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Be patient when it comes to gates down at crossings

Life is all about decisions. We make so many every day that we almost do it subconsciously. Jeans or khakis? Skirts or pants? Tie or not? What’s for breakfast? What about lunch and dinner? Weekend plans or staying home? Vacation or “stay-cation” this summer? Then there are the big decisions. Who do we date? College or trade school? Where do we live? Where do we send our kids to school? No matter what you decide on any of those possibilities, chances are you’ll live to tell about it. But some decisions can prove to be the last we ever make if we aren’t careful. Railroad ...

Focus on what is right and good for all of our citizens

A “golden age,” one in which the United States of America can aim even higher than the moon, was proclaimed last Monday during President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration speech. And while Elon Musk may have thrown his hands in the air to cheer the goal to “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars,” and “plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars,” ordinary Americans were more likely to find a common reason to cheer in Trump’s promise to seek a broad government effort to reduce inflation and reduce prices. Though he must be careful to avoid the executive overreach ...

Husted brings along assets to U.S. Senate

In choosing Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to fill Vice President JD Vance’s former seat in the U.S. Senate, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is sending a person with some important assets to Washington, D.C. Husted, who was sworn in to his new position Tuesday, is a politically savvy, long-time public official who understands the state in a way some other candidates for the post do not. “I have worked with him, I have seen him, I know his knowledge of Ohio,” DeWine said. “I know his heart. I know what he cares about. I know his skills. And all of that tells me that he is the right person for this ...

Shooting tragedy impacts so many

The names Dakota Wetzel, Rosalie Martin and Joseph Como will be forever linked. On a frigid but sunny Wednesday afternoon, a very troubled Como engaged police near a busy patch of the Calcutta retail area. Shots were fired. Two died including a precious 4-year-old child. Wetzel is a St. Clair Township police detective who responded to a report of a possibly suicidal male walking down a street. Police tried to talk to Como. But he almost immediately opened fire. Just last month we reported on a domestic incident involving Como and family members. According to a Dec. 29 Wellsville Police ...

It’s not just health issues that come with smoking

As mid-January tests New Year’s resolutions across the region, many may be weakening in their resolve. Certainly that must include some who vowed this is the year to give up smoking. To add a little incentive to the effort, WalletHub took a look at the true cost of tobacco use. The dollar amounts are eye-opening for the 46 million people in the U.S. who still use tobacco. Total lifetime cost per smoker in West Virginia was estimated to be $3,210,116. In Ohio, $3,538,844. Think about that for a moment — particularly given that those who live in rural areas and have lower incomes are ...

Remember to prep for freezing pipes

Unlike recent winters, we have had our share of snow and cold. But bitter cold? Not really. But beware of the next several days. The lows those days will be the coldest we have had in several winter seasons. With the dangerous cold comes a need to be prepared. Sometimes it is pure common sense. Often overlooked are freezing pipes. When it gets cold sub-zero the front end of this week, the pipes in your home could freeze unless you take steps to prevent it from happening. Aqua Ohio serves approximately 474,000 people in 20 counties across the our state, including Columbiana and ...