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Sports referees need safety and support

Editorials

Refereeing isn’t supposed to be dangerous. But those who (often volunteer to) do so are increasingly facing dangers to their mental health and wellbeing AND their physical health while they are trying to do their jobs for our kids. During a Steubenville-New Philadelphia boys soccer game this week, an official was injured so badly he had to be hospitalized. Video evidence shows a Steubenville player who may have been reacting to a red card being given to a teammate charging at the official, knocking him to the ground. According to published reports, the referee suffered a collapsed ...

Ross Gallabrese: We love to spend on Halloween

Local Columns

Drive through any neighborhood in the region and there's no doubt you will see plenty of Halloween decorations. A lot of those will have been in place for some time now. It wasn't all that long ago when it was rare to find a house whose owner went all-in on that day. Thanks to technology, it's easier than ever to find 12-foot-tall skeletons that share ominous messages, bubbling witch's cauldrons and frenetic light shows in orange and black that stretch around an entire house. As it turns out, Americans are spending more on Halloween than ever. This year, in fact, a total of ...

Ross Gallabrese: Local growth continues

Local Columns

Another big step in Steubenville's continued growth was recognized Monday, when a community celebration officially welcomed UPMC Trinity. It was an opportunity hear from UPMC's top officials — President and CEO Leslie Davis and board Chair John Surma were among the speakers — and it was a chance to confirm that while the name outside of the facilities had changed, the commitment to the area would not change and would, in fact, become larger. "Listening to the speakers today, it is clear that this transition is a testament to our history, To the sisters who built our foundation ...

FROM THE PULPIT: Wisdom in Purpose

Local Columns

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” “Vanity of vanities!” “Futility of futilities!” “Vapor of vapors!” Depending on which translation of the Bible you read, one of these phrases will likely confront you promptly in the book of Ecclesiastes. Some form of the Hebrew word hevel (לֶבֶה) shows up dozens of times in this book. Elsewhere in Scripture it is commonly used to describe idols. In this book we get not only hevel but “hevel havalim” - “vapor of vapors!” If I say a king is “King of Kings,” it means of all kings this one is the greatest King. If I ...

Ross Gallabrese: Early voting interesting

Local Columns

Early voting has been underway for more than a week now in Ohio. It's an easy way to cast your ballot. All you have to do is stop by the board of elections in the county you reside in, show your ID, sign in and vote — the same procedure you would follow if you went to your local precinct on Election Day. Many people prefer to wait until Nov. 3 to cast their ballots. And that's fine, too. Others have chosen to utilize the state's mail-in early voting option for many reasons. Some want to just get their obligation out of the way. Some know they won't be in the area on Election Day. ...

CUMMINGS: Political candidates all need our prayers

Local Columns

Earlham College, on the outskirts of Richmond, Ind., is run by the Society of Friends (Quakers), who are famous for their sometimes silent worship services. Years ago, however, some of the Earlham students held the exact opposite of the traditional Quaker silent meeting. Faced with examinations and attendant academic pressures they felt the need of a tension reliever. So, at 9:30 p.m. on a Friday, about 100 students met on mid-campus to hold their first “All-College Scream.” After screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs for about 15 minutes, most of the students said they ...