Jeers and cheers
JEERS: It appears that Laurel Mountain Midstream may have constructed a compression station on Windy Hill Road in German Township without notifying the Fayette County Planning Commission and the Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board as required under Pennsylvania’s Act 14. Sara Rosiek, director of the county’s planning, zoning and community development agency, said she could not locate any paperwork concerning an application for the permit. Rosiek said she has prepared correspondence notifying the state Department of Environmental Protection agency of the matter. County solicitor Sheryl Heid noted said the county might be able to request to have the company cited for the omission.
It’s possible that this might have been an oversight by the company, and it can rectified quickly. However, it’s also possible that the company was seeking a way around the county’s zoning laws. If that’s the case, the company should face the strongest sanctions allowed under the law. County residents should thank Jim Rosenberg of Grindstone for bringing the matter to the attention of the county’s planning commission. As Rosenberg noted, a recent ruling of the state’s Supreme Court gave counties across the state more of a role in protecting residents against environmental abuses. It’s a role that shouldn’t be taken lightly, and county officials need to do everything they can to make sure zoning laws, in such matters,are strictly enforced.
CHEERS: Fayette County District Attorney Jack R. Heneks Jr. said he was pleased with the work done by Fayette County grand jury, which concluded its efforts last week after spending two years reviewing criminal matters across the county and recommending charges be filed in several matters. Heneks praised the jurors, noting they paid close attention to the investigations and witnesses, some of whom offered conflicting and confusing testimony.
Heneks said that working with the grand jury provided him with added insight as to how those sitting outside the legal process view the sometimes complicated system. He noted that while some of the cases submitted to the grand jury didn’t result in it taking any action, it’s possible that something could happen down the road as police gained useful information to help with their various investigations. Sounds to us like it was a good step in the battle against crime here, and Heneks is to be commended for his role in the process.
CHEERS: It’s nice to know that long-standing traditions continue to be practiced today, especially those related to Christmas. One of the most enduring is the purchase of a live Christmas tree and it’s subsequent installation and decoration. The good news is there’s apparently a wide array of firs, spruces and pines in all sorts of sizes for local residents to pick from.
Some nurseries are offering help for people wanting to take recycling to the next level by replanting their Christmas trees. Many people involve their children in buying and decorating of Christmas trees, and that’s a good thing because it makes them feel part of the holidays. That alone can provide memories, which last a lifetime.
JEERS: State police recently gave an update on the bomb threats, which disrupted classes in the Jefferson-Morgan School District twice last year and four more times in October and November. Cpl. Andrew Zimmer said one juvenile was arrested, and two others have confessed to being responsible for the threats.
Each threat prompted the evacuation of the district’s nearly 900 students. The students were sent home early during the first few incidents, and during the last few incidents they were sent back to classes after police cleared the buildings. Let’s hope that this will be the end of this nonsense. Thanks to actions by the state police, students should get the message that such actions won’t be tolerated, and those involved will be dealt with accordingly.