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‘The Hole’ Has No Place in Our Schools

Every few years an issue arises within Ohio County Schools that demands a full explanation from school administrators. Several years ago it was a kindergarten student that walked out the front door of the Warwood School and headed for home in the middle of the day. School administrators never fully explained how that occurred. There also was an incident years ago on a local school bus carrying a sports team back to Wheeling from a West Virginia University basketball game in Morgantown where a student alleged inappropriate sexual behavior. Again, no explanation was given to the ...

Supporting the Most Vulnerable Residents

The West Virginia Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Program has provided grant funding for some important efforts in the state. More than $700,000 will be distributed to programs ranging from the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence Inc., which serves rural communities across the state, to more focused efforts such as the Branches domestic violence shelter in Huntington. These organizations provide victim advocacy, help in finding resources, housing assistance, court accompaniment, and crisis intervention, among other supports. Knowing ...

DeWine Taking a Stance

There are 27 states in which the death penalty is still legal. Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine would like to make it 26. Last week he said he believed the death penalty should be abolished in the Buckeye State. His position is that the death penalty is no longer a deterrent to violent crime. “I do not believe that argument today can be successfully made, nor do I believe that there’s any chance in the future the facts that I’ve cited to support that belief will change,” he said. “Therefore, I believe Ohio should abolish the death penalty.” DeWine’s position is no surprise. He ...

Flooding Issues in Elm Grove Need Addressed

For too many residents and businesses in Elm Grovea, heavy rainfall no longer means simply worrying about a trickle of water seeping into the basement. Instead, it now means grabbing the sand bags to divert water rushing down the hill away from your home or business in the hopes your basement will be spared from flooding. It means watching the water rise as the city’s storm sewer system is overwhelmed. Yes, the rainfall we had Monday was intense, and it lasted most of the day. But should it have led to vehicles being trapped in the late afternoon as Kruger Street flooded? Should it ...

Elizabeth Romanek a Genuine Role Model For Mountain State

In a world where public images are often carefully curated and every message is meticulously crafted, authenticity can be difficult to find. That is one of the reasons why Wheeling native Elizabeth Romanek’s message resonated so strongly Saturday evening in Martinsburg as she was crowned Miss West Virginia 2026. For decades, the Miss West Virginia Competition has celebrated intelligence, talent, poise and a commitment to service. Yet Romanek demonstrated that one quality may matter more than any other in today’s world: genuineness. Romanek impressed judges and audiences ...

Leave Ohio County Schools’ Start Time Alone — For Now

The Ohio County Board of Education, at its meeting set for today, could vote on whether to move its school start times a half-hour later for each school, elementary through high school, in the county. That shouldn’t happen — for a number of reasons. Before we even get into pros and cons of the schedule adjustments, let’s talk about the first reason that vote shouldn’t happen — the timing. This vote comes in the final meeting of this school board. When they meet again in July, the board will be different. Molly Aderholt, the board member who has rightly championed the ...