Education is a cornerstone of a happy, productive life. Fortunately, we have a lot of options here in Eastern Ohio when it comes to obtaining a good education. And those opportunities are still expanding, especially for those who live and work in Jefferson County. Last week, Eastern ...
Schools across the Buckeye State received some feedback from the Ohio Department of Education last week in the form of annual “report cards” issued to assess the progress and performance of each district and the individuals schools within them. Unfortunately, the marks local schools ...
More than 5,200 veterans of military service live in Belmont County, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Some of them have had — and will have — brushes with the law. A substantial number of them might not have gotten into trouble but for the physical and mental stresses ...
Someone must have made a mistake. Otherwise, the Buckeye Local Board of Education would not be paying out $70,000 to make a lawsuit go away. Taxpayers have a right to know what happened. During a special meeting Monday night, board members agreed to pay Angela Hicks $70,000. She had been ...
St. Clairsville officials and Belmont County commissioners are off to a good start in a plan to freshen up the appearance of the city’s downtown business district. Located in the middle of the district high atop a hill on Main Street, the courthouse was renovated extensively over the past ...
Several local communities share a common problem, and they need to use creative, cautious approaches in their efforts to solve it. Jail overcrowding is common in area counties. It’s an issue that continues to worsen as jail facilities age and as drug abuse and addiction problems grow. ...
It appears trouble may be brewing in Bellaire, and action should be taken now to avoid more problems later. Village Council members seem to be at odds with the mayor over who gets to be the boss. The fact is, however, that the people of the community should be in charge. The mayor and council ...
While President Donald Trump was on the campaign trail, he promised he would “make America great again.” His rhetoric regarding the news media, however, is actually harming our country and undermining some of the principles upon which it was founded. Early in his presidency, Trump began a ...
Belmont County leaders are in a familiar — but difficult —position. Once again, it has become apparent that the county’s jail facility is not large enough to accomodate all the people who engage in criminal actvity here. The sheriff and the county commissioners all know the problem ...
When the people who keep the rest of us safe begin to feel threatened, it is time to take action. That is exactly what two local fire departments have done, providing bulletproof vests for members to use is specific situations. The Brookside Fire Department recently purchased six bulletproof ...
It is unlikely county officials will get from Columbus what they asked for this week. The general increase in funding to local governments being sought, more than $350 million a year, would dent the state budget to an extent legislators probably would not allow. But one specific plea by the ...
Nearly a generation has gone by since local residents began pushing hard for construction of a new Ohio River bridge linking southern Brooke and Jefferson counties, as West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice pointed out Tuesday. "I don't know how you stood it for 18 years," he remarked. But the ...
As Belmont County officials work toward relocating in a new county-owned space, they must ensure not only that the new facility saves taxpayers money but also that it meets the needs of the public. Members of the Belmont County Board of Elections discussed the matter Monday, revealing some of ...
For as long as I can remember, I have loved to swim. Many of my earliest memories involve experiences in swimming pools of one type or another. I remember the blue plastic wading pools my mother would set up for me in the little plot of grass next to our front porch. She would sit and watch ...
By ANDREW SMITH Partner — Rolfes Henry Co. LPA Buying a home is a dream and a milestone for many American individuals and families. It is also one of the biggest financial and legal transactions in many people’s lives. June is National Homeownership Month and a good opportunity for ...
“Drop the broken-down couch” and “Step out of the tire-filled dump truck and put your hands up” are not lines we hear on television crime shows. Few law enforcement officers beg for transfers to the anti-dumping unit. Cracking down on illegal dumping is not very glamorous or ...
Tuesday is Election Day in Eastern Ohio, and residents of our region have some important decisions to make. The primary election provides an opportunity for each political party to nominate its candidates for office in the general election, which happens on Nov. 6. This year in Ohio voters ...
Benjamin Franklin said an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Members of one local organization believe that to be true, and they are working with area law enforcement, the judicial system and our schools to stem the problem of drug abuse. During the Belmont County Bar ...
Congress is considering a measure that makes a lot of sense and has the potential to bring great benefits to our local region. U.S. Rep Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, recently invited Switzerland of Ohio Local School District Superintendent Jeff Greenley to speak before Congress. Greenlee told the ...
The annual spring crop of orange barrels has sprouted, and it is growing all around our region. Each year, motorists dread the beginning of construction season - even though they have complained for weeks about the deteriorating condition of the roads. Construction zones mean detours and ...