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Ohio must be prepared

As happened in most states when COVID-19 struck, Ohio over-purchased. Now, much of that stockpile is expiring. Ohio auctioned 393,000 protective gowns … for $2,451. The state had to throw away another 7.2 million of them, along with expired masks, gloves and other protective gear. Taxpayers paid $29 million in for that equipment. But this isn’t a matter of Ohio being reckless with taxpayer dollars. This is a matter of facing the consequences for a nationwide lack of preparation and planning. “What a real waste. That’s what happens when you don’t prepare, when you ...

When will we be free at last?

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day —which means many will enjoy a three-day weekend. It is essential we do more than take extra time away from work or school on that day. More than half a century after King’s assassination, our battered and divided country MUST spend time considering whether we are living up to King’s dream, and honoring the fight for which he lost his life. Outmoded and hateful ideas about the change King was trying to bring have been slow to fade — much slower than even he might have predicted. He knew HE wouldn’t get to the promised land. He probably ...

Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to the Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society and Bellaire Public Library for again providing a Winter Lecture Series. The events are both informative and entertaining. JEERS to word that the first round of winter weather last week led to a few traffic accidents. Drivers must remember to slow down and exercise caution. CHEERS to Martins Ferry police Sgt. Beth Scales upon her retirement. In her 31 years of service to the city, she has made a positive impact on the lives of residents of all ages. JEERS to a forecast that calls for single-digit temperatures next week. ...

Saving for a rainy day

When a state manages to build a substantial rainy day fund, there are inevitably those who believe they know exactly how it should be spent. Such is the case with an Ohio child welfare organization that is suggesting the rainy day fund and billions in other unused revenue should be used to help expand child programs and services. Certainly the data from which the Children’s Defense Fund Ohio has drawn its conclusions suggests there is work to be done. Too many Buckeye State children are at a disadvantage from the start, and face challenges many of us cannot imagine. According to a ...

Federal help lacking in Ohio

Perhaps the federal government is concerned only with certain kinds of environmental and health disasters. Perhaps only politically expedient targets are worth the effort. Whatever the reason, help has been hard to come by in East Palestine, Ohio, as nearly a year after the fiery Norfolk Southern derailment that shocked the community, there is still no federal disaster declaration and STILL no long-term health monitoring. Recall that Gov. Mike DeWine demanded such a program, and (at the time) Norfolk Southern promised there would be one. DeWine also asked President Joe Biden for a ...

Send the right message

Though the events of Oct. 7 brought fresh awareness to the scope of antisemitism in this country, researchers say such hate has been on the rise for quite some time. In the U.S., antisemitic incidents rose 35% between 2021 and 2022. Certainly, we know more people have felt freer to express their hatreds — and perhaps even act upon them — in recent years. That boldness has done its damage to younger generations. In Canton, Ohio, a 13-year-old boy has been charged with allegedly planning a mass shooting of a local Jewish synagogue. The Associated Press reports court documents show ...