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Beware dangers of holiday fires

Late fall and winter make up the peak season for home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association, the U.S. Fire Administration and the American Red Cross. Cooking and home heating are the leading causes of fire during the winter months. Candles, decorations and Christmas trees are among other causes of fires during the last two months of the year. The joy of the holidays can quickly turn to tragedy if simple safety precautions aren’t taken with decorations. Overall, the American Red Cross reports that 47,000 fires will occur during the winter holidays. They ...

Lessons to learn in Marshall County

On Sept. 18, a school aide at McNinch Primary School in Moundsville reportedly witnessed a horrifying incident in which a teacher grabbed a 6-year-old girl — nonverbal and on the autism spectrum — by the neck with both hands and squeezed. That aide took the girl to the nurse’s office, where photos were taken of red marks on the girl’s neck. Then, the aide took the correct next step: Reporting the incident to the school’s principal. After that, it seems, Principal Jane Duffy and Erin Cuffaro, district director of special programs, did not have the sense of urgency or desire ...

FirstEnergy errors remain troubling

Details continue to be revealed regarding FirstEnergy’s behavior while it was involved in financing a $61 million bribery scheme, according to a report by the Energy and Policy Institute. Evidence suggests FirstEnergy was classifying lobbying and donations as “construction expenses” while it was also funding what became a bribery scandal. However, the Ohio Capital Journal says the report does not determine whether any of that misclassified money was being used to pay for bribes. However, they were labeled, $108 million in such errors have been found. Now, FirstEnergy has the ...

Energy permitting in Ohio just a start

Those who want a clear picture of the challenges facing Ohio’s economy would do well to take a look at the state Chamber of Commerce’s “Energy Permitting in Ohio: A Process Analysis,” which takes a look at just one industry, but reveals some larger truths. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation released the study at a policy forum Monday, where a number of stakeholders were discussing how to modernize the state’s energy permitting system and support growing demand. “Ohio is in a period of unprecedented opportunity, but our energy capacity has to keep pace,” ...

DeWine makes right call on child labor

Thank goodness common sense prevailed in Columbus last week, as Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a bill that would have allowed Ohio children ages 14 and 15 to work until 9 p.m. year-round. State Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, had introduced both Senate Bill 50 to alter allowable work hours for minors and Senate Concurrent Resolution 3, which asked Congress to change the Fair Labor Standards Act to accommodate Ohio lawmakers’ desire to let 14- and 15-year-olds work longer. But, “I believe it unwise to provide for 14- and 15-year-olds to work, on a school night, that late at night,” ...

Communication must be improved

It has been quite some time since a superload for the natural gas industry has made its way through any of the communities in the Tri-State Area. So, when a hauler carrying one of these massive pieces of equipment began making its way along some of Weirton’s main thoroughfares last Thursday, it was a surprise to the motoring public. As it turns out, it also was a surprise to municipal officials, including the mayor, city manager and chief of police, who said they received no prior information on the first of a series of such transports. Members of the media received no heads ...