High Points of the Valley (Graphic Illustration)

* Mid-Ohio Valley residents were thrilled to get the news that our regional airport will now have flights to TWO destinations, as Contour Airlines has added twice-weekly Myrtle Beach flights to its regular service to Charlotte, N.C. It is encouraging to learn the company thinks of expanding service in our region as a worthwhile investment. And Wood County Commission President Blair Couch is right. “That’s exciting to have two different destinations out of here,” he said last week. “This route provides families, vacationers, and travelers throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley with an easy and stress-free way to reach the South Carolina coast,” said Contour President Ben Munson. “We are proud to continue investing in communities like Parkersburg and expanding access to reliable, convenient air service.”

* During a recent community collection event, the Wood County Solid Waste Authority managed to collect more than 1,000 tires in the first two hours, as residents looked for a free way to properly dispose of difficult items. This kind of event helps reduce illegal dumping, and it is good to know so many Wood County residents were eager to do the right thing, as Wood County Solid Waste Authority Director Sarah Robinson said traffic was “bumper-to-bumper” with drivers lined up to get rid of their bulky items. “It’s an environmentally friendly way to get rid of some hard-to-get-rid-of items,” Robinson said. “Tires, you know, we’re seeing a lot of open dumps, so this helps prevent and keep that down low.” While we are grateful to the Solid Waste Authority for hosting such events and doing their best to prevent those eyesores and environmental nightmares, we also congratulate the significant number of residents who lined up to help.