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Letters to the Editor

Your vote is their voice

Dear Editor, The upcoming primary election for Belmont County commissioner on March 19th has a big impact on the direction the county will take for the future. Remember the names Shaun Moran and Vince Giangangeli. They look to restore accountability and integrity to the office and eliminate the arrogance and indifference we’ve experienced firsthand by incumbent Commissioners Josh Meyer and J.P. Dutton. For 14 years as volunteers, Jodi and I tried to bring a voice to the animals at the Belmont County Animal Shelter. Then in March of 2023, our freedom to help the animals was taken ...

The spiral of silence

Dear Editor, I recently spoke at a church on the subject of the spiral of silence within the modern American church. This is not a new concept but one developed by a German sociologist referring to the church of Germany and the rise of Hitler. It says that as the price of speaking up becomes more challenged, those who speak up become less and less. Dietrich Bonhoeffer saw this in the churches of Germany in the 1930s and ‘40s. It applies to our churches in America today. We are so enamored with “cheap grace” and the “idol of evangelism” that we have forgotten that we still ...

Precinct 20 candidate introduction

Dear Editor, Hello, my name is Lucien Murzyn and I’d like to announce my write-in candidacy for the Belmont County Republican Party’s Central Committee for Precinct 20 in St Clairsville. I’ve lived in Belmont County since 1983 and have been active in the community in a number of areas. If you do not know me, you might ask the question: “Who are you and why should I vote for you?” ∫ I taught at Ohio University for 30 years. During that tenure, I taught 4 different subject areas and finished my carrier teaching Mathematics. ∫ I’m a tenor that will sing at the drop ...

Abomination

Dear Editor: Donald Trump is an ABOMINATION. I find Trump disgusting. Trump is not only an accused criminal (91 felony charges in four major cases), but more importantly a fundamental threat to democracy and a threat to the rule of law. Moreover, Trump is trying to destroy freedom and cause a world war (withdraw from NATO). Trump’s autocratic desire for America is loathsome. Trump’s bowing to Putin is obscene. My greatest hope is that Trump is very soon found guilty of insurrection and imprisoned for life and therefore denied a megaphone for his rude, big mouth. Let’s ...

The true church

Dear Editor, I remember once seeing a very old minister say, “If I have preached the Word to you, it is a hammer. If I have preached the Word to you, it is a sword. If I have preached the Word to you, it is a fire. The Bible shatters us in conviction of sins like a hammer. The Bible pierces our soul like a sword. And finally, the Bible ignites us inside to be on fire for Jesus. If this does not happen to you…then I have not preached the Word.” We live in the day of the Laodician church. (Rev 3:13-17) The church in Laodicea had grown lukewarm and useless. Their selfish focus ...

Animal shelter issue determines votes

Dear Editor, With the Belmont County Primary Election in just a few weeks, I would like to share our story on how we became volunteers at Belmont County Animal Shelter, what is driving us to Vote for Vince Gianangeli and Shaun Moran for commissioners on March 19th and why we will NOT be voting for JP Dutton or Josh Meyer. Back in 2016 we lost our Golden Retriever Buddy that we had adopted from MCAS. In our search for another dog we found Rose our Golden at BCAS and adopted her. A couple months later around Christmas we ran into a longtime volunteer at the shelter that proceeded to ...