Area part of worldwide treasure hunt game
I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago so I missed a Hampshire County Commission meeting there.

Taste, nutrition should be focus of grocery shopping
When Amy Shuman was writing her column for the Cumberland Times-News, I often read with interest her focus on nutrition, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables in season and organic menus.

Grass definitely greener in Tennessee; it has the river Georgia wants
The state of Georgia wants to move its border with Tennessee a mile north. It seems that in 1796, Congress designated that Tennessee’s southern borders should stretch along the 35th parallel, but surveyors in 1818 were apparently off the mark and the border was placed about 1.1 miles south of where it was supposed to be.

History of cell phone communications short but innovative
The commercial splashed across the television screen for the cell phone. The Jitterbug is designed for us older folks and is simplicity itself. Big numbers that you can’t miss seeing and service that automatically catalogs favorite telephone numbers for future use are basic to the Jitterbug ... starting at $10 a month.

Siamese seniors Sed, Tib make themselves at home, finally
You may remember that my husband and I decided to adopt a pair of Siamese cats from an online rescue program about two and a half years ago.

Benefits at one time made up for lower pay
I happened to have lunch the other day with a couple of young men who were discussing their educational goals as they related to their potential future careers.

Niche businesses still have place in economy
We’ve talked before about finding your business niche in the local economy.

Mineral County applied for a REAP grant and was turned down.
REAP stands for Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan.

Economic, community development not all about industry, tourism
The Stone Cottage of Kelly Moran and Steve Wade in Rawlings once again graces the pages of a national magazine.

Children, teens more vulnerable to identity theft than adults
Last week I talked about my personal problems with identity theft but this week I want you to look at some folks that are a lot more vulnerable than you and I.

Counties eye bills currently before state Legislature
The county commissioners of West Virginia’s 55 counties are active in reviewing and supporting or opposing some specific bills currently before the state Legislature.

Identity theft: It’s fraud and it violates you as a person
If you don’t do anything else today read this!

We may not be anonymous in small towns but being known is a good thing
I grew up and lived in large cities until I was in my 30s and didn’t realize until I moved to a small town that I would lose my anonymity.

Proposed tax break on aircraft probably not enough
The headline jumped out at me from the second page of Tuesday’s Times-News Region section.

Job seekers, regardless of generation, seek similar opportunities
Here it is the first of a new year and many people are reassessing their jobs and career goals, possibly with an idea toward change.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
It seems as we head into the new year there is still no shortage of scams of which both consumers and businesses need to be wary.
It seems that every time I open my e-mail here at the office there are a new crop of writers wanting me to transfer money from another country for them or a winning ticket for me to claim.

Metro Government studies under way around the state
Metro Government proposals in West Virginia are being met with some interesting reactions around the state, and, granted most of them are somewhat negative.

Positive messages can help make ads effective
Advertising is part of being in business and some companies’ ads, whether they are in the print or electronic media, have a significant impact on the public’s perceptions of a product or service.

Business tax help just a computer click away
Business owners find tax paperwork to be among their least favorite chores, and as they near the end of the year, getting it all reconciled for filing time is the part of the chore that looms ahead.

My shopping’s finished; how about yours?
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Do you have your holiday shopping finished?

Cumberland one of few cities where housing prices are rising
A few weeks ago I talked about the increasing numbers of foreclosures I’ve been seeing in the legal ads of our newspaper as well as other parts of Maryland.

Holiday giving comes from the heart, not the pocketbook
Charity has become big business and many of those are charities that are intended to help military service members and their families.
Last year at Christmas time, as my husband and I were making our mostly monthly pilgrimages to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, we learned the hospital was collecting items to be given to the guys and gals who have found their way to the facility recovering from a wide range of injuries inflicted as part of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.