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Our opinion: Remembering D-Day invasion

Today marks the 80th anniversary of World War II’s D-Day invasion. According to the National D-Day Memorial, which is located in Bedford,Va.,: “While the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, usually termed D-Day, did not end the war in Europe — that would take 11 more months — success on that day created a path to victory for the Allies. The stakes were so great, the impact so monumental, that this single day stands out in history.” Many in our region had a role in that mission. One man from Fredonia, Leslie “Bud” Morrison who died Oct. 14, 2023, was drafted in January ...

Our opinion: Disastrous proposal for departments

A new proposal by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that would revise 40-year-old firefighting safety standards would be devastating for volunteer fire departments - particularly rural departments already struggling to recruit new members. The federal standards would require equipment to be replaced more quickly and boost training and physical qualifications. Beginning firefighters now have to have 68 hours of training. The federal rules would increase that to 197 hours. Since training is offered in three-hour increments, it would take much longer to get a new ...

Our opinion: Shapiro’s work better than brand

Gov. Josh Shapiro slipped into and out of Warren County recently, hiking part of the Rimrock Trail in the Allegheny National Forest. It’s nice to see we have a governor who can find Warren County without a map and a flashlight. We hope the governor enjoyed our area’s natural beauty while he was here and, yes, we hope the governor makes more stops here in the future. “Greetings from the Allegheny National Forest,” Shapiro said in a reel posted on Facebook. “We just did the Rimrock Trail. Look how beautiful it is. You gotta get out here. It’s unbelievable. It’s just ...

Our opinion: State must pursue PBM reform

It’s easy for our eyes to glass over when we hear state legislators are discussing legislation to reform the contract process between pharmacies and drug companies. Known as pharmacy benefit manager reform, there are three PBM companies that dominate the national market - Caremark, Express Scripts and Optum. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, PBMs work with drug manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies and health insurers but only handle negotiations and payments in the supply chain. One of the worries with the system is the impact on small, ...

Our opinion: Find long-term energy answers

We find the news that President Joe Biden is releasing a million barrels of gasoline from a federal reserve more of a frustration than a relief. Releasing petroleum from reserves is a short-term band-aid that carries real risks. If a crisis or prolonged economic downturn comes, the U.S. may well regret tapping into this supply. The United States instead should be pursuing long-term solutions — promoting or incentivizing the production of domestic oil and gas and investment in increased refinery capacity. As we have editorialized before, the benefits of developing domestic energy ...

Our opinion: Closing buildings must be on table

John Wortman is absolutely on the right track, in our opinion, when it comes to what the future of the Warren County School District will look like. Given the results of last year’s school board election, Wortman’s insistence on considering fewer school buildings for the 2025-26 school year won’t be popular. But it’s probably the right decision. The school district can save itself between $600,000 and $700,000 by closing Sheffield High School and moving all students full-time to Warren Area High School. Here’s the rub. To achieve those savings the school board has to ...