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No match for muck

Local Columns

I fought the muck and the muck won. It wasn’t even a contest. To understand why I was fighting muck, we must go back to late February when our farm pond suddenly drained itself at the end of a record stretch of extreme cold temperatures. Overnight the water left, and the abnormally thick ice collapsed to the bottom. Then came spring and the ice melted, leaving a shallow pool of water 20 feet across. Still with fish in it, can you believe? I did not expect any to survive. Pond turtles, too. For a closer examination of the damage, I had to wait for a stretch of dry days, which we got ...

Students need to know the damage of chronic absenteeism

Editorial

It’s just common sense that students who are able to attend school regularly are more likely to perform at grade level in reading and math, and eventually graduate on time. But during the 2024-26 school year, approximately one-fourth of Ohio students were considered chronically absent (missing two or three days per month). Addressing such a challenge will require having the information to get a handle on each students’ situations. To that end, the state has unveiled an attendance dashboard that should give schools another tool in the effort. “The goal is to spot trouble early ...

Staying safe in a connected world: A parent’s guide to digital wellness and protecting youth beyond the screen

Local Columns

Most of us grew up hearing the conventional wisdom that “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Although it was never actually true, it is even less true today. Modern youth not only deal with harmful words from people they know in the real world; they often find themselves “ganged up on” by peers, strangers, and anonymous online communities through what is commonly referred to as cyberbullying. As we highlight the importance of digital safety and youth wellness this April, it is vital to recognize that the digital world is more than just a social ...

Officials show commitment to keep drinking water safe

Editorial

Eight years ago, then-Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit against DuPont, which accused the company of knowingly releasing “forever chemicals” into the Ohio River. Though a settlement was reached back in 2023, DeWine was not able to announce distribution of the $65 million settlement until this week. This time as governor, he stood with state Environmental Protection Agency Director John Logue to talk about how the money would be distributed in Belmont, Gallia, Larence, Meigs, Morgan and Washington counties. The improvements that will be funded have been a long time ...

Finding the right employee is going to take creativity

Editorial

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows Ohio has approximately 278,000 job openings. Among the fields with greatest need for workers is manufacturing. But finding the right employees isn’t easy. The Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint reports there could be 35,000 manufacturing job openings per year in the state, through 2037. Employers are going to have to get more creative and open-minded — and be willing to take a chance. That’s where programs such as the Training Assessment Placement Project come in. According to a report by WBNS, the program helps justice-involved ...

Consider being an organ donor

Editorial

As flags climbed flagpoles at hospitals throughout the Ohio Valley this past week, the message was clear — organ donation is one of the most important decisions one can make for others. The “Donate Life” flags are flying in celebration of National Donate Life Awareness Month, a reminder of the need for organ donors across the country. In the Ohio Valley, guest speakers offered examples of how organ donation can change lives for the better. They talked about their family members who have been donor organ recipients and the years those gifts have given them to spend more time with ...