Proposed policies to govern charter schools in West Virginia have been made public by the state Board of Education. Fred Albert, leader of the second-largest teachers union in the state, appears not to care what policies are adopted, however. Any policy permitting charters is unacceptable to ...
State Sen. Bob Beach, D-Monongalia, is right to be worried about e-cigarettes. It was in his district, after all, that two teenagers had to be hospitalized after using e-cigarette cartridges laced with heroin. Last week, Beach wrote to Gov. Jim Justice suggesting a public health emergency be ...
West Virginia’s public employees just aren’t retiring like they used to. According to Consolidated Public Retirement Board executive director Jeffrey Fleck, significantly fewer public employees — including teachers — are choosing to retire this year. In a normal year, an average of ...
We’ve seen some amazing coincidences during the past few years, haven’t we? Take the Interstate 70 bridges in Ohio County. Isn’t it incredible that after decades of service, nearly all of them went bad at the same time? Equally fascinating is the fact that decades passed during which ...
When members of the West Virginia Board of Education voted last week to approve Wood County Schools’ plan, which includes closure of three elementary schools in spring 2020, they did so in a manner that suggested they understood the difference between emotions and fiscal reality. In fact, ...
Want a snapshot of how much damage has been done to our collective psyche and the Fourth Estate in recent years? Take a look at the absolutely embarrassing editorial written by The Daily Northwestern, in which the student newspaper APOLOGIZED for covering the news. A snippet: “On Nov. 5, ...
Natural gas users — households, businesses, manufacturers — have saved $1.1 trillion since 2008 because natural gas production increased in the three Shale Crescent states. Trillion. With a “T.” It’s described in a report — Natural Gas Savings to End-Users — released by Shale ...
On Wednesday, people all over the world will come together for the 20th annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance. After the death of transgender woman of color Rita Hester in 1998, activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith created the event in 1999 to honor Hester and all of the transgender women ...
Unfortunately, our new Bishop, Mark Brennan doesn’t get it. He was sent to our state after the betrayal of the Diocese by former Bishop Michael Bransfield. Bransfield took $21 million from the Diocese and Wheeling Hospital to spend on an extravagant lifestyle and gifts for high ranking ...
Having refereed football, basketball, track and field and soccer at the local, state, regional, national and some international level, I have had contact with hundreds if not thousands of coaches at every level. With the retirement of Don Fosselman as head boys soccer coach at Parkersburg High ...
I recently had the misadventure of falling on black ice at a Vienna store parking lot. Once I got my bearings, all I saw and heard were the kindness of strangers. Hands handing me tissues and wipes to clean up the awful mess from my busted nose. Words of encouragement and offers of assistance ...
“Keeping Score” by Steven Allen Adams was front page news Sept. 15. The article made plain the schools are not making the grade. Dr. Paine, the state superintendent of schools said “We need to talk about how we work with local school boards but step up our efforts to hold districts ...
I can visualize the headlines now: Joe Biden and Hunter Biden are two corrupt Democratic politicians who put a computer server in Ukraine to hack Republican election plans. Folks, studies, investigations, and research will not change the political narrative because some have determined that ...
Several months ago, the church we attend — St James Orthodox Christian Church, which is the old St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Belpre, 120 Maple St. — decided to do a complete remodeling and renovation. This would take several months to complete and the problem arose as to where would we ...
Instant Pots and air fryers and devices that are combinations of both, are hot items for the kitchen and may be on several people’s holiday gift lists. Now gift givers can add a cookbook to make use of these tools to the mix with several new ones. With something for everyone is “The Big ...
After surgery on both knees walking is out for the time being. I spent the last week at rehab learning how to take care of myself from a wheelchair until my legs heal. Things like putting on pants and socks requires some training when you are in a wheelchair and can’t bend your knees. I had ...
As we step closer towards the Thanksgiving season I find myself once again enumerating my blessings and centering my thoughts on all that I am thankful for in my life. A predominant and prevailing thought seems consistent in my mind this year. I’m thankful for my community. I’m thankful for ...
According to data from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, hunting is fading as a recreational activity. In 1980 Americans bought 16.3 million hunting licenses. By 2018 that number had dropped to 15.6 million. During that same time period, the total U.S. population grew from 227 million to ...
A mystery may be just the thing for cooling, dark nights. First is a book in the Robert B. Parker series, “Angel Eyes” by national bestselling author Ace Atkins, starring Parker’s character Spenser. Hardboiled and sarcastic private investigator Spenser heads from Boston to L.A. at the ...
These students were named to the honor roll for the first nine weeks grading period at Beverly-Center Elementary School: Kindergarten — Mastered 5 Super Skills: Kyndyl May Bauerbach, Summer Dixon, Edward Duskey, Annistyn Dyar, Brantley Erb, Daniel Evans, Brenley Henry, Audrey Kesselring, ...