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Editorial

Improve communication between Monongalia County and VFDs

At a time when communities throughout the state are struggling to staff volunteer fire departments, the last thing Monongalia County residents need is for county commissioners to stop communicating with the Monongalia County Volunteer Fire AssociationYet it appears that has happened.Association President Mickey Rhinehart is questioning why the commission asked his group to come up with a plan to distribute about $500,000 in county fire protection funds — the plan was presented last month — but then went ahead with its own plan. “It made the committee we had set up and the ...

Finding WVU’s next president

The search for West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee’s successor is officially underway. The committee tasked with finding the university’s next president has issued a 52-page leadership profile highlighting the post and just what the university is seeking in its 27th leader.Consider this list of attributes included in the profile:“Deep and abiding commitment to student success.”“A track record of transparent decision-making that inspires trust … and reflects on-the-ground experience.”“Commitment to WVU’s values with emphasis on academic freedom and ...

National Guard deployed to help

West Virginia residents wishing they could be doing more to help those affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton can take some comfort knowing the Mountain State is sending some of its best to get to work.Last week, the West Virginia National Guard activated approximately 40 members for response and recovery efforts in Florida. Ten to 12 airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing will be joined by approximately 30 engineers from the 821st Engineer Construction Co. and equipment from the 601st Engineer Support Co.They’ll be under the command of the Florida National Guard and plan to spend ...

Honoring a true West Virginia icon

During last week’s special session of the West Virginia Legislature, lawmakers carved out time to honor someone important not only to the state, but to the country.They passed a resolution to place a statue of the late Hershel “Woody” Williams inside the U.S. Capitol.Williams, who died in 2022, was the last surviving Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from World War II.Born in Quiet Dell, W.Va., Williams was a Marine Corps veteran who was in combat in the Pacific.He received the Medal of Honor in 1945, after serving in the Battle of Iwo Jima with the 21st Marines, 3rd Marine ...

Growing number of HIV cases must be addressed

West Virginia’s substance abuse epidemic (and, according to some public health officials, lawmakers’ response to it) has led to an increase in the number of HIV cases here as well.Particularly in rural counties, the worry is growing, as HIV clusters are appearing in places where there hadn’t been a single case in years.Dr. Anita Stewart, of the Nicholas County Health Department, told Mountain State Spotlight the problem is two-fold. First, in 2021 lawmakers passed a bill restricting how harm reduction programs could operate.After that, multiple county syringe exchange programs ...

Remember to register — and vote

Election day in West Virginia is just around the corner.Registered voters can turn out at the polls on Nov. 5 to vote for president, West Virginia’s next governor (either Republican Patrick Morrisey or Democrat Steve Williams) and other offices that make up the state’s Board of Public Works. There’s a proposed amendment to the state Constitution on the ballot as well relating to the protection from medically-assisted suicide or euthanasia.There also are contested races here for U.S. Senate (Democrat Glenn Elliott and Republican Jim Justice), U.S. House District 2 (Republican Riley ...