Breaking News

Local Columns

Guest column/West Virginia cannot afford to lose another person

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and in West Virginia, the urgency couldn’t be higher. Our state is no stranger to hardship, but the current mental health crisis demands clear-eyed attention and bold action. In 2023, West Virginia’s age-adjusted suicide rate stood at 18.6 per 100,000 people, among the highest in the nation and significantly above the national average. That is 349 West Virginians we have lost in one year alone. Though this is slightly less than 2022, West Virginians deserve more. The numbers are more than data — they are human lives. In the ...

Life is based on certain once upon a times …

Once upon a time ... there was a 19-year-old girl. One Friday, she decided to go to her local mall with her best friend. She didn’t know why, but there was something inside this girl that told her she had to get to the mall as quickly as possible. Again, she wasn’t sure why she had ...

Campaigns heating up

It really came as little surprise to most people who follow Ohio politics when Sherrod Brown announced he was launching a campaign to return to the U.S. Senate. He’ll be seeking the Democratic nomination to run for the seat that has been held by Jon Husted since January. Word had leaked about Brown’s decision several days before the official announcement, which brought an end to the speculation about which of the two statewide races the Cleveland resident would enter. As the state’s most recognizable Democrat, rumors had been spreading for some time that Brown could enter ...

Guest column/What is the fate of the Hancock County Museum?

There are so many things of import occurring nationally, on the state stage, around the county and within local governments that, on one hand, the fate of the Hancock County Museum hardly seems worthy of attention, yet, on the other hand, it is of utmost importance. It is a fine example of life in the late 1880s and has served as a teaching tool, as a gathering place, as a repository of valuable artifacts and as a place to hold receptions. Yet, it appears to be falling into ruin as noted by the boarded windows. Is the roof leaking? If so, it is leaking rain and dust onto a truly ...

Tell them your stories, they’re gonna need them

Once again, I am going to quote Benson Boone. He is the young singer I mentioned in my last two columns. He sings “Beautiful Things,” the song which my grandson just loves. Only this time, I am going to reference a song he entitled, “Momma Song.” It, too, is beautiful. But unlike last time, I won’t ask you to listen to it. Instead, I am going to quote a couple of the lyrics. You may wonder why I am using this space to quote the words of someone else? After all, this is Julie’s article, not Benson Boone’s. And yet, his words are ones I wish I could have ...

History in the Hills: Art all around us

We get to do some fun things here at Historic Fort Steuben. We operate the historic fort, plan the concert series and operate our Christmas at the Fort event. At the visitor center, we host a variety of events every year. We have the fort festival, quilt show, art show and a variety of exhibits and displays. This September, we are sponsoring a photography show in the exhibit hall with the theme “Scenes, Places and People of the Ohio Valley.” The exhibit showcases photography from all over the valley within a 65-mile radius. Special thanks are needed to Gina Judy, Dennis ...