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Disasters Answers Needed For Extreme Weather

Time and again West Virginians in all corners of the state have had to deal with storms, flooding and mudslides that wreak havoc on lives and communities. This has gone on for generations, and after each disaster, there is always the question: Why does this keep happening? Gov. Patrick Morrissey announced last week a couple of flood mitigation studies that might help get to the bottom of that. Federal and state funding will amount to $6 million for studies of both the Upper Guyandotte River and Kanawha River Basin watersheds. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will play a significant ...

Boos & Applause

Applause to Elks Lodge 1135, which was proud to support Elkins ‘Elks’ Babe Ruth League, presenting a $3,000 check to open the Fuzz Jones Baseball Tournament, a tradition for more than 40 years. Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Gary Hart and and Elks Leading Knight Jerry Pingley presented the donation to Babe Ruth Board Members Vince Petrice and William Thomas.. Applause to the 2025 Beverly Fireman’s Festival Parade, the climax of the weeklong festival. The parade featured the legendary West Virginia Highlanders, as well as performances by local twirlette and dance groups, and, of ...

FEMA Aid

As Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance finally makes its way to desperate West Virginia counties, the state attorney general also is issuing a warning: Beware of scams. Sadly, those who are most in need of help are often the most enticing targets for online predators who have gotten very good at robbing people. Scams have already surfaced, with one technique being for the caller to pose as a FEMA employee. “During disasters we often see the best in West Virginians — our generosity and volunteerism is second to none,” Attorney General J.B. McCuskey said. “But ...

Education

U.S. senators who put pressure on the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Education were joined by millions of Americans in a sigh of relief when the remaining $5 billion in federal education funding the government was withholding from states and local school districts was released last week. Those entities should have received their funding — which had already been approved as part of the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution in March — July 1. But instead of much needed financial support, they got nearly a month of worry. U.S. Sens. Jim Justice and Shelley Moore ...

Changing

People here feel and express sorrow for those in this region and state, as well as those in other parts of the country and around the world, who increasingly seem to be beset with catastrophic weather events. While this region’s winter snow events are mild compared with what they were back in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s — although there have been scattered major storms over the past 40 or so years — the fact is, that the weather has changed and continues to evolve into something that has made older people, at least, wonder what might be in store for this planet over the coming ...

Vaccinations

Despite the irresponsible “political” noise surrounding the matter, vaccines remain an important step for parents to take in keeping their children as healthy and safe as possible. For those with children old enough to enter school, state law — West Virginia Code 16-3-4 to be exact — continues to require “a child entering school or a state-regulated child care center in this state must be immunized against chickenpox, hepatitis-b, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough.” School is set to begin in Randolph County Schools on Aug. ...