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Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to the American Legion and its Post 1 in Wheeling for celebrating 106 years of serving U.S. military veterans. And to the Dillonvale post for marking the occasion and for its annual contributions. JEERS to word that local first responders are worried about the impact the closing of East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry will have on local health care. CHEERS to Addy McGuire, a Monroe Central freshman who sang the national anthem to kick off the Ohio Division VI boys’ state championship game, which just happened to be won by her school’s own team. JEERS to the need for ...

Innovative approach needed

Public officials in our region have said for years that one of their priorities is attracting and retaining new and exciting industries. According to WalletHub’s “Most and Least Innovative States (2025),” neither Ohio nor West Virginia has picked up the pace on making that happen. In the list of most innovative states, Ohio ranks 42nd and West Virginia is 49th. Louisiana and Mississippi continue to cushion the Mountain State from hitting rock bottom. Ohio ranks 38th for both human capital and innovation environment. West Virginia is 46th for human capital and 51st for ...

Support the Red Cross

When the Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley needs our help, it is often in the form of blood donations and filling volunteer opportunities. But Wednesday is Red Cross Giving Day — a chance for us to support this vital organization with financial donations, too. “As we enter spring disaster season, families are relying on us to come together as a community and support them when help can’t wait during future crises. Join us today by making a financial donation or giving blood,” said Erica Mani, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region. It’s ...

Guard against infectious diseases

Those wondering about the necessity of strong vaccine requirements should take a look at news out of Ashtabula County that this year’s first case of measles has been reported in Ohio. “The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the state health department. “This disease can be very serious, but it is preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated.” The Ashtabula County case was an adult — an unvaccinated man who ...

Best education for Ohio

As Ohio lawmakers consider expanding funding for education vouchers, it appears as though the programs may have veered off course from their original intended purpose. According to a report by WCMH, data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce shows nearly 90% of the students enrolled in the state’s voucher program are NOT low-income qualified. When EdChoice was established, the whole idea was to broaden educational opportunities for low-income students who were not receiving the education they needed in struggling districts. Now, with the EdChoice Exp program, any ...

Think spring safety

Spring has sprung, as the spring equinox occurred at 5:01 a.m. Thursday. That means the number of hours of daylight will finally overtake the number of hours of darkness each day, until we reach the longest day of the year on the summer solstice, which arrives on June 20. And while the longer days and shorter nights may lift our spirits and provide us with additional opportunities to do thongs outdoors, spring also brings its own challenges and dangers. One of those spring threats is severe weather. As the warm weather of the approaching summer and the cool air of the departing ...