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Editorial

State DOH not serving county

In October of last year, leaders in Monongalia County were assured by state highways officials that a temporary traffic light would be installed at the intersection of Chaplin Hill Road and the Interstate 79 off-ramps at Exit 155 — one of the most difficult intersections to navigate in the region.A year later, that promise appears to be broken — at least temporarily — as no traffic signals have been installed. This has led county government and development officials to question just why there’s been no movement on rectifying this issue.It’s not uncommon for traffic to back ...

Properly dispose of prescription drugs

Tomorrow is National Drug Take Back Day. Across our region, there will be designated locations for those with old prescription medicines to properly dispose of what’s been taking up space in their cabinets. It’s the safest way to do so.From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., law enforcement, municipal, county and state agencies — with the help of states’ attorneys general — will staff Take Back sites. It’s an effort that’s been an important part of the National Drug Enforcement Administration’s work since 2010.“DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s ...

Drivers: be mindful of school bus stops

Local drivers are, for the most part, back in the habit of obeying safety laws regarding school buses on the roads.But during this National School Bus Safety Week, it is important to remind ourselves not only of the rules but why they are so necessary.According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the danger is not just for those still riding on a bus. Between 2013 and 2022 there were 1.5 times more fatalities among pedestrians than occupants of buses — 169 people were killed. During that time 111 school-aged children died in ...

Take advantage of early voting

Wednesday marks the official start of the general election here in West Virginia, as voters can hit the polls starting at 9 a.m. There are four polling locations — the County Election Center (Mountaineer Mall): Mason-Dixon Historical Park; Suncrest Towne Centre; and the WVU Art Museum. If you can’t hit the polls on election day, vote early and make your voice heard.

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 ...