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Thank you to those who farm

Editorials

Farmers earn a lot of respect from those who understand how much they do for the rest of us. It’s easy for us to think about the food and other products they provide, as well as the contributions farm families make to our communities. But it’s not always top of mind to think about their stewardship of this land we all share. The Ohio Department of Agriculture recognizes it, though, and each year hands out Conservation Farm Family Awards. Among those honored for 2025 were the Brad and Matilda Miller family for their 400-acre farm on which there are 150 head of Blonde D’DAquitaine ...

Excellence in Park and Recreation Management

Editorials

When you hear Ohioans brag about the state’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities, it might sound like hyperbole to hear we are “the best.” But an award from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association backs us up. Ohio won the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. “Our state parks protect Ohio’s natural resources while providing incredible opportunities for people to explore, learn, and connect with nature,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “From protecting ...

Don’t let your guard down around AGS

Editorials

If you consider yourself to be a carnivore, the West Virginia Department of Health has given you yet another reason to be vigilant about avoiding ticks. Earlier this month, the agency reported multiple cases of the tick-borne Alpha-gal Syndrome, which can cause a variety of symptoms as a result of allergies to meat and meat products caused by the disease. This one is carried by lone star ticks — larger than deer ticks and with white spots on their backs. Worry over the disease is severe enough that the state health department issued an advisory Sept. 11, making AGS a reportable ...

Attitude is everything

Local Columns

Everyone makes people happy. Some people do it by simply entering a room. Others make people happy by leaving a room. You probably know both types of people. The difference is their attitude. Some people enter a room with a smile on their face. They are positive, uplifting and fun to be around. Others have a frown on their face. They are negative, self-centered and depressing to be around. We choose our attitude and the type of person we want to be. We also choose the type of people we want to spend time with. Attitude is defined as a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone ...

Cherish and preserve Christian unity

Local Columns

By Mark Wilmoth If the Apostle Paul ever decides to write our church a letter (Yes, I know Paul’s been gone a while!), I hope it’s like Philippians. I don’t want a letter like 1 Corinthians, that lists all the problems in the church and dictates corrections. I certainly don’t want a letter like Galatians. In that one, Paul is so disturbed by the direction the Galatian church is taking that he skips the customary courtesies and begins to scold, saying, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a ...

Who we are in the Buckeye State

Editorials

Ohioans are proud of their state’s history as a vital component of the Underground Railroad. That’s why it is exciting to learn from Gov. Mike DeWine, the state Department of Development and TourismOhio that the Ohio Historical Underground Railroad Trail is expanding. There are now 48 stops on the trail, with new additions such as the John Gee Black Historical Center in Gallipolis, Lucy Depp Park in Powell, the Gabriel Smith Memorial Gateway to Freedom Display at the Preble County District Library in Eaton and the Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center in ...