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Opinion

Back to school in Barbour

Columnists

Hello from Barbour County! School starts for Barbour County students on Aug. 21. Things will look a little different this year, as the middle schools in the county will be merging together for school at Philip Barbour. Many things will be different, from different bus routes, new classrooms, different teachers and more. Let's try to be understanding. Best wishes to students, teachers, and parents for a great year. This year, Barbour County schools will be providing free breakfast and lunch for all students.  A healthy meal helps to make a healthy mind. Belington Idol is coming ...

'Park Ranger' leaders like coming to the rescue

Columnists

I was fortunate to be with leaders from Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, Illinois. I presented on “Park Ranger Leadership.” The fable centers on a person who gets lost hiking in the woods. He immediately starts working hard to get back on track. He tries to retrace his steps, look at the location of the sun, searches for moss on the side of a tree, etc. After 30 minutes or so, a park ranger appears. The ranger shares he has tracked the hiker with a satellite, and then leads him to safety. The hiker thanks the park ranger and sends a nice note to the park service ...

Redesigning the GOP

Columnists

As Donald Trump continues his restructuring and redesigning of the Republican Party, GOP exiles impatiently plot and prepare for the day of their return. They bedeck the screens at MSNOW and numerous podcasts, but lack the influence they would prefer over Democrats. They stress constitutional issues and bewail Trump’s outrages on immigration, but still hold conservative opinions on the budget and foreign policy, which are out of step with most Democratic constituencies. They long for a return of “Compassionate Conservatism,” the George W. Bush style, with its edgy, aggressive ...

Entertainment or animal cruelty?

Letters to the Editor

Just as my letters asking people not to bring dogs to public events fell on deaf ears, this letter will also probably fall on deaf ears.  The Randolph County Fair is in progress and Saturday’s schedule lists an event that is nothing more than animal cruelty. I am talking about the greased pig contest. The kids chasing the pig may be having fun and the people watching the event may be enjoying it but the pig is terrified, fearful for its life. How anybody can derive enjoyment from tormenting animals passes my understanding. It is just wrong. I am asking the organizers of the ...

Next phase of flood recovery

Editorials

Immediately after the deadly flooding of July 21, West Virginians once again showed how big their hearts are by providing donations of supplies, money and volunteer man hours to Upshur and Lewis counties. Those donations and charitable efforts were vital in getting the communities past the initial shock of the flooding, providing people temporary housing in shelters while emergency workers rescued those stranded by the rushing waters, and then began clearing the area of the massive amounts of flood debris left behind. Now that the Upshur and Lewis county distribution centers have ...

Reducing anxiety: Improving customer experience

Columnists

Anxiety is a normal human condition. We feel it in the form of worry, nervousness, or discomfort about a situation that may involve uncertainty, danger, or an anticipated future event. At times, anxiety in moderation is helpful. It can improve performance, motivate us to act, spur us on to solve problems, and alert us to potential threats.  When anxiety stops being occasional and becomes constant, it stops helping and starts working against us. That’s where I find myself. I must constantly rewire my thinking. I tend to project worst-case scenarios. For me, this thought pattern came ...