Wows and Scowls
April 4, 2003 Wow: When it comes to saving money, there’s a tendency by management to be skeptical of suggestions offered by unions, that historically are viewed as adding to, rather than lessening, costs. But when jobs are on the line, there’s an urgency to develop more cost-effective ways of doing business. And many times employees can see day-to-day waste that managers, several steps removed do not. Such may be the case with the running of the state prison in Waynesburg. The Department of Corrections recommended closing the prison, as it is one of the most costly ones within the system. During budget hearings this week state Sen. J. Barry Stout asked Corrections Secretary Jeffrey Beard to review recommendations made by the state corrections officers’ union before making a firm decision. Beard has agreed to thoroughly evaluate the prison’s costs. Cutting waste is one of the prongs in the governor’s plan to reduce state spending. If prisoners can be housed at SCI-Waynesburg for the same daily upkeep as other prisons then there would be no reason to close it. It’s encouraging that the guards are willing to help find a way to do this.
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Scowl: Oh, the pettiness of Connellsville politics. No one seems to be happy unless they are unhappy with someone. It’s the city treasurer’s turn to face the wrath once again, and he has no one to blame but himself. The mayor and council plan to take legal action against Arthur Cappella to force him to make a monthly report that gives them a basic accounting of how much money is coming in. They speculate that taxes due pile up in Cappella’s office and remain undeposited. This means the mayor and council don’t know how much is in the bank and is leading them to transfer $100,000 from an investment account to meet payroll, simply because they don’t know if the checks will bounce. Surely there are better tactics that Connellsville could employ to come to grips with its finances. Just as surely, Cappella should feel honor bound to carry out the duties of his elected office. What’s so difficult about opening mail, depositing checks and keeping a record of such?
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Wow: Most of us at one time or another have attempted daunting tasks, such as spending a summer vacation vowing to read each volume of an encyclopedia set from cover to cover. Or even something on a smaller scale of reading the Bible from Genesis through Revelations. Few ever accomplish the goal, which makes the accomplishment of Jessica Seman of Dunbar all the more impressive. Ms. Seman has memorized the entire New Testament. Her purpose isn’t to be able to spout verses to others, rather to provide a solid foundation that brings her comfort and a relationship with God “that is my life, not just a part of it.” The 20-year-old is attending college now, will soon leave for training in the Air Force Reserves and plans to pursue a medical degree.
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Scowl: Whatever happened to faking a sore throat in front of the school nurse in order to get a free pass out of school? Kids who do that are only hurting themselves. In the Albert Gallatin High School a couple of teens got the stupid idea that bomb threats would work the same way and get them out of classes. What they might have considered harmless pranks caused much disruption and considerable unease over the past month at the school. The offending students deserve much time away from school, in the form of suspensions, and will face criminal charges. To those kids thinking of pulling similar pranks, try telling the nurse you have a sore throat or spring fever. It’s just as effective in getting out of class.
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Wow: The local chapter of Project Linus has its own plan for increasing homeland security. Armed with crochet hooks, knitting needles and quilting frames, the volunteers – called blanketeers – are making security blankets for children whose parents have been injured, killed or taken prisoners of war. Project Linus (named after the Peanuts character who always carried a security blanket) primarily provides security blankets to seriously ill or traumatized children. The local chapter, formed in 1998, has made and distributed more than 5,800 blankets. That’s a lot of security blanketing wounded children.