High Points of the Valley (Graphic Illustration)

* The Museums of the Mid-Ohio Valley and Gary Traugh helped make last week’s Professional Fire Fighters of West Virginia convention in Parkersburg even more special with the loan of an 1854 hand-operated fire wagon that had been used by the Parkersburg Fire Department. It was the first time the wagon had left the W.H. Smith Hardware Store building since Traugh and David McKain first got it into the building nearly three decades ago. Mike Pifer of Pifer Towing completed the move. What a fun addition to this important gathering in Wood County.

* State Rep. Kevin Ritter, R-Marietta, has introduced a bill in Ohio that is reportedly also gaining interest in West Virginia. The proposal would allow Gold Star family members to get special driver’s licenses that would identify them quickly when they are claiming benefits, rather than forcing them to present a death certificate. “I met a couple of different Gold Star Families over the last six months and in speaking with them the one thing that stuck with me was to claim any benefits their son or daughter earned before being killed in the military, they have to actually have to present the death certificate,” Ritter said. “What I understood from talking with those families was what a hurtful thing that was to have to relive that event.” Should the bill pass, Gold Star family members would be able to get a folded flag symbol on their licenses (the gold star is already associated with a different kind of ID). “That amendment has not been introduced yet but I expect it to be fairly quickly,” Ritter said. Surely it will; and will then be copied by other states in our region.