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Celebrating 20 years of life with one tough cat

Columns

We reached a milestone in our household this month — our cat Fu turned 20 years old on Aug. 15. That’s pretty impressive. Although there doesn’t seem to be specific information available about how many cats reach such an old age, the general consensus is that the averagae lifespan of a domestic cat is 13-17 years. An estimated 1-3% make it to 20 years old, and they are considered centenarians, equivalent to a human living into their late 90s or reaching age 100. Providing a loving home for a pet is one of the most fulfilling things I have done in my life. I am not a parent, ...

Use caution, avoid scams

Editorials

Across the country, scammers continue to find success — particularly with older residents — with a seemingly endless supply of techniques for separating people from their money. Among the latest efforts is a scam in which a person receives a phone call, email or text that says they need to pay a fine, but that they should do so with Bitcoin, a gift card or other virtual currency. And yes, the wording is confusing and aggressive enough that people continue to fall for these scams in droves. In Ohio alone, between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, counties received 16,741 ...

Cheers & Jeers

Editorials

CHEERS to Trinity Health System for opening its new St. Clairsville Neighborhood Hospital on Monday. The community had been waiting eagerly. JEERS to indications that Belmont County has more cases of Lyme disease this year than any other area of the Buckeye State. The illness is carried by ticks that are associated with wildlife and pets. CHEERS to all of the teams, players and coaches featured in this year’s edition of Pigskin Preview, our annual look at the coming football season and what fans can expect from the gridiron. It published Tuesday. JEERS to the ongoing financial and ...

Achieving equality in Ohio

Editorials

Just a few days ago was the 105th anniversary of women being granted the right to vote in this country. Ohio was among the first states to ratify the 19th Amendment, 12 days after the U.S. Senate passed the amendment and set off the ratification process. Today, the Buckeye State isn’t faring so well in terms of equality for women, as WalletHub’s “Best and Worst States for Women’s Equality in 2025” ranks Ohio 41st. States such as Hawaii, Nevada, Maryland, Maine and Oregon are doing wonderfully for women. Ohio, on the other hand, is 32nd for earnings gap, 40th for executive ...

Supporting new graduates

Editorials

State officials are working toward bringing more supports to public high school students who are already thinking about life after graduation. Last week, Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce announced $7.1 million for the Career Pathway Support Networks Request for Applications. The money is part of a two-year effort to prepare students for in-demand careers through “advising, mentoring, exposure to various professions, and expanded career-technical education,” according to DeWine’s office. Funding will be distributed among the seven JobsOhio ...

Follow school bus rules

Editorials

School is already in session for many students in Ohio, and will be soon for those in West Virginia. With the beginning of the school year comes a possible change to our morning or afternoon driving routines, as school buses filled with children will be everywhere. Get back in the mindset of giving yourself plenty of time to get to your destination during pick-up and drop-off hours. School buses may be a little slower and make frequent stops, but the drivers are not out to get you, personally. Their job is to make sure kids get to and from school safely. And they can do that because ...