Recently, I have been asked several times about the upcoming election of a new county commissioner. Since my term is ending and I am not a candidate for commissioner, I will share my thoughts.My business background has been helpful to me as a commissioner. Rick Walters has a proven record as a ...

The city has decided to take away parking meters and put a bike trail in its place on Second Street. We have seen very few bikers using this street. So the city decides to do away with numerous meters that bring the city a monthly income. These meters were full 99 percent of the time. Just not ...

My sister, my mother and I came to Marietta between 1 October and 4 October, 2014. There was scuttlebutt that my parents' property on Route 26 had been compromised and that a nasty person and his father had taken over ownership.However that was untrue. But, my 55-year-old sister and I (59 years ...

It is amazing how a community can go about its daily activities and not take much time to think about what goes on each day while we are at work, maybe shopping, or running the kids around. It is sometimes during these times that there is the need of a family during a medical emergency, or an ...

Angels and heroes really do walk among us. I had the awesome experience of meeting one face to face this morning at a local restaurant. Yesterday I made a quick trip to a local discount store for one item. When I came back home I discovered my credit card case was missing. I had only gone to ...

Is there still a reason to vote? This nation was started by Christians. Our Constitution, government structure and schools were all Christian. The founders stated that our form of government would only work for a good, moral people.The time came when the Republican Party was formed because evil ...

I have a few things to say to our dear friend and misguided anti-abortionist Patty Cooper of Vienna. If she and all others who hate abortion realized that there are two things taken together that would nearly eliminate abortion and they are education and contraception equally for boys and ...

Wadesville Road got a real nice visit from the state road department - Candy Caviness, Citizens Request for Assistance Coordinator for District Three. She went back to the office and discussed the potholes with other extraordinary members consisting of Jake Bumgarner, assistant maintenance ...

This November, across Ohio we will elect every member of the state's executive branch and some members of the legislative branch. Perhaps what is more important, though, is that Ohioans will elect two members to the Ohio Supreme Court. As you make this important decision, I ask that you ...

The fourth annual BrAva 5K/Family Fun Day is in the books and it was a record-breaking event. And the plans have already begun for the fifth annual. Before we start another year, however, we want to say a big thank you to the Mid-Ohio Valley community.Thank you to the participants in the race ...

I met Yolan Dennis in 1968 when I entered high school at Waterford. She is still the smiling, smart, sensible country woman that I have remembered for the last 46 years. She has been a registered nurse for 32 years while raising five children with her husband, Dr. Lloyd Dennis.She was raised ...

On Sept. 29, I read "Tennant's prospects dim" by Mike Myer. My first reaction was tears of sadness, and my second was outright anger and amazement at the unfairness and insensitivity in journalism today. I felt insulted by the harsh and critical words penned to destroy Natalie Tennant's ...

Tuesday night, my wife and I attended the League of Women Voters debate for local candidates. This year's debate was capably moderated: skillful, firm, fair, and cordial. The questions posed by the media representatives were even-handed, non-partisan, and non-gotcha. The college TV production ...

Regarding Rich Lowry's Sept. 26 column. When 350,000 are in New York alone telling this country's leaders to reduce fossil fuels, the Rockefeller foundation divesting all its billions out of fossil fuel, and every industrialized nation of the world not only accepting global warming, but acting ...

Who does Debbie Phillips represent in Columbus? As a former farmer's wife and retired teacher, I learned early to keep track of farm records and follow the money. I have been disappointed by Phillips' lack of leadership on local issues so I looked into her contributor lists on the Ohio ...

Today is has been called Respect For Life Sunday since 1972 based upon the verse in Leviticus 18:21 "You shall not give any of your children to pass thru the fire and sacrifice them to Molech and so profane the name of your God."This week also makes the fifth year for our state to participate ...

If "fighting" for a cause means attending rallies and shouting slogans, any schlub can be called a political fighter. If going toe to toe with the bosses of his own party makes him a fighter, then we have one. Andy Thompson is a dedicated conservative who is willing to take on the bosses of ...

Some have been complaining that Ohio 95th District State Representative Andy Thompson is being treated "unfairly" by his opponents. At least one local writer has labeled such critics as "Marxists and communists."Thompson is one of several Republican officeholders elected in 2010 on the basis of ...

Thanks to Republicans, this nation of ours cannot accomplish what should be some of our most important priorities. Here are three examples:Thanks to Republicans, we cannot raise our federal minimum wage, which is worth less today in inflation-adjusted dollars than it was in 1968. Raising the ...

The mayor of Belpre needs to drive west down Washington Boulevard to the edge of the city and turn his vehicle around. After he re-enters the city at the Belpre corporate limit sign, he will experience his first bone-jarring bump at Ohio Avenue. Ten seconds or so later he will experience the ...