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Letters to the Editor

Update Public on Bond Projects

Editor, News-Register: I write this letter in response to the excellent editorial in the last Sunday edition of the News-Register entitled “Don’t Defund the Public Library.” The editorial essentially asked the question as to how the school bond projects are in such a state of financial mismanagement that library funding has to be cut by over $350,000 to prop up $72 million worth of projects. The editorial appropriately ponders what has Ohio County Schools done to analyze its own finances when it has an annual operating budget of over $67 million, when the voters approved over ...

Working to Clean Up Wheeling

Editor, News-Register: I want to take a moment to thank The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register for all of the support, encouragement, and public awareness that you have provided for not only the Wheeling Island Cleanup, but all of the numerous neighborhood cleanup projects that have taken place recently. I can’t begin to even express how exciting it is to see so many community leaders and organizations stepping up to the plate with armies of volunteers to make our community a better place. I believe you said it best when you recently said it “takes a community” (and an ...

Don’t Diminish Public Library

Editor, News-Register: I was so very sorry and surprised to read that the local school board voted to reduce the allocation to the Ohio County Public Library. As a historian, I researched the situation, only to learn that this is the first time in 139 years that a school board has felt the need to go after library funding. I believe our library is one of the jewels of local life. I often use the Wheeling Room staffed by well-known genealogist Diane Rhodes and am proud that out-of-town researchers often praise our setup and helpful spirit. The fairly recent addition of the Wheeling ...

Library Deserves Full Funding

Editor, News-Register: Save the library! David Croft may not think the Ohio County Public Library is important enough for full funding but I do. The Ohio County Public Library is vital to many people as a resource. Book information does not change from day to day like Wikipedia and internet sources. I attended several of the library’s meetings — “Women Pilots,” for example — plus I had my taxes done in the basement until they became just too complex. Just as surely as Wheeling needs Wheeling Health Right and the Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling, we need a fully funded ...

Ohio County Library a Treasure

Editor, News-Register: Recent actions of the Ohio County Board of Education that will result in a 33% reduction ($294,849) of annual revenue to the Ohio County Public Library should give all citizens of the county cause for alarm. Too frequently, funding of libraries is considered an add-on or frill by those who control access to revenue. The Ohio County Public Library was originally conceived as a child of the Wheeling Public School system. A mechanism to fund the county-based library was created by a special law requested by the Board of Education — at the time, and for ...

Appreciation for Easter Parade

Editor, News-Register: I want to give a big ‘Thank you’ to the Benwood Volunteer Fire Department for a beautiful Easter parade, it was great. Five of our grand babies were here to see the parade. They were so excited, along with the five adults. They even tossed candy to the kids which made it even more exciting. What a beautiful evening with the grand babies and the adults. Babe Terry Benwood