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UP: To those who 247 years ago understood the need to declare that ALL men are created equal; that it was a deal breaker for a leader to obstruct "the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither," but also a deal breaker for that leader to erect "a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance." Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a careful reading of the whole Declaration of Independence yields snippets for those who think of themselves as being from either side of the political aisle to seize. But that is the beauty of the country which birth was heralded by the publication of the Declaration of Independence. Here, we are free to hold those differing opinions about our government and its operation. Here, we are free to celebrate on July 4 OR to spend the day thinking about what we wish would change, and feeling less celebratory. Either way, we owe it to those brave authors who sparked the American experiment nearly two-and-a-half centuries ago to remember who they hoped we'd be. Happy Independence Day -- everyone.
UP: To Macksburg receiving funding that brings it a step closer to being able to build a centralized sewage system for the village and outlying businesses within Washington County. Macksburg's situation has been described as "unsewered" and having "significant unsanitary conditions due to raw and partially treated sewage discharging to the receiving streams, street and ditches," with sewage now flowing into Duck Creek. "This is very exciting," Washington County Commission President Kevin Ritter said last week. That's an understatement. Well done, to those who worked so hard for such progress.
UP: West Virginia University at Parkersburg's signing ceremony with Constellium in Ravenswood, in which 13 students received scholarships for the Skilled Trades Scholarship Program. "They're going to have a two-year associate degree, totally paid for, with a job. And they get to stay in the state of West Virginia; we're losing far too many young people," Constellium CEO Buddy Stemple said. What a wonderful way to turn that around.