I don’t know about you, but I am ready for spring! The weather this past week gave us a glimpse of things to come. For at least a portion of five or six days, the sun shone brightly from a clear blue sky. The temperature outdoors wasn’t necessarily warm, but it was warm enough to provide ...

Lynnda and I got our second COVID vaccine shot two weeks ago. Like the first, the process at the Charleston Civic Center was efficient, taking about two hours with more people in line. It reminded me of the Space Mountain Ride line at Walt Disney World snaking all through the Civic Center. ...

Our country seems more divided along partisan lines than at any time I can remember. That’s why I was pleased to hear President Biden encourage bipartisanship in his inaugural address. I agree with his statement that, at “our historic moment of crisis and challenge ... unity is the path ...

Well, Mother Nature wasn’t as rough on us here in the Ohio Valley as forecasters predicted she might be over the past week. I, for one, can live with that. Sure, it’s been cold and snowy and we’ve had more than our fair share of ice in some parts of the area, but what else can we ...

In April of 1968 I was living in Cleveland, Ohio with my family. My father was the pastor of a medium size church and my mother was the church administrator. My father also worked as a U. S. Postman and my mother also worked for the Internal Revenue Service in downtown Cleveland. Our ...

This week I was talking to a friend in Houston, Texas. We are helping his company with a project in “The Crescent.” He was telling me how cold it is and how bad the roads are. Suddenly while on the call he lost power. He is worried about water pipes freezing. My wife has relatives in Dallas ...

A few days ago, I anticipated that the column I would write in this space for this week would be a light-hearted one, focusing on love. I thought we could all use a laugh or two about how Valentine’s Day might be the perfect occasion to be isolated at home with our spouse or significant ...

As we work to defeat and recover from this pandemic, we must avoid the mistakes of past economic recoveries, and build back better for all families, in all communities. In Ohio, we remember how after the last economic crisis in 2008 and 2009, the biggest corporations and the biggest cities on ...

Like Tom Brady, quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or hate him, he is a champion. After this year’s Super Bowl win, Brady has won seven Super Bowls, more than any other team. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots have won six. Brady’s vision going to Tampa was to ...

I am not looking forward to the next several days. I don’t complain about the weather very much. Despite the fact that the gray days of winter in Ohio can be somewhat disheartening, I know that rain and snow and the cycles of nature are all necessary to keep our world growing and ...

Editor’s note: Today we welcome a new columnist to our Sunday opinion pages — Barbara Ballint, executive director of the Belmont County Tourism Council. Who We Are The Belmont County Tourism office markets attractions and events in Belmont County. We promote the smallest of street fairs ...

COVID hit close to home last week. We learned our 28-year-old grandson contracted it. He lives out of state, and we haven’t seen him since the pandemic started. We communicate via phone and text. Even though he works from home, somehow, he picked up the virus. Fatigue along with the ...

When COVID-19 brought lockdowns to Eastern Ohio and sent many people home to do their jobs as best they could, I heard a lot of people say they were happy to be working in sweatpants. Over the months since that began last March, people in various industries have told me they were still ...

Mr. K is the oldest person on the Shale Crescent USA Executive Committee. His wisdom is always appreciated. Our focus is on creating jobs for the region. We sometimes get distracted and spend time on things that keep us from reaching our goals. Mr. K then steps in with, “Folks you are chasing ...

It’s strange how we can adapt to such big changes in such a short time. As I pulled up in front of my home a few days ago, a neighbor a few doors down was also pulling in to park. As I climbed out of my car, I raised my hand to greet her, not knowing how long she would remain in her car ...

We have been asked how changes in Washington will impact the Shale Crescent USA economic development and job creation initiative. We are moving forward with business as usual. Here is why: The Shale Crescent USA mission doesn’t change no matter who is President or regardless of state and ...

Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, along with a new Biden administration, promise sweeping policy changes in the United States. This includes campaign pledges to remake America’s electricity mix. But with campaign season over, Democrats should put rhetoric aside and pursue a ...

My friend retired this weekend. I call her my friend, but she’s been much more than that. I’m referring to Heather Ziegler, outgoing Life editor at The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register. I don’t remember precisely when I met Heather, but it was soon after I was hired as a ...

When I was growing up my grandfather (Mom’s dad) lived next to us. Grandpa would come over almost every morning during the week to visit. He would tell us stories about growing up in the old country of Slovakia. His family worked for a wealthy landowner taking care of their estate. Grandpa ...

ople of America, the Ohio Valley, and even the world. We have lost too many good men, women, boys, girls, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends. Now we are looking at 2021, and by the sixth day there are challenges we never dreamed taking place in our country. Have you ever ...