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Where the buck stops

I was very pleased last Monday to hear Gov. Patrick Morrisey say that the decision to leave behind a volunteer contingent of West Virginia National Guard members was his. “I made the decision to have the word come down that we would ask the people if they wanted to volunteer,” Morrisey said during his first press conference with West Virginia media since the shooting on Nov. 26 of two Guard members during their Washington, D.C., deployment by an Afghan national, one of whom died. I was pleased because the weekend after the shooting, a number of social media posts were made on the ...

Cold, wintry weather has set in for Barbour County

Hello from Barbour County. I do believe that cold weather has set in. Brrr. Congratulations to the Philip Barbour High School football team, state semi finalists. Your county is proud of your achievements. Barbour County Fairgrounds is hosting Christmas “Cookies and Cocoa” today, Dec. 6 from 1- 6 p.m. at the quonset hut at the fairgrounds. There will be cookies to purchase as well as delicious cocoa. Stop by and support this fundraiser as you get ready for the Christmas season. Also today there will be a Sports and Gaming Card Show at Battlers Knob from 9 ...

Authenticity and vulnerability

Authentic and vulnerable are two words I am hearing often when I ask people what they like about the person they report to and the people in the top leadership roles. My experience is that these words are mentioned more today than in the past. While they do not mean the same thing, together they are critical in developing relationships. They are vital for self-awareness and building trust.  A couple of quick definitions: Authenticity is being genuine and aligned with your values and beliefs. Vulnerability is the behavior of being open to others. When coaching executives, I find ...

Investing in our schools

As conversations continue about the future of schools and long-range planning in Randolph County, many residents have asked for clarity about school bonds and excess levies. These are two very different funding tools. Each serves its own purpose, and each is shaped by state law. Understanding ...

Threat of Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral race on affordability has shaken Republicans and Democrats alike. All now scramble to make sense of it. President Donald Trump pronounces “affordability” and “groceries” as if they are esoteric words with some special meaning. Democrats, late to endorsing Mamdani, have now rediscovered the working class. Wonders never cease. Trump has been hit particularly hard. Not only did he give a half-hearted endorsement of Andrew Cuomo, but he also denounced Mamdani as a “communist.” However, during his meeting with the ...

100 Christmas trees for 100 years

Kump Education Center invites the public for a Kump House Centennial Celebration to enjoy a diverse collection of 100 Christmas trees on Sunday, Dec. 21 and Sunday, Dec. 28 from 1-3 p.m. at 401 Randolph Avenue, across from the Elkins Kroger store. Children may take turns talking with Santa in the living room before Christmas. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the trees, sample tasty treats, and watch a magical toy train. Our amazing arboretum includes trees made of candy, ceramics, cloth, foil, glass, metal, paper, plastic and painted wood as well as traditional evergreens and holly ...