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Keep an eye out for those who harm

Most of us think of “if you see something, say something” as applying to humans — abuse, neglect, trafficking and other criminal activity. And it does. But it applies to animals, too. A couple of weeks ago in Delaware County in the central part of Ohio, it led to several dogs being removed from what appears to be a severe animal cruelty situation. According to a report by WHIO-TV in Dayton, 40 dogs were removed to the Delaware County Dog Shelter from a Kingston Township property. The investigation began because officials received more than 50 calls. The county dog warden’s ...

Agency does what it’s supposed to do

Despite work by Ohio lawmakers to oppose the will of voters by fiddling with the law governing legalized recreational marijuana, it seems one government agency understands its job and has gotten to work. According to a report by WBNS-TV in Columbus, the state’s Division of Cannabis Control is ready to roll out recreational marijuana this summer, with a proposed set of rules for dispensaries ahead of issuing licenses. The report says the Division of Cannabis Control appears ready to give its first licenses in June to facilities that are handling medical sales. A second wave of ...

Hall offers chance to celebrate community

When you look at the names of those who have been enshrined in the Weirton Hall of Fame, you get a sense of the history behind the community. From E.T. Weir — the city’s namesake — to Vanessa Beaver, Kathleen Granato, the late Dr. Myer Bogarad, Karen Gould, Janice Torrance, Nick Tranto and Mayor Harold “Bubba” Miller — last year’s honorees —the list includes those who have made a lasting impact on the city. Organizers said the hall was created in 2008 as a way to honor those who have dedicated themselves to the service of others in Weirton. Their names are ...

Don’t become a distracted driver

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, providing a good reminder for everyone of the dangers of not giving full attention to the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,308 people died in distracted driving crashes in the United States in 2022. An additional 289,310 people were injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers. And those statistics get worse: NHTSA reports that 5 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2022 were reported as being distracted at the time of the crashes. While a common perception is that the ...

Legislators made the right move

An independent, state-ordered investigation into reportedly “erratic and abusive behavior” by Ohio Rep. Elliot Forhan, D-South Euclid, has concluded legislative leaders were justified in disciplining him. Because of accusations of confrontations with other lawmakers, constituents and lobbyists, Forhan lost all his committee assignments and was barred by House Minority Leader C. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, from contacting interns, pages and Democratic legislative aides. He also was required to have a House sergeant-at-arms accompany him while he was at the Statehouse. ...

Events put spotlight on minority health

Those who are organizing local activities that are part of Minority Health Month say the focus will be on health education and lifetime preventative screenings. Those are important things to pay attention to not just in April, but all year long. According to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the month is designed to build awareness of the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in people from racial and ethnic minority groups, and to encourage action through education, early detection and control of disease complications. ...