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A Look Back at Christmas Eve 1933 as We Head Into Season

In the era of President-Elect Donald P. Trump, many remain anxious about the coming new year. The nation’s capital is seen from the heartland like a 21st century Sodom and Gomorrah. But a step back in time captured in the 1971 TV Christmas Special “The Homecoming” set in the Great Depression on Christmas Eve 1933 introduced viewers to a family called the Waltons with a brood including John Boy, who aspired to be a newspaper writer; a younger son who wore knickers and shared a story about squeezing a little duck; and a family that gathered to listen to the radio — carrying comedy ...

The Special Session That Wasn’t

Either as a reporter or a staff member, I have been under the golden dome of the State Capitol Building for going on 15 years in January. I have seen many things, but I have never seen the confusion that was caused last week for one day over how to call a special session in December following the November election but prior to the start of the new legislative session. It seems simple in concept: The governor has the authority to call lawmakers into special session (called an extraordinary session in the state Constitution, because it is outside the traditional 60-day regular ...

America’s Game: Army Honors 101st Airborne at Bastogne

When Army takes the field against Navy on December 14, West Point players will proudly display “Bastogne” logos on their chest. The logo honors the heroics by the 101st Airborne Division, the “Screaming Eagles,” during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. In June 1944, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower issued the order to destroy the German war machine and eliminate Nazi tyranny in Europe. Eisenhower chose the 101st Airborne Division as a lead assault element and visited the 101st before they jumped into Normandy on June 6, 1944. For the next six months, the Division took ...

Marshall Memo: Holiday Music, Activities and More

The John Marshall High School Music Department is pleased to invite the public to celebrate the holiday season at a combined Christmas concert. The seventh annual Monarch Tidings is on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. in the JMHS Center for Performing Arts. The student-produced, one day only event will feature selections from a combination of ensembles including concert band, steel band, concert choir, Monarch Choir, women’s ensemble, chamber orchestra, string orchestra and symphony orchestra. Morgan Carlin and Ash Roth will serve as hosts of the show. Some of the festive tunes ...

An Educated Guess

The next legislative session is going to have several issues to tackle, including whatever Governor-Elect Patrick Morrisey’s agenda will be, any possible messes left behind by outgoing Gov. Jim Justice, a likely hole to fill in the upcoming fiscal year 2026 general revenue budget, etc. But expect education to take a spotlight. With the number of traditional public school consolidations increasing and parents becoming angry at the closure of community schools, longer bus rides for their children, and other issues that come from shrinking county populations, some lawmakers are ...

Marshall Memo: A Busy Start to December

The Benwood-McMechen Public Library will have the following free activities in December. Chess Club with Joshua Phillips on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Christmas at the Library on Dec. 10 from 6-6:45 p.m. This will be a fun filled evening with singing, dancing, and a visit with Santa and treats to follow. Stop in early for independent craft time and letter writing to Santa. There will be a free movie titled “How the Grinch Stole Christmas’’ at 4 p.m on Dec. 18. If you are interested in more information, follow the Facebook page or call the library for further for ...