High Points of the Valley (Graphic Illustration)

* Christmas-season traditions abound as the Mid-Ohio Valley saw communities celebrate with tree lightings, house tours, parades, concerts, outdoor displays and nativity scenes, and even a model train open house. There is no shortage of ways to get into the spirit of the season, and we are fortunate to be able to count on so many communities and organizations to brighten the holidays.

* Every once in a while, we get reminders that there are fascinating stories and important historical connections hidden all around us. One such reminder came when Rev. Father John R. Gallagher, formerly of St. Michael’s Parish, Vienna, spoke to the Belpre Noon Rotary about his father’s role in the creation of the nationwide 911 emergency number. “One day, while he was sitting there reading the Wall Street Journal, he saw the article about AT&T developing the 911 system,” Gallagher told the group. “He thought he could beat them to the finish line by switching over a small independent telephone company in the little town of Haleyville, Alabama.” And B.W. Gallagher did, indeed, beat AT&T to the punch, eventually leading to the first 911 call Feb. 16, 1968. Thank goodness John Gallagher shared that wonderful story with the Belpre Noon Rotary and the rest of us.

* The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals did exactly the right thing last week when it put a halt on efforts to require school officials to accept religious vaccine exemptions for school-aged children. Once that ruling had been made, the state Board of Education was able to act. “In light of the West Virginia Supreme Court’s stay of the class certification order and the permanent injunction order entered in Raleigh County Circuit Court, the West Virginia Board of Education is reinstating its directive to county boards of education not to accept religious exemptions to compulsory vaccination laws,” the board said. “This directive will be in effect until the Supreme Court issues further guidance.” Good.