Local Columns

Marshall Memo: Events at Strand; ‘Love the Bus’; and Two Projects

The Ron Retzer Trio will present “A Strand of Love” at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Strand Theatre in Moundsville. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at strandtheatre.com/events, at Frame and Fortunes or at the door. Also at the Strand next weekend will be ballroom dance classes from 6-7 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. It’s also time to register for the Spring Children’s Acting Classes at the Strand. Classes will begin on Feb. 17th and will conclude on March 23rd. Session for grades kindergarten to grade 3 will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 9:55 a.m. while classes for those in grades four through ...

Misguided Energy Policy Could Sink Manufacturing Renaissance

An extraordinary but little noticed economic phenomenon is occurring across the United States today. Electricity demand—which has been relatively stable for more than a decade—is suddenly surging. The U.S. economy is embarking on a literal power trip, and the pace is likely to increase. Consider that California’s major utility, PG&E, expects the state’s electricity demand to jump 70% in the next two decades. New York’s electricity demand is on track to double by 2050. And Virginia’s power demand is projected to jump 85% in just the next 15 years. Why such huge ...

Library Bill Is Scare Tactic

I’ve been reading as long as I can remember. To the point that I didn’t sleep in the dark until my late teens because I had gotten used to falling asleep with the touch lamp on because I’d stay up late reading. I spent so much time of my youth at the Pleasants County Library checking out books about science, history, biographies, books about unexplained phenomena and science fiction. The knowledge I learned helped me co-captain my middle and high school quiz bowl teams. In my 20s, I spent much of my time at the Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library. I used to walk from ...

Gas Pooling Rule Grows Industry in West Virginia

It took many years before industry and mineral owner advocacy groups could agree on unitization regulations for natural gas development. You may have heard this referred to as forced pooling. In the 2022 West Virginia legislative session, a compromised bill was passed in Senate Bill 694. The legislation changed WV Code Chapter 22C, Article 9 related to Oil and Gas Conservation, and became effective June 7, 2022. The West Virginia Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulates the drilling of deep wells in the state. The OGCC approves drilling permits and conducts hearings on matters ...

Time for Congress To Act on Reducing the Nation’s Crushing Debt

While many Americans were celebrating the holidays with their loved ones, our country reached a milestone that is nothing to celebrate: The United States national debt now exceeds $34 trillion. In just 10 years, the national debt has more than doubled. Not only is this level of debt unsustainable, but it is growing at the largest rate seen in the history of this country. $34 trillion is a staggering amount of money. To put this in context, the national debt has now exceeded $100,000 for every person in the United States. Given the imminent nature of this crisis, continuing to turn a ...

Marshall Memo: Bluegrass; Extension Service; and a Visit from Friends

A Bluegrass Extravaganza will be held at the Strand Theatre at 7 p.m. Feb. 17. The event will feature performances by Crandal Creel and David Mayfield. Advanced ticket prices are $25 or $30 if purchased at the door. Tickets for kids ages 6 to 12 will be $10 and children five and under will be admitted for free. --- I spoke with Bob Koch on Thursday and he informed me several local individuals had contacted him with information about Bob O’Brien. Koch was looking for contact information for O’Brien as the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference are looking to honor the former basketball ...