Breaking News

Editorials

Creating a Fair and Level Playing Field

The Wheeling Planning Commission’s preliminary approval Monday for a new car wash on Mount de Chantal Road marks a pivotal moment for the city’s commitment to lawful and objective governance. While the decision aligns with the city’s zoning code and professional staff recommendations, the journey to this point revealed a concerning trend: the intrusion of personal biases and animus into what should be impartial, code-based decision-making. Over the past several months, Wash-Rite Express Car Wash’s proposal has faced multiple hurdles, not due to zoning incompatibilities — the ...

Taking Time To Learn About West Virginia

New West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson is taking a page out of the historian’s handbook as he begins his tenure. His inaugural “Welcome Home Tour” through Wheeling and beyond demonstrates a thoughtful and immersive approach to leadership. Spending this past Monday at Oglebay Park, where he met with students, alumni and community leaders, Benson, a history buff, made his first official stop at West Virginia Independence Hall, the state’s birthplace. He viewed the collections there and was given a tour by site director Debbie Jones. Benson’s goal is to ...

Pats on the Back

- To T.J. and Bonnie Radevski, who for 35 years owned TJs Sports Garden in Wheeling. The business served its final customer on Thursday. Along with being an excellent eatery with a motif focused on Ohio Valley sports history, the business always will hold a special place for us, as The Intelligencer’s sports page each day adorned the wall for patrons to peruse. TJs has been a staple of our region for nearly four decades, as have its owners. Join us in wishing the Radevski’s a happy retirement and thanking them for all their time and effort not only in serving Ohio Valley residents ...

Sanders Visit Shows Wheeling’s Influence

The announcement that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will make a stop at Wheeling’s Capitol Theatre on his national speaking tour is just the latest time that a national political figure has surmised that the Friendly City is an important place to visit. Future and sitting presidents have been visiting Ohio County since George Washington saw Wheeling Creek in 1770. President Donald Trump has been to Wheeling twice, in 2018 and 2019. Then-President George W. Bush made stops in 2004 and 2006. Such visits haven’t been limited to presidents. Then-Vice President Dick Cheney came ...

Flood Studies Necessary

Time and again West Virginians in all corners of the state have had to deal with storms, flooding and mudslides that wreak havoc on lives and communities. This has gone on for generations, and after each disaster, there is always the question: Why does this keep happening? Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced this week a couple of flood mitigation studies that might help get to the bottom of that. Federal and state funding will amount to $6 million for studies of both the Upper Guyandotte River and Kanawha River Basin watersheds. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will play a significant role ...

Don’t Fall Victim To Flood Scams

As Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance finally makes its way to desperate West Virginia counties, the state attorney general also is issuing a warning: Beware of scams. Sadly, those who are most in need of help are often the most enticing targets for online predators who have gotten very good at robbing people. Scams have already surfaced, with one technique being for the caller to pose as a FEMA employee. “During disasters we often see the best in West Virginians — our generosity and volunteerism is second to none,” Attorney General J.B. McCuskey said. “But ...