High Points of the Valley (Graphic Illustration)

* For 30 years visitors from near and far have made touring the Holiday in the Park lighting displays an annual tradition. The switch was flipped on this year’s display Saturday at City Park in Parkersburg. It takes a lot of hard work to bring such a spectacular sight to life. “We have had someone over there about every night trying to get the displays up,” said Holiday in the Park committee member Jonelle Crooks-Merritt ahead of the event. With help from the city, local schools and plenty of volunteers, the attraction is truly a community effort. “It showcases Parkersburg and our holiday spirit,” Crooks-Merritt said. Well done, everyone.

* Data from the Office of Drug Control Policy in the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services shows there was a 36% decrease in the estimated number of drug overdose deaths from January through May 2024, compared with the same period the previous year. Gov. Jim Justice is right, such news is “really, really great stuff there.” But it shouldn’t be a reason to rest. “This continued reduction in overdose deaths is promising and we are amplifying our efforts,” said Dr. Stephen Loyd, the director of the Office of Drug Control Policy. “The fight to save lives is ongoing, and while we’ve made notable strides, our work is far from over. We will continue to expand access to life-saving tools like naloxone, comprehensive treatment programs and critical resources to keep pushing these numbers lower.” Good. Celebrate the success, and keep up the work.