Editorials

Program Benefits Police

Given that Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services data shows there were 2,837 “use of force” incidents from 1,040 police agencies in the state in 2025, one would think law enforcement agencies would be clamoring to take advantage of the new Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. Established in 2024, the program gives law enforcement agencies an opportunity to demonstrate they are meeting standards set by the state Public Safety Department. “If an agency is willingly opening their doors to criticism, that shows great leadership. Having someone else come in ...

‘Sextortion’ Seminars Crucial for Students

Ohio County Schools hasn’t taken the foot off the gas when it comes to educating its students about the issue of “sextortion.” Sextortion, the act of soliciting money from an individual by threatening to release private photos, has become a much bigger problem for teenagers as the means of communication for them have evolved. It has led some students to even commit suicide. Ohio County Schools understands the importance of educating teens in that situation. It already partnered with Wheeling Central Catholic High School to produce a video of some of the two groups’ most ...

Proper Nutrition Important

Look at what you’re eating today. Did it come from a machine? A drive-through? How much fresh food is part of that meal? We’ve all been there. The hustle and bustle of everyday life keeps us moving and we have to make sacrifices somewhere. Unfortunately, those sacrifices often come in the quality of what we eat. March is National Nutrition Month, and its a perfect time to take a look at what and how we eat, so we can all push through those crazy days. Food is our fuel. Put substandard fuel in a car, and it doesn’t run correctly. Do the same with your body and it’ll ...

Copper Theft Needs Heavier Punishment

On its face, copper theft is a dumb crime, culprits breaking into homes, business or other areas to yank out that metal and sell it somewhere else. It’s just scummy. Yet someone last week found a way to make that crime even scummier. Wheeling police were called out to an Appalachian Power substation near Elm on Friday morning after someone had broken into it and absconded with the copper inside. That theft created another, much larger, problem. With that copper gone, the substation went down. And at the outset, 7,700 Appalachian Power customers were without power. Thanks to ...

Take Advantage of ‘Amnesty Day’

There are some Ohio drivers out there who might not know that their license is suspended. They might not find out until it’s too late and they’re having an uncomfortable conversation with law enforcement. Yet in the Buckeye State, there is an opportunity for residents to check on their license’s status and, if there’s an issue, work toward correcting it with no immediate punishment. The Divisional Court Complex of Belmont County will host an Amnesty Day from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on March 23. “Anyone with an Ohio license suspension is invited to come to the Divisional ...

Valley Sports Legends Remind Us To Dream

In the Ohio Valley, sports heroes of the past are not just names that used to regularly appear in the newspaper. Even after they move on they remain neighbors, classmates, and hometown legends whose stories become woven into the region’s identity. In recent weeks, the Upper Ohio Valley has lost three of its most impactful sports figures — men who carried the grit and humility of this region to the highest levels of their sports: Bill Mazeroski, Bobby Douglas and Lou Holtz. Their careers and sports were different, but their Upper Ohio Valley roots — and the values they carried ...