It didn't seem crazy when he said it. Our colorful county commission chairman opined that someday someone might sign up for health insurance while being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance away from a wreck. Why not? You can't be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition... more

We have reaction from one reader to another readers' idea on staggered terms for Marshall County commissioners. It will be hard to improve upon this situation when it comes to the community dialog on our opinion page, so my fellow Americans, mark your calendars... more

There's a little non-descript office in Parkersburg, West Virginia. It's just down the street from the municipal building. Inside there's a white metal file cabinet. Locked in the bottom drawer is a three-ring binder that holds the bonds for Social Security. It's $2.5 trillion in bonds, give or take a few million. This is our collective nest egg. In essence, it's a three-ring binder full of IOUs... more

As I've often said, this is a kamikaze congress. It's apparent they understand all too well that their power is for the short term. They plan to do as much damage as they can before November. Now it appears Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is riding shotgun... more

Installation of a door paddle lever on the front and center door to the Marshall County Courthouse Annex last week reminded me of getting locked in the Franklin County Courthouse in Winchester one night in the 1980s. The reason for my ungainly situation - other than the fact that the door was locked - is long forgotten. ... more

One of the great things about this country is the freedom to say whatever you like and we're hearing a lot of it now that the silly season is in full bloom. Pollination continues through Halloween. Nationally, there's been a lot of unmasking of exaggerations, although some folks will decide to believe what they want, regardless of what other folks say. Government bashing is in fashion. Some people still wear zoot suits when it's not Halloween... more

As someone who is burned out on snow, I recently heard bad news: the worst might not be over. It appears we'll have below-average temperatures and above-average precipitation, which adds up to more ice and snowflakes. Yes, this is the Opinion page. No, this isn't a column about climate change... more

Closure of the Henry Horton State Park restaurant has emerged as one way to cut state spending to bring it in line with revenues. Leasing the facility to a business is an option to keep it open. Expect a debate on whether beer, wine and cocktails may be served there, especially if privatization gets more than lip service... more

There's always a local angle to a big story. This week our troops are going to Iraq and a neighbor's business is under the microscope around the world. However, it was at dinner Monday when the local connection to the biggest story of the week emerged while the question of the week was being asked... more

Here's a switch. The Super Bowl this year was actually much better than the much-hyped commercials. There were a few stand-outs. The Snickers "Betty White" commercial was pretty good and there were a few others. Nothing that lived up to the expectations, but there was one that has some people confounded... more

At last, the story can be told! Yesterday (Feb. 11) marked the 10th anniversary of my father's fatal heart attack. Time has erased much of the sting, but every day I find myself blurting out one Dad phrase or another. He lives on in my writing and in the grandson he never knew. ... more

Lewisburg City Council's vote to abolish the Police Advisory Board has really stirred up a myriad of feelings around town since the 3-2 vote on Jan. 26. In a letter to the editor members of the PAB stated "some councilmen had no comment on why they'd eliminate the board," the letter asked "residents to demand accountability from the Council."... more

President Obama's promises to create jobs and balance the budget seem to be in direct conflict with one another. In his State of the Union address he spoke of the urgency of bringing spending under control while in the same speech he proposed a jobs creation bill which his press secretary is now saying will cost $100 billion. Yes, that's 100 billion with a "B" as in "Oh, Boy!"... more

According to the Associated Press, a coalition of women's groups is demanding that CBS block a 30-second Super Bowl commercial featuring 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and mother Pam. The reason? In the ad, paid for by the conservative Christian group Focus On The Family, Mrs. Tebow expresses gladness that she ignored medical advice to terminate her pregnancy and instead gave birth to the Sugar Bowl-winning quarterback... more

Driving east to Lewisburg before the snow, there was a tranquil calm before the well-predicted storm. An invisible breeze rolling over the ridge pushed a farmhouse stove fire's smoke northward and parallel to the ground. Sunlight beyond the horizon illuminated the cloud ceiling, implying a bright day, even though our modern monitoring devices warned of that larger weather system to the west... more

I was reading a piece from the LA Times about how the tea party movement is still disorganized and still doesn't have a leader. They opined as to how the movement "struggles to find national unity." Now, think about something for a moment. Did the American Revolution have a leader? I'm not talking about the war. ... more

The left seems preoccupied in portraying the United States as the devil incarnate, even in the face of a massive relief effort in Haiti. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused the U.S. of using the earthquake as a pretext to occupy the small island country. But, he's not alone and many who feel the same way are right here in America... more

According to CNN, BeautifulPeople.com (an international Internet dating site with a strict ban on "ugly people") has expelled about 5,000 members for having the temerity to gain a few extra pounds over the holidays. That's right. Members didn't become any less desirable for things like driving drunk along a crowded parade route or snarling "Bah, humbug!" at starving orphans. No, they got kicked out on their semi-plump keisters for daring to drink an extra glass of boiled custard... more

Texas is studying the possibility of changing the way it collects its gasoline tax. This is certainly nothing new but this study could have far-reaching implications for the rest of us because of the precedent it could set. At the heart of this discussion is moving away from the gasoline tax, which in Texas has not been raised since 1991. ... more

Despite old man winter's arrival with gusto this week, it's becoming clear to partly cloudy that the silly season is upon us. We're so glad. Let the politicking begin. Still, there have been some sensible decisions by a couple of fathers with young children to raise, so those guys' decision to drop off the county commission is a blessed reason to believe their departure really is for family reasons... more