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Florida

West Virginia residents wishing they could be doing more to help those affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton can take some comfort knowing the Mountain State is sending some of its best to get to work. Earlier this week, the West Virginia National Guard activated approximately 40 members for response and recovery efforts in Florida. Ten to twelve airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing will be joined by approximately 30 engineers from the 821st Engineer Construction Company and equipment from the 601st Engineer Support Company. They’ll be under the command of the Florida National ...

Boos & Applause

Applause to the presentation of three checks to local law enforcement agencies Wednesday by State Treasurer Riley Moore. The Elkins Police Department, represented by Police Chief Travis Bennett, received $5,703.50 in a ceremony outside the Jennings Randolph Federal Center in Elkins. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, represented by Sheriff Rob Elbon, Jr., received $4,143.75. The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, represented by Commander Cpl. David VanMeter, received $27,960.75. The funds for the unclaimed property checks came from last month’s firearms ...

Good Show

We have had many positive comments in recent days about the size of the crowds at last week’s 86th Mountain State Forest Festival, with many expressing their belief that it was the best-attended festival in years. Bright, sunny weather — from Thursday afternoon on, at least — certainly helped bring people out, as did the appearances by the West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band on Saturdays. Many families came to Elkins last week — some for the first time ever — to watch their relative march with the Pride of West Virginia. Good attendance for the Forest ...

Backward Thinking

Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates did the right thing Monday by passing a child and dependent care credit against the personal income tax. Though some believe we should be doing even more on the child care front, getting the ball rolling was essential. All but five House lawmakers understood that. It should have been a no-brainer. “We’re mirroring the image of the federal program … to help parents be able to do child care along the same lines of the federal guidelines,” said House Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss, R-Wood. But knowing how hard it is ...

Dangerous

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., could not have proved two points more handily if he had tried. First, he proved the spreading of vicious lies about an immigrant community in Springfield, Ohio, has indeed led to the kind of hostility that puts those people (and their entire community) in danger. Second, he proved even those we should be able to hold to our highest standards are willing to once again publicly shout their racism and hate. They believe they have been freed of the shame of doing so. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, Higgins was facing calls for censure ...

Essential

No matter your political leanings, everyone can agree the Nov. 5 general election is an unusually important one for our communities, states and country. There are calls from all sides to ensure this is a fair, legal, accurate election in which there is no room for doubt when the results are tallied. But who makes that happen? Poll workers and state/local elections officials. Theirs is an enormously important job. But, in the Mountain State anyway, there are not enough poll workers. Last week, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner issued a plea. Poll worker recruitment efforts ...