Breaking News

Opinion

Guest column/The Fred Abdalla I knew was a stalwart member of our community

Local Columns

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla was many things to many people — a lawman, a community figure, sometimes a controversial one. But to me, he was something simpler: A guardian. There’s a painting of him in the Jefferson County Courthouse, standing beside a child, and I can’t think of a more honest picture of who he truly was. The nation once saw headlines and chose to turn the sheriff into a caricature, a villain to fit an outsider’s narrative. But those of us who lived here saw the truth. We saw the man who came into classrooms for D.A.R.E., who fingerprinted children ...

A reminder of what you don’t hear enough of

Local Columns

This week, I would like to tell you something you do not hear enough of. Something that perhaps no one ever bothered to ever tell you. Or, something some of you may already know. Today, I want to tell you … the world is a good place. Yes, you can go back and reread that sentence again, if you’d like. The world is a good place. You see, we always talk about, think about and hear about the negatives. And there are a lot of negatives. But, for the most part, the world is a good place. Think about what is our source in discovering what is going on in this world? For the ...

Break the silence

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: In 1991, I lost a school friend; in 2005, I lost another school friend; and in 2023, an acquaintance who was a military veteran passed away. All three of these have one common denominator: They all lost their lives due to suicide. Each September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, spread hope and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time. It’s a time to focus on listening, reaching out and building a culture of care. Help is available, hope is real and no one must face ...

United Ways make our area stronger

Editorials

United Ways throughout the region have launched their annual campaigns. Each of our local United Way organizations provides an important service to the region by helping to gather funding and resources to programs and agencies which help to improve the lives of all of Tri-State Area residents. In a time when a growing number of residents are having to watch money more closely, the work of the women and men serving the United Ways becomes even more important, as does reaching the fundraising goals the organizations have established. All of that money raised goes to help numerous ...

Brooke County Fair offers plenty of fun

Editorials

County fairs offer something for just about everyone. And, if you are in need of another reminder of that, you need look no farther than Brooke Hills Park in Wellsburg. That’s where the Brooke County Fair will be held. Set to run today through Sunday, the annual event will feature a wide variety of food, games and entertainment. The weekend will include presentations of Native American culture and lumberjack skills, drag races for all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes and plenty of music. Agriculture will play a part, with contests built around home-grown produce and ...

We remember, reflect today

Editorials

Nineteen committed people can change the world. That is the frightening reality that we learned 24 years ago today, after Americans and the world watched as civilian airliners were used as piloted cruise missiles to rain terror in New York and Washington, D.C., and on the people who fought back aboard an airliner that crashed into a peaceful farm field east of Pittsburgh. Sept. 11, 2001, is receding in time, but not in effect. The world has accepted wars, seemingly without end. It has accepted that madmen bent on using violence as a political statement will forever be with ...