Wows and Scowls
WOW: Survivors of the World War II massacre of the 285th Field Observation Battalion will come together for a reunion and honor ceremony at the Amvets Post 103 in Hopwood at a dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday. Many of the original members of the battalion were from southwestern Pennsylvania. Of 138 Battery B members, only 25 survived one of the bloodiest slaughters of the war at Malmedy, Belgium, when Nazi troops and German tanks opened fire on defenseless Americans who had been taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge on Dec. 17, 1944. The community is invited to attend the program, along with family members and friends, to honor the veterans and hear the stories of those who fought and sacrificed all so Americans could live free today. —
SCOWL: A month before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 and all of the increased government secrecy that was ordered after that date, the Justice Department secretly seized the home telephone records of an Associated Press investigative reporter. Earlier this year, the FBI opened and confiscated his mail. The agents were trying to find the name of his confidential source to shut off information he was receiving, the reporter said. The FBI has since concluded that several agents acted improperly and most likely violated the reporter’s First and Fourth Amendment rights. The poor performance will be made part of the FBI agent’s annual appraisals. That strikes us a slap on the wrist for government agents who misused their authority in an effort to gag the free press. Unfortunately, such incidents by the government attempts to officially intimidate the press or block the public’s access to information are not all that uncommon.
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SCOWL: Speaking of government secrecy, no one in the vast federal bureaucracy and the military branches is willing to provide any details on the mysterious jet aircraft which flew over the city of Uniontown with its landing gear down on Sept. 9, two days before the anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attack in New York. The giant, unmarked jet made two passes over the Connellsville airport, appearing to conduct simulated landings, according to witnesses. The Federal Aviation Agency did confirm that they were aware of the jet’s flight pattern, but that’s all anyone will say. When rumors about black helicopters and secret landing bases in New Mexico continue to spread through the population, add to that list flights of mystery jet airplanes that the government refuses to discuss.–WOW: State Rep. Matt Wright has introduced legislation that would require voter approval for all school constructions plans exceeding $5 million or 50 percent of the district’s annual revenue. Currently, school districts must either hold a public hearing or a ballot referendum before they can proceed with a construction or renovation contract. Almost all of the school districts choose the option of conducting a public hearing. Rep. Wright believes school officials should be able to justify, in detail, to the taxpayers why new building expenditures are essential. It’s an idea worthy of debate, at the very least.