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How dare anyone question wokeness at the Smithsonian?

Columnists

The central strategy of media bias is defining your terms. The most obnoxious strategy of liberal journalists is defining the Republicans as ideological extremists engaging in culture wars and weaponizing partisan narratives for political victory. They pretend Democrats are nothing like this. The epic political battles of our time are between the ultraconservatives and the nonpartisans. The same exercise happens with federally funded messaging, from public broadcasting to national museums. When President Donald Trump demands a review of these taxpayer-subsidized narratives, it’s ...

Today’s workplace needs a little more ‘Gung Ho!’

Columnists

My wife, Rishy, and I are owners of the Beloit Sky Carp baseball team, the high-A minor league affiliate of the Miami Marlins. I received a nice note from an employee saying they liked that I had ended an email with the words “gung ho!” I replied with a group message explaining a little more about the term and how it sums up what we want in the Sky Carp culture: an enthusiastic atmosphere created by an energetic group of people working together.  After some reflection, I felt this subject might make a good column. Most organizations can use more of the “gung ho” ...

Reader wants to keep Harman open

Letters to the Editor

Harman and Pickens schools are not the Randolph County Board of Education’s problem. The problem has been mismanagement. Us outlying country people’s kids are becoming just a number, rather than growing up with the potential of being able to play sports, after-school curriculum and becoming a well-educated citizens, so they can be happy and able to keep themselves. Hurray for Mr. Daniels on the BOE. He makes more sense than anything I’ve heard so far. Your student numbers are down because parents are transferring their kids to other counties. I believe whatever county ...

TVHS grad asks that school not be closed

Letters to the Editor

I keep seeing in the news where there is serious consideration to close Tygart Valley High School at Mill Creek and send all those students to Elkins High School. Please consider the following and these facts carefully before this serious action is undertaken. If this action is taken, then students from Mingo, Monterville, Valley Fork, Dry Fork of Elk and other outlying areas will have to travel 37-40 miles one way just reach a school in Elkins. Total travel will be 76 to 80 miles daily. This travel will take in the neighborhood of 2-2½ hours daily on a school bus that has to ...

Boos & Applause

Editorials

Applause to the emergency crew workers who performed a water rescue, saving the lives of two individuals in Barbour County last week. The two individuals were rescued from the Tygart Valley River in the area of Cove Run late Thursday night, Barbour County officials said. A man and a woman were injured when they attempted to take a canoe over a section of the Tygart Valley River known as Wells Falls last week, said Dylan Harper, deputy director of the Barbour County Office of Emergency Management. The two were rescued from the Tygart Valley River in the area of Cove Run late in the ...

Education emergency in Randolph

Columnists

In early August Randolph County Board of Education had a visit from state Board of Education efficiency experts explaining why our county has Emergency status now. Our BOE must create a plan to trim the RCS budget over the next five years or the State will take over the management of our schools. Alexandra Criner, Director of the WVDE Office of Accountability, suggested that the local board form a collaborative leadership team to work with Superintendent Dilly in order to create a plan for consolidation of county schools by December 2025. I believe this leadership team should include ...