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A Business-Unfriendly Approach in Wheeling

There’s something fundamentally wrong when city leaders repeatedly tell a private property owner that there’s nothing that can be done with their property. Want a zone change? Not a chance. Want to tear down a building currently sitting alongside one of Wheeling’s busiest roads and build residential homes in its spot? Highly unlikely, as the building there is a “contributing historic structure.” Want to return it to its original use as a church? No, unfortunately the property no longer meets the zoning requirements needed for a church. Such is the current plight of Tom ...

A First Step in Addressing County’s Future Growth

Both Wheeling and Ohio County have the same problem: a declining and aging population. The 41,000 people here today (Ohio County at its peak nearly a century ago had 72,077 residents) are being forced to shoulder more of the burden when it comes to public utilities, taxes and more. This is an issue every resident and public official should have at the top of their priority list. Quality of life here, as we all know, is excellent. We have the amenities of a medium-sized city (a symphony orchestra, professional hockey, a casino and more) without much of the crime and traffic. Homes, when ...

Continue Efforts in Overdose Fight

West Virginia’s deadly substance abuse epidemic has become significantly less so lately. According to the National Center for Health Statistics through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a 43.5% decrease in overdose deaths in the state over the past year. “That’s great news and it’s really unprecedented,” Dr. Matthew Christiansen, chief medical officer for Valley Health and a former state public health officer, told WV MetroNews. It is wonderful news, yes, but it begs the questions: What has changed? And are use rates as high as they ever ...

Keeping W.Va. Seniors Healthy

West Virginia is not only routinely ranked as one of the poorest and most unhealthy states in the country, it also has the third-oldest population, according to data from the 2020 census. That means plenty of people with challenges related to their health, age and income. Fortunately, we have a state Department of Agriculture that understands all that, and is once again offering vouchers through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, through Oct. 31. Though seniors must receive their vouchers in their home counties, they can use them at any participating farmers market in the ...

Get Out, Support Events in Wheeling

Don’t let it ever be said that there’s “nothing to do in Wheeling.” The past few weeks have so shown otherwise. Three weekends ago, the annual Ogden Wellness Weekend took to the streets downtown for two days of family and fitness-related events. Just a short distance away that same weekend, Oglebay Park hosted its annual Backyard Barbecue event. Waterfront Wednesdays have kicked into high gear. And this past weekend featured several events that focused on what makes Wheeling so unique — its people. The city on Saturday wrapped up its inaugural Fashion Week with a runway ...

The Debt Burden in Ohio

Across the country, families are struggling to keep their heads above water with varying degrees of success. Some states are in better shape than others. So WalletHub took a look at “Cities Paying Off the Most Household Debt,” in a recent report. Those living in some California cities appear to be having the most success. If your own household debt situation is giving you a sinking feeling about how well Ohio cities performed, you see where this is going. In the report listing 182 cities, Ohio had three in the bottom 10 (Akron at 174, Toledo at 179 and Cleveland at 181). Columbus ...