Breaking News

Editorials

Action needed on rail safety

Norfolk Southern has suffered another derailment — although this one was more an inconvenience than a disaster. Monday morning, at the company’s rail yard near Portsmouth, Ohio, eight train cars carrying several thousand pounds of soybeans derailed. Three of those cars turned over completely. Scioto County Emergency Management Director Larry Mullins told WCHS the derailment was caused by extreme weather, which led rails at Norfolk Southern’s yard to freeze, thaw, become brittle and break. It’s enough to make one wonder whether knowing such damage was possible prompted Norfolk ...

Workplace safety paying off

Ohioans have plenty of reason to worry about prices that just seem to keep going up and up, but there may be good news ahead for the state’s private employers. Because of prioritized health and safety measures in our workplaces — and at least one state agency willing to take into account how the work done by those who pay taxes and fees might make a difference in what needs to be paid — the state Bureau of Workers’ Compensation board of directors will be considering yet another rate reduction in February. “At (Gov. Mike) DeWine’s request, we are proposing a new rate ...

Ihlenfeld’s service

The Northern District of West Virginia has had a number of excellent U.S. attorneys over the past half-century. Add outgoing U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld to that list. Belmont County lies in the Southern District of Ohio, but often cases investigated and tried in the Northern DIstrict of West Virginia have more direct impact on our daily lives. Ihlenfeld, who served as top prosecutor during the Biden and Obama administrations, stepped down last week. In total, he served as U.S. attorney for 10 years. “Serving as U.S. Attorney has been an honor and a privilege,” Ihlenfeld ...

WANTED: More volunteers

Here in Eastern Ohio, we don’t hesitate to express our admiration and appreciation for our first responders. Whenever firefighters and emergency medical personnel respond to an accident, fire or other emergency, we are quick to thank them for their service. On occasion, area residents stop by their headquarters with trays of cookies or pizza. Many of us attend the fundraisers they work hard to put on and enjoy ourselves while we are at it. More often than not, we even vote in favor of the property tax levies they need to fund their operations. But do we really provide the support ...

Cold precautions

Eastern Ohio just experienced some of the most frigid weather it has seen in about a decade, and while the worst of this arctic blast appears to be behind us and temperatures are expected to moderate over the next several days, the reality is we are in the middle of winter and it will continue to be cold. Doctors say keeping warm in bitter cold temperatures involves common sense. Without proper clothing and protection, a person faces mild frostbite in as little as 15 minutes. Protecting extremities is important in the bitter cold. Warming packs can be placed inside gloves and boots if ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to local firefighters who have selflessly given of their time and efforts, risking their health and safety in bone-chilling cold, to battle recent blazes across Belmont County. JEERS to the dangers presented to everyone in the region by the frigid temperatures this week. As the mercury falls below zero, the danger of frostbite rises and it becomes more difficult to remove ice and snow. CHEERS to St. Clairsville Mayor Kathryn Thalman for thinking ahead and urging city leaders to plan for emergencies in advance, rather than reacting after they occur. JEERS to word that shelters ...