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Follansbee offering early start on season

A look at the calendar might show us that Christmas is still more than two months away, but that won’t keep Follansbee Municipal Park from coming alive with the spirit of the holiday season this weekend. And it’s all thanks to the annual Christmas in the Park festival. Scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, the park will be adorned with Christmas lights and other holiday decorations, and Christmas music from various eras will fill the air. There will be dozens of vendors and numerous drawings. Hood’s Pharmacy will be offering flu ...

Domestic violence numbers troubling

A recent Ohio Domestic Violence Network report included some horrifying data that should make every Buckeye State resident want to get to the root of a deadly trend. The network has seen a 37 percent increase in domestic violence deaths in the state during the past year. According to a report by WSYX-TV in Columbus, 157 were killed in 108 domestic violence cases in the state between July 1, 2024, and June 30. Lisa DeGeeter, a spokeswoman for ODVN, told the station the increased number of cases to go through this year was stunning, as was “how much more violent and brutal the ...

Ohio takes good step with crypto

A couple of weeks ago, Ohio moved one step closer to being able to accept cryptocurrency as payment for state fees and services. The news was greeted with congratulations from officials including Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. “Ohio has always been a state of pioneers and innovators,” LaRose said. “I want to commend Treasurer (Robert) Sprague, Auditor (Keith) Faber and Attorney General (Dave) Yost for taking this bold step to position us at the forefront of the emerging digital economy. There’s a reason why we now rank among the top five states in the nation to do ...

Fall fire season requires caution

Fall fire season has arrived across our region. Don’t let a little rainy weather in September fool you, things are still dry enough to elevate the risk of wildfires. That risk is already higher now that leaves are hitting the ground, and other vegetation is either going dormant and drying out or dying altogether at this time of year. Lower humidity and fall breezes may be pleasant for us, but they, too, add to the risk. All those factors create “a situation where we have an elevated risk of wildfires here in Ohio,” according to the state Division of Forestry’s Aaron Kloss. ...

Voter registration deadline is here

If you live in Ohio and have not yet registered to vote, you are nearly out of time. The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the Nov. 4 election is 9 p.m. today. Our representative democracy allows residents to choose who will represent them on city and village councils, who will serve as township trustees, who will be their mayor and who will represent them on the local school board. Local voters get to determine the fate of tax and other issues. Those are among the items Ohioans will see on their ballots this fall. Many area residents stay on top of politics ...

Newspapers have vital role in our lives

There are as many reasons to read a daily newspaper as there are readers. Some are looking to see how their favorite high school sports team is doing. Others want to know what’s happening in their local schools. Many are looking to learn more about the people and events that shape their cities, villages townships and counties. Some are interested in crossword puzzles and word games. And yes, some always will turn to the obituaries first. Some are looking to learn more about events happening at area churches and with local clubs and organizations. Some enjoy ...