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An interesting election season unfolds

If you haven’t been paying attention, things are really starting to heat up as we are preparing to determine what candidates will appear on the ballot Nov. 5 when the most important election in our lifetime is held. In reality, that phrase needs to be applied every time voters go to the polls. Whether we are being asked to choose a township trustee, a ward councilperson, the mayor of our community, a county commissioner or to approve a tax for pay for community services, the choices that are made will have a direct impact on the issues that most closely affect our lives. That’s ...

Guest column/An example of how the immigration system should work

This might be a helpful reminder about how legal immigration worked: In 1964 I applied for an immigration visa at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria. One had to have a sponsor or a job offer in the U.S. to prove one would not be a burden to the U.S. taxpayers as part of the application. I had a written job offer. Thus, I was not a burden to the United States ... instead, I wanted to be a contributor. I arrived in January 1965 and was assigned my Alien Registration Number: A ZZ XXX YYY. After a year working on my job in Indiana I returned to Steubenville. I was fortunate to land ...

It’s spelling bee time

When an event has been around for almost 40 years, it becomes an important part of the community. Case in point: The Jefferson-Harrison County Spelling Bee, Presented by the Herald-Star. With one exception — the COVID year of 2020 — it’s been an integral piece of late winter or early spring since 1985. There will be a lot at stake when the regional bee is held at 11 a.m. March 9 at Buckeye North Elementary School in Brilliant. The winner from that bee will represent our area in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be held as part of Bee Week that runs from May 26 ...

Guest column/Carbon capture is a false solution to emissions

Tenaska, a company with headquarters in Texas and Nebraska, recently announced that they will be receiving “an award of up to $69 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to assist with new CCS projects.” (Herald-Star, Dec 15) These include Seven carbon dioxide injection wells in West Virginia (Hancock, Brooke and Marshall counties; 12 wells in Ohio (Jefferson, Harrison and Carroll counties); and three in Pennsylvania (Washington County.) These wells would create 49 permanent jobs. Carbon capture utilization and storage has become the new “darling” of the fossil fuel ...

Helping to give others an opportunity to shine

I chose to write the above article after a good friend of mine informed me that the city in which I live would be hosting a Tim Tebow dance for those with disabilities and special needs. A dance for those who otherwise might not have the opportunity to attend a prom during their lifetime. I thought to myself, “What an amazing idea.” What a beautiful moment this would be. Not only for them, but for their parents, for the volunteers and even for Tim Tebow, himself. So, I decided to do some brief research and went online so I could see for myself exactly what this Night to Shine ...

History in the Hills: Taking a look back

I can’t believe it is 2024 already. My wife and I were just commenting on how fast everything seems to go. Days move into weeks, months and years seem to move so fast. This year I am going to try to make it a point to slow down and take things day by day, especially when it comes to the kids. They grow so fast and when I mentioned this to my 4-year-old she said, “Daddy we have to grow.” That is true but I would like to hold on a little tighter some days. I always find it interesting to look back at where we have come from occasionally. Looking back gives us a better sense of the ...