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What the world needs is forgiveness and love

On July 5, 2016, officers responded to a convenience store about 12:35 a.m. after an anonymous caller indicated a man selling music CDs and wearing a red shirt threatened him with a gun, Baton Rouge police have said. Two officers responded and had some type of altercation with the Black man in the parking lot, and one officer fatally shot the suspect. This resulted in the death of Alton Sterling, age 37. The U.S. Justice Department said the FBI’s New Orleans Division, the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana have opened a civil ...

Fearing for the future of health care in Ferry

Does anyone else have the feeling of deja vu? Back in August of 2019, we all learned that Alecto Healthcare Services planned to close its two local hospitals —Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling and East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry — within two to three months. Signs of trouble had been evident for a few moths prior to that. In February, both facilities invited patients to just pay half of any outstanding bills owed to them for medical services provided prior to 2019. It was touted as a “win-win” deal, allowing the hospitals to collect revenue while reducing ...

Shipbuilding plan leads to looming port and trade catastrophe

During the pandemic, Americans learned how painful supply chain disruptions can be. Now, a newly proposed action from the Trump administration could unintentionally make the pandemic’s supply chain disruptions seem tame. President Trump is looking to rapidly rebuild American shipbuilding. That’s an important goal since the erosion of U.S. shipbuilding—and China’s growing dominance in global shipbuilding—must be confronted. But the administration’s proposed plan could send costs soaring for U.S. consumers, grind U.S. exports to a halt, wreak havoc at U.S. ports, and ...

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to energy and government

The three biggest lies: 1) The check is in the mail. 2) I’m from the government here to help you. 3) One size fits all. These are mine. Yours may differ. We learn some things the hard way. When buying clothing for my wife, Lynnda, one size fits all sounded good. I didn’t have to worry about buying the wrong size. Except in our case the clothing never fit. It was too big or too small depending on the country where it was made. I started buying Lynnda’s clothes from a women’s store in Marietta. Teri’s staff does a great job getting Lynnda’s size right, AND the clothing is ...

Time to spring into adventure in Belmont County

As spring fever sets in, there is no shortage of ways to enjoy the season in Belmont County. The days are growing longer, the temperature rises, and the great outdoors call us to shake off the winter blues. Whether you are a nature enthusiast, a history buff, or a family looking for fun, Belmont County offers something for everyone eager to embrace spring fever. One of the best ways to step outside and reconnect with nature is by exploring our beautiful parks and many trails. Barkcamp State Park, a gem in our region, offers miles of hiking trails that wind through budding forests ...

Flowers and everything that spring will bring

Who else is ready for the signs of spring to arrive? I think it was the colorful bouquet my husband, Mike, brought me on Valentine’s Day that made me start thinking about how soon trees and lawns will begin to blossom again. Or maybe it was the dozen roses he brought me the next day, when Kroger had hundreds of them marked down to $1. With flowers in the dining room and in the kitchen, it felt like the whole house was in bloom. Perhaps it was some work my brother, Larry, and sister-in-law, Marie, just had done around their home that got me thinking about being outdoors. They ...