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Guest column/Parents on front lines in fight against online threats

A new school year is underway for children in West Virginia, many of whom have their own smartphone. By age 11, about half of the kids in America have one of these powerful devices so that they may stay connected with friends and family. However, smartphones also create the opportunity for connections to be made by people who could harm them, and thus parents must be vigilant. According to the FBI, more than 500,000 online predators are active daily and many are engaging with youngsters through Instagram, Snapchat,and gaming platforms. Parents are the first line of defense and need to ...

Making your voice heard

Among the most important things a newspaper can do is give members of the community an opportunity to share their opinions. That’s why we continue to offer readers the chance to become involved in the discussion about local issues by running their letters to the editor. They’ve been a feature of newspapers since at least the early 1700s, and though their subjects can vary widely, they continue to offer a place where someone can take officials — elected and otherwise — to task, express their concerns about important issues and even just say thank-you to sponsors and other ...

History in the Hills: Five years on

I am proud to say that this month marks five years of History in the Hills columns for our newspaper. It is hard to believe it has been that long, actually. I have enjoyed each and every one that I have written, and by my count, I have 131 separate works to my credit. Writing these articles has made it possible to explore our area’s history in a way that I wouldn’t have otherwise. There are so many interesting stories I have been able to investigate and that is what I love about our area. All in all, the story of our past will never be fully written completely, though, because ...

Guest column/China is weaponizing its monopoly on minerals

For more than a decade, Washington has talked a big game about breaking China’s grip on the world’s mineral supplies. And both presidents Trump and Biden have labeled America’s mineral vulnerability— along with China’s mineral dominance — an unacceptable and urgent risk. The alarming reality is this: China’s grip on the world’s mineral supply chains is growing tighter. And America’s reliance on Chinese minerals is growing deeper. This is a crisis that demands to be an important election issue. Now, China is all but goading candidates Donald Trump and Kamala ...

Helping our community

Organizations that have served area residents for nearly 100 years have certainly been doing something right. An example is the United Way of Jefferson County. With roots that go back to 1931 when the Community Chest of Steubenville was formed, the United Way and the agencies its fundraising efforts help to support continue to make a positive impact in the lives of area residents. It’s important work, and it’s not always easy. That’s why events such as the annual Ken Perkins Day of Action are so important to the organization. “By you being here today, you are showing ...

Time. It is a gift from God. A gift that no one really understands. Why are some people blessed with many, many years? And some, all too few? Why do our teenage years seem to be never-ending? We are always waiting for the day when we will become an adult. That 21st birthday? Or that 18th birthday? It couldn’t get here soon enough. We waited. And waited. And time passed by ever-so-slowly. But the older we became, the faster the hands on the clock seemed to tick. Physically impossible, I know. But it appeared as if those hands had been wound too ...