The Way I See some local and statewide news:

Recently the Ohio County Prosecutor’s office "set the record straight" about the Wheeling-Ohio County Board of Health’s recent "smoking ban" (all restaurants and bars with the exception of "gaming" rooms in bars and Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center;) and the Board’s ability to tell bar owners WHAT they are allowed to have in their gaming rooms (NO televisions, tables, chairs, pool tables.)

Apparently, "regulations passed by the board of health have the same force and effect as laws passed by the state Legislature." AND "It is an exception to the smoking ban in establishments which have video lottery. We are of the opinion the board of health can regulate the size and scope of those rooms."

Oh, my! The Board of Health can say and do whatever they want with the same force and effect as laws passed by the state Legislature?

Lions, tigers and bears, Toto, LOOK OUT!

I guess, Toto, ALL must be as big and have as enough money as Wheeling Racetrack & Gaming Center to BE an exception.

So, the Board of Health can say whatever they want, regardless of LAWS. They get to determine what is appropriate and what is not? They get to determine, well, they can obviously do whatever damned thing Doctor William Mercer decides what he wants.

So, what if the Board of Health decided walking outside was during allergy season was detrimental to someone’s health? I guess, since the Board of Health is capable of making LAW, we’d not be allowed to walk outside.

If the Board of Health decides that eating a cheeseburger is detrimental to one’s health? Well, they CAN make LAW. Sorry, McDonald’s and Burger King.

If the Board of Health decides that water in public pools isn’t clean enough? Put your clothes back on, kids, IT is the LAW.

If the Board of Health decides loud music will harm one’s hearing? Well, I guess all earphones will be outlawed.

If the Board of Health decides breast-feeding isn’t good for a newborn? Go buy your Platex bottles.

If the Board of Health decides the emissions from cars is unhealthy? Everyone have a bicycle?

If the Board of Heath decides one person’s life is more important than another’s? Since that opinion is the same as the LAW, we’d all better watch out.

Then again, if we all lived in the Board of Health’s "size and scope of those rooms," we’ll all be able to live safely and freely!

Oh, Toto, what has happened to our Land of the Free and the Brave?

Teachers going "on strike" are abominable.

So many profess to have such a vocation to teach, but it’s funny that THAT vocation leads them to doing harm to the students they had such a vocation to teach.

Okay, so, some teachers may become unhappy with certain aspects of their "union contracts," well, is that the students’ fault? Walking out of the classroom only harms the students. It’s NOT their fault teachers are unhappy.

So, the educators who strike are USING these students. They are, frankly, punishing children, the same ones they felt such a vocation to educate, to advance their own wants. The "precious young minds" one wanted to encourage and inspire became pawns in one’s own self-interest.

Of course we all have to earn a living; but I find it amazing, and very sad, that some will punish the exact ones they wanted to devote their lives to educating.

Certainly teachers are a most important part of our society, they are teaching our children. They deserve much respect and admiration (especially these days due to the chains they have around them with regard to discipline of the students and such; and how today’s parents just turn over their children to the educator and expect them to be parent and teacher until the parent decides the teacher was "wrong" somehow.) I DO understand this (and I think it’s a shame that teachers are expected to educate but NOT discipline…but that’s another article.)

Teachers striking is ONLY HURTING THE STUDENTS.

Seems like an amazing turnout for the first day of Early Voting for the Table Gambling.

We’ve all seen the "Vote YES" vans, haven’t we?

Wheeling Island Racetrack & Gaming drove their employees to cast their votes, on the clock, getting paid to do it.

How many of them have never voted before and never will again? How many are voting because their employer "suggested’ they should and then paid them for it?

Let’s look at the rest of the State of West Virginia who isn’t allowed to participate. They aren’t allowed to vote yet they are going to benefit, if the referendum for table gambling passes.

So, we four counties are voting not just for "gambling" in our counties; we’re deciding about our communities and futures.

It’s nice to know that 3% of revenues will go to the Lottery Commission to administer and enforce regulations. Including $500,00 for Compulsive Gambling Treatment Fund. After all, if we are going to encourage such, we should be able to pay for the detriment that will befall.

Funny, though, does the State have such a fund that aids drinkers and /or drunks? What portion of the "sin tax" attached to beer and wine is allotted to a "Compulsive Drinker’s Treatment Fund?"

The revenue from table gambling will help the State; they’ve seen to that. The State will then distribute the revenue as it sees fit; to every county and municipality in the State. Those who were not allowed to vote on such a statewide issue will benefit.

The 400 jobs that I keep hearing about and see as flyers in my mailbox (every single day) don’t tell me anything. WHAT JOBS? Dealer jobs that pay barely over minimum wage but with tips can net someone $40,000? Tips, which one only needs to claim 10% regardless of how much one receives? Just like a waiter or waitress? Yeah, show me a waiter at Perkins who makes $30, 000 a year.

Is Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center our hope and future of Wheeling? Is that all we have? Are all of our hopes and dreams dependent on gambling?

I don’t know. Expansion and opportunity here in Wheeling is not only needed, but it would seriously change the face of Wheeling and hometown. Do we want Wheeling to become Atlantic City or Vegas? Is gambling and working at WIG a better answer than businesses opening up in Wheeling? Do we want to be a gambling city or the Friendly City? Can we be both?

I read an Editorial on April 9, 2007 about the Governor saying more Judges are needed because the courts full and judges are busy.

YES, the courts ARE filled and judges ARE very busy.

Here’s a novel idea: instead of adding more judges, let’s put an END the nuisance lawsuits that are clogging up the courts.

"YOUR coffee burned me when I spilled it, so I’m suing you;" "I’m fat because I willingly eat your food, so I’m suing you;" "I willingly went into the Halloween Haunted House but I became so frightened, I am suing you;" "I was drunk when I committed the crime, therefore I am NOT accountable for my actions;" "You saved my life, but I think it took too long for you to do it, I’m suing you;" "I don’t like the way you looked at me the other day, I’m suing you;" "You insulted me by opening the door for me, I’m suing you;" "You didn’t open the door for me, I’m suing you;" "A piece of lint fell out of your pocket while walking past my yard thereby littering, I’m suing you."

It’s incredible, not necessarily surprising, that anyone with any kind of stupid complaint can find a lawyer who will represent them and "fight" for the million dollar reward for the injury of finding dog poop on the sidewalk. What constantly surprises me is that our courts even consider these idiotic cases.

You ate fast food every meal every day, it’s YOUR fault you’re fat and unhealthy…next case. YOU ordered hot coffee but you were stupid enough to put the cup between your legs and you got burnt, YOUR fault…. next case. (And frankly, know this much, you’d sue if the coffee had been lukewarm.) Being drunk or "under the influence" does NOT excuse irresponsible behavior. The fact that you’re alive is reason enough to be thankful; you could have gone all the way "into the light."

Money. These stupid lawsuits that clog up our courts are about nothing but money. It’s unfortunate that they actually do receive exactly that. What SHOULD happen is if the lawyer doesn’t say it, the judge should say, "Get out of here!"

There are legitimate lawsuits, but they are often left behind because of the ones that should have never even have been considered in the first place. Our Justice System was not intended to be abused by "I’m not happy," "My fault, but how much can I get from them?"

Don’t get me wrong. I believe EVERY effort to apprehend a criminal is warranted, needed and should be pursued.

I do NOT question law enforcement or victims. I do, however, question US as society.

I wonder WHY someone would NEED the incentive of a reward, money, to do what is right.

Are we THAT far gone from humanity that one requires or may require a monetary reward to do the right thing; exactly that person would hope for from others in the same circumstance.

The person who finds a lost wallet on the street, "I’ll return it to you, but what do I get for returning it?" The person who may have information and/or knowledge about a criminal, "I’ll tell you, but what do I get for telling you?"

What kind of people are we that we barter for honesty and integrity? What kind of person thinks to him or herself, "I’ll return this lost wallet just as soon as I find out HOW MUCH they’ll give me to return it;" "I’ll tell what I know only when the reward gets "this high," until then, I’m waiting because the "pot" for me is sure to grow higher; after all, I should be compensated."

Compensated for telling the truth and doing what is right? I think a clear conscience should be compensation enough. That and being able to look at oneself in the mirror everyday knowing one is an honest person; a person who has had the integrity and compassion for another to help them; one who wants to help ease the pain and suffering of another because it’s the right thing to do; the right thing him or her as well as the difference that is made to the others.

Those who "wait for the reward" should realize and understand that someday THEY may be the victims. Think about it: would YOU want to wait for the "reward" for someone to come forward to reach the same limits?

Are Ohio County school children being denied meals at school?

The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in over 100,000 public and non-profit private schools and residential childcare institutions. School districts and independent schools that choose to take part in the lunch program get cash subsidies and donated commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve lunches that meet Federal requirements, and they must offer free or reduced price lunches to eligible children.

The Ohio County Schools Child Nutrition Program states, "All 13 Ohio County Schools will provide breakfast and lunch daily… Breakfast Program prices: 70 cents for elementary and middle school students, 75 cents for high school students, 30 cents for students qualifying for reduced prices; Lunch Program Prices: 85 cents for elementary students, 90 cents for middle school students, 95 cents for high school students, 40 cents for students qualifying for reduced prices."

The student charges his or her meals at school using their student I.D. Each month, an itemized statement is mailed to each household and balances carry over. "Any student with a balance of $100 or more will not be permitted to charge meals until a payment that reduces the balance to less than $100 has been received."

We’re adults, we know what happens if we don’t pay our bills; the telephone gets disconnected, the cable gets disconnected, the cell phone stops working. That is just a fact of life.

However, a child being denied eating a meal because his or her parent didn’t pay the bill should not be punished. That student has no control over the responsible adults.

I understand that we must pay our bills; otherwise we lose service. This isn’t the same thing as a kid being denied renting a movie at the video store because of an outstanding balance. No child should have to go hungry at school; that’s bad for both the mind and the body. Not to mention the possible embarrassment and humiliation that student could suffer.

As parents we are responsible for the life of another human being. It is our primary job to care for that child. There was a time when schools didn’t offer breakfast or lunch. When many of us were young, Mom gave us breakfast and packed our lunches or we went home for lunch. Many things, though, have changed since "the good ole’ days." Life is more complicated with both parents working, even more complicated when there is only one parent. What hasn’t changed is the responsibility of the parent to the child.

Free and reduced-price meals are available. From the FDA, "Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the National School Lunch Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals, for which students can be charged no more than 40 cents. (For the period July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, 130 percent of the poverty level is $26,000 for a family of four; 185 percent is $37,000.)"

Of course, not everyone will "qualify" for these. The bottom line is paying the bill for food is more important than buying the latest video game for the child.

I’ve heard that some kids buy their lunch then give it to another student who hasn’t been allowed to eat lunch all week. That’s an amazing gesture on the part of that child and a testament to his or her parents; it’s also a sad statement about us as adults and parents.