Local Columns

West Virginia’s Tax Cut Dilemma

Gov. Jim Justice put West Virginia legislators and even the two candidates for governor in a pickle when he challenged lawmakers last week to give him an additional 5% cut in personal income tax rates on top of a likely smaller income tax cut trigger. I’ve attended every end-of-fiscal-year tax revenue report given by Justice. At one of those events, they handed out Hawaiian leis following revenue numbers for the governor’s second year in office. That was the year following the big budget hole, the fight with the Legislature and the silver platter of cow dung. Since then, the ...

Wheeling Symphony Important to Community’s Future

I’m writing this piece on June 30, 2024 — 95 years to the day since the Wheeling Symphony Society played its first concert at Oglebay Park, back in 1929. I have lived out a dream after taking up the baton of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra in 2019. As the WSO’s 95th-anniversary season approaches, I’ve been reflecting deeply on a remarkable feat: our city has been the home of a community-driven classical music institution for nine and a half decades. And as I write, I’m filled with gratitude to you, our community, for your support of the WSO’s mission. Even before I moved to ...

Marshall Memo: Cruising to Moundsville; Back to School; and Golf

The initial arrival of the American Cruise Lines ship to Moundsville will occur Thursday, July 11th at 6 a.m. Guests will be leaving the ship named the American Melody beginning at approximately 9 a.m. The visitors have pre-registered, and there are currently 28 taking a tour of the former Penitentiary in the morning, 35 taking the bus to the downtown loop for shopping in the morning, and 45 in the afternoon. The next stop will be Sunday, and more stops will occur over the next month. They have already increased the stops for 2025. City Manager Rick Healy asks that if any residents ...

Dog Eat Dog at the Capitol

When I covered the dedication of the new murals at the State Capitol Building on West Virginia Day nearly two weeks ago, I did not notice the inclusion of Gov. Jim Justice’s Babydog in one of the murals. In fact, I wrote a pretty nice story about the dedication event, including positive quotes from Justice and Randall Reid-Smith, the recently renamed cabinet secretary of the Department of Arts, Culture and History. Frankly, I really like the murals and was happy to see them done. I love history. I’m a former co-captain of my middle school and high school quiz bowl teams. I never ...

Marshall Memo: A Busy Weekend; Some Personnel Matters; and New Officers

Several attractions will be taking place Saturday, June 29, in Marshall County. They include: - Farmers Market at the Marshall County Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to noon. - Navajo Dineh Tah’ at the Grave Cheek Mound from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Historic Preservation: Meadowcroft and Historic Village at the Grave Creek Mound from 2-4 p.m. - Bingo at Richmond Hall at Grand Vue Park starting at 6 p.m. - Outdoor Summer Concert at the Hardy Media Stage at Grand Vue Park from 6:30 -8:30 p.m. - Twilight Tour of the former West Virginia Penitentiary from 7-10 p.m. - Public ...

Some Political Odds and Ends

For those sitting on the edges of their seats waiting to hear news that U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., has begun his signature drive to get on the November general election ballot as an independent candidate for governor of West Virginia by the Aug. 1 deadline, please don’t hold your breath. This Thursday, Manchin will be co-headlining a fundraiser for Huntington Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor Steve Williams with former one-term Democratic governor Bob Wise in the lobby of the Hotel Frederick in downtown Huntington. Much as I stated in a previous column, Manchin’s ...