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Put safety first when you swim

Swimming season is here, and the sounds of people enjoying the water are a sure sign that the summer is really heating up. But the fun of playing in the water can quickly turn tragic. It’s a reality that hit home on Monday, when 13-year-old Reese Hanshaw of Burgettstown lost her life after drowning while swimming in the Ohio River near the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Almost 400 children younger than age 5 drown every year in swimming pool accidents across the country, and more than 3,200 go to a hospital emergency room after a near drowning, statistics show. A child can drown in ...

Spirit of 1776 remains alive

We cannot describe the spirit of freedom any better than those who created the document which led the nation toward the actions which we celebrate on Friday. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should ...

A chance to enjoy being an American

We ask everyone to take a moment during the next couple of days and remember that, despite whatever differences we have, there are few nations in the world where citizens are able to gather to celebrate the freedoms residents of the United States of America too often take for granted. It’s an important thought as our nation prepares to celebrate its 249th birthday on Friday. The Fourth of July is a true national holiday, one that is celebrated from the smallest township to the largest city. It’s a day of picnics, family gatherings, parades and summer fun, all played out against ...

Making a difference for workers in Ohio

Ohioans expect state government to do all in its power to leave as much of their hard-earned money in individuals’ and businesses’ pockets as possible. At least one agency — the state Bureau of Workers’ Compensation — continues to be recognized for its efforts to do so. In its biennial study of the workers’ compensation premium rates in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has once again ranked the Buckeye State fifth lowest in the country. (In case you’re wondering, Oregon was 14th lowest.) In addition to ...

Great places for road trips

A stretch of suffocatingly hot weather may have made it tempting to just stay indoors as much as possible, but a recent study reminds us Ohio has a great deal to offer outside. The best part is, it just takes a switch from the air conditioning in your house to the air conditioning in your car to go enjoy it. WalletHub’s 2025’s Best and Worst States for Summer Road Trips placed the Buckeye State at an impressive third in the country. The idea for this particular group of researchers was to find road trips that were fun and budget-friendly, which is a bonus for all of us. We ...

Madonna faced difficult decision

Our region received another hard dose of reality last week when it was learned that officials at Weirton Madonna High School made the decision to suspend the school’s football team for the coming season. It was a decision that — for now — ends a long tradition of successful seasons at the school. Fans have cheered the Blue Dons on to six West Virginia Class A state championships (in 1968, 1971, 1972, 1987, 2009 and 2013;) the Catholic state title in 1975; and 11 Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A championships (in 1962, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1987, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 ...