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History in the Hills: Our native history

Most of us here in our area are descended from immigrants. Many of my ancestors came over in the 20th century from Europe for a better life. My great-grandmother, on the other hand, had ancestors here going back to the 17th century, and they are interesting to track down. As a student of history, I found this aspect of my family tree rewarding because I can place them in different time periods of American history. With that history though, my family only came to this part of the world for a job when the mills came. My wife on the other hand, although she grew up in Brooklyn, has ...

Values still important

Whether you live in the Tri-State Area, have spent any amount of time here or live somewhere else but remember it as home, you come to realize there’s a special bond that holds our community together. There were several examples offered when the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce held its 117th-annual Meeting and Awards Banquet Oct. 29. The evening was built around the theme of People, Places and Progress of Jefferson County. It’s a business meeting — a chance for the chamber to offer details about the past year and a networking opportunity — but it also serves as a ...

Guest column/Vote shows public trust in the library is fading

On Nov. 4, Jefferson County residents voted on whether to renew a tax levy which provides about a third of the funding for the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County. The last time it was on the ballot, the library tax levy passed by a margin of 41 points. The margin this year? Four points. The vote was telling. Twenty of Jefferson County’s 57 precincts voted against the levy, including the precincts representing much of LaBelle, Pleasant Heights and the North End in Steubenville, as well as the South End of Toronto and numerous townships and villages across the county. ...

Guest column/There’s no reason any veteran should go hungry

According to U.S. government data and recent policy studies, nearly 25 percent of America’s veterans live either below the federal poverty level or paycheck to paycheck, with little margin for unexpected expenses. To get by, many adopt emergency-level budgets. But even the harshest austerity measures may not be enough. Life at the bottom still costs money. Mortgages and rent must be paid. Vehicles are needed to reach work or medical appointments. So, what can be cut? Too often, it’s food — eating less or sacrificing nutrition. Tragically, many veterans and their families face ...

The tragedy of a life lived in lowercase

There is a quiet kind of tragedy that doesn’t make the headlines. You will not hear about it on the evening news, nor will you read about it in your morning newspaper. You will not even locate it in the obituaries section on a funeral home’s website. Why? Well, because technically, she never really died. She just never quite lived. Hers was merely a life lived entirely in lowercase. She worried too much about what everyone thought rather than how she felt or what she wanted. And in time ... she forgot she mattered. She forgot how to live. She forgot how to ...

Guest column/Veterans Day: A unifying day for America

Veterans Day: A unifying holiday for America Each year, Veterans Day serves as a reminder for Americans to thank veterans for their service. We owe it to those who served to recognize their sacrifice all year long. In August, my wife Tina and I were honored to join the 100th birthday celebration of George C. McConnaughey, Jr. Sgt. McConnaughey enlisted in the U.S. Army eight days after his 18th birthday and served in the European Theater throughout World War II. He earned five Bronze Service Stars before his honorable discharge in December 1945. Like many veterans, McConnaughey did ...