Letters to the Editor

Doing Kids a Disservice With School Calendar

Editor, News-Register: The Republican Super Majority in the West Virginia Legislature makes no sense on education. Last year they made a heartfelt best effort by passing the third-grade success act, which would require additional instruction time for reading students struggling in the classroom. Now, Senate Bill 890 passed without a single nay vote and only two no votes in the House of Delegates, sending the bill to Gov. Patrick Morrisey for his signature. The problem is that the new law will change the school calendar from its current 180 days of instruction to 900 hours of ...

Nothing Gained With Political Callousness

Editor, News-Register: In 2015, I watched then-candidate Trump mock disabled reporter Serge Kovaleski. I naively thought such cruelty would be disqualifying for a Commander-in-Chief. I was wrong. Since then, we have witnessed a relentless tide: lie after lie, corruption, criminal conduct, and open misogyny. From the insurrection and the disparagement of our military to the dismantling of our Justice Department and the abdication of responsibility for climate change, the list is exhaustive. We have seen attacks on science, journalists, and judges, and citizens gunned down in plain ...

Ballouz Epitomized Best of Wheeling

Editor, News-Register: I have known Charlie Ballouz for many, many years. We have taken a number of trips together in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. During those travels, Charlie always talked about how much he loved Wheeling. He actually taught me about the history of the “Friendly City.” Charlie was caring and loved to be around people. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Charlie Ballouz was truly a man of integrity and was highly respected by those who knew him. Forever smiling, Charlie was always there to help anyone who needed to hear some words of ...

Respect for the Aetnaville Bridge

Editor, News-Register: Following the extensive repair work recently completed on the historically iconic Wheeling Suspension Bridge, the West Virginia Division of Highways has determined that the wonderful structure – which was originally opened in 1849 and became known as the “Gateway to the West” and has been officially recognized as the oldest working vehicular suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere, from 1980 until its closure to vehicular traffic in September 2019 – is no longer safe for vehicular and traffic and will be available for pedestrian use ...

Problems With Pickleball Courts

Editor, News-Register: On May 10, 2025, this newspaper published my letter to the editor raising concerns about the utter lack of experience of Recreation Resource USA, the company the City of Wheeling hired to install new pickleball courts at Patterson at a cost of $72k. Three days later I attended a City Council meeting with other long-time pickleball players to try and convince Council that Recreation Resource’s recommended 2-inch milling depth of the court surfaces would not resolve existing cracks that were more than 2 inches deep. After Councilman Dave Palmer made assurances ...

State of the Union: God Bless America

Editor, News-Register: The State of the Union delivered a clear and unmistakable message: America First. When we put our country first, we are at our strongest. President Donald Trump outlined key priorities of the America First agenda — priorities I have been working to advance for years. One of the most important issues raised was the crushing cost of healthcare. As the President said, he is confronting “one of the biggest ripoffs of our times.” I couldn’t agree more. That is why I spent more than two years fighting the healthcare cartel to pass the Hospital Price ...