Columns

The Ladies of the Building

Not so long ago, it was my daily routine to step out the side door of the newspaper office and make the walk up the alley to Wheeling’s City-County Building. As the city beat reporter in those days, I would visit the various floors of that center of city business on Chapline Street. Each floor of the building held the offices that kept the city humming. From the water department to the city manager’s office, from the city clerk’s cubicle to the courtrooms, there were stories to be had. But it took some doing to garner the trust of the folks who worked in those offices. I ...

How Sweet It Was

I found myself standing and staring in the cereal aisle at a local Walmart recently. A look at the wide expanse of cereal selections was a bit overwhelming. There before me was an entire aisle filled with colorfully-packaged breakfast cereals. I recognized many of them from my childhood, especially those packaged in the large bags rather than in boxes. The bagged cereals were often less expensive knockoffs of the Kellogg’s or General Mills brands. They were an obvious choice for my wise shopper of a mother who was always looking for a bargain at the grocery store. Childhood ...

Sunny Days Are Ahead

By the time you are reading this column, I will have done a little celebratory dance. What am I celebrating, you ask? I, like many of you, are celebrating the fact that we have turned our clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night. Sounds kind of funny to be happy to lose an hour of sleep, but it means so much more than that. For those of us who find night driving more challenging as we age, that one more hour of daylight will continue to grow each day now through the summer months. It means we don’t have to always grab the early-bird dinner so we’re home by dark! Our shopping ...

Home Is Where You Hang Your Hat

When I was entering my freshman year of high school, I was given the opportunity to visit my older sister who was living and working in Washington, D.C. It was the summer of 1969, and the idea of going to the big city of D.C. was intriguing for this young teen. My sister and her roommate were working in the secretarial pool for then Congressman Robert Mollohan. They lived in a tall apartment building in a busy neighborhood that was only a few blocks from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in D.C. It was a Friday, and I had all day to myself to explore the neighborhood while my sister ...

How To Stand Out In A Crowd

I have a friend (Judy) who stands just under 5 feet tall. I imagine as a child, she was challenged by her lack of height. She probably wasn’t tall enough to embark on certain carnival rides. Maybe she had to prove her age at various times in her life. But let me tell you how tall she really stands. Obviously her size is all in the eyes of her beholders. As a young woman, she entered the education field, earning degree after major degree during her career. She was right at home among the very young students she taught at Madison Elementary and developed teaching programs to ...

Reporting The News Ohio Valley Style

Over these 40-plus years in the field of journalism, I have met many, many interesting people. Not all of those with whom I have interacted are worth remembering for one reason or another. Yet, just as many offer good memories. When you can report a happy reunion or hear some good news for a sick child, it stays with you. Trust me however, there is something chilling when an accused or convicted murderer gives you the evil eye when you are reporting their crimes. There also have been the interviews where the interviewee gave one or two-word answers to deep-diving questions. ...