Local Columns

Rules Made To Be Followed

I try not to write angry. As I’ve said before, this column is not just a place for me to spew an opinion. I really do try to use this space to take you behind-the-scenes into how I choose the stories I cover, analysis of the political actions of others, and tidbits of items I can’t fit into stories. But after bearing witness to the actions of the West Virginia Senate on the last night of the 2025 legislative session, I was pretty flabbergasted. I had already turned in last week’s column Saturday afternoon and had considered having my editors toss that in order to write a new ...

Experiencing Miracles as Part of Our Daily Walk

Last week my heart sank when I watched the news. It was of a pastor being kidnapped while speaking at a prayer meeting in church. I thought “Oh Lord, how terrible!” At the time, I did not know where it happened. The truth is, in these days and times it could happen anywhere. Who can forget what happened at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in the Square Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2018? What about what happened at a Bible Study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the oldest African-American church in the southern ...

U.S. Attorney General’s Priorities Come Into Focus

It has been two months since Attorney General Pam Bondi took the reins at the United States Department of Justice and through memos, statements, and significant decisions by her office and the White House, the priorities of the DOJ in 2025 are starting to come into focus. Combating drug cartels and enforcing immigration laws are at the top of the list for Bondi, the former Florida prosecutor who now leads the world’s largest law firm. On her very first day, Bondi directed the nation’s United States Attorneys to pursue the most serious criminal immigration-related cases, as well as ...

Marshall Memo: Knights of the Golden Horseshoe; Social Studies; and Spring Fling

Marshall County’s spring is bursting with pride, from young scholars to dedicated volun-teers. Here’s what’s happening to keep our community thriving. --- Sherrard Middle School 8th graders Brady Barnhart, Kabe Blake, James Lopez, and Drew Marling are Marshall County’s 2025 West Virginia Golden Horseshoe winners, recognized for their outstanding knowledge of state history, government, and culture. Since 1931, the Golden Horseshoe test has challenged students on West Virginia’s past and present, with winners chosen by county based on population. The four will be inducted ...

Turn the Page and Keep Writing

On Wednesday, we observed World Semicolon Day, a day that symbolizes hope and resilience for those facing mental health challenges. The semicolon, used when an author chooses to continue a sentence rather than end it, represents the decision to persist through hard times and adversity. This symbol has become a powerful emblem in the mental health community, signifying that one’s story is not over. In West Virginia, the need for mental health awareness and resources is pressing. Approximately 337,000 adults in our state live with a mental health condition — more than seven times ...

Marshall Memo: Cleaning Up; Resource Fair; and Finances

The annual Marshall County Spring Clean up has begun and will continue at various locations throughout the county each week through the end of May. Dumpsters will be available from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be no provisions at any location to accept tires, white goods, scrap metal, car parts, fuels, hazardous chemical, or household trash. Today (April 12) the locations are the VFD Headquarters on Roberts Ridge and Coal Mine Property at Rosby Rocks. On April 26 the Limestone Fire Department and Sherrard Middle School will have dumpsters available. On May 3rd Todd Kelly Trucking in ...