SUNDAY DISPATCH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 201
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OUR OPINION
Angie A
n old adage in journalism says good stories are all the things newspaper reporters talk about and then never write about. The implication is that many times we fail to see the stories right under our noses. This came to mind last week as we at the Dispatch staff discussed the re-naming of the Pittston post office in memory of Pennsylvania State Trooper Joshua Miller who was killed in the line of duty, rescuing a young boy from his own father who had kidnapped him in 2009. (See the photo on page one and story which begins on page 3.) As we reviewed the photographs of the re-naming ceremony we talked about the amazing young woman prominent in many of them: Trooper Miller’s widow, Angela Miller. We, as do many, know her as Angie. And we at the Dispatch do feel we know her. We first met Angie Miller when we named her husband the Greater Pittston Person of the Year for 2009. Her wounds were still fresh at the reception in early 2010 at which the posthumous honor was bestowed, but she conducted herself with a quiet dignity that touched the hearts of all attending the event. She spoke with eloquence and elegance and we could not help but be impressed. As we watched all of this, we kept thinking: and she is so young. We still think of how young Angie is as she is asked over and over to step to a microphone at events such as Wednesday’s in Pittston. It cannot be easy for her, but she never shies away from what she sees as her duty to her late husband. And always, there is the same dignity, the same class we first witnessed nearly three years ago. This young mom was dealt a very difficult hand in life, but never does she talk of her own problems, of being left to raise three daughters on her own. Rather, Angie talks of her husband, what a wonderful father he was, what a wonderful husband, what a wonderful man. Well, today, we finally are saying to all what we’ve been saying so often in the Dispatch office, and that is this: What a wonderful woman Angela Miller is. She is a pillar of strength and courage and a role model for us all. We admire you, Angie.
YOUR OPINION Accuses Obama of supporting infanticide Infanticide is the murdering of babies. It is grotesque and beyond any remote acceptable human behavior. Yet how many people know President Obama was accused of supporting infanticide when he was a member of the Illinois state legislature. While an Illinois legislator, Barack Obama supported infanticide by voting against legislation that would protect babies born from botched abortions. Obama denied that this was the case and the liberal mainstream media, enamored by the prospect of a black President, essentially went along and provided cover for the would be president. In a well researched article entitled Barack Obama Admits He
Supported Infanticide, Redstate editor Erick Erickson, provided a persuasive case that despite his denials, Obama in fact supported something as horrible as infanticide when he opposed state legislation requiring doctors to provide medical care for a child born from botched abortions. A vote for Obama on November 6 is a vote for infanticide. Instead vote for Pro-Life Romney/Ryan on November 6 and help to support the protection of human life. Ada Magni West Wyoming
Says voters must consider the real issues facing America Editor, readers and fellow voters: You are about to vote in the most important election in your lifetime and in the history of our country. Please read on. Our country is in deep trouble and going downhill fast. Just some of the problems are: the economy, jobs, national debt, healthcare, crime, drugs, taxes and more. Realize this: All of the above are put there to divert our attention from the real problems, which are non-negotiable. First Abortion: Let me stop all the “What if’s” right here. Life begins at conception. This is a no-brainer. It is non-negotiable. When the sperm and egg meet, God (you remember God) breathes life into it and a human being is born. Any stopping of this life, at any time, by any means is killing and that is a mortal sin, read the fifth commandment: “Thou shall not kill”. In World War II Hitler killed 6 million Jews and Poles. Sound familiar? The Russians took over in 1945 and killed nine to fifteen million humans. Why didn’t we stop it? In World War II, 42 million people were killed. That is a lot of people. That number dear reader is how many abortions have been performed, no, committed since Roe vs. Wade in the United States alone. Our president has given and allowed to be given hundreds of millions
of dollars of our money to a national organization so they can help women get rid of a “problem”. This same president ends most of his speeches with “God bless America!” God asks: “You want me to do what? You’re killing my kids!” Abortion kills 3,600 babies each day in the United States. Think of this when you vote. Mother Theresa asks, “Who will speak for the little ones?” Same Sex Marriage: God thought so much of marriage that He made it into a Sacrament. It is the union of one (repeat one) man and one (repeat one) woman. This union is blessed and by expressing their love for each other, a child or children are born. Second: Religious Freedom: 69 percent of Americans believe that the first Amendment says: “Separation of Church and State.” You may be surprised to learn that these words do not appear in the First Amendment or anywhere else in the Constitution. What the First Amendment actually does say is this: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom See VOTERS, Page 18
SUNDAY DISPATCH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 201
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Get together or fall apart That there are 13 boroughs and townships in the combined 50 square mile area of the Pittston Area and Wyoming Area school districts seems charming; that folks often subdivide even further into sections like Browntown, Cork Lane, Sullivan Park and Toy Town is downright quaint. But such provincialism has its drawbacks in these tough economic times. That’s why regionalization is a reoccurring topic. Last week there were meetings on the East Side and West Side about regionalization. On the East Side the discussion was about regionalizing police coverage. One step has already been taken. The Jenkins Township police force covers Yatesville and Yatesville has no police force of its own. It was hoped the next step would be Pittston City covering Dupont and Dupont dissolving its force. It seemed like a good idea, but the Dupont police and Crime Watch are so strongly opposed it most likely won’t happen. While we understand how a small town mayor wouldn’t want to look his police chief in the eye and say you know longer have a job, it may just have to come to that. Look what’s happening in Exeter, where there is a $400,000 budget hole and where, like all the towns, the biggest expenditure is the police force. Back to Dupont-Pittston. If Pittston were to take over Dupont policing, that would raise the specter of the Pittston cruisers traveling through Hughestown, a tiny one square mile town of 1,500, to get to Dupont. Pittston is picking up Hughestown garbage now; it seems a no-brainer for the city to pick up police coverage there, too. Oh well, it may not happen soon, but if it doesn’t someday, budgets may come apart at the seams. Over on the West Side, regionalization of a different sort is being discussed. Six West Side boroughs – Wyoming, west Wyoming, Exeter, Larksville, Luzerne and Kingston – have formed a “COG” with the goal of applying jointly for an LSA gaming money grant, to purchase equipment such as sewer and leaf vacs, trucks and street sweepers to be shared among the boroughs. The boroughs couldn’t afford each of these items on their own and even if they could they’d sit idle most of the time. With a COG the cost is reduced and the equipment gets used more often. Sounds good to us.
YOUR OPINION
Dupont police department has its say Dupont Borough Council wants to disband the police department on Jan. 1, 2013 and pay Pittston City police to cover the town to try and save very little money. The police department has done everything in its power to negotiate a new contract with the council and has failed to come to an agreement after the department agreed to all requests from council for a new contract. Council members state they don’t have the money but if you look at the overall budget, Dupont Borough came out ahead by $54,000.00 in 2012. This fact was also posted in the newspaper. There are several reasons why that this will not work for the residents. Here are some major points. • Eight police officers will be out of jobs • There will be very few if any patrols in town • There will be an increase in the crime rate people will know there is no local police protection • Response time will be extended by several minutes to calls that police actually respond to • Police will not respond to minor calls (EMS, parking complaints and harassment)
• Emergencies in Pittston City will take priority over Dupont • Pittston City officers not known by Dupont residents • This idea has not worked in the past with only a couple shifts covered by PSP • The plan will cost borough and residents a lot of money if it is decided to bring back the department in a year or sooner. There are several more reasons why this is not a good choice. Council is willing to jeopardize the safety of the residents to save very little money rather than to keep the police department. Please come to the next council meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11 to show your support and stop council from making a major mistake. There will also be a petition at the police department which can be signed every day from 2 to 4 p.m., 6 to 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. or if there is an officer in the office at the time you arrive. Calls will also be accepted and we can bring the petition to you to sign. Dupont Police Department
Tribute paid to former WP Police Chief Simonson This week we experienced the passing of a valued member of the law enforcement community. Too often in our busy lives, we forget to say thanks to these individuals who had had a direct and long lasting impact in our lives. Chief Richard A Simonson (West Pittston police retired) was one such individual. He served in a variety of roles from colleague, boss, husband, father, grandfather, and especially that of a friend. As such, he was never too busy to lend a listening ear or helpful hand to those in need. It is for that reason I will always remember the Chief’s smile and words of wisdom.
His final ride was in the front seat of a West Pittston police car (to his resting place). He was not only my friend but he also guided me along life’s path. Anyone who knew him knew his famous words: “Keep your powder dry.” I will really miss you, my friend. I’m a better man because I knew you. Rest in Peace and “Keep your powder dry. “ William Stout West Pittston Police Retired
SUNDAY DISPATCH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 201
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Mural says much about who we are
A
t the official dedication of the Heritage Mural on the Dental Building on South Main Street on Wednesday evening one speaker after another talked about how the mural depicts our heritage, our history, our culture. One of the speakers said the mural “is us.” Let us add this: it’s a good thing the shoulders on the miner on the mural are huge, because tens of thousands of us stood on them. Though it was also said, correctly, that our ancestors who worked in the mines and even in the garment factories were exploited, let us remember that these were the lives they chose and these were the lives that lifted many who came after them to college degrees and better lives. We’re surprised the mural isn’t a bigger sensation. If anyone of us were to travel out of the area and see a similar mural somewhere, it would be all we would talk about when we came back. We’d be snapping photos with our smart phones and texting them to friends. Anyone reading these words who hasn’t seen the mural, don’t take our word for it, make a visit to Pittston and check it out. It will blow you away. While, as the speakers said, the mural is a symbol of Greater Pittston’s past, it is also a symbol of Greater Pittston’s future. It’s just one of the many new features of the downtown which have made Pittston a hub of sorts. The new downtown is attracting development like the Gilbro project, an office and retail complex being built at William and North Main streets that will house North Penn Legal Services and 22 lawyers. The plan is for North Penn to consolidate its Wilkes-Barre and Scranton offices in Pittston. Many city officials past and present have touted the city as a hub for living and working because of its location as a midpoint between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, but to little effect. That people would come to Pittston to live and work was more dream than reality. Now that North Penn and Riverfront and Burne condos are making a reality of the dream, we hope it starts a trend. Look how high the broad shoulders of our miner ancestors have lifted us.
YOUR OPINION Reader pens poem titled ‘What Is Christmas?’ Christmas is a merry time A time for exchanging gifts, A time for bells to chime! Christmas is for spreading love Which is sent from Jesus above. Decorating trees putting up the Christmas lights, Children wondering where Santa Claus is setting his sights, Exchanging Christmas cards, Dressing in shining attire, Drinking homemade wine, Eating chestnuts by an open fire. Christmas is here, It is here at last, The holiday sure comes around very fast! Picking a child’s name
Off the needy tree, These are some things That go down in history. Toys piled on Santa’s sleigh, Reindeer flying on Christmas Eve, These are some things we all Grew up to believe! So as Rudolph guides the Sleigh through the snow. With his shiny red nose aglow We can all realize that Santa Claus Comes from the shining stars above, And we can all believe, my friends, That “Christmas” is a time for Friendship and love.
Michael J. English Pittston Township
‘Christmas is …’ expressed in reader’s poem Christmas is a time for giving A time for love a time for living A time to reflect a time to do A time to enjoy what’s in front of you. Christmas is a time for prayer A time for hope a time to share A time for peace a time for caring A time to be grateful for all you’re sharing Christmas is a time for heart A time for forgiveness a time to start A time for family a time to repent A time for Christmas cards to be sent Christmas is a time for glee A time for fun a time to be happy
A time to decorate a time for cheer A time to cherish love ones near Christmas is a time in December A time for thankfulness a time to remember A time for religion a time to pray A time for God on this glorious day A Christmas wish for all the Pittston Dispatch readers. I’m an avid fan of the Dispatch. A great paper. Through all the Valley has endured over the last few years, we still all have a lot to be thankful for. Peace to all, may God bless. Have a happy and healthy Christmas season and New Year. Love your neighbor, peace on Earth. Michael Lizza West Pittston