Last week, the village council in South Point voted to raise the sewer rate by $10 a month.

While no one likes to see a cost increase, officials provided a thorough explanation of the infrastructure upgrades needed in the village, as well as factors that are driving off costs to run the system.

It may not have been news residents wanted to hear, but the council made the right decision in approving the new rate.

As Mayor Jeff Gaskin and council members pointed out, the village has enjoyed low rates, compared to surrounding municipalities and systems for decades.

These came, in part, at a cost of neglecting needed improvements.

Fortunately, the current council and mayor decided not to pass the problem onto yet another generation and were proactive in bringing about the changes long needed

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On Friday, Irontonians got some news they had been waiting for over many years.

A groundbreaking took place on the new Dairy Queen, to be located on Eighth Street.

Also, last week the Ohio Department of Transportation hosted a groundbreaking on Phase 2 of the Chesapeake Bypass, which will connect Proctorville and Chesapeake.

Both of these projects have been long in the making. The bypass, in particular, began more than decade ago.

But it was refreshing to see solid movement on two things the public has long wanted.

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Last week, a longtime Tri-State staple closed its doors.

Purple Earth Comics, located in Huntington, West Virginia, ended 32 years of business on Fourth Avenue.

Those who attended Marshall University, as well as all comic and pop culture fans in the area, know that owner John Horst was legendary for his friendliness and customer service and always went that extra mile to make visitors feel welcome and to remember longstanding customers’ interests.

Horst’s shop, which was featured last year in our Profile magazine,  offered the kind of personal touch and sense of community that only a small business can, and we thank and congratulate him on his three decades as a downtown institution.

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A big event is shaping up for May 17 at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds and proceeds from it will go toward a good cause.

Lawrence County Trade Day will take place, raising funds for the 4-H programs that compete at the fair.

Organized by Montana Runnels, who served on the fair board, the event already has dozens of vendors lined up and registrations are open for more.

For more information, see our story from last week’s paper. And we encourage everyone to come out to support what could be a good tradition for the county.