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Avoid outdoor burning

Eastern West Virginia is on fire. Days of dry, windy weather supported wildfires that have burned thousands of acres, particularly in Berkeley, Hardy, Hampshire, Morgan and Pendleton counties. According to Assistant State Forester Linda Carnell, who spoke with West Virginia Public Broadcasting, there are local fire departments in all affected counties and some neighboring counties fighting the blazes. Of course, Division of Forestry employees are there, too. Carnell described significant structural damage, in addition to the damaged forest land. “It’s been pretty devastating ...

Guard against measles

If you’re of a certain age, it’s entirely fine to be nostalgic about some things from your childhood. One thing you shouldn’t be nostalgic about, though, is the measles. Before a vaccine became available in 1963, measles was commonplace in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there were 500,000 cases every year, mostly striking children. Of those 500,000 cases, about 500 were fatal. Since the introduction of the vaccine, and concerted efforts on the part of health officials to get children vaccinated, the number of measles cases has ...

Getting our money’s worth

Ohio taxpayers have a right to assume the money they give to the state will be used in a way that benefits all of us. As it turns out, that assumption is mostly correct, according to a report by WalletHub, “States with the Best and Worst Taxpayer ROI (2024).” Ohio is fifth in the nation for taxpayer return on investment. Only Missouri, South Dakota, Florida and New Hampshire are doing better for their citizens. Ohio is eighth for total taxes paid per capita, though we are 25th for overall government services. When looking more closely at the state government services, WalletHub ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to all the area residents who were successful in their bids to win elected offices on Tuesday. Remember, you now work for the people. JEERS to the fact that the fate of the former Bellaire Bridge still remains uncertain more than 30 years after it closed to traffic. The structure continues to deteriorate and pose a threat to those below. CHEERS to Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas and his staff for developing an app that provides all sorts of information about law enforcement in the county. It is free to download. JEERS to the wintry weather we continued to experience this ...

A clean home is a safer home

Spring has sprung, and for many that means an excuse to do a little spring cleaning. The Ohio Fire Marshal suggests that cleanup should be done with fire safety in mind, too. “A clutter-free home is a safer home when it comes to fire risks. That’s why it’s so important for Ohioans to take a few extra moments during spring cleaning to inspect their homes for potential fire hazards,” said Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. Buckeye State residents — everyone, really — should heed Reardon’s advice. By decluttering — making sure ...

Intel project officially delayed

It’s official. Intel has formally submitted a report to the Ohio Department of Development that updates the timeline for its semiconductor fabrication plant in New Albany. Now, according to a report by WCMH, Intel’s planned Ohio One facility will be finished between 2026 and 2027 before becoming operational between 2027 and 2028. Having secured $3.5 billion in funding to produce semiconductors for the U.S. military, surely Intel executives intend to fulfill their promises to Ohio AND the federal government. Back in June, Intel got $600 million in grants from the state ...