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UP: To the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley as it kicks off its annual fund drive, and looks to make it five years in a row of raising more than $1 million. “That’s becoming a household budget for us,” United Way Executive Director Stacy DeCicco said last week. “We need to hit a million dollars. It’s not really a lofty goal for us anymore.” Because the need is greater, it is even more important the United Way gets the support it has come to expect from the community. “Our nonprofits just need more stability, more propping up right now,” DeCicco said. “There are people sitting in a gap that weren’t in a gap three years ago.” We are confident those in the community who are able will respond enthusiastically.

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UP: To news that Dr. Ayne Amjad will continue to advise Gov. Jim Justice, even as she steps down from her role as W.Va. state health officer and commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau of Public Health to return to her clinical practices. “She is stepping down as a state employee and will serve on a contract basis as my senior adviser to the state health officer and commissioner for the Bureau of Public Health,” Justice said. “While she will be stepping down, she’s not going anywhere and she’s not leaving us … we’ve got to step back and thank her for her incredible services. She’s done a whale of a job.” Indeed, she’s been a steady, rational, educated voice during the COVID-19 pandemic, as West Virginians looked for answer, and it is encouraging to know she will still be available as such when needed.

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UP: To Williamstown City Council taking a step back on a nearly $100,000 grant when they realized the money would not do what was needed. “I don’t think any of us realized that this was $100,000 for design, only for design not for building sidewalks,” said council member Marty Seufer. “And I just feel like $20,000 of that, I mean we could do our own thing and do it in a lot quicker time, for a lot less money just doing it ourselves.” Good. Sometimes it is better not to take taxpayer dollars when it becomes so evident they were sent purely for the sake of being spent. Good for council, for recognizing that.