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Dumpster fires connected
January 7, 2009
The Parkersburg fire and police departments are trying to find those responsible for setting fires in garbage dumpsters and trash.
» Full Story
Boaz district gets water loan
January 7, 2009
Customers of the Central Boaz Public Service District will see improved fire protection and water pressure with a $1.4 million water line project that officials hope will begin this fall.
The district received a $1.4 million U.S.
» Full Story
Century execs to meet Manchin
January 7, 2009
RAVENSWOOD — Top Century Aluminum executives will be in Ravenswood Saturday to meet face-to-face with Gov. Joe Manchin and other officials in hopes of making the plant profitable and keeping it open.
Nearly 700 jobs are at stake.
» Full Story
Styrenics announces cuts
January 7, 2009
MARIETTA — Americas Styrenics (formerly Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.) will eliminate at least 60 jobs within the next four months at its facilities on Ohio 7 south of Marietta, according to information released by company officials Tuesday.
» Full Story
States mulling tax on mileage
January 7, 2009
PARKERSBURG — As the country begins the shift to more fuel-efficent vehicles, state lawmakers have a number of concerns about a program being considered in states around West Virginia calling for the taxation of miles drived as opposed to a tax on ga
» Full Story
New council members take office
January 7, 2009
PARKERSBURG — Friends and family were out in full force Tuesday night as Mayor Bob Newell and the 2009 city council were sworn into office. Wood County Circuit Court Judge J.D.
» Full Story
Top Headline Poll
As has been proposed by some legislators, should motorists be taxed for the number of miles they drive?
Yes
7%
No
93%
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Roger Adkins
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Passing the Torch
Fri, January 2, 2009 @ 5:30PM
I recently had the bittersweet experience of writing a story looking back at Ken Merritt's time as Wood County sheriff. On one hand, as the News and Sentinel's primary law enforcement beat reporter, I've enjoyed covering the sheriff's department and working with Merritt on various stories, so I'm sorry to see him go. On the other hand, I've also worked well with Jeff Sandy, the new sheriff, in the past on various stories, so I'm excited to see him take office and work more with him in the future. As sheriff, Merritt experienced ups and downs. I would say the ups out numbered the downs. Through all of it, however, Sheriff Merritt was available when I needed to talk to him, whether the news I was writing was good or bad. At least, that's been my personal experience. That's the mark of a pretty good politician. Not only was Merritt available, he was always friendly and generous with his time.
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Jolene Craig
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Season of Goblins and Candy Lovers
Mon, October 27, 2008 @ 1:19PM
Quite possibly, there is no holiday better suited to pop culture than Halloween. I mean, what other time of the year can you not only give out candy but also see a large array of costumed munchkins at the same time? Since I live in the north sector of our coverage area, I handed out candy this past Saturday night. There was the typical range of princesses, witches and movie-themed characters asking for a Snickers bar. What surprised me was the number of pirates who joined the fun. I haven't seen that many pirates since last summer's "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, and even then they weren't nearly as fun to watch. My household gave out glow in the dark bracelets we found in $1 tubes at Target. Those bracelets were a hit. I've never seen kids so happy with something that didn't involve chocolate and sugar. Many trick-or-treaters even forgot about the candy and I had to remind them that there was still another treat.
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Rachel Lane
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Old Town Bakery
Tue, December 9, 2008 @ 4:15PM
Yesterday I took some time to explore in downtown Marietta, specifically the shops on Front Street. Several new stores have opened since I last strolled down the street. My favorite find was the Old Town Bakery. The pastries I tried were excellent. I was told the pecan pastry would make me come back just for that pastry and, having eaten it, I have to agree. While the baked goods were delicious, the atmosphere was wonderful. An open, airy room is divided by a counter filled with sweets. Customers can watch items being prepared in the large back kitchen (but it looked like it would take a while, so I don't recommend standing to watch the entire process). The colors and decorations give the bakery an old-time and friendly feeling. Other stores on the street provide some great (and original) Christmas present ideas. Since most women I give presents don't "need" anything, I try hard to find original gifts that I know they'll enjoy.
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Jess Mancini
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Impose tax on unincorporated areas to finance VFDs.
Fri, January 2, 2009 @ 1:50PM
Several county commissioners and legislators from Wood County are saying that the state needs to find funds for volunteer fire departments when the West Virginia Legislature meets. In addition to any other provisions in the state code allowing the imposition of special taxes to finance volunteer fire departments, I say the state could authorize county commissions to impose a tax upon the residents served by VFDs to finance the departments.
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Amy Mendenhall
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Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
Mon, January 5, 2009 @ 8:38AM
Alpha pair Kitty and Ben have decided to make it official - elope to Vegas in Carrie Vaughan's "Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand." But a simple romantic wedding alone turns out to include not only her parents, but her radio show when producers decide a televised version live from Vegas would bring in the ratings. Not only will Kitty be taking calls from the supernatural world, now she also has to deliver a message to the Master vampire for her vampire ally. Once Kitty gets there, she hopes to get everything else out of the way so she can concentrate on Ben, but there's a gun show going on in her hotel with a bunch of bounty hunters who don't like werewolves, a stage magician that also might be the real deal and a strange animal act. With all of this going on, will Kitty find time for drinks by the pool, let alone for her own wedding? And will what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas? Kitty's trip to Vegas is a fun new adventure for the character, and a bit lighter than her last book.
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Jody Murphy
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From the mouths of babes
Fri, October 31, 2008 @ 9:27AM
Handing out candy on the porch last night we had only a handful of trick or treaters. We aren't located in a very good spot for trick or treating. The homes on both sides of us do not participate. Nor do the two houses across the street from us. Most of the kids who come down the street can't see that our light is on, due to a giant holly tree in the front yard. So we don't get very many kids. So it was last night as well. But that didn't stop us from handing out candy and my wife taking the kids out again. They had a fun - albeit a cold night - Tuesday in St. Marys. They came back Thursday night with their bags once again full of candy. Meanwhile, back at the homestead, me and George our old cat (I don't really care much for him) sat on the porch to hand out candy. One little fellow - couldn't have been older than 9 - dressed as a football player came up the sidewlak.
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Dave Payne
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The Deadliners back together
Sun, January 4, 2009 @ 6:27PM
Fellow News and Sentinel reporter (and my cousin) Roger Adkins and I started playing acoustic blues together about six years ago. We played a lot of old acoustic blues, Robert Johnson, Son House, etc. and wrote a few of our own. Roger is one of the most talented guitar players I know and I know some very good guitar players. However, about three years ago, we stopped playing music together. One problem that we had always had and was, I suppose, the primary cause of our decline as a duo was that we worked completely opposite schedules. The only time that we could play music was during my lunch hour. But recently, a change in our schedules gave us one - and only one - day off together. So, of course, we started playing music again. This time, we turned on a camera: » Read Full Blog
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Art Smith
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A search for a long lost grandfather
Wed, December 17, 2008 @ 11:33PM
For 47 years I have carried around a piece of a grandfather I never met. Arthur C. Smith was, like more than 400,000 other Americans, killed in World War II. He wasn’t a soldier, or in the Navy, or even a pilot. He was a sailor on a merchant ship. He died somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean when my dad was just a young boy. Less than 20 years later my parents would name me after him. I knew a little about my namesake from my father and my grandmother, but I knew very little about how he died. A few weeks ago I decided to use the Internet to see how much I could find out about the journey that ended so many years ago. Within perhaps 30 minutes I found out more information than I had been told in a lifetime. Armed with only our shared name and the name of the ship I learned the following. My grandfather was one of a 36-man crew that was aboard the U.S.
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Jim Smith
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Wasted words that say nothing
Mon, January 5, 2009 @ 1:22PM
According to an Associated Press article, "movie about a 'maverick,' his journey 'from Wall Street to Main Street,' his 'desperate search' for a 'monkey' and a 'game-changing' revelation about his 'carbon footprint' probably would make the nation's word-watchers physically ill. "Especially if it were the 'winner of five nominations.' "All those words and phrases are on Lake Superior State University's annual List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. The 34th version of the list was released Tuesday, which means, 'It's that time of year again.' "Despite the year's economic meltdown (which itself wasn't banished but don't rule it out for next year), the most entries came from the environmental category -- for 'green' or 'going green.' " 'At this point in time' was on the first list in 1976 and it continues to be nominated every year. People still hate it.
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Ravenswood defeats PCHS
Warren tops Belpre
Puppy Fuzz
Sun Wonders