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Accessible data should improve outcomes for students, Ohio

Editorials

Want to know more about how well Buckeye State public schools are preparing our young people for the next phase of their lives? The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce announced last week a couple of new tools: one tracking the education level of high school graduates, and another tracking career outcomes. According to a report by WFMJ, the idea is to help families, educators and policymakers learn more about their prospects and how to continually improve them. “Parents want to know their child’s education leads to a brighter future,” said department Director Stephen D. ...

Letter: Service disconnection may have been caused by brine

Letters to the Editor

The Aug. 27 article titled “Knox Energy disconnects service for 43 customers in Belpre area” neglected to note that dozens of Wilson Energy production wells now spew toxic, radioactive wastewater (aka brine) that has migrated from injection wells – instead of natural gas and oil. The number of local production wells destroyed by brine penetration has increased in the past few years. As owner Bob Wilson stated, "conditions have worsened." The fractured geology of Washington County is not suitable for the high-pressure and ever increasing volume of brine that is being pumped into ...

Letter: Trump still using liar’s playbook

Letters to the Editor

“I cannot tell a lie,” young George Washington told his father when asked if he’d cut down a cherry tree. Ever since, Americans have opted to think their first president was a model of truth. Most of us have had the notion that our presidents were honest, even referring to Abraham Lincoln as Honest Abe. For the most part, we have felt that our presidents were basically above board. Until, that is, President Donald Trump came along and proved that Americans could embrace a president who lies morning, noon and night — on social media, in interviews, in the White House, on the ...

Make affordable childcare a priority in Ohio

Editorials

Though policymakers have made a few attempts at increasing Ohioans’ access to child care in recent years, the problem is as bad as ever. In fact, advocates are labeling it a crisis. “We are using the word, and we don’t use it lightly, but we are calling this a childcare crisis,” Tasha Booker, president and CEO of Action for Children, told Spectrum News 1. “In order for child care to be considered affordable in Ohio, families should be spending no more than about 8% of their income.” Instead, some families with two young children are spending up to 33%. If you’re ...

Resource Fair guides residents toward a hand up

Editorials

GoPacks’ Community Resource Fair in Marietta helped connect local families with resources ranging from food to physicals Aug. 23. GoPacks is well known for making sure students in Marietta and the surrounding areas have access to nutritious food as it works to connect families with resources to fight food insecurity. But there is more to health and well-being than food, and the resource fair brought together Memorial Health System, Marietta City Schools, Washington Morgan Community Action, the Washington County Family and Children First Council, House of Hope, the American Red Cross, ...

Cracking the Code: Dolly’s example to follow

Local Columns

The USA lost an icon. The world lost a one-of-a-kind talent with the death of Dolly Parton. The media has done an excellent job of reminding us how talented Dolly was, all she accomplished and how she cared about people. As I write this, we have the story of Dolly’s career playing on TV. I did not know the song “I Will Always Love You” was written and first performed by Dolly Parton. I remember Whitney Houston singing that song in the movie “The Bodyguard” with Kevin Costner. Dolly has given everyone an example of a life well lived we can all follow. Dolly Parton grew ...