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Columns

The ‘aha moment’ that really got to me

Last week, I informed readers that we would be sharing the stories of some amazing “Women of Progress” this past Monday-Wednesday. It was a project I was heavily involved in, and one that I truly enjoyed. As part of preparing those reports, we asked the women we interviewed to address ...

Tracking our ‘Progress’ from a female perspective

The Times Leader, along with our sister publications The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, will launch our annual “Progress” edition on Monday, bringing our readers six special sections over the course of three days. Each year, we provide these supplemental looks at aspects of ...

We are doing a lot of things right in our region

A couple of weekends ago Lynnda and I rode the Greenbrier Express Winter Special from Cass, West Virginia, to the small mountain village of Durbin, West Virginia. Pulled by a 100-plus-year-old steam locomotive, the train follows the crystal-clear Greenbrier River through a wilderness portion ...

Looking back on the history that defines us today

I am a historian at heart. As a kid, I read all kinds of books, but my favorites were historical accounts and historical fiction. That led to my college studies and my bachelor’s degree in history. Today, each time I do an interview and write an article, I feel that I am recording a tiny ...

Better results if they like you and trust you

It was the week before Valentine’s Day. Lynnda and I were at the mall pre-pandemic. One of the jewelry stores was having a diamond sale. We went in and found a necklace Lynnda liked. It was very affordable. All the salesman had to do was smile and take my credit card. Bradley, my 11-year-old ...

Cheers to Punxsutawney Phil and his hopeful forecast

Could the groundhog be right? Could we really be blessed with an early spring this year? I think it’s possible, and I have seen and heard some signs. Friday was Groundhog Day — an occasion when humans turn to a rodent for all the answers about our weather. The most famous of these furry ...