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Closing the digital divide across Ohio

Local Columns

In today’s digital age, access to high-speed internet is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Yet, Ohio lags behind much of the U.S. in broadband availability. According to a study last year by BroadbandNow, which collects and analyzes internet service provider plans to help consumers find and compare options, Ohio is ranked 30th among states for internet coverage, speed and availability. For more advanced services, the picture worsens. The study shows that only 34.2% of Buckeye State residents have access to 1G broadband—that ranks 47th among states. Digging down further, a ...

Don’t take the summer off from donating blood

Editorial

Disasters near and far have deepened the desire in many to help — to somehow do something amid all this suffering and struggle. In many of the hardest hit places, the American Red Cross is helping — and if we can’t be involved in those direct efforts, we can certainly do something to help that organization fulfill its mission. Part of that mission is, of course, keeping hospital shelves stocked with blood and blood products. The need for that never ceases. At the moment, the organization is asking especially for those with type O to donate blood, though all types are ...

Non-use of seat belts can be a grave error

Editorial

Seat belts. For the vast majority of us, putting on a seat belt when entering the car is second nature. But for some, apparently, the act remains optional — and that’s leading to fatal results. In Ohio over the Fourth of July weekend, 10 people died in car crashes, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Of those 10 fatalities, six were not wearing seat belts.  The issue goes deeper. According to the Columbus Dispatch, during the Fourth of July weekend troopers issued 2,286 seat belt and child safety seat violations. How is that possible in 2025? The problem is not isolated ...

Outbreaks of measles continues over summer

Editorial

Though an outbreak in Ohio appears to have subsided since the spring, outbreaks of measles are still popping up all over the country. The summer break does not seem to have slowed the spread of this dangerous disease. Canada and Mexico are experiencing thousands of cases (and some deaths), too. Most recently, Kentucky has announced its first measles outbreak of the year, with four cases in Fayette and Woodford counties. That brings the total in Kentucky to seven. In the U.S., the total number of confirmed cases this year sits at 1,267 — just shy of the 30-year high. Arizona, Colorado, ...

Against carbon capture

Letters To The Editor

To the editor: I am speaking on behalf of myself as a resident and commissioner of Hancock County, and NOT on behalf of the county commission as a whole. The views expressed here are my own. Personally, I want to ensure Hancock County landowners are aware of the risks associated with signing carbon capture leases with Tenaska and their CO2 sequestration “plans.” If the process of capturing carbon and putting it back into storage cavities in our earth sounds like a really bad idea, that’s because it is. Please research the proven and documented environmental issues associated ...

Much to be done

Community News

Son Worshrag and his wife Busy Bee came home for a week’s visit over the July 4th holiday, so of course I put them to work, because there is much to be done. Besides, they offered. They worked with me to hoe the tomatoes and corn in my garden. They picked blueberries, the first picking of the summer. Worsh and I hauled a king-sized bed, and split and hauled two big trailer loads of firewood from the massive white oak that fell across our driveway and utility lines back in May. I’m close to getting that project cleaned up and off my to-do list, with of course much help from our ...