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A Sad Farewell to Viennese Ball

Editorials

It was disappointing to hear the news last week that, after 44 years, the Viennese Ball would be ending. It had been a wonderful feature of Wheeling social life for so long. Yet, given the reasons, it’s understandable. The ball, a fundraiser for the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, had just become to expensive to put on and still serve its mission of supporting the WSO. “After last year, we knew things either had to change or we couldn’t go forward,” Ball Committee Chair Paula McClure said. “And it’s the rising cost of just about everything — whether it’s flowers or ...

Making Progress in West Virginia Education

Editorials

Despite the myriad challenges they have faced over the past few years and perpetual meddling from state and federal government, West Virginia public schools have managed to improve a little in key educational and operational areas, according to the state Department of Education’s annual report on county approval status and accreditation. When Deputy Superintendent of School Sonya White spoke to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability this week, she said 29 county school districts were listed this year as needing assistance for not meeting one or more ...

Nice Work If You Can Get It

Local Columns

Last week, I covered the final two days of permanent injunction hearings to block a June directive from the West Virginia Board of Education to county boards of education to continue to enforce the state’s compulsory vaccine law and not accept religious exemptions approved by the Department of Health and made possible by Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s January executive order. I’m not going to rehash all of the particulars. You can read my coverage of both days. But I wanted to use my column to focus on last Thursday morning’s testimony by Dr. Mark McDaniel, the acting state health ...

Paying for Lack of Growth

Editorials

An increase in rates for those utilizing Wheeling’s municipal water and wastewater systems is, frankly, part of the cost of doing business. It is expensive to maintain those systems — let alone upgrade them. Wheeling City Council members on Tuesday did the responsible thing in voting in new rates, effective Nov. 15, that will allow for upgrades to both systems. However, what’s missing here is this: the 38% increase for water rates and 38% increase for sewer rates didn’t have to be such a shock. The city currently has identified about $66 million in projects that need ...

A Trusted Voice To Serve Our Region

Editorials

We just marked National Newspaper Week, an important reminder of the vital role newspapers play in informing and uniting the communities they serve. Newspapers are more than a source of headlines — they are the heartbeat of democracy at the local level, providing trusted, accurate reporting that helps citizens understand the world around them. For generations, newspapers have stood as guardians of truth, holding those in power accountable and ensuring transparency in government. From your local city council to your county school board, no institution better chronicles the workings of ...

Strong Public Schools Vital to West Virginia’s Future

Local Columns

Well-educated students who are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st Century are vital to our success as a state. Today’s students will have unprecedented opportunity to succeed in life if they are properly educated and prepared. Earlier this month, West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty pointed to important facts regarding the West Virginia school-age population and regulations regarding school funding. Mr. Hardesty correctly points out that in order to improve public education, legislators must remove regulations put in place by their predecessors that ...