WHEELING — While the ongoing federal government shutdown will affect some Head Start programs around the country, those in the Ohio Valley are fully funded and won’t be impacted by the turmoil in Washington, D.C.

The Head Start program is a national program created in 1965 that provides developmental and social services to low-income preschool children from birth to age 5 and their families. Starting Saturday, the government shutdown also will cause funding for 134 Head Start programs in 41 states to cease. In several states, Head Start programs already are closing their doors, and more than 65,000 children could be affected.

The Head Start programs for the Northern Panhandle and Belmont County are not in that group.

Jackie Bell, executive director of Northern Panhandle Head Start, said

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