Wows and Scowls
Scowl: Hershey Foods Corp. announced this week that it plans to raise the price of its standard chocolate bar products. Here’s the justification: Hershey’s closest candy competitor Mars Inc. is raising its prices so why not join in. A sweet deal for Hershey stockholders. But it’s sure to leave a sour taste in the mouths of consumers. —
Wow: Greene County commissioners kept their word in developing a $23 million budget for 2003. Greene underwent a reassessment this year. Although the commissioners could have raised taxes to capture 5 percent more revenue, they had made a pledge to property owners that they would not. Elected officials deserve recognition when they honor promises made and kept.
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Scowl: If early indications serve as a prediction of the election season to come, brace yourself for long-winded, finger-pointing sessions that are passed off as Fayette County commissioners meetings. All three county commissioners are up for re-election in 2003. Usually two commissioners belong to one political party and the third to another. But the situation is unique this go around. Voters might recall that Commissioner Sean Cavanagh was booted from the Democratic primary ballot, formed his own party, won re-election and then became a Democrat again. This means the three-some are setting up for a fight in which only two will be left standing. Already the rhetoric is hitting high-pitched shrieking level. They might want to re-evaluate tactics before voters are turned off by the lot of them.
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Scowl: If knowledge is power, one might question whether Fayette County Housing Authority Executive Director Tom Harkless wants it all for himself. Harkless sent out a memo to department heads telling them that all requests for information must be channeled through him. This includes requests from his bosses, the board members. Board members ought to be offended that Harkless read into the policy something that just isn’t there and ask themselves who is directing whom.
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Wow: For 31 years people traveling along Route 51 have been fascinated by a large power shovel set along the side of the road. Other than the graffiti scrawled across its fading orange paint job, the huge piece of machinery remained unchanged, anchored to its spot. Few knew the story behind it until owner, 72-year-old Ronald Piccolomini of Connellsville, shared its history. What many just called a “thing” is actually a 1951 model Koehring 1005 power shovel used for coal strip mining. After all these years Piccolomini decided to start the old beast and move it around. Amazingly it still worked, which makes us wonder if the clich’ that they sure don’t make things the way they used to isn’t accurate. Anyway after taking it for a spin, Piccolomini parked it back in its spot, where most likely it will fascinate travelers for another 30 years.