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Guest column/Memories of growing up in Weirton’s Chestnut Woods

If you grew up on one of the many streets bordering Culler Road, you probably were referred to as a Chestnut Woods kid. Chestnut Woods began near Penco Road, where Mr. Zagula ran the Chestnut Lanes bowling alley, ran past the 7-11 to Sabu’s Lounge and included the streets below Palm Drive, ending at the Culler Road and Pleasantview Drive intersection. Mike Orrechio and I grew up as Chestnut Woods kids. His house bordered Pleasantview and Mellon streets. Our sprawling, 900-square-foot house was on the left-hand side near the middle of Mellon Street. We had seven boys, of which I was ...

What I would like every veteran to know

I am not quite sure how it even happened, but on Monday, I served as the guest speaker for the Jefferson County Veterans Association’s Veterans Day service at Friendship Park in Smithfield. First of all, I was late in arriving. I walked in when the national anthem was playing. I was already a nervous wreck as it was and me trying to get there on time only made matters worse. I have no idea how I got to be the speaker for this important occasion, but then again, I oftentimes find myself in situations that I never saw coming. Everyone in attendance was so very kind to me. All of ...

Some election numbers

Area residents made sure their voices were heard Tuesday — and when all of the talk and all of the sometimes-heated rhetoric finally cleared, there was little doubt left on where they stand. According to the unofficial results from the Jefferson County Board of Elections, 31,209 of the county’s 45,726 registered voters cast ballots. That’s a turnout of 68.25 percent, which shows that area residents took a great interest in having a say in who will hold public offices and how much they will pay in taxes. It’s a number that’s just a little bit shy of the state turnout of ...

History in the Hills: Area women’s history

A few weeks ago, I was invited to speak to Weirton Heights Rotary at its morning meeting. I have spoken to the group before on a few occasions and I always enjoy the time I spend with them. Usually, I am invited to shed some light on a piece of the past from our area. There is so much one could speak on and I enjoy researching a topic and presenting that history. We certainly have much to be proud of in our area. That is why I do this column, after all, to shed some light on our history and make each one of us proud to be from where we come from. Hometown pride is an important part of ...

Guest column/Water resources should be valued, conserved

This summer’s drought was a wake-up call for citizens of the Tri-State Area who take our water resources for granted. Areas across the United States suffered from droughts. October was the driest month recorded in the lower 48 states since the 1800s. Eastern Ohio and parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania broke records for deficits of rainfall. More than half of Ohio saw some degree of drought designation. Ryan Fogt, a climatologist and meteorology professor at Ohio University, said, “It’s really kind of uncommon actually for Ohio.” Our home in Harrison County remains in ...

Guest column/Education vs. profession majors and lifetime earnings

Teaching is one of the most honorable occupations a person could choose to undertake. It is also the most crucial career regarding our country’s youth with the immense responsibly of molding them into mentally, physically and ethically productive adult citizens. No other profession is charged with such a monumental task. And I am sure everyone would agree. Ironically, educators are the lowest paid professionals. This has led me to the following research, comparing the average lifetime earnings of K-12 classroom educators to other professions. The findings In my research, I ...