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Our opinion: Hospital campaign worth supporting

Our Opinion

Warren General Hospital is launching the public phase of its Building on Success campaign - and it’s one that the public should support. The hospital is trying to raise $7 million for technological and facility improvements that include replacement of MRI, CT Scanner, Fluoroscopy, and Ultrasound systems; renovation of the Cancer Center Pharmacy “Clean Room” and elevator replacements and renovations to Warren Medical Group physician offices. For more information, visit www.wgh.org/capital-campaign or contact Rick Allen, who is leading the campaign, at rallen@wgh.org Local ...

Expensive round trip to priceless laughter

Local Commentaries

I was backing out of a downtown parking space when something flashed on my dashboard. The mileage calculator changed to a wrench. OMG. What’s wrong? This is not good. It was late Tuesday, and I was leaving for Dayton Thursday morning. I was heading for the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop – a professional, fun, and stimulating conference. I couldn’t wait. And now this? It was almost 5 p.m., so I drove directly to my mechanics. Rick and Mark have kept me safely on the road for more than 15 years. On my way to their shop, I glanced up at the oil sticker on the windshield. ...

Our opinion: Be ready for coming ANF burn

Our Opinion

A controlled burn is scheduled for more than 2,000 acres of the Allegheny National Forest, possibly starting today if weather conditions are right. The burn is the first controlled burn in the Allegheny National Forest since 2024, but this year’s burn is expected to be larger as federal officials aim to reduce hazardous fuel levels and improve wildlife habitat in the Tracy Ridge area of the Allegheny National Forest. “This allows us to burn on our own terms,” said Craig Kostrzewski of the Forest Service during a media briefing. “If another burn were to occur, it would be ...

Our opinion: Seek answer to vape shop issue

Our Opinion

Last week, Warren County joined the list of counties in Pennsylvania to seize illegal marijuana products being sold at vape shops. Authorities confiscated vape products, edible items, and 5 pounds of marijuana totaling an estimated value exceeding $150,000 in retail value from shops in the city of Warren as well as in Conewango Township. The seizures were conducted as part of an ongoing investigation into the unlawful sale and distribution of controlled substances, stemming from complaints from local schools and students in possession of THC products. This is an issue that needs to ...

Our opinion: Budget gap could be much worse

Our Opinion

We’re sure there were many Warren County residents who read last week about the school districts’ $2.9 million budget gap between projected revenues and expenses in the 2026-27 budget proposal and wondered how that was possible after closing two high schools in 2025. The answer is the gap would have been closer to $5 million if the school board hadn’t made the difficult decision to close Youngsville and Sheffield high schools. The district is saving roughly $2 million a year by closing the schools - which means the task of balancing the 2026-27 budget between now and May would ...

Opposition to Iran war forgets history

Local Commentaries

Lately I have been hearing a lot about the high gas prices and the majority of the complaining is coming from the left side of the aisle. With that said, everyone should have been complaining all along ever since the President Barack Obama era when it really started to rise and no thanks to the former Gov. Tom Corbett who put the worthless gas tax on all of Pennsylvania. I have heard people say “gas in Warren is the highest under the (President Donald) Trump administration.” “It’s because of Trump’s war.” “It’s never been over $4 a gallon in Warren.” So here is a ...