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Opinion

Sounding Alarm Over Area’s Population Loss

Editorials

The population numbers for our region of West Virginia contained in the recent U.S. Census Bureau county population estimates release are, frankly, not surprising. The Northern Panhandle has been losing population for years. The estimates, based on county populations as of July 1, 2025, confirm the decades-long trend of people leaving our area. Consider this: there are 7,300 fewer people in the Northern Panhandle than on July 1, 2020. A six-county region that in 1970 had 201,940 residents today has 140,138. That loss — 61,802 people — is roughly equivalent to the current ...

Pats on the Back

Editorials

- To all of Wheeling’s first responders who were recognized during Thursday’s ceremony at WesBanco Arena. Your service makes all of us safer. Thank you for your work. - To everyone, especially new sponsor The Health Plan, who have stepped up to support Bethlehem Apostolic Temple’s annual Easter giveaway. You’ll be making the holiday happier for a lot of families. - To Switzerland of Ohio school bus driver Paul Dietrich, who was recently surprised at Monroe Central High School with a 90th birthday celebration. Keep doing what you love, sir. - To the crew of the Artemis II. ...

Watch Out For Squatters

Editorials

A recent house fire in the Wolfhurst neighborhood in Belmont County has shined more light onto a concerning issue in the Ohio Valley. The house on Beal Street where the fire happened last week allegedly was occupied by squatters. “It’s not a registered occupied house, but people are living there and it’s questionable how they got there,” Wolfhurst Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Kevin Roberts said. Beal Street resident Bethany Wallace told our reporter that she had attended several Bridgeport Village Council meetings to discuss those alleged squatters, but lamented ...

The Health Plan Steps Up To Help

Editorials

The Ohio Valley once again showed this week that, when a neighbor is in need, we roll up our sleeves and help. Bishop Darrell Cummings, lead pastor of Wheeling’s Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, recently let it be known that he had lost the lead sponsor for his annual Easter giveaway. It’s a very important event, helping struggling community members provide a full Easter meal for their families, while offering nice Easter clothes for children. He said he would be dipping into the church’s own funds and using credit to pay for the items. But employees at The Health Plan, after ...

Salute Our Volunteers

Editorials

April is National Volunteer Month, a period to honor those who graciously give their time every day to help others. It’s one of the younger of such celebrations, established by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 as part of his 1,000 Points of Light initiative, but youth doesn’t take away from its importance. Because there’s no taking away from the importance of volunteers in our communities. They’re in our churches, our schools and our nursing homes. Nonprofit organizations couldn’t exist without them, as their compassion and call to serve provide essential assistance and ...

Job Fairs A Big Plus

Editorials

School districts around the Ohio Valley have done well for their older students in holding job fairs over the past month. Both Wheeling Park and John Marshall high schools have hosted such events, which give their students a closer look at potential jobs and careers. “The beautiful thing about this event is that we have businesses and organizations that have opportunities for volunteering, for internships, for apprenticeships, full-time jobs, part-time jobs, summer employment, year-round employment,” said Julie Schultz, Wheeling Park High Schools innovation coach and graduation ...