Editorials

Questions Remain for Hancock County Schools

The next couple of weeks could very well determine much of the future for Hancock County Schools. A meeting held Tuesday between local officials and the West Virginia Department of Education included discussion as to whether the district will receive an advancement of funds to meet payroll; an issue Superintendent Dan Enich said was the result of a late drawdown of $475,000. On Jan. 26, the school board — and anyone else attending the board’s regular meeting — are scheduled to hear from Jeff Davis (not the former Hancock County commissioner) of Educational Consultants LLC, who ...

Stay Safe When on the Roads

Though there have been some points of solace when it comes to winter weather, the skies over the last couple of days have reminded us that it’s that time of year when roads can get treacherous before you realize it. Even the slightest amount of snow or ice on the road can turn a quick trip into a dangerous one. Here are some reminders from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on how best to avoid those accidents. First, slow down. It’s a simple, but crucial rule. When roads are icy, it’s harder to stop and control your vehicle. And when you’re behind someone, ...

Transparency in Marshall County

Marshall County Schools Superintendent Shelby Haines’ report to the county’s Board of Education on Tuesday was an encouraging sign for how the school district will handle one of the biggest black eyes it has suffered in years. Haines briefed the board and the audience about the steps the administration is taking following the arrests of former McNinch Primary teacher Kiersten Moses, former McNinch Principal Jane Duffy and district Director of Special Programs Erin Cuffaro in connection with the alleged strangling of a nonverbal autistic McNinch student. (To recap, Moses is ...

Mental Health Care Important

With increasing talk about a growing sense of anxiety and fragile mental wellbeing, it makes sense that some Ohioans are seeking needed mental health care. For most of them, finding timely care is a challenge. Health Policy Institute of Ohio says 75 of the state’s 88 counties are mental health shortage areas, according to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal. Only 11 facilities in Ohio offer youth inpatient services, the study found. The only counties that are not mental health shortage areas are Hancock, Marion, Delaware, Montgomery, Butler, Clermont, Lorain, Ashland, Lake, ...

W.Va.’s Outlook Must Get Better

As West Virginia lawmakers kick off this year’s legislative session with talk of kitchen table issues and “Jobs First — Opportunity Everywhere,” a recent report by WalletHub suggests they will have to do a lot of work to turn that focus into success. If the aim is to turn the Mountain State into the kind of place where people want to stay to raise their families, they’ll be working from (as usual) nearly the back of the pack. In WalletHub’s “Best and Worst States to Raise a Family 2026,” West Virginia ranked nearly last. Only New Mexico prevented it from being the ...

Local Cities Helping Keep Renters Safe

The cities of Wheeling and Moundsville recently took it upon themselves to ensure the health and safety of renters within their limits when roach problems reared their ugly heads in both places. Windsor Manor Apartments saw a condemnation notice on its front door Friday morning, after an inspection by Wheeling Building and Code Enforcement the day before unearthed what it called a “major roach infestation.” No one has been forced from the apartments, Wheeling Building and Planning Director Brenda J. Delbert said, but the property owners have until Feb. 9 to correct the problem. ...