Wows and Scowls
Scowl: Ever wonder why there are so many laws? Especially ones that do nothing more than mandate common sense and common decency? Drivers in Vanderbilt provide a clue. The borough council recently was forced to direct its solicitor to write an ordinance that would prohibit motorists from parking on curbs and sidewalks. It seems people ought to know this is wrong and refrain from doing so.
Instead the borough must now absorb the cost of drawing up a new local law, purchasing signs to spell out the obvious and paying an officer to enforce it.
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Scowl: Have you heard the latest joke?
What are two things that make a prison a place of captivity? A fence and locks. Now what are two things the county forgot to request in building an 80-bed prison annex? A fence and locks. Not very funny, is it?
Someone dropped the ball on this one. Opening of the annex, which was supposed to be a quickly erected building at minimum cost, will be pushed back for several more weeks, while the county’s prison board (including the commissioners) try to figure out who should be the target as they point the finger of blame.
Did the architects neglect these two essential elements? Did county officials scratch them when costs initially came in too high? Why did it take until nearly opening day for anyone to notice that this lockup was missing its locks?
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Wow: Congratulations are in order for all the high school seniors taking part this week and next in commencement exercises.
The accomplishments and achievements of the Class of 2002 in both academics and athletics are remarkable. These young men and women need the support of their families and communities in encouraging them to do well the endeavors and adventures that wait them.
We hope that they will remember the value of education in broadening their minds and in how it translates into cash.
Recently released census data indicates a direct relationship between higher education and higher wages earned. This is worth consideration by those graduates still undecided about further education.
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Wow: Mark your calendar now for one of our favorite events. The Fayette County Hard-To-Recycle Drop Off Event will be held June 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the county fairgrounds.
This is the date and time to get rid of all that junk that’s no longer fit for home or yard and that the regular trash collector refuses to take. This is the preferred way to get rid of tires, appliances, motor oil. At a buck an item, it’s cheap. And it’s a tidier and legal way to dump.
Which brings us to the next item.
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Scowl: Why is it that people think they can just drop what they don’t want alongside roads?
Every year a number of civic groups, clubs and businesses sign up to collect litter along some of the county’s most traveled highways.
Their hard work is barely appreciated as little time passes before the shoulders again become favored dumping grounds.
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Wow: Just as we were losing faith in the Pirates, Kip Wells came through Wednesday night for an exciting nine-inning shutout of the Chicago Cubs. Sure the Pirates have slipped below 500 are seven games out of first in their division but the season is still looking much brighter than the last few. Wells with eight wins is one of the reasons.
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Wow: Renelda Thomas of Uniontown reminds all that beauty and age go hand in hand.
Thomas this past weekend won the title of Ms. Senior Pennsylvania and will represent the commonwealth during the national contest. The Senior America Pageant honors women 60 years and older on a combination of talent (which Thomas displays through her paintings and poetry) and inner beauty measured through individual fulfillment and elegance.
We wish her all the best during her reign as Ms. Senior Pennsylvania.
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Wow: Congratulations to three Brownsville Area High School students Rachel Divici, Kayla Harasty and Tiffany Brady who recently competed against colleges and high schools throughout the country at a competition sponsored by the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center and the ROV Committee of Marine Technology Society. The students had to build an underwater remote operated vehicle and then demonstrate how it would work.