Local Columns

It’s Time To Embrace Buckeye State’s Energy Future

In a time of grinding inflation, increasing energy costs and continuing global instability, Ohioans are lucky to live on top of the Utica Shale oil and gas basin. Stretching across Appalachian Ohio and into our neighboring states, the Utica Shale is a vast, underground reserve of energy containing an estimated 38 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, 940 million barrels of oil and 208 million barrels of natural gas liquids. While it would traditionally be impossible to access these energy deposits buried deep underground, new technologies like horizontal drilling and hydraulic ...

Looking at Justice’s $45M for Marshall University

Gov. Jim Justice signed the bill giving $45 million in surplus tax dollars to Marshall University for its Institute for Cyber Security and the new facility being built in downtown Huntington to house it. The same week the Legislature voted to give Marshall the funding, demolition began on the location. Much has been made of this given the fact that West Virginia University is trying to fill a $45 million hole with staff/faculty cuts and the elimination/shrinkage of various degree programs. At one point, the three Democratic delegates representing the Morgantown area tried to amend ...

A Revolutionary Trip to the Movies With My Wife

I am not the biggest of movie goers. I will go, but very rarely have time to sit for two to three hours watching a movie. It is just easier to wait for it to come out on other media outlets where I can see it on my own time. There is a movie that I want to see as soon as possible. It might surprise you of my choice. It is not, “Oppenheimer.” I hope to see it eventually. The one I want to see immediately is the movie, “Barbie.” It’s not for the reason you might think. It is more about the co-founder of Mattel toys that made the Barbie doll. Ben Cohen, the writer of the ...

Marshall Memo: Distinguished Dozen Set To Enter John Marshall Hall of Fame

The third annual John Marshall High School Hall of Fame will take place on Sept. 1-2 with 12 inductees selected by the HOF members. This will bring the overall number in the HOF to 30. The new members are: Gary and Ellen Bonar, Gordon Gordon, Mark Hinerman, Chris Jones, Lisa Grimes Johnston, Daniel Lydick, Vincent Paoletti, Rick Schoene, Dana Downs Shrontz, Jane Tennant Taylor, and Ed West. While 10 of the honorees were sports related, the Bonars came under contributor/boosters as they were the former owners of Toy Town and #1 Sports Fan. - Gordon was a 1977 JMHS graduate and ...

Annual W.Va. Chamber Meeting To Feature Wheeling Leaders

When the 87th Annual Meeting and Business Summit of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce convenes next week, business, education, healthcare, finance, political and community leaders from throughout our state will gather to discuss our recent successes and seek solutions for pressing West Virginia needs. The roots of this annual gathering are deep and strong. Each year since 1936, state leaders have come together with the Chamber to learn, connect and seek solutions to improve the economy and well-being for West Virginia’s wonderful people. Focusing on this year’s theme of ...

Scam Call Was an Eye-Opener

I think I’m a pretty smart guy and I’ve been around the block or two, but a phone call I received last week made me aware that I can even be susceptible to fraud. While doing some work in my garage on Aug. 10 I received a phone call from an unknown I.D. In my line of work, I can ill afford to ignore phone calls unless my phone tags it as a spam call. There are some politicians who I get calls from who pop up as unknown I.D. The person identified themselves as a law enforcement officer. The name he used and his bearing on the phone made me take him seriously. I’ve talked to many ...