Hats off to:

n Harrison County schools.

The county's schools on Monday received awards for their commitment to being healthy.

Only 12 counties in the state received awards for healthy schools, and Harrison County reportedly received more than any other.

Also, four of Harrison's schools -- Norwood Elementary, Nutter Fort Primary, Simpson Elementary and Liberty High School -- received gold awards, the highest achievement possible. Only two other schools from around the state received gold awards.

Harrison County's educators deserve a big round of applause for this clean bill of health.

n The national United Way for providing a $20,000 grant to help with flooding in the Lewis County area.

The national group's effort will help the American Red Cross pay for the $71,000 it spent to help alleviate damage from the mid-August flooding.

n The Rev. Kurt Busiek for taking the job as Clarksburg Mission director.

Busiek, a longtime minister in downtown Clarksburg, will have a busy job. We believe that under his leadership the mission's efforts to help the needy have the potential to continue to grow.

n Doddridge and Ritchie County commissioners for working together to form a unified 911 system. The commissioners have kept after the idea of the unified 911 system for years. Their persistence is paying off: They hope to have a system up and running within 18 months.

And finally, hats off and heads bowed for:

n Gordon Posten, a Barbour County businessman who died Saturday at age 98. Posten was instrumental in helping get the Barbour County Fair started 25 years ago, and was also known for buying and selling horses. Posten was also a contractor and built many houses throughout the county, and also designed the fair's draft-horse barn and livestock show arena.

Mr. Posten will be missed.

Today's editorial reflects the opinion of the Exponent editorial board, which is comprised of James G. Logue, Kevin S. Courtney, Patrick M. Martin, Matt Harvey, Nora Edinger and J. Cecil Jarvis.