Wows and Scowls
June 20, 2003 Wow: Many times we have asked why Pennsylvania’s mandatory school age is 8 when leaders widely recognize that the earlier children begin formal education the better their chances are of succeeding in life. The House Education Committee finally has taken action by endorsing a bill that would drop the compulsory age to 6. It will also require that kids stay in school until they are 18, a year longer than the current age in which they can drop out. Interestingly the bill started out when police in Rep. Elinor Z. Taylor’s Chester district asked for help in keeping kids in school instead of allowing them to drop out and roam the streets. While it makes sense to expand compulsory attendance from 6 to 18, the bill is not without its opponents who posture that it could prove costly for school districts and is just another unfunded mandate. Huh?
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Scowl: If the motives of Kansas’ attorney general were to solely prosecute child molesters then his edict that all doctors performing abortions on girls under 16 report it as possible child abuse would be understandable. But Phill Kline initially wanted to know just about abortions and not about young teen-agers seeking prenatal care. Would that mean that only those girls aborting were abused, when Kansas law prohibits sex with a child younger than 16? Kline in announcing he will prosecute doctors who fail to make such reports will chill the doctor-patient relationship. And it will keep pregnant teens from seeking medical advice out of fear that their private troubles will become a public spectacle.
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Scowl: Perhaps William D. Pritts fried his eardrums on too much rock ‘n roll. That could be one reason for not hearing when the Fayette County Zoning Office told him that he could not hold outdoor rock concerts on his Bullskin Township property. The neighbors didn’t like the noise. And there were plenty concerns about safety, security and congested roads. Despite the turndown, Pritts under the guise of his creation, the Church of Universal Love and Music, has continued to advertise and hold concerts. According to the county, which filed a citation against Pritts, admission is charged. On his Web site, www.ilovemusicchurch.com
, Pritt posted that, “all monetary donations go toward new pavilions, roadways, a playground for children, better entertainment and legal fees.” That last category might eat up all the “donations.”
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Wow: The Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority proves that vigor and attention can restore vitality to an organization. The DBDA, which for the past few years has existed mostly in name only, took on the task of inviting people with a stake in Uniontown’s downtown district to get together, identify goals and start the steps toward achieving common objectives. The DBDA unveiled its plan this week and is already taking steps toward each of the four goals. We wish it the best in sustaining the renewed level of commitment and enthusiasm.
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Scowl: It’s almost a done deal. Motorcyclists will have the option of riding without helmets. The state Senate approved repealing the helmet law; the House is almost certain to agree, and the governor has indicated he will sign. Without helmets minor accidents can easily turn into deadly affairs. But, hey, it’s their heads, the motorcyclists counter, to do with as they please. What’s next up from Harrisburg? A repeal of safety belt and child safety seat laws?
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Scowl: Noah’s Ark of Fayette County Humane & Animal Protection might not be the “chamber of horrors” that a neighbor believes. But it isn’t a no-kill shelter as it was previously billed. Executive director Robin Moore said that so many dogs and cats are dropped off or left to run wild that the shelter can’t find enough homes to place them. She places the number at 7,000 a year. Think about that number. It isn’t on the decline. The county’s animal control has been in a flux for many years. Township supervisors at one point said they would discuss through their association doing more than contracting with agencies, such as Noah’s Ark, to remove unwanted animals. But they haven’t. More aggressive campaigns that make it cheap and convenient for pet owners to spay and neuter their pets, along with tougher enforcement for those who abandon or allow their pets to run wild and propagate are needed.
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Wow: Good news on the DUI front. The number of alcohol-related crashes in Fayette County fell from 94 in 2001 to 80 the following year.
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Wow: Saddam Hussein’s top aid the Ace of Diamonds was captured this week by U.S. forces. Only three men, Saddam and his two sons, trump Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti in the deck of America’s most-wanted cards. As Saddam’s personal secretary, perhaps we can find out what happened to Saddam and if he is dead or alive.