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Vaccines save lives

As political chatter raises questions about vaccines and legal requirements for them, some news close to home should remind us of their importance. According to the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department, a measles outbreak was confirmed in the county on Aug. 29. Three children from the same family — all unvaccinated. And while those children are reportedly improving at home, the health department’s task now is to work with the family “to identify and follow-up with any exposure and contacts, and help where needed.” The Ohio news made its way into a report by the ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to all those involved in making the Belmont County Fair the annual attraction that it is, with livestock shows, carnival rides, food vendors, games and fun for everyone. JEERS to word that the village of Yorkville’s ambulance is in need of costly repairs and that the community must rely on neighboring responders in emergencies. CHEERS to the St. Clairsville Police Department for dedicating its new headquarters in honor of Mayor Kathryn Thalman in recognition of all she does for the city. JEERS to reports in communities across the region that young people who are riding ...

Improving driver safety

Get ready. At the end of this month, Ohio drivers aged 18, 19 and 20 years old will be required to take an approved driver training course and complete 50 hours of driving practice supervised by a licensed adult to get their driver’s license. This is training that is already in effect for those 16 or 17 years old, but it may come as a surprise to older new drivers unfamiliar with the “Class D” training, which must be completed before a driving test can be scheduled. Formal driver training used to be standard procedure for most high school students in the Buckeye State, but ...

Encouraging sportsmanship

The pageantry and excitement of high school football has returned, and we again are reminded about the special place the game holds in the hearts of residents from across the Ohio Valley. With the new school year and season underway, it’s good to take a moment and remember that high school athletics offer valuable learning opportunities. Participants learn about the importance of setting goals and working to reach them, as well as the sacrifices that will be required along the way. Athletes learn about accountability and are taught to show pride in themselves, their teams, their ...

Labor built best of America

On this Labor Day weekend, many of us may be thinking of a quick retreat into summer vacation mode during the three-day break. It is a time to celebrate the return of college football and the promise of cooler temperatures. There will be festivals, parades, good food cooked outdoors for perhaps one of the last times this year and a general sense of not only celebration, but transition. Despite most public school boards’ best efforts, THIS is the traditional end of summer. And the break it offers is so appreciated because the people Labor Day is meant to honor have worked hard. ...

Don’t drive drunk or high

“If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI.” That’s the theme of an effort by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help local law enforcement be highly visible from now through Labor Day, as they crack down on those taking the risk to drive impaired. Even in states such as Ohio where adult-use cannabis is legal for recreational use, it is still illegal to drive under the influence. It doesn’t matter what substance is to blame. But, according to West Virginia’s Governor’s Highway Safety ...