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Our opinion: Youngsville sale is preferable

One of the constant complaints we hear from most Warren County government officials is the lack of property on the tax rolls. County officials have been among the most vociferous complainers regarding the lack of taxable property in the county, with county officials still howling - rightly so, in our opinion - regarding state game lands expansion that took more property off the tax rolls back in 2023. That’s one reason why it was always preferable for the Warren County School District to sell the Youngsville High School building - quickly - to a for-profit entity that would put ...

Our opinion: Byway designation is what we make of it

Tourism is already big business in Warren County. The county’s share of tourism dollars has already been increasing at a faster rate than its neighboring counties, as we reported earlier this year. Overall tourism spending in the Pennsylvania Wilds increased 5.32% from 2023 to 2024. Warren County’s total tourism spending grew by 13.36% from $190.8 million in 2023 to $216.3 million in 2024. Local officials hope the recent addition of Pennsylvania Route 6 in Warren, McKean, Potter and Tioga counties as an official Pennsylvania Scenic Byway will unlock even more potential help for ...

Our opinion: Saluting our freedom fighters

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day or the eleventh month 106 years ago, the hostilities of World War I came (for the most part) to an end. But though it was billed as the war to end all wars, American troops have continued to put their lives on the line for the rest of us and the world during another century’s worth of fighting. And so, since 1954, we have paused on Veterans Day to honor those men and women who have served us, in the U.S. Armed Forces. Those who chose — and those who had no choice — to serve sacrificed everything. Some did not come home. Others bear the ...

Our opinion: Bringing ‘Hometown’ spirit

You can always go home again. The question for Warren County is what, exactly, makes one want to go home again. The “This Is Your Hometown” campaign launched recently by the Warren-Forest Higher Education Council in partnership with the Warren County Career Center Marketing Class operates on the premise that those leave high school for college or military service do so with the idea that a reminder of what’s available here is enough to bring graduates back home. It’s not a bad idea. Reversing our population decline won’t happen in one fell swoop or one perfectly written ...

Our opinion: State needs responsible budget

Pennsylvania has reached the four-month mark without a state budget. The annual deadline for the state government’s spending plan is June 30. We believe it is inexcusable that our state is within hours of being four months overdue for passing a budget — but, as we editorialized this past summer, the proposal offered by Gov. Josh Shapiro was unrealistic. Shapiro has unsuccessfully pressed lawmakers for a $3.6 billion increase in spending. The proposal, in our estimation, does little to address court rulings that Pennsylvania’s system of funding public education does not comply ...

Our opinion: River cleanup efforts paying off

We’re always amazed by the amount of debris taken out of the Allegheny River each year by a dedicated group of volunteers. This year is no different. David Snyder, who has helped lead the cleanup for each of its 17 years, said the 2025 cleanup drew 154 volunteers who donated 1,232 hours. The crews removed 1,500 pounds of recyclable metal, 40 tires and 28 cubic yards of garbage – enough to fill the bed of a standard pick-up truck nine times. Kudos to those volunteers who gave their time and effort to beautify one of our greatest natural assets. But Snyder’s recent report to ...