Local Columns

Marshall Memo: Setting the Levy; Happenings in Moundsville; and STEM

Several Moundsville programs were outlined by City Manager Rick Healy at this past Wednesday’s council meeting. Notification was received that the second submission for a Land & Water Park Grant for Riverfront Park was approved. This will cover the basketball/pickleball court, some fitness stations, and renovation to shelter and restrooms. Projects costs will be $116,000. Healy said that the ribbon cutting for the Renner Behavioral Program, a WVU Medicine facility, would be held this week. The location is in a former Teletech building. Healy reminded council members that the OnTrac ...

Mooney: Stark Contrasts in U.S. Senate Primary

As May approaches, West Virginians have a choice to make as they decide who they want to represent their interests and values in the United States Senate. The choice is between me, conservative fighter Alex Mooney and Gov. Jim Justice. Can voters really trust Democrat-turned-Republican Jim Justice? Jim Justice can’t be trusted because has a proven track record of supporting liberal policies. In 2020, he promised to sign into law the The Fairness Act, legislation that provides special privileges to transgender persons and strips West Virginians of their religious freedoms. The bill ...

Diana Winzenreid Deserves a Full Term in the W.Va. House

As the primary election comes upon us, I want to express to you what I observed during the legislative session from Delegate Diana Winzenreid. She was selected by Gov. Jim Justice from three nominees of the Ohio Republican Executive Committee to fill the House of Delegates 4th District seat after Erikka Storch resigned. During my 10 years in office, there have only been a handful of new Delegates each year who make me think, “wow, they are a really hard worker.” Delegate Winzenreid read every single bill, and she scheduled meetings with me and other members to understand the ...

Students Excel in Social Studies; Golf; and Star Wars

The West Virginia Department of Education hosted more than 500 students in Charleston recently as part of the 2024 State Social Studies Fair. Division I consisted of Elementary Students in Grades 3 -5 while Division II was for students in Grades 3-8. Marshall County School had nine students earn first place, three second place, nine students placed third and five students honorable mention. First place winners were (Division I) Aubree Gatts, Addilyn Ellwood and Maya Laudermilk. Division II first place winners were Chloe Pickett, Braxton Haught, Abby Allman, and Gracylynn Welch. Second ...

NATO as It Celebrates Its 75th Anniversary

Born out of the ashes of post WWII, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, commonly referred to simply as NATO, was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and ten Western European nations to provide collective security against the growing threat of a hostile Soviet Union and to alleviate regional instability. This past week, NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary. Seventy-five years of friendship, partnership, and common bonds that tie and strengthen us. Since its inception, the alliance has flourished, overcoming challenges, welcoming new members and partners, and helping to set ...

A Few Odds and Ends

I’m leaving for vacation later this week, heading on an eight-day cruise of the Caribbean, so I’m suffering a bit from vacation-brain as I write this. The following will be more of a stream of conscience of things that are on my mind. --- My apologies to Delegate Joey Garcia, D-Marion, but he could possibly have competition after all. I wrote last week that with Republican hospital executive Jonathan Board dropping out of the race for the state Senate held by the retiring Sen. Mike Capito, D-Marion, to run the West Virginia First Foundation meant Garcia had in essence locked up ...