Local Columns

Lessons Learned From Becoming a Political ‘Opposum’

There’s a saying in political circles that the only thing in the middle of the road is an Opossum that has met an untimely end from a car’s tire, and the victim usually has a yellow line painted over it by the highway department. I’m hearing from friends on both the political left and right that they are beginning to feel no matter how carefully considered and measured their opinion, they have to avoid that truck that’s careening down the highway being violently jerked from left to right, depending on who is in office. Just like the Opossum, we are mere inches from being ...

Marshall Memo: Development Grants; Watershed Cleanup Day; and ‘Mega Mart’

Seventeen Marshall County organizations have received funds through the Marshall County Commission’s Community Development program. The commission earmarks $60,000 yearly and then has a nine-person committee review the requests. This year’s requests were made by 21 agencies, with 17 receiving funding. This year there were four $5,500 awardees: the cities of Benwood, Glen Dale, McMechen and Moundsville. Other receiving funds and the amount are: Big Run Community Association, Bowman Ridge Community, Graysville Community, Limestone Community, Mount Olivet Community Park and ...

Let’s Not Forget the ‘Father’ of Mother’s Day

“My mother is someone who shows me how to live,” said Cathy Daigle, Grade 4, St. Joseph’s School, Maine. Say “mother,” “mom,” “momma” to a roomful of people and you’re likely to call forth a roomful of images. Today’s mother may be a homemaker, an executive, a doctor, a teacher, a factory worker, or an artist. She may choose a full-time career outside the home, one inside the home, or some combination of each. She may be a natural mother, or an adoptive mother, a stepmother, or a foster mother. However she gained the title, the woman who becomes a mother takes on ...

Congress Must Move Slowly on Federal Rail Regulations

The derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio — a mere 38 miles from Weirton — understandably captivated the attention of Americans for much of this year. A giant plume of black smoke tends to do that, and it also tends to lead to emotionally-driven decisions that will do little, if anything, to prevent the next disaster. While the company should absolutely aid those affected in Ohio, Pennsylvania and even West Virginia, which is crisscrossed with 2,000 miles of freight rail track, sobriety is needed in the face of sensationalist claims in the “if it bleeds, ...

‘RINO’ Accusations Are Already Flying

My friend, Wheeling radio legend Howard Monroe, had me on The Watchdog Morning Show last week to talk about the U.S. Senate race. A couple of his listeners had complained that Howard was dedicating too much time to talking about the race and how they were getting burnt out from hearing about it. How do you think people like Howard and I feel? We’re political junkies, but like any real or metaphorical drug, there can be too much of a good thing. I love politics and elections, but the last thing I wanted to do was begin covering the 2024 elections this early. People started ...

Manchin Must Keep Saying ‘No’ to Federal Asset Tax

Congress once again must take action to increase the debt ceiling while the federal government grapples with the nation’s ever-growing deficit. The debate on how best to right our fiscal ship continues to swirl while our economy remains challenging. But some of the ideas coming out of Washington, particularly related to tax reform, motivate me to speak out. During his State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden renewed his interest in a new federal asset tax, and I could not be more opposed to this idea. Families who work hard to build multi-generation businesses that create jobs ...