UP: To the 37th annual Sternwheel Festival, held along Marietta's Ohio River levee. The festival, a salute to a former time when the river was the main highway and the paddlewheelers were the main form of transportation, offers a weekend of music and other activities, including one of the best fireworks shows available.
UP: To Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's successful efforts to get representatives of Constellium Rolled Products of Ravenswood and its striking workers back to the bargaining table. Hopefully, the renewed talks will result in an agreement on a new contract that will send employees back to work.
UP: To Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz who is back at work after suffering a heart attack. Lorentz was sent to St. Joseph's Campus of Camden Clark Medical Center on Aug. 30 after complaining of not feeling well. While there, he was diagnosed with a heart attack and doctors placed three stents in one artery, which was about 95 percent blocked. We wish the mayor a complete recovery.
UP: To today's 2:30 p.m. commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Brig. Gen. Albert G. Jenkins' 1862 raid into Ohio. On Sept. 3, 1862, Jenkins and his 350 Confederate cavalrymen crossed the Ohio River near Portland, in Meigs County. While lasting only a few hours, this was the first Confederate foray into Ohio during the war, but it is overshadowed by Gen. John Hunt Morgan's raid in 1863. An historical marker recognizing Jenkins' raid has been re-erected at Buffington Island State Memorial, near Portland. The commemoration will be held at the Racine American Legion Post military monument on Ohio 124 on the upriver side of Racine. Jenkins' descendants are planning to attend the anniversary.
DOWN: To the individuals responsible for a spate of arsons at an area auto repair shop. The latest incident occurred this past week when the owner discovered a customer's 1998 Dodge Dakota and a 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck had been set on fire during the night. The owner has offered a $5,000 reward and we hope the culprits are soon discovered and arrested.
