

MOV Climate Corner: Solar could stabilize your budget and save money

Local Columns

Switching to electric energy is my strategy for stabilizing home energy costs. Global events, like the conflict in Iran, highlight the volatility of gas prices. As I transition my home to be fully electric, the long-term cost of electricity is my primary focus. After a hail storm damaged my roof in April 2026, I revisited solar energy and discovered a new leasing option. Leasing is ideal if you aren't sure you'll remain in your home for 25 years. It requires no upfront cost, provides high-output panels, and offers immediate savings by locking in a fixed electric rate for 25 years — a ...

As always, the helpers are all around us

Editorials

“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Mr. Rogers may have been speaking encouragement to children when he taught us that, but its truth rings even clearer when Mid-Ohio Valley residents are forced to look — and respond — so often. This week, communities across our region and deep into West Virginia needed help. Flash flooding, high winds, and something new for many of us: tornadoes. That help arrived even before many families and communities were sure what they were going to need. Sharon Kesselring, executive director of the Ohio Valley Chapter ...

Unusual names in early Washington County

Local Columns

Names of early settlers in Ohio were quite different and strange-sounding from today. Many reflected Puritan virtues (from New England settlers), Biblical figures, Greek or Roman classic names. Here are a few I've noticed. Readers likely have many curious names in their families or acquaintances. Return Jonathan Meigs Sr. was an early settler in Marietta, a distinguished Revolutionary War veteran, surveyor, and civic leader. His son, R. J. Meigs, Jr. was Ohio's 4th governor. "Return"? According to family lore, Meigs Sr.’s grandfather Janna (another unusual name), was courting a young ...

The Way I See It: Comics have entertained readers for a century

Local Columns

Through wars, depressions and social upheavals, the comic pages of the newspaper here and elsewhere have given readers something to smile about every day for the past century. We all need something light in our lives, and through a wide range of different strips the daily antics of Snoopy, ...