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Fairs return for the summer

Summer officially arrived at 4:51 p.m. Thursday, and that means there will be a lot to do across our region in the coming months — including the opportunity to attend a county fair. The Tri-State Area’s county fair season opens Monday, when the Harrison County Fair begins its week-long run in Cadiz, renewing a tradition that started in 1847. County fairs have a rich tradition of offering something for just about every one. Whether you enjoy seeing the displays presented by young people, like to admire the area’s top animals, listen to some live music, enjoy hearty helpings of ...

Keeping pets cool and safe

Have a hard time dealing with the sudden oppressive heat after getting into your parked car over the past few days? You immediately either rolled down all the windows completely or cranked the A/C as high as it would go, didn’t you? Now, think about those few moments of discomfort and imagine how very much worse it is for animals who are left in parked cars for an extended period of time on days like these. “A parked car can become an oven under the sun, even in mild temperatures,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. Dogs do not sweat, or otherwise ...

Summer fun and safety

Ah, summer — when the weather means boat days on the river or lake, maybe even a cold beer or two for passengers. It’s easy to forget on those hot, lazy days that responsible boaters must follow a few rules to stay safe. Ohio Department of Commerce Divisions of Liquor Control and Cannabis Control and Ohio Department of Natural Resources officials remind those folks the laws regarding alcohol or cannabis consumption while boating are in place for a reason. “In Ohio, it is illegal to operate a boat with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher or be under the influence of ...

Check on unclaimed funds

Looking for a few extra dollars? The state of Ohio might be holding on to some that belongs to you. On Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Commerce announced its list of the top counties in terms of the amount of money being “safeguarded by the state” that belongs to residents and businesses there. Cuyahoga came out on top, with $477 million in unclaimed funds. Money being held by the state Division of Unclaimed Funds is “lost or forgotten money that businesses and banks report to the Division of Unclaimed Funds after accounts become inactive, typically after three to five ...

Striving for racial equality

As Juneteenth approaches, it is important to take a look in the mirror and look at how far we have come (or not) since the end of slavery in 1865. There are plenty of measures to examine. WalletHub’s “State Economies with the Most Racial Equality (2024)” looks at the matter from an economic perspective. Ohio does not fare very well. The Buckeye State is 44th in the country for overall racial equality in the state economy. (Alaska is best, the District of Columbia is worst.) According to WalletHub, nationwide for every $100 of wealth in white households there is only $15 of ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department and JB Green Team for continuing their cooperative arrangement that makes it possible for a deputy to focus on litter and illegal dumping. JEERS to the fact that Belmont County has a need for a deputy to focus on litter and illegal dumping. It’s not hard to dispose of trash properly. CHEERS to Bridgeport Exempted Village Schools for securing a $13,8 million grant to expand its facilities and provide health, career and wellness services to students, staff and the community as a whole. JEERS to news that a large drug trafficking ring ...