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Prepare for a safe holiday

As hosts begin planning their Thanksgiving meals this week, the Ohio Fire Marshal’s Prevention Bureau is reminding them to remain alert and practice patience in the kitchen. “More cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year, and it’s not hard to see why,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin S. Reardon. “Between cleaning, taking care of children and cooking multiple dishes at a time, there’s no shortage of distractions in and around the kitchen. Staying alert and paying attention to what you’re cooking can go a long way in ensuring those distractions ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to the first responders who continue to help protect our lives and property. Multiple departments were called on this past week to respond to various accidents and a large brush fire that spread rapidly. JEERS to an apparent plumbing problem that caused the early dismissal of Union Local High and Middle schools this week. Officials addressed it quickly. CHEERS to the individuals and organizations planning holiday activities for our communities in the coming days and weeks. From St. Clairsville to Barnesville and across the area, a lot of fun will be had. JEERS to the ongoing ...

A different commute

While high-ranking officials talked about making Ohio the kind of state in which all residents were within commuting distance of a major employer, most Buckeye State residents understood that commute involves getting into a personal vehicle. But perhaps there is progress being made on adding another option for some, as some of the billions of federal dollars allocated to expanding rail service in the U.S. may make their way to proposed Ohio projects. According to Axios, two proposed rail corridors would involve central Ohio: First, a “3C&D” line that would connect Cleveland, ...

Protecting children

Politicians in Columbus may not agree on much these days, but they were united recently in their desire to help victimized former Boy Scouts get the justice they deserve. State senators unanimously passed legislation that voids the state’s civil statute of limitations in bankruptcy cases, in an effort to ensure Ohio victims of Boy Scouts abuse get more compensation. The organization filed for bankruptcy in 2020, after thousands upon thousands of men across the country brought forth claims they had been sexually abused by Scout leaders. In the Buckeye State alone, 2,000 claims have ...

Get ready for progress

U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., did an important thing as they talked about the potential for the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub in West Virginia. They were optimistic but avoided “This is a done deal that will immediately bring our state prosperity” theatrics. “We are not — and I think that people need to realize this — we are not in the final phase of a full thumbs up to move forward. So today, negotiations begin,” Capito said. How refreshing, to hear an elected official remind us economic good news does not mean we can all sit back, ...

Clean up department

Whether the problems at the Columbus Police Department are the quality and number of recruits, training, policies, culture or all of the above, citizens continue to suffer. Several weeks ago, a Columbus Detective pleaded guilty in a fatal hit-and-run crash, and admitted he had been drinking heavily before the tragedy. Back in February, the U.S. Department of Justice recommended reforms for the department after a two-year review of scandals ranging from how officers handled protests against racial injustice to deadly officer-involved shootings. Now, an officer has been caught on ...