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Sharing true spirit of Christmas

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: I am writing to share a wonderful story of generosity and kindness that truly made this Christmas the best one ever for the residents of Shaffer Plaza in Steubenville. Shaffer Plaza is an IDD ICF group home that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and this past Christmas was made incredibly special thanks to an extraordinary donation from the living family members of the late Pete Puskarich. They came together to honor Pete’s memory in the most meaningful way — by giving joy, comfort and unforgettable memories to others. Because ...

Local Columns

Well, we blinked. And just like that, another year has slipped through our fingers, joining the long line of years that came before it. But I’ll be honest with you ... this time around, I didn’t even bother keeping an eye on the clock. I didn’t hold my breath for the countdown, nor did I wait for that glittering ball to descend over a crowded Times Square. I’ve performed that dance more times than I can count. I’ve finally learned a hard-won truth: The simple turning of a page on a calendar has never actually mended a heart or fixed a problem. Not for me, ...

Trades offer opportunities

Editorials

Those who have the opportunity to spend time with younger family members over this holiday break may be tempted to ask questions such as “What do you want to be when you grow up?” or “What are you studying in college?” A growing number of employers are hoping the answer to that question is plumber, carpenter or even conveyor belt repairperson. There are so few people entering (or staying in) the skilled trades that consulting firm McKinsey predicts an estimated imbalance of 20 job openings for every one net new employee between 2022 and 2032. Employers such as Wal-Mart and ...

Lawmakers, parents must protect children

Editorials

A Pew Research Center study shows approximately 20 percent of teenagers report social media has damaged their mental health. Interacting with online platforms (this includes video games and chats) can create a host of ways for young people to endanger not just their mental health, but their physical safety, too. Republican U.S. Sens. Jon Husted of Ohio, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and John Thune of South Dakota are joining Democrats Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. and Chuck Schumer of New York in supporting the Kids Online Safety Act, which would help protect the personal data of ...

2026 looks to be interesting

Editorials

With the beginning of every year comes a sense of hope and the feeling that the future ahead of us is at least a little brighter than the past that is behind us. That’s the case as we say farewell to 2025 and welcome to 2026. Education and health care have played significant roles in our region’s economy for many years now, and that figures to continue, with major changes coming. The property where the former Eastern Gateway Community College sat along Sunset Boulevard in Steubenville will be taking on a new look, as Youngstown State University is preparing the building and ...

Our lives remain touched by many

Editorials

It’s likely that you lost a cultural icon who meant something to you during 2025, whether from the world of religion, politics, the arts or sports. Whether they helped to entertain us, on stage, on film or on television; whether they dazzled us through their accomplishments in athletics; or whether they helped to change the course of the world, each served as a reminder about the importance one person can have on countless numbers of lives. At least one of those deaths had a connection to Steubenville. Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who jumped onto the back of President John ...