But these days Kathryn Thalman can’t wait to become the next mayor of St. Clairsville, Ohio, a municipality in East Ohio that serves as the county seat of Belmont County. On Jan. 2, Thalman will take the oath of office at the Municipal Building to join her seven council colleagues, and the cookies and coffee will be on her dime and not the city’s.

While running for office for a complete year before May 2016, the downtown district was a big focus for many of you because that’s what the Main Street organization’s studies dictated, and voters bought in because, well, it was ugly out there then … but is way worse today.

Scams.  Anyone can be targeted.  Anyone can be the victim.  Scammers are calculating and shrewd.  They can be belligerent and threatening.  They will stop at...

And there they are once again, those bell-ringing folks standing next to a red kettle outside several stores at The Highlands and at the Ohio Valley...

There are teachers of basketball and there are teachers of men (and women). Wheeling's Gene Ammirante is both.

I'm glad I'm not in this teen gift boat yet. My kids are 7 and 8 (Yes, I know that sounds insane) and are...

Jacob Rine is a big dude. Think not? Then you didn't see how immensely huge he was Saturday night on Wheeling Island, playing like the star...

But if the unending stream of head butts, leg rubs and vocalized requests for attention are any indication, the more than 100 adult cats and kittens in the charge of the Belmont County Humane Society are happy to show their appreciation.

This group of kids is where it gets fun or difficult to give toys or any type of gift. They are growing out of...