Letters to the Editor

Any Justification for DEI Post?

Editor, News-Register: Editorial in N-R states: “For close to a year, public officials in Ohio County have been discussing how to fund — and share — a diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator.” “I personally am not interested in having an employee at this stage,” (Ohio County Board of Education member Erik) Schramm said in reference to hiring a full-time coordinator. “I want to explore how this is going to work, if it’s going to work, if who the person is is going to work.” What’s missing here? Has there been any identification of what the criteria or ...

New Strategy from The Donald?

Editor, News-Register: Remember when Lehman Bros. collapsed in 2008? Who could forget? That sparked federal bailouts to banks and insurance companies that were deemed “Too Big To Fail.” It looks like The Donald is making a similar page in history, by earning 91 criminal charges in four indictments. Legal pundits are wondering how so many trials can even be scheduled? And, how would an ex-President serve prison time if convicted? The Orange-faced loser’s strategy is becoming “Too Corrupt To Be Convicted.” Bruce Joffe Piedmont

Fregiato Served Region Well

Editor, News-Register: The iconic, honorable Judge Frank A Fregiato has, as of June 30, 2023, officially retired from his position as Belmont County Common Pleas Court Judge, a position he has admirably held since 2013. He has unquestionably left a positive mark on the area’s legal/judiciary community. I would like to respectfully recollect his long-time illustrious career. Judge Fregiato has been a life-long resident of Belmont County, spending his formative years growing up in Bridgeport and Martins Ferry, respectively. Graduating as a member of the National Honor Society from ...

Concern for Environment Good

Editor, News-Register: Recently, Energy in Depth, a pro-fossil fuel publication, published a piece about the Ohio citizens who are trying to stop the leasing and fracking of Ohio’s public lands (Save Ohio Parks). The EID author specifically targeted a June meeting of the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Commission where Dr. Ted Auch, Youngstown Battalion Chief Silverio Caggiano and I presented fact-based evidence as to why fracking on or near Ohio’s parks would be disastrous for the parks, park visitors, and local residents. Throughout the EID article, experts and citizen members of Save Ohio ...

Telling Better Story of Wheeling

Editor, News-Register: Imagine two cars of visitors traveling to one of many events in downtown Wheeling. The first travels south on Main Street and immediately encounters construction mayhem: barricades, barrels, rutted streets, missing sidewalks, an abandoned hotel; the barricaded Suspension Bridge. Downhill into the distance, as far as the eye can see, is more of the same, There’s no escape. It is an absolute mess. Those visitors will tell others how bad downtown Wheeling looks: ”What a dump!” It looks like a war zone!” “You can barely drive on the streets.” All true ...

Reform Prescription Programs

Editor, News-Register: As the caregiver to my husband, the COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on our family. Struggling with symptoms of long COVID, my husband has faced a series of medical issues over the past few years, with his most recent being a rapid decline in his health arising from heart problems brought on by his original infection with the virus. The vaccine was no picnic for him, either. It doesn’t help matters that, on top of all the medical bills we face, there are also high out-of-pocket expenses for the prescription drugs my husband now relies on. These costs can add ...