Former officer looks at Minneapolis events

January 31, 2026

Long ago I had a federal law enforcement commission. I didn’t get it by answering an ad and I didn’t get a huge sign-on bonus when I was hired. I sacrificed years and much else to get it. I did the job I had the best I was able to. I received Federal Law Enforcement training from both West Virginia University and a private accredited school. The No. 1 rule in law enforcement that was pounded into you right off is “you can not shoot a fleeing felon.” A felon is not someone that an officer might just want to detain, or stop. There are times when an officer can use deadly ...

Local doctor pleads with legislators to support vaccines

January 24, 2026

Dear Senators Robbie Morris and Bill Hamilton, and Delegates Elias Coop-Gonzales and Jonathan Kyle: I am writing this letter to you in reference to the upcoming proposed legislation to relax vaccine requirements in the schools in West Virginia. I have been a pediatrician here in Elkins for over 40 years and am a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has 67,000 pediatricians across the United States as members. Naturally, I am a HUGE fan of vaccines. One hundred years ago, the number one killer of kids was infections. Graveyards at that time were full of children, some ...

Elkins native lost his life in Vietnam

January 17, 2026

I knew Dennis “Denny” Baxter as I had gone to school with him and played ball with him in the city park numerous times. His parents got divorced so he lived with his grandparents Jessie and Dennis Baxter on River Street in Elkins. His dad moved back to Summit, N.J., and his mother remarried and moved to Bridgeport. He enlisted in the Marine Corps where his mother lived and he signed up. He wanted to see his dad in New Jersey before shipping out to Parris Island. After I received orders to Vietnam, I was home on leave and stopped in Glen Edwards’ store on Diamond Street to get ...

Letter to the Editor

January 10, 2026

Most people may assume that the West Virginia State Board of Education’s decision to accept the closure of Harman School on December 10, 2025, concluded the matter. That is not necessarily the case. There is an appeal process in contesting the State BOE’s decision. A formal appeal must be made within 30 days of the State BOE decision. Rarely is that process pursued as it takes a great deal of time and effort to prepare a serious appeal. An appeal is being submitted on behalf of Harman. Members of the Harman community, along with many Randolph County residents, have formally ...

Alumna concerned about Harman kids

December 27, 2025

I too am concerned about the travel of Harman School students to Elkins and back every day. When I was in school during the 60’s we traveled from the Sinks of Gandy to Harman every day by bus. We left our house at 6:45 a.m., arriving at Harman High School at 8:45 a.m., and left after school at 3:30 p.m., arriving at home at 4:50 p.m. There was only enough time for supper, homework, bathing and then to bed. I was exhausted, sometimes worse than now, at 74 years of age. There was no time for extra activities in the evening. Somehow you just made do, but is that the way you would ...

Bill would take away local control

December 13, 2025

House Bill 2014 that is currently being considered by the West Virginia House of Delegates hands over almost all decision-making about data centers and microgrids to the state, while shutting out the local communities that will have to live with the consequences. In the interest of West Virginia’s rural communities, it should be quickly defeated. Industrial development may bring new jobs to a community. it may also harm existing business and subsequently result in the loss of existing jobs. The locations chosen for these new power plants and massive data centers will almost ...