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Take advantage of our forum as election nears

This weekend, I am thrilled that I do not have a lot of space for this weekly column. It’s not that I mind writing this piece or that I have nothing to share with our readers. Instead, I am excited that we have heard from so many of you! I will always happily cede my usual space to make room for our readers — both near and far — to share their thoughts and opinions on the pages of this publication. That is what our mission is all about — informing you so that you can form your own opinions and have the freedom to express them. As the 2024 general election on Nov. 5 ...

Workers needed for high-paying jobs in our area

We just finished a Zoom call with a company in Eurasia. The CEO said his biggest problem is hiring and keeping people. He told us about a young man who turned down their job offer. The CEO called the individual to find out why. The young man said he was still living with his parents and only needed enough money for entertainment not rent or food. He didn’t want to work full time. I hear similar stories from plant managers in our region. Workforce participation is not unique to the USA. This company plans to expand to the USA. Energy, raw materials and workforce are their three biggest ...

Leading by example, no matter what the weather

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” — John C. Maxwell, American clergyman In other words, one of the best ways to lead is by example. That is exactly what Barnesville Fire Chief Tim Hall did last week when he made a decision that some people may not have liked. At a Barnesville Village Council meeting on Monday, Hall announced that the fire department would opt to cancel its annual chicken barbecue — a tradition that many people enjoy during the ever-popular Pumpkin Festival. Why would he and his fellow firefighters do such a ...

Fall has arrived — time for the Pumpkin Festival

Well, I blinked and summer came and went — at least that’s how it feels to me. Today is the first official day of fall. The signs are everywhere. With recent drought conditions, leaves have been turning from green to yellow, red and orange for weeks. And now, in many cases, they are beginning to fall to the ground. Perhaps the clearest indicator of autumn’s arrival, though, is the return of the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival. It officially gets underway on Thursday with a late afternoon ribbon cutting, but the real action starts Wednesday night with the Giant Pumpkin ...

It’s OK to disagree — but don’t be disagreeable

It is sad to hear of a second attempt on one of the presidential candidates’ lives. It’s a club that no one wants to be a member of; the club where someone tries to take your life. It is reported that only two American presidents are members of the two assassination attempts club: President Gerald R. Ford, while he was the sitting president, and former President Donald Trump, while running as a candidate. The good news is they both survived both attempts. It is reported that the two men who attacked former President Trump at one time voted for or supported him. It shows ...

Thinking differently creates a regional win on energy

If we do and think the way we always have, we can’t expect much to change. We will always get similar results. The thinking that got us to where we are today won’t take us to the next level. Last week, Shale Crescent USA was announced as a finalist for the 26th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards. Finalists represent 33 different countries from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The 2024 finalists, nearly 56% of which hail from outside of the United States, were just announced by program host S&P Global Commodity Insights, the leading independent provider of information, data, analysis ...