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MARTINS FERRY -- As the Thanksgiving celebration approaches, the Times Leader spoke to several passers-by in the area, asking what they were thankful for.
Angela Brown of Martins Ferry was happy for her twin daughters, both 19, and her youngest, 9 years old.
Johnny Hogue of Martins Ferry was thankful for his mother, Elvera Hogue, 93 years old.
"She still makes breakfast every morning, still does laundry. She's not feeling really good, but she keeps on pushing," he said. He added he was also thankful for the city's police service. "I'm originally from Steubenville. I moved down here to take care of my mother."
Lori Burnett of New Alexandria was also thankful.
"I'm very thankful for my family this year at Thanksgiving. My son is having dinner at his house, and we are all very proud of all of our kids and our family and everything they've accomplished," she said. "We have four grandbabies now. …. My oldest daughter, she's been very sick and she's getting much better, so we're very thankful for that."
Thanksgiving and the holidays are something Cole Hanket of Martins Ferry especially appreciates.
"I'm thankful to have my kids. I was in the military so I missed a lot of time with my oldest kid, so the holidays, being home," he said. He served in the Army 2008-2012. "I'm an Iraq combat veteran. Nov. 14, I've been back 11 years. … That's another thing to be thankful for, that I'm not overseas anymore. I'm home with the family."
Kamron Chervenak of St. Clairsville, deputy director for the Belmont County Board of Elections, is also thankful. She mentioned her sisters Casey and Emily.
"I'm definitely thankful for my family and friends, and my health and my career as well," she said. "I have two younger sisters that I'm absolutely very proud of and I owe them a lot. They've always been there for me and I've always been there for them, and I'm very grateful and thankful for them and everything they do for me."
Carl Basham of Kettering said having loved ones is especially important during hard times.
"I'm thankful for family. My family invited me to their house in Dayton for Thanksgiving. They just lost their son," he said, referring to Ryan Basham of Kettering. "Thankful to be with family, but also family is suffering. … He was just 25. I saw a lot of my relatives at the memorial service that I hadn't seen in 5-10 years. He has two older sisters, they put a video together, photos of him growing up."