Local Columns

Marshall Memo: A Horror-Filled Prison; Community Awards; and Reynolds

Two major attractions at the former West Virginia Penitentiary are up-and-running this month. One is the Dungeons of Horrors while the other is the North Hall Walk. The dungeon is now in its 25th year while the “walk” has been an attraction for 10 years. These two events are expected to combine to attract more than 10,000 visitors. The two attractions will take place this weekend on Oct. 13-15, and will continue on Oct. 20-21, and Oct. 27-29. There will also be a special Halloween event on Oct. 31, and it is nearly sold out. The Dungeon of Horros has about 20 differences than the ...

Charting a New Course for Public Education?

The West Virginia Constitution states that “The Legislature shall provide, by general law, for a thorough and efficient system of free schools.” The education article in the state Constitution can cause some headaches, but it does serve as a firewall to ensure the state doesn’t go raiding dollars meant for education, and that all children have access to education. It helps give every student an equal footing and equality of opportunity. But over the last few years there has been a movement by many on the right to focus on school choice, which is sort of a misnomer. Parents in ...

Steadiness and Caring Needed for Homeless in Wheeling

Writing in response to an eviction notice posted Friday at the homeless camp on East Wheeling hill, comments supporting a homeless ban made in The Intelligencer, Wheeling City Council’s homeless ban discussion at Tuesday’s meeting, and scheduled homeless ban vote at next meeting. The city, straight down from our city manager, directed people to camp on the hill in East Wheeling, and now instead of continuing our deliberate, humane, and legal solutions the city is recklessly trying to evict and ban them. Instead, let’s steady ourselves a moment, wait for the Winter Freeze Shelter ...

A Plan To Build a Better Future for West Virginia

When I was 10 1/2 years old, I told my dad I wanted a pair of Air Jordan tennis shoes. When he found out they cost $125 he told me to get a job. So, I got a paper route. And I’ve been working ever since. I labored on a farm, cut grass, washed cars, then worked in our family’s business. Through hard work, I was able to grow our two businesses into 26 different enterprises. We now employ more than 600 people in five states. The lesson here is that the “secret sauce” to anything is hard work. And ladies and gentlemen, there is a lot of hard work that is needed in our state ...

W.Va. Republicans Split Over Who Is ‘More Right’

I frequently write about the divides I see within the Republican supermajority in the West Virginia Legislature. With no real Democratic opposition to make into adversaries, Republicans have taken to going after each other. This divide became increasingly noticeable since 2020, especially after the 2022 elections. But expect 2024 to really bring out the divides between what would have been considered the traditional conservatives versus those choosing to align with the populist right. The biggest fight likely will be in the West Virginia Senate. The House of Delegates is almost ...

It’s Our Duty To Preserve and Protect West Virginia

We live in a great country that has a noble history. The strengths of our nation have always outweighed our weaknesses. We have met threats from within and from without. With extraordinary determination, courage, and sacrifice, we have defended the very best things: our families, our children, our neighborhoods, our main streets, our land, our history and our sacred bond to those unchanging truths that built Western civilization. These are now under attack from the rapid spread of a radical ideology. This emergent ideology is a diabolic development that has few comparable analogies in ...