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Cheers & Jeers

Editorials

CHEERS to the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival Committee for all of its hard work throughout the year to bring the annual event to the streets of the village. JEERS to news that the spotted lanterfly has established itself in the local area. The nuisance insect is known to present a danger to a variety of plants, so when you see them, stomp on them and help curb their numbers. CHEERS to WVU Medicine for opening a new rapid care center in Martins Ferry, just across Fourth Street from the currently closed East Ohio Regional Hospital. The city needs health care options. JEERS to ongoing ...

Safety paramount with guns

Editorials

A person does not have to be a gun safety reform extremist to understand there are simply certain rules a person must follow in their own home (or for themselves, if they have carry permits) if they are to be responsible gun owners. Sadly, it is all too common for us to read of tragedies that resulted from irresponsible gun ownership, and get a reminder to do the right thing. On Monday, a 3-year-old boy in Columbus died after unintentionally shooting himself with a handgun that had allegedly been brought to the apartment where he and his mother lived. WBNS reported the victim’s ...

Farmers deserve praise

Editorials

Farmers earn a lot of respect from those who understand how much they do for the rest of us. It’s easy for us to think about the food and other products they provide, as well as the contributions farm families make to our communities. But it’s not always top of mind to think about their stewardship of this land we all share. The Ohio Department of Agriculture recognizes it, though, and each year hands out Conservation Farm Family Awards. Among those honored for 2025 were the Brad and Matilda Miller family for their 400-acre farm on which there are 150 head of Blonde D’DAquitaine ...

More reason to be on guard

Editorials

If you consider yourself to be a carnivore, you have yet another reason to be vigilant about avoiding ticks. Earlier this month, the West Virginia Department of Health reported multiple cases of the tick-borne Alpha-gal Syndrome, which can cause a variety of symptoms as a result of allergies to meat and meat products caused by the disease. This one is carried by lone star ticks — larger than deer ticks and with white spots on their backs. Worry over the disease is severe enough that the WVDH issued an advisory Sept. 11, making AGS a reportable condition in the Mountain ...

Attitude — positive or negative — is everything in business and life

Columns

Everyone makes people happy. Some people do it by simply entering a room. Others make people happy by leaving a room. You probably know both types of people. The difference is their attitude. Some people enter a room with a smile on their face. They are positive, uplifting and fun to be around. Others have a frown on their face. They are negative, self-centered and depressing to be around. We choose our attitude and the type of person we want to be. We also choose the type of people we want to spend time with. Attitude is defined as: A settled way of thinking or feeling about ...

Pumpkin Festival returns

Editorials

It may seem hard to believe, but the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival returns to the village’s streets this week. As we reported on the front page of today’s newspaper, the 61st annual rendition of this Belmont County tradition opens on Thursday and continues through next Sunday. True pumpkin enthusiasts will join in the action a day earlier, participating in or watching the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Wednesday evening. Records — both state and national — are set at that event year after year. If you want to start celebrating even earlier, you can turn out at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. ...