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Our opinion: Obey burn ban in wetter weather

Two wildfires earlier this month were all the reason area officials needed to institute a ban on open burning in Warren County. At the time of the ban, there had been roughly 100 wildfires in Pennsylvania - including one in Glade Township that took two days to bring under control and another in Youngsville shortly after the Glade fire was extinguished. What’s happened here is happening throughout the Northeast, including a fire near the New York-New Jersey border that has consumed nearly 7.5 miles of forest while putting hundreds of homes in harm’s way. That’s why, even ...

Our opinion: USDA offers seniors assistance

Senior citizens know well that a cost of living adjustment to Social Security won’t go far - especially given increases in the cost of federal health care programs. That’s one reason why the under-the-radar change to the federal poverty level for the Community Supplemental Food Program from 130% to 150%, making more residents eligible for aid. Hunger-Free Pennsylvania administers the food program in Pennsylvania as the Senior Food Box Program. Sometimes it can feel like we’re fighting a losing battle with food insecurity. Second Harvest officials told the Times Observer ...

Our opinion: Warren band rocked in Cleveland

Not many high school marching bands get the opportunity to perform for nearly 20,000 people. We’re glad the Warren Area High School marching band got the opportunity to do so - even if it did take a mistake by the Cleveland Cavaliers to make it happen. Last spring, Aaron Reinard, Warren Area High School band director, received an email from a gentleman working for the Cleveland Cavaliers asking if the band would like to perform at a game. After emailing back and forth for a couple of weeks, Reinard found out the Cavs had really been trying to reach out to a marching band from ...

Editor’s corner: State can elect to do more with early voting

All eyes were on Pennsylvania on the eve of Election Day. In Pittsburgh, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump made a final pitch that evening knowing how valuable the 19 electoral college votes could be for each candidate. On Nov. 4, the state was greatly in play. Many Pennsylvanians would be ...

Our opinion: Keeping county in mind

Judging from the results of last week’s election, Warren County residents would be happy to see Dave McCormick hold off incumbent U.S. Sen. Robert Casey as the final ballots are counted statewide. McCormick received about two-thirds of the vote in Warren County. That result isn’t surprising. It tracks with the rest of the results countywide. But the fact that McCormick dominated the vote here shouldn’t mean his work in Warren County is done. We’d argue, on the other hand, that it has really just begun. Warren County residents may not have voted for Casey, but Casey knew ...

Our opinion: Precanvassing is a good place for unity

Republican Dave McCormick holds a slim lead in his attempt to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. McCormick gave a victory speech Friday morning after the Associated Press projected him winning the race, though CBS News has not projected a winner in the race because there are absentee ballots and provisional ballots yet to be counted in areas Casey said are traditionally areas he has won. Most states, even if their results aren’t yet certified, have some certainty over election results. It’s frustrating that we don’t have that here in Pennsylvania. We’d have faster ...