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W.Va. Vaccinations Keeping Us Safe

There have been no reported cases of measles so far this year in the state of West Virginia, and local health officials are saying that the people of West Virignia have a lot to do with that. Ohio County Health Administrator Howard Gamble said that high vaccination rates in the Mountain State are much of the reason for not seeing any reported cases so far. “Some of the difference can be attributed to the fact that we have a high rate of vaccination for measles. Most of that is attributed to state law, which requires all pupils entering school to be vaccinated or have an ...

Don’t Forget Childcare

Advocacy groups noticed a gap in Gov. Mike DeWine’s State of the State speech last week, as they worry about his failure to mention accessible, affordable child care as a priority for the year. To be fair, if the governor had mentioned everything he wanted to get done as his tenure wraps, we might still be listening to him speak. Still, it is important for DeWine and lawmakers not to drop the ball on an issue that is immensely important to many Ohio families. “Tell me how you can be pro-growth, and pro-business, and pro-Ohio when you are telling parents you should stay home ...

‘Rise Against Hunger’ a Commendable Project

On an unassuming Saturday morning, a group of Ohio Valley residents helped feed tens of thousands across the globe. The annual “Rise Against Hunger” meal-packing event was held this past weekend at St. Jude’s Church Hall in Glen Dale. There, participants packed 30,000 meals that will be distributed worldwide to areas in need. It was put together by the Rotary Clubs of Wheeling, Moundsville and New Martinsville. “Obviously, we’ve got to feed people meals around the world. There’s more than enough food to feed everybody in the world, but it’s not in the right places. So ...

Remembering Those Lost

Though it happened decades ago, the United Mine Workers of America Local 1304 won’t let the memories fade — nor should they. In 1940, Belmont County saw a devastating explosion at the Willow Grove Mine, where 72 miners were killed. “They left the house in the morning to go to the job site. They kissed their wives goodbye, and within a blink of an eye, they became the widows, and they left their children,” UMWA Local 1304 Financial Secretary Mel Woods said. Since then, the UMWA local has transformed the site to a fitting memorial for those miners. A memorial stone and ...

‘Raylee’s Law’ No Place for Games

A group of lawmakers who repeatedly try to earn cheap political points by talking about how precious to them are West Virginia children showed their true colors Saturday in ugly fashion. Legislators had a chance to pass House Bill 5537 — Raylee’s Law, which would have prohibited county boards of education from approving a request for home school instruction for an enrolled public school if there is a pending child abuse or neglect investigation against that child’s parent or guardian. There is already proof the law is necessary. Raylee Browning died in 2018 as a result of child ...

WPHS Speech Team Keeps Streak Rolling

Here’s a statement that should astound you: the Wheeling Park High Speech and Debate team this past weekend won its 46th consecutive state championship. Forty-six. Since 1980, only one team in the Mountain State has come home with that trophy, and that team calls the school atop the hill at Wheeling Park its home. It’s a testament to each team’s talent, hard work and dedication to their craft. So how does one team establish that level of dominance over more than four-and-a-half decades? Everyone involved understands the legacy they’re part of. To understand that legacy, ...