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Stay Safe In This Summer Heat

It’s summer. Obviously, it’s hot. This week, it will be especially so. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the area from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with temperatures reaching an expected high of 94 degrees. That plus higher humidity will make it even more hazardous to stay outside too long. The rest of the week isn’t much better, with highs not falling under 90 until the weekend. With that in mind, everyone in the Ohio Valley needs to be careful what they do and how much they do outside during this heatwave. People may not realize just how quickly hot ...

New Sistersville Ferry A Good Move

The Sistersville Ferry won’t be out of commission much longer, thanks to the act of the Sistersville City Council, which voted Monday night to approve the funds for a new boat, after the previous boat had sank into the Ohio River and was beyond repair. Funds for the purchase are being raised through state legislators, the Sistersville Ferry Board and the insurance settlement the city received to cover the purchase price of the new tug. The replacement vessel is expected to cost approximately $250,000. The ferry could resume operations as early as September, allowing it to return in ...

Help Others By Donating Blood

The American Red Cross is in need of our help. The organization recently declared an emergency blood shortage, especially for types O positive and B negative. According to the Red Cross, the blood supply fell nearly 25% in June. Here’s why that’s especially bad right now. This is the height of “trauma season.” We’re outdoors. We’re hiking the backwoods. We’re enjoying boats and bikes and scooters. And we’re at a greater risk for significant injury, ones that could necessitate a need for a blood transfusion. “A readily available blood supply serves as the backbone ...

Continuing To Honor Our Veterans

The Wheeling community once again showed its love and appreciation for those who have served in the United States military this past week. The city conducted dedication ceremonies for three Wheeling soldiers killed in action in its ongoing military banner project, and there was a special honor for longtime Wheeling attorney and World War II veteran Joseph Gompers, who received a quilt through Quilts of Valor for his service to his country. On Thursday, Lance Cpl. Gary E. Schubert, who served in Vietnam, and Pvt. Raymond W. Latz, who served in World War II, received public tributes ...

Wheeling Homelessness Task Force Looks Like It Will Start Strong

Based on what was said Tuesday at the Wheeling Rotary Club, this new Wheeling Homelessness Task Force chaired by Rabbi Joshua Lief of Temple Shalom could quickly get on the right track. Lief spoke before the Rotary Club, his first speech after being named chair of the task force by Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder. There hasn’t been a meeting of that task force yet ­ — there hasn’t been anyone on the task force announced outside of Lief yet ­— but the rabbi did offer some insight into how he will guide the group. One of the first things he offered was that everyone should keep ...

Let’s Live Up To What Our Founders Wanted

As our country celebrates not just any Independence Day, but the 250th anniversary of one of the boldest declarations in human history, the festivities give us an excellent opportunity to look back on two-and-a-half centuries of this American experiment and check ourselves against what the founders hoped they were setting in motion. Draped in red, white and blue and surrounded by flags and fireworks, it is easy to forget how we got here and why we are free to celebrate as flamboyantly as we’d like. Richard Henry Lee made the motion to declare independence in June 1776, but not ...