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Earning That First Paycheck

Even before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration told me I could legally work at age 14, I had a few jobs. Those few jobs were babysitting neighbors’ kids or grandkids, usually just a few doors from my childhood home. The pay was a whopping 50 cents an hour, and it didn’t matter if you were watching one or three children. I didn’t question the pay scale. At 12 or 13, those babysitting dollars bought me a few Teen Beat magazines and a Milkshake candy bar at the corner drugstore. At 15, I joined the hundreds of teens in the Ohio Valley who found summer work at the ...

I Have a Will – Do I Also Need a Trust?

Dear Savvy Senior. My wife and I were recently talking about updating our will and wondered if we should also set up a trust. How do we know if we need one? – Planning Ahead Dear Planning, That’s an excellent question. A will is one of the most important tools in estate planning, but many people wonder if it’s enough, or if adding a trust makes sense. The answer depends on your finances, your family situation, and what you want your plan to accomplish. Here’s a simple way to think about it. What a will does A will spells out who gets your assets after you pass away. ...

More Than Just a Game

It’s not just about baseball. You don’t even have to like baseball. You just have to be a proud West Virginian who enjoys cheering on the West Virginia University Mountaineers Baseball Team.  What happened a week ago when the team captured a walk-off run win over a well-oiled Kentucky team is nothing short of Mountaineer pride and teamwork at its best. More than 4,000 fans packed the stadium in Granville and watched the historic night of baseball. In addition, a few thousand more watched from the grassy hillside overlooking the field. It was picture perfect weather in a state ...

Do Men Get Osteoporosis?

Dear Savvy Senior, Can men get osteoporosis or is it mostly a problem for women? When I fell and broke my wrist last winter, the ER doctor told me I might have osteoporosis, but I never followed up. What can you tell me? — Almost 70 Dear Almost, A lot of people think osteoporosis is only a women’s issue, but men can get it too – especially as they get older. And like women, men often don’t realize they have it until a bone breaks. Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease because it weakens bones over time, making them thin, brittle and more likely to break, usually ...

A Road Less Paved

This is not a complaint column despite what some may think. It is, however, my opportunity to question the logic of some things. Much to our surprise and delight, last week we encountered West Virginia state road crews patching potholes on Boone Hedges Road in Ohio County — in the rain. That’s not a diss. It’s just a simple observation. In fact, I am grateful for any attention given to this country road that we and others use to reach their homes, cattle and horses. As a semi-retired county resident and full-time taxpayer, I and some of my neighbors often wonder if this road ...

Senior Travel Discounts: How to Save on Your Next Trip

Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I are retiring later this year and hope to travel more while we’re still healthy and active. Our budget will be tighter, so every dollar counts. Are there worthwhile senior travel discounts you can tell us about, and at what age do they begin? — Ready to Roam Dear Ready, Retirement is the perfect time to start checking destinations off your wish list. Senior travel discounts can make a real difference. Whether it’s airfare, hotels, cruises, train tickets or attractions, the savings can add up – sometimes hundreds of dollars per trip – ...