Breaking News

Local Columns

It’s worth taking a moment and doing my job

When I started this job, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I hadn’t worked here in years. In the past, I’d written stories and taken photos as a staff writer. I had my “beats.” Those places I was continuously assigned to go. It was my responsibility to attend city council and school board meetings. It was my duty to follow along and understand what everyone was trying to get across. Through the disagreements. Amid the arguments. After a long-winded discussion back and forth. It was my job to tell you what was going on in the world. At least … in our ...

Guest column/Restore R&D tax credit

Recently, exciting developments across the state have earned Ohio the nickname the “Silicon Heartland.” From EV technology advancements in the 6th District to the Intel plant being constructed just to the west, business is booming in Ohio. The innovation and growth that the Buckeye State is experiencing is largely fueled by research and development activity. Congress has long recognized that research and development provides a catalyst for growth, passing legislation in 1981 to provide dollar-for-dollar credits for such activity. For more than 30 years, these federal tax policies ...

Guest column/Mental health levy an investment in our future

Imagine a society where every individual struggling with mental health issues or substance use disorders has access to the care they need. Picture communities where crime rates drop, homelessness declines and untreated conditions no longer tear families apart. This vision is not a distant dream but a tangible reality we can achieve through continued investment in mental health and substance use disorder services. The Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board levy was first passed in 1976. Although it has been renewed, it has never been replaced, meaning that it is still based on ...

It’s a very busy month

October traditionally has ranked among the busiest months of the year. It’s filled with many different festivals and events, and it’s likely there are several reasons for that. If you’re having an outdoor event, for example, the month usually offers good weather, falling between the hot days we normally experience near the end of summer and the colder days we can expect to find in November. Plus, the month offers the last opportunity to fit in some events ahead of the rush that leads up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. For example, Oct. 4 saw the last First Fridays on ...

Remembering happier moments in my life

Speaking of hobos … Note: Remember in school when they said to pay attention because there might be a quiz someday? This was that quiz. If you didn’t read last week’s column you have no idea what I am talking about. Anyway … Speaking of hobos … I was completely shocked when I went to the Main Street Museum last Sunday and saw the photo Dale Holtzmann had taken of Harry Carpenter, the hobo who lived in Toronto many decades ago. The writing above his photo even referred to him as just that. Now, I would never intentionally refer to someone as being a hobo if I felt it ...

Politics really is local

They say that all politics is local. They have been proven right, once again. That reminder came Monday night, when the Ohio Valley Business and Professional Women’s Club held its annual political forum in the auditorium at Steubenville High School. The event offered area residents the chance to hear from local candidates and about issues that appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. While there are several open positions at the county level this time around, three — the Jan. 2 and Jan. 3 county commissioners spots and the clerk of courts — are contested. That’s why the forum was ...