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Rising Power Rates a Concern for W.Va.

It’s always jarring when those representing corporations on which so many of us depend display their total disconnect from the real world. Appalachian Power customers had to be scratching their heads with company President and CEO Aaron Walker’s assessment of a 72% increase in residential customers’ rates since 2018. “I don’t think I’d say substantial. I don’t know what you mean by substantial,” he said during a West Virginia Public Service Commission hearing last week. Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power, subsidiaries of American Electric Power, have requested what ...

Coming Together for Friends and Neighbors

The last week has been a whirlwind for hundreds of Ohio County families devastated by the June 14 flooding in what now has become the largest single mass casualty incident in recent memory. Consider: - Eight dead and one still reported as missing. Among the dead were a mother and her 3-year-old daughter; a husband and wife; and a recent high school graduate; and others. (And let’s be clear: without the efforts of our area’s first responders, who selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to save others, the death toll would have been much higher. Dozens of swift-water rescues took ...

Looting Has No Place Here

As residents in Triadelphia and Valley Grove began the recovery process last Sunday from the flash flooding that claimed eight lives, it was heartwarming to see the strength of our community on display: neighbors helping neighbors recover from the single deadliest incident in recent memory in Ohio County. We chronicled many stories — including on today’s front page — of folks that went out of their way to help others recover. It’s only the beginning of that process, but the outpouring of love and assistance given to those in need showed the compassion and caring we have for one ...

Celebrating Our West Virginia Heritage

It was 162 years ago today when a young nation first learned that “Mountaineers are Always Free.” Since then, we West Virginians have worked hard to make our mark on bettering not only ourselves and our beloved Mountain State but also this great land in which we are so privileged to live. June 20, 1863 saw West Virginia born from the Civil War as the 35th state. Since then, our natural resources — coal, natural gas and timber — have helped to power a growing nation. Our natural beauty and wild and wonderful landscape are a playground for many seeking to connect with the ...

Find Ways to Help Families Impacted

As the rain kept coming down over the weekend, West Virginians and others across the nation watched in horror while the number of deaths ticked up and damage mounted because of flash flooding in the northern part of the state. At this writing, six people are dead; others are missing. Buildings have collapsed; thousands are without power; homes, businesses and cars have been washed away — the devastation is painful to witness primarily in Ohio and Marion counties. Gov. Patrick Morrisey wasted no time declaring a state of emergency to get what resources are available to where they are ...

Promises Falling Short

Most of us know to brace ourselves when we read an anticipated response that begins with “after careful consideration.” That was certainly necessary for Licking County residents after Microsoft followed those words with “we will not be moving forward at this time with our plans to build data centers at the Licking County sites.” Microsoft has decided against the development, proving Licking County Commission President Tim Bubb wise to have told WCMH nearly two years ago, “We’ll believe it when we see it.” To be fair, Microsoft said it will take “appropriate steps” to ...