Coal Region Voice

So Long Joe

2012-01-25T05:28:00.000-08:00

Funeral services for Joseph Vincent Paterno will be held this afternoon. Here is an article by Bob McKinnon who had dealing with the Paterno family outside of football.

Godspeed Joe.

Joseph Vincent Paterno, 1926 - 2012

2012-01-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

There are two guarantees in life, death and taxes. In Pennsylvania, you could say we may have had three. For most of us for the past 60 years, it was death, taxes, and Joseph Vincent Paterno. Today, Joseph Vincent Paterno left this world at the age of 85. His death was prematurely reported as early as 8:15 pm eastern time last night.

Besides the Los Angeles Dodgers and Greg Maresca, Brooklyn's most famous export set up residence in the middle of farm country in central Pennsylvania. Over the next 60 years, Paterno through his leadership with the football program helped transform a agriculture, land-grant university into something of envy throughout the nation and the world.

Joe Paterno's football teams won on and off the field. His players became doctors, lawyers, teachers, Hall of Fame football players, composers and who touched many people in every walk of life. I would venture to say, 90 percent of any incoming freshman class were influenced in attending the university for what leadership they saw on and off the football field and the history behind it.

There are still some unresolved issues that will be written about the final legacy of JoePa. Out of respect for the respose of the soul of JoePa and his family I will only offer my sympathy and prayers.

TO THE FANS

For the millions of fans of Joe Paterno and PSU football, Saturday afternoons will never be the same. You have the last of an iconic college football coach who became the symbol of a state and a university. Take pride in the fact that you also helped build PSU for what it has become today and it's influence around the world. Time will heal and a time will come to honor JoePa.

TO THE ALUMNI

There are probably not many alumni who know PSU withough Joe Paterno. JoePa provided you with an example of leadership that you should continue in any endeavor you have chosen. It is still a path if chosen to follow will provide you with rewards in the end.

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In the upcoming months there will be a trial. There will be a time to come clean. Remember, power and greed trips you up everytime.

TO THE PATERNO FAMILY

Grieve the loss of a husband, father, and grandfather. Eventually time will heal. Hopefully, the family will be able to find a new purpose in life beyond football. Maybe on the horizon valuable influence could be spread among, cancer, child abuse and early childhood education. These are problems the state and the country faces as our lives move forward.

God Bless the Paterno family, you will be in our prayers.

Edward Washuta

Etta James 1938-2012

2012-01-22T07:32:00.000-08:00

This past Friday, legendary singer Etta James left this world. Up until May of 2011, I really wasn't much of a blues or jazz fan. By coincidence, I happened to go to a local blues festival with other artists where I met up with some old friends.

Although a life filled with torment, James crossed over many musical boundaries. In only to really getting to know her 9 months before her death, I would say the James was a true original. I am glad through friends I got to learn and appreciate the talent that we may never see again. In the above video, James sings Sunday Kind of Love.

Turkey Chilli

2012-01-20T14:05:00.000-08:00

I recently entered a Turkey Chilli recipe on the PAHomepage contest for the Super Bowl. I could sure use the influence of Harold Jenkins and Michelle Hryvnak Davies. I see my fellow bloggers on the show from time to time.

Calling all bloggers!!!!

Where Harper Was Found

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

This video takes a little close look at the area where the pit bull now affectionately called "Harper" was found. Although a little out of the way, the area is easily accessed.

Looking closely though, all that damage would not have been done to the pup if it simply rolled 20 feet down the hill.

PSU Hires O'Brien

2012-01-08T05:03:00.000-08:00

In an event most of us haven't seen in our lifetime, Penn State has hired a new head football coach permanently replacing Joe Paterno. Bill O'Brien at age 42 and also a Brown University graduate was named to the top job.

Some took the board's decision as good and some bad. Many fans are torn between wins and losses and restoring integrity to the fabled program. There are hurts on all levels for fans. They are still hurting about the treatment Paterno received in being removed from the job. They are also hurting about the way interim head coach Tom Bradley was treated by the board.

What fans have to understand is when the PA AG released it's findings in it's grand jury report and subsequent indictments the landscape of college football and the Penn State program was changed forever. Joe Paterno was the last man standing in an era of coaches like Bobby Bowden, Bear Bryant, Eddie Robinson and Woody Hayes. Coaches who put their stamp on a program and that have become revered state symbols. There is only one chance in the world to do what Joe Paterno had done. Any successor no matter under what circumstances they were hired are caretakers of what Paterno built.

There are some positives out of this hire and you may or may not agree:

- O'Brien has little ties to the program and is good right now.

- Larry Johnson is staying.

- Other assistant coaches may have the same opportunity.

- O'Brien isn't afraid to light someone up, check the video of the discussion with Mr. Brady.

- State College is still a good place to raise a family and be an assistant coach. O'Brien should be able to attract quality assistants.

- PSU fans have long been moaning and groaning about offense and pretty much the lack of quality over the past quarter century at the quarterback position with exception of a few.

-Although there is an active NCAA investigation going on, PSU still has their full compliment scholarships. Winning in 2012 is not out of the realm of possibilities.

Good luck in 2012.

PSU National Champs......25 Years Ago Today!!!!!

2012-01-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

With most of Northeast PA digging out from over a foot and half of snow, the Penn State Nittany Lions to the field in the desert in Arizon and upset the Miami Hurricanes 14-10. The above is the SI cover from the game......not much ink, but here is the story.

Here is footage of the final 10 minutes of the game. With PSU playing 3 times in the 80's up to that point for the national title, looking back some people now say that was the end of the "golden age."

Happy New Year Shamokin!!!!!

2012-01-01T08:20:00.000-08:00

This PSU fan hopes for a better fate in 2012.

History of Festivus

2011-12-23T05:04:00.000-08:00

Enjoy!

Commonwealth Medical College, Good Work if You Can Get It.

2011-12-21T10:37:00.000-08:00

The Commonwealth Medical College based in Scranton, PA recently handed out some hefty Christmas bonuses to their top people. The start-up was funded with public money from the state and private money courtesy of insurance premiums of Northeast Blue Cross.

Here is what Lulac had to say.

Here is what the Coal Region Voice said back in 2007.

Back in 2007, the surplus was 175 million.

That's a Wrap, the High School Football Season Ends In PA.

2011-12-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Southern Coaching Staff

The long Pennsylvania High School Football season came to an end with one local team making it all the way to Hershey. Although Southern was an underdog, I thought they had the stuff it takes to win a game like this. I knew Clairton was going to have a big play or two. I think the limit was going to be three but 5 plays accounted for 300 yards.

Lost in a 35-19 score was how tough Southern actually played. 17-10 in first down, nearly 31 out of 48 minutes possessing the ball and 70-39 in plays run. The only one that does matter is the one on the scoreboard. Clairton had enough speed to put points on the board. They also had enough to keep points off the board and dug down deep when they were tired in the 4th quarter. Tip your hat to the Bears.

All are local teams did well in respect to the season itself. First of all, the weather was something we haven't seen for almost 40 years. Due to flooding in the early season, practice and game schedules were turned upside down. Then add the Halloween snowstorm. Strange enough the bad weather held out most of November and December.

Southern, Mount Carmel, and Shamokin all have something in common. They overcame adversity to win their respective district and almost win a state championship. Southern lost 2000 yards from the line of scrimmage in the first 10 minutes of double sessions. Mount Carmel had to overcome negative press and player suspensions that could have torn a team apart. Finally, Shamokin pulled itself up and made a strong playoff run which electrified a community.

Even though these were the headlines that followed the teams most of the season, all three teams saw tremendous player and team improvement from week one until the season was over. We often see wins, losses and championships as a measure of success. You may want to add overcoming adversity to mix.

Who will win?

2011-12-16T05:30:00.000-08:00

Southern plays Clairton this afternoon at Hersheypark Stadium at 1pm. Who will win? Well, Southern Columbia won there first trip to the state final back in 1994 in easy fashion over Western Beaver. The Tigers then when on to lose six in a row. The big problem was failure to overcome another team's advantage in the speed department. Southern learned from those six losses.

Last year Riverside went out to a 24-0 lead against Clairton, but got away from a power game and tried to play a school yard game. Southern's coaching staff is much better than this. If Southern could dominate the line of scrimmage, they can control the game. The wind may be a factor kicking up to 25 mph affecting the deep pass.

I like Southern, 35-27 with strength of schedule paying off in a dividend today.

The War is Over

2011-12-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

Today the US Flag will come down for the last time and the troops will be leaving Iraq. The costs were some 800 billion in money, nearly 4500 KIA, and over 32,000 US casualties. History will judge if it was worth the cost.

For the record, I was against the war. If anyone cares to remember, we entered the war looking for weapons of mass destruction.

What I will take from the conflict is how once again over a million troops volunteered to serve our country. Your sacrifice can never be measured. PA National Guardman, Sherwood Baker became the first PA guardsman killed in action since World War II. Also, locally Captain Rober Scheetz and Sgt. Matthew Sandri were killed in action. Jessica Lynch who served with honor will receive her teaching degree tomorrow.

For all the troops leaving Iraq and heading back to the USA, welcome home!!!!!!!

Who Would Have Thought?

2011-12-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

With ongoing issues at PSU and Pitt's coach heading to the sunset, heading in 2012, the most stable college football team in PA is Temple? Go Owls!

What They Are Saying About Southern and Clairton

2011-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

Mike White talk about Clairton and maybe the closing of West Catholic.

Keith Barnes talks about the Clairton seniors.

Barnes on Southern.

Dan Stefano puts Clairton in the same class as Braddock.

Bill Bowman calls it when giants collide.

Dan Burda says Thomas may see action on special teams.

Burda's article on Keith Day.

Josh Funk previews Southern for Eastern PA Football.

Funk on the flipside for Clairton.

Joey Weisel previews the game in his blog.

Dad........10 Years Gone

2011-12-12T05:19:00.000-08:00

There are days on life's calendar that you always have in the back of you mind. Today, December 12th marks the 10th anniversary of my father's passing. Hard to believe how fast time the time has gone. My dad but was relatively young by 2001 standards, just 68 years old. However, a lifetime of smoking eventually caught up with him even though he had quit about eight years earlier. When he did smoke it was the "high test" Lucky Skrikes unfiltered.

Even though his death was sudden, it was not unexpected. This part of the end of his life tortured him a bit, not knowing when or how and the thoughts of a nursing home weighed on him heavily. For all the worrying and anxiety, he passed away in his chair watching the mid-afternoon news. I didn't get the news until I came home from work that day around 4:30 pm.

What did he miss in the last 10 years? When he passed 9/11 was still in the news and the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan had not started or were in it's infancy. He would never see a grandson serve in a forward combat area. He would never see the Phillies make it back to the top.He would never see and I-pod or smart phone and the internet was a relative new concept for him. He wasn't much up no technology and going past channed 13 on the dial was a big thing.

When he passes George O'Leary was the head coach at Notre Dame, if only for a few days. He would never see Ty Willinghan and never hear of Barack Obama. He still wouldn't believe JoePa got fired, but he never cared for Joe. My children were 2 and an infant when he left and would never experience my battle with cancer. That was probably a good thing on both of our ends.

With a death in the family, there is something you find out that you never knew or you do get an education. The story about my dad that I never knew until after his passing was the of the religious medal he wore. He wore it everyday I knew him unless the chain needed repair. I had always assumed it was of the Blessed Virgin. My grandmother gave it to him to wear when he entered the Marines in the early 1950's. Later did I find out that it was actually a medal of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. About two weeks before his death, he had a dream that the Our Lady appeared to him. He passed on December 12th, the American feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe!

Ten years later, he is always in my thoughts as I wind my way through life. Though always preaching to his children, there is always a situation in which I come across that he did offer an opinion. The advice is there forever.

I miss you dad. Semper Fi, Biddy.

Be Careful When They Say You Are Doing a Good Job

2011-12-08T03:53:00.000-08:00

Steve Reiner Director of Public Safety was fired on Tuesday by the Northumberland County Commissioners.

Reiner was lauded by the commisioners just two months ago for efforts during the flooding of September. Reiner was second person in this position in 2011.

Others that have terminated in recent years after they were doing a "good job" include a planning director and chief clerk.

Who else is doing a "good job" in Northumberland County?????

Southern's Jim Roth Talks About Penns Manor

2011-12-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

Southern Columbia head coach Jim Roth talks about upcoming game with Penns Manor.

70th Anniversay of Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941

2011-12-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

Lest we forget the sacrifice. Godspeed!!!

Winners Never Quit

2011-12-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

It has been an interesting last 5 weeks for Shamokin Area football. The Indians were sitting with a 2-6 record going into week 9. They were to square off against a Shikellamy team who at that time was the number one seed for the playoffs. Flash forward five weeks. Not only did Shamokin beat the Braves that night, but they are 4-1 since including two 4th quarter come-from-behind wins in the playoffs. In high school football, one 4th quarter comeback is rare. Completing the task twice in the playoffs in consecutive weeks is a miracle.

Five weeks ago, the only ones left believing that this was possible were the players and coaches left in the lockeroom plugging away week by week. The town, the fans, the students, teacher and even this writer had given up hope.

The Shamokin Indian football team may not finish the season with a winning record, but for the community, fans, students, teachers and this writer, they have taught us that anything is possible upon this journey if you believe in yourself and stick together. They have inspired a community.

Good luck Indians!!!!!!

Being Thankful

2011-11-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

So far this year has been tough on many people. Depending on one's perspective, many have been devastated due to job loss, environmental catastrophes or the loss of their health or loved one. I was with hardship crowd this year having lost two close relatives and my health was once again sidetracked.

Thursday November 24th, will mark the 40th anniversary of the Thanksgiving snowstorm of 1971 that dumped close to two feet of snow in the northeast part of Pennsylvania. I was five years old at the time and we spent Thanksgiving Eve at my paternal grandparents house. My uncle's family from Texas was there along with my aunts family from Michigan plus all 6 young cousins. The only thing I really remember is the trip home. The 1966 Chevy Impala would not climb the hills of the Springfield section of Shamokin. My sisters and I were the beneficiaries of a night sleigh ride home courtesy on my uncles Larry and Ray on the mount. Legend is they had a great ride back down the hill.

Looking back it may have been the last time the paternal side would be together again until the funerals of my grandfather in 1973 and grandmother in 1977. The family kept in contact but visits were rare.

Thanksgiving ten years ago in 2001, would be the last holiday spent with my father. He passed away suddenly on December 12th, 2001. Less than a year later, I would be diagnosed with cancer at age 35. One of the things that I am thankful for was the cancer bringing my family somewhat back together. My cousin Lynn and Ray's daughter Lynn and I became very close after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. We became each other's support for three years.

Lynn passed away on June 19th of this year at the age of 52 and her father passed away suddenly just a week ago November 15th. For my cousin that survives, he loses a sister and father within 5 months. My own health took a turn in October when surgery an infection caused a four day hospital stay and month long rehab.

What does it all mean?

I am thankful I had all these people in my life. Even though they are now gone, memories are forever. I had the opportunity to visit Lynn a week before she passed to tell that I love her. I also got to spend quality time with my Uncle Ray and even got to do some shopping.

With my own health issues, I got to how much people cared through visits and phone calls. Four days in a hospital seemed like an eternity.

Be thankful for the memories and little things in life. Be thankful for the friends and family around you, the sunrises and the sunsets, the butterflies and breeze. Be thankful for the people around you. These things are taken for granted everyday, but can be gone oh so quickly in the world we live. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Shamokin and Milton Will Battle for the Title

2011-11-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought this match up in the district final? A few weeks ago Milton was 0-5 and going nowhere. Shamokin was starting to play good defense and their offense was struggling. The turnaround in an ironic way came in Week 6 when both teams faced each other. Milton used a great second half to start the beginning of a six-game winning streak. Shamokin on the other looked in the mirror, didn't fold and continued to plug away.

In Week 12, you have a Shamokin defense forcing turnovers and punishing would be ball carriers. Milton will also pound the ball. Who will win in the trenches will win this one.

Shamokin Looks to Avenge Last Year's OT Loss at Shikellamy

2011-11-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

In what is starting to add some luster to a local rivalry, Shamokin will travel to Shikellamy to face the Braves in a rematch of a 30-13 Indian win two weeks ago. Shamokin started to pick up the pace on their season with a 20-point second quarter against the Shikellamy two weeks ago and rushed for over 300 yards and picked up 20 first downs.

The Indian defense kept pace the following week giving Mount Carmel all they could handle. Don't bank on this one yet. Benny Delgado and Tyler Pratt will have to be dealt with again plus some players have returned from injury.

This one will be a little tighter.

The Long Road Back to Happy Valley

2011-11-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

“This is more than just a program, this is more than a football legacy. This is about people and if we can’t protect our kids, we as a society are pathetic. So, that’s where I stand on it." - Matt Millen

For those of you who forgot, Matt Millen was part of the "Salt and Pepper" combination along with Bruce Clark who played defensive tackle for Penn State back in the mid-70's and those were his words earlier this week.

Whether you were connected to the university or the football team, it was tough week to be a citizen of the Commonwealth. I have known no other coach at PSU in my lifetime being born in February of 1966. Joe Paterno came to Penn State in 1950 and in his life transformed the university into a national brand. He saw Beaver Stadium grow from the stadium in pasture to the 2nd largest in the country. All came crashing down this week. In a place where doing what was right was the rule of the land, the Board of Trustees made a business decision to in effort to save that image.

There are many to feel sorry for in this scandal. To many of my friends, there faith in humanity has been shaken to the core. PSU was part of their life where they enjoyed the triumphs and losses with their family for generations. It has been a place that has molded their characters and careers. Many met their future spouse as undergrads. To many, it was opportunity. To generations across the years, Joe Paterno's firing was like losing a brother, father or grandfather. It has been that tough.

There are people at the Second Mile Charity who thought they were working and fighting for something they believed in.

All week battle lines across the state and country have been drawn in support for or against Joe Paterno. This week is just a small chapter of many in coming years about PSU and football. Yes, I said years. (See Len Bias and SMU).

Major college football has become a cesspool with the advent of the BCS and perpetuated by the NCAA. Do you believe we actually use a computer and vote to see who will play for the national championship? Even though not a fan nor graduate, at the end of the day, Penn State University and their football program was something I could hang my hat on as a citizen of Pennsylvania and still be proud.

Joe Paterno's time at PSU has ended. The nation and world will never look upon the program the same way in long time if ever. We need to get used to that as citizens, graduates and alumni. The road back to that image will be long. Hopefully, Joe will live long enough to see some luster restored to his legacy or live with the torment of not doing enough as further developments come to light. The numbers we should be concerned about are NOT 409-136-3 or 24-12-1. The numbers that matter right now stand at 9-9. Nine victims and nine years of a suspected pedophile to have free reign to roam. The truth will be waiting. We need to find it.

Northumberland Count Makes History With Election

2011-11-09T15:40:00.000-08:00

For the first time ever, Northumberland County has elected an independent candidate to the Board of Commissioners. Steve Bridy of Elysburg becomes the first independent candidate to win the office. He will join Vinni Clausi (D) and attorney Rick Shoch (R). Ousted was Frank Sawicki (D) of Mount Carmel seeking a 3rd term and long time state rep, Merle Phillips who was appointed to fill the term of Kurt Masser who won when Phillips retired from his state house seat.

Phillips was an easy mark collecting a huge pension and saying he would only serve out Masser's term. Sawicki did not get along well with Clausi. As Democrats they never ran as a team, possibly costing Clausi a seat on the board 8 years ago.

Bridy comes from a finance background and once again as the DA's race in Luzerne County, incumbency was a weight to bear.

Northumberland County is looking for financing for a 5 million dollar OHV Park in the southern end of the county while facing a projected budget deficet. The solid numbers aren't in yet.

Mark Anonia lost his bid at reelection for the Shamokin Area School District Board. He was the only incumbent to survive the primary, but ended up losing in the general election.

The question of the election will it still be anti-incumbent in 2012?????

P$U........Where Have Our Heroes Gone????

2011-11-07T13:58:00.000-08:00

In the movie Jaws, Chief Brody gets the mayor to sign a voucher that may bankrupt Amityville in hopes of killing a shark. Detective John Book knew there was no tomorrow when the Amish boy ID'd another policemen in the murder of a narcotics detective in the movie Witness. George Bailey stood up to greed of Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life. However, these are only the movies. More recently, Luzerne County in northeastern PA had their "Kids for Cash" scandal. In all of the above cases good people stood up for the higher moral or ignored it.

For the record, I have gone to one PSU game in my life. The game was the Kickoff Classic at Giant Stadium when PSU played Georgia Tech. The college game for me has gone by the wayside for me since the advent of the BCS system and the corporatising of the game. My car now travels as far as Bucknell, Susquehanna or the occasional trip down to the Main Line and Villanova. That being said, the football program has been a cash making machine for the university and the sports program for over the last 30 years.

A 23-page indictment against former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, was released on Friday prompting perjury charges against Athletic Director Tim Curley and Vice President Gary Schultz. As hard as the accusations against the former defensive were to read, it became clear what had happened between the lines. Nothing!!!! This story should have broke 10 years ago!!! JoePa should have been at the podium saying he is deeply hurt by a long time friend, but protection of children matters here. Sandusky would have received due process. The money route was taken be JoePa and Spanier's confirmed by their weak statements to the press.

Greed and power......it trips them up every time. All of a sudden, Barry Switzer and Jackie Sherill don't look too bad.

Worthy of the Coal Bucket

2011-11-06T19:05:00.000-08:00

The annual game for the Coal Bucket had become a "ceremonial" event for Mount Carmel to retain the bucket the last 5 times with an average score of 33 to 7. This past Friday's game with an 8-1 Mount Carmel game and 3-6 Shamokin team seemed like another ho-hum event at Kemp Memorial Stadium.

The Indians gave Mount Carmel all they could handle for a 20-7 win for the 16th straight time for the Red Tornadoes. It also gave Mount Carmel the number one seed in the district tournament.

With no score at the half, Mount Carmel scored 3 times to Shamokin's one. In the end, it was the seniors and the leader who rose to the top. Myerick Lamb had 32 carries and earned everyone of his 170+ yards. But the MVP for the Red Tornadoes had to be Eric Joraskie. The Indians were held to 7 yards rushing and only 5 first downs. The big part of it was Joraskie no one wearing purple could block or run away from him.

Shamokin entering district play has to be please with the defensive performance. Players that stood out on Friday once again were Mike Yucha (how many tackles did he have), Andrew Hasuga and Jarrod Shurock on both side of the ball.

The stat of the weekend was by Dan Burda of the News-Item. The last time Shamokin won the Coal Bucket in 1995. There were only 1 million users of the Internet in 1995.

Photos above were provided to me courtesy JJN Productions.

Shamokin vs. Mount Carmel for the Coal Bucket

2011-11-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

I was a little surprised this week when Mount Carmel hopped on a bus and headed down to Lourdes Regional to practice on Tuesday. It was two days and high temperatures past the 7 inches of snow in October. Looking at one or two home playoff games after this week, I am guessing the practice part of the Silver Bowl wasn't that great and Lourdes was just a little bit better.

When I interview Coach Foor about a half hour later for his weekly radio bite, he was a little surprised. In maybe on of the best quotes in a while Coach Foor said, "I wish I would have known they were up there (Lourdes), I would have asked them to come down to scrimmage."

Once again, Shamokin will be big underdogs when trying to reclaim the Coal Bucket for the first time since 1995. They do not have the size or speed that the Red Tornadoes posses on either side of the ball. One of the things the Indians have improved on since Southern is turnover ratio which right now sits at +5. They were near hitting double digits on the negative side.

Mount Carmel comes into the game on the heels of big come from behind win against Southern Columbia with a two-point conversion with 36 seconds left to win 22-21. However, in week going into week 10, the Red Tornadoes really haven't settled on personnel and have been inconsistent on offense all year.

The match up of the evening will be if Shamokin will be able to play man coverage on Mount Carmel. The Indians employ Southern's defense to a tee and blitz aggressively. If the Indians have a coverage problem it can be a long night.

Mount Carmel Regains Top Spot in Heartland Fab Five

2011-10-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

By coming from behind from two touchdowns down in the last 10:58 to pull out the win over Southern, Mount Carmel regains the top spot in the Heartland Fab Five. Southern drops back to number two. Lewisburg remains in the third spot. While Mifflinburg who will close out the season with the Green Dragons remains number four. Bloomsburg with the win over Danville is back in the countdown at number 5.

Games of interest this week will be Mount Carmel at Shamokin. The Coal Bucket Game always is a draw for the fans and homecoming for some. Lewisburg and Mifflinburg tangle for a part big part of the AA playoff picture and the winner of the Milton and Shikellamy should decide who the number one seed will be for the District IV AAA playoffs.

Week 9 Will Have Teams in Playoff Mode

2011-10-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

Shamokin Area comes into Week 9 losing three in row since a 42-0 win over Loyalsock at home in Week 5. In losses to Montoursville and Danville, the Indians allowed the playmakers of those teams respectively to beat them. In fairness to Shamokin's "D", not too many teams in the Heartland were going to stop Danville last Friday.

District IV AAA is still wide open with Shikellamy on top and will remain there if they could win out. They will be tested against the Indians and next week against a surging Milton squad. The formula is easy for Shamokin. Keep Tyler Pratt and Benny Delgado from making big plays and they have a chance to win the game and make the playoffs. This will be a big "if".

In other big game around the Heartland, I like Southern over Mount Carmel, Milton over Jersey Shore and Mifflinburg to rebound over Selinsgrove. The think I like about Southern of the Red Tornadoes are turnover. Southern has stayed away from them most of the season. The other thing I don't like is in Week 9, the Red Tornadoes will only be in their second week of a set offense. I'm sure Coach Carm isn't going to be too happy about two hour bus ride to Northern Tier with a loss to Southern. Mount Carmel will be ready.

Playoffs start now!!!!

Shamokin in for Tough Game at Danville.

2011-10-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

The Shamokin Indians find themselves at 2-5 going into week 8 at Danville this Friday. Although only down 6-0 going into the 4th quarter against Montoursville, the Indians fell short on a 26-7 score. Shamokin failed to capitalize on 3, 1st quarter Warrior turnovers.

Danville played a good first half on Saturday at Southern, but the offense was shut down in the 2nd half. What did impress me about Danville was that the defense was able to stop Southern's straight offense rather easily and were a littler undersized.

Interesting stat last weekend for Shamokin was rushing defense. Take away the 30-yard TD run late by Montoursville and the stat was 32 rushes for only 29 yards. Could they keep Dressler in check like Southern? We will find out on Friday night.

All the Right Moves

2011-10-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

This past week Mount Carmel Area had a chance to get their 800th win in school history. Like with their first attempt for win #700 against Selinsgrove, this attempt fell short against North Schuylkill. The senior class of the Spartans have become the only one to beat Mount Carmel three in a row. Hats off to the Spartans.

Off the field, 3 players returned to the field after serving suspensions for off field incident involving alcohol and marijuana. The story keeps garnering top press and was the lead in last night's WNEP 16's 11 pm news. One of main things keeping this story alive were that charges were filed just on Friday with the incident occurring late in September. According to published reports, tests had to be done and the officers was away. With Mount Carmel losing last night, hopefully everyone involved can learn from this and move on.

On the field for Mount Carmel, they had a hard time moving the ball against North Schuylkill. The Red Tornadoes have a two-quarterback system that isn't working. They have run spread, option and wildcat. Do they really need for all that??? Mount Carmel needs to get back to work and be Mount Carmel. Another home showdown looms in Week 9 with Southern Area coming to town. An 8-2 Red Tornado team in District IV AA faces some long bus rides in post season.

************

Shamokin Area once again couldn't take advantage of three first quarter turnovers in losing to Montoursville on Friday, 26-7. The Indians trailed the game 6-0 entering the 4th quarter. The Shamokin "D" has been stellar against run the last few week. Take a later 30-yard TD run off the board, the Indians hold the Warriors to 30 yards on 33 attempts.

Shamokin will have trouble against Danville and needs a win against Danville or Shik to make the playoffs.

************

The Heartland Fab 5 has a few changes this week. Danville comes in at #5 with a great first half against Southern. Defensively, the Ironmen were able to stop the Tigers straight up stuff. It wasn't until Southern made some adjustments that they were able to pull away. Also, Southern takes the #1 spot away from Mount Carmel. They will play for #1 in Week 9.

Heartland Fab Five

2011-10-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

The only change in the Heartland Fab Five is Mifflinburg moving up to 4th and Bloomsburg dropping to 5th. Other than that the top 5 remain the same. Mount Carmel stays number one, followed by Southern and Lewisburg with Mifflinburg and Bloom rounding out the Fab Five.

Yonk and the Voice Go Down

2011-10-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

Last week a blog that I like to follow called the Lulac Political Letter's author took a fall, but his blog kept on going. This past week, I was put on the four-day DL. Bursitis that reared it's ugly head in my knee put me in the hospital with surgery to boot.

I am home now, but missed my first high school broadcast since 2002 with illness. By the way, the Phil's lost. I didn't watch one pitch and saw it coming. More later on the Phillies.

Hospital stays are never fun, but my roommate (cellmate) was a man from my old neighborhood. I got to reconnect with his family who I haven't seen in awhile. Not everything was that bad. For the reunion, I am grateful.

What is the Correct Suspension?

2011-10-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

This past week several football players from Mount Carmel have been suspended for two games for violating teams rules with an underage drinking incident. As a local broadcaster and covering high school sports for 21 years, it seems like this issue is a topic of discussion.

Selinsgrove Area chose to suspend 9 players for the season with a similar issues. Shamokin is a less publicized event lost a few players for code of conduct issues. Finally, it is Mount Carmel's turn to be in the spotlight. Drinking and high school football in this area have around since high school football started. Does that make it right? Once I read the late George Homiak's account of playing in the 1927 state championship game against the Western Conference. He did say it was cold at the game that players drank some whiskey at half time.

When did it become a problem? Often times before modern DUI laws came about in the early 1980's, the problems wear looked the other or swept under the rug. In the 1970's, officers would ID offenders and tell them to get the hell home and get ready for their next game.

Now we live in a society were if the first call by the student is to the parents, the second phone call being made in the equation would be to lawyer. I really don't have skin in this game at all.

For the most part all schools can do is define a policy. But for the most part, it is a policy of "ask no question, and I won't tell you any lies."

The bigger question to ask every year is why does only the football team get singled out. Is it because it is the first sport on the school calendar? You never hear of mass trouble for basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, band, golf, cheerleading, cross country and track?

Good luck!!!

Heartland Fab Five Remains the Same

2011-10-02T04:05:00.000-07:00

Even with Lewisburg's one-point loss to Southern on Friday, the Fab Five remains the same. The Green Dragons are simply the third best team in the conference with 2 losses. They are also an eyelash away of being undefeated at 5-0.

Here is the Fab Five as follows:

Mount Carmel
Southern Area
Lewisburg
Bloomsburg
Mifflinburg

Shamokin Preview for Loyalsock

2011-09-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Shamokin Area's defense nearly did it's job on Friday night against Selinsgrove. The Indians gave up 182 yards on 3 plays and 40 yards the rest of the way. Shamokin couldn't not get it's offense going. Loyalsock has not scored in three weeks and has quarterback problems. Hopefully, the Indians could get off the bus, don't give up the big one, and pitch a shout out.

This was a wild one last year with Shamokin winning 35-33 in the final minute.

Southern at Lewisburg

This one will be a hard call. Throw the scouting report from Mount Carmel away. Back in Week 2, those two teams were knocked out of sync. Lewisburg was still a little banged up from the preseason and Mount Carmel wore them down on both sides of the ball. Southern has been improving defensively with new personal at new positions. This version of the Tigers seems very quick to put things in cruise control. They can't allow this to happen on Friday.

Heartland Fab Five

The only change comes at the bottom with Mifflinburg with their win over Danville takes the #5 spot. The top four remain the same with Southern and Lewisburg squaring off on Friday.

Remembering Southern Assistant Coach, Tim Snyder

2011-09-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, I was a young broadcaster and part of my routine was to check out what was going on and talking to some of the coaches during pregame. While doing Southern Columbia games I would talk to Tim Snyder before the game. Tim was four years ahead of me in school, but he was fierce competitor playing in the line with what today would be considered and undersized frame. Tim was Shamokin grad and former Ron Raker Award winner and we were able to strike up a conversation. Saying hello to Tim eventually became part of my routine when covering Southern Columbia.

Ten and half years ago, Tim suffered injuries in a car accident that left him having to be cared for by family members and loved ones. This past Saturday, Tim passed away peacefully with his family by his side. At the time of his accident, I did not know his family before the accident. I met his wife Lynn who turned out to be wonderful caregiver and outstanding mother. I watched Tim's daughter Brenna grow up into a loving wife and mother to her husband Nate and Tim's grandson, Landon. Tim's son Colby grew up from an outstanding high school football player to a fine young man.

Over 10 years ago, the family had to say good-bye to their husband and father that they knew. This week will be the final good-bye until they are all together again. Tim may have passed for now and his pain is now healed, but his spirit truly lives on.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. -unknown author

In a Loss, Shamokin Found Some "D"

2011-09-25T04:10:00.000-07:00

As losses pile up, it gets harder and harder to get a team to play hard the following week. In Friday's homecoming game against Selinsgrove, Shamokin had a brutal time moving the football against the Seals with under 100 total yards and no touchdowns.

Selinsgrove amassed 223 yards and two touchdowns for a 14-7 win. Inside the number, 182 yards came on 3 plays. The Seals managed only 41 yards the rest of the way. In the second half, I did watch a defense that had the confidence to win the game by scoring another touchdown or forcing a turnover.

The Indians go on the road to Loyalsock and Milton in the next two weeks and are home against Montoursville. These games are winnable before the final 3 games against Danville, Shik, and Mount Carmel.

In a loss, it is still nice to see someone play with pride and determination.

Shamokin's Week 4 Preivew

2011-09-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

Not much has changed in the past year for Selinsgrove and Shamokin. Selinsgrove is coming into Week 4 with back-to-back 0-3 starts while Shamokin is coming in after losing big to Southern Area.

What will the numbers bring? Hard to say. Shamokin has given up 32, 20 and 46 points in three games. In the meantime Selinsgrove has played Mount Carmel and Manheim Central with also a loss to Danville. Do the Indians have a chance?

Southern rushed for around 300 yards against the Indians and only complete one pass for 23 yards. Southern had big rush plays of 80, 32 and 37 yards go for touchdowns. This was about 60 percent of their total.

If Shamokin could stay away from the big, their game becomes much more manageable.

Week 3 Wrap Up in the Heartland Conference

2011-09-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

Broadcasting the Southern at Shamokin game, you can tell how far the programs have pulled away from each other. When the series first started in 2005, Shamokin had enough athletes to compete with two D-1 recruits and one who would go on the NFL and pull off a 19-16 win in overtime. Much has changed in the last six years. Shamokin quickly found themselves down 18-0 and trailed 25-7 after the first quarter.

For a brief moment, the Indians were within 25-14 with the football and 3 minutes to go in the first half deep in their own territory. The punter botched an easy snap inside the 10 and Southern scored getting the opening kick of the second half. In a few minutes of game clock it was 40-14 Tigers.........game over!!!! Southern started to insert the JV's with 5 minutes left in the 3rd. This is with Southern's defense struggling at times.

Say what you want, the Indians problems don't start on the high school level. But once they arrive, they tend to grow. One thing really missing from the Indians program is not program coaches but programs kids. Although Brad Fegley is a first year senior starter, he guided the Tiger offense overcoming 3 years worth of injuries and set backs. Matt Moore another senior is seeing his first action on offense and making big contributions to the Southern running game.

Call it a case of Tiger pride.

Favorites around the Heartland are beginning to show in week 3. Mount Carmel and Southern still remain as the the top two teams. Lewisburg is still number 3. Bloomsburg remains at number 4. Danville is the new team in at number 5 replacing Selinsgrove. Milffinburg (3-0) remains a team to watch.

Shamokin vs. Southern Columbia

2011-09-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

Shamokin Area hosts Southern Columbia this Saturday night at Kemp Memorial Stadium. Right now Southern is hot from scoring 84 points in their first two games. Shamokin picked up a road win the in the slop surviving 4 turnovers.

The key to this game is if Shamokin could move the football while hanging on to it. Southern know they can do both.

Remembering September 11th, 2001

2011-09-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

Jeff Dingle - Villanova University

September 11th, 2001 started out as one of those crisp late summer, pre-autumn days. It was sunny and crisp with little humidity in the air. The day was almost perfect until a little after 9 am in New York City. I was working at my regular gig calling on former owner of WISL 1480/95.3 Mick Haggerty about the upcoming Mount Carmel-Southern Columbia game. Haggerty informed me that plans flew into the both towers of the World Trade Center. Not being near a television or radio, I did not comprehend that these were jet liners. Life as we know in the US, did change forever.

Note: The games did go on Friday, September 14th.

After the days and weeks settled down, I found at that anyone I had a friendship with from Villanova University who worked in NYC did survive. Months later I did get to read the story of Villanova football player Jeff Dingle. In my years at Villanova (1984-1988), Villanova was trying to resurrect a football program that went through 3-year hiatus in the early 80's. Jeff Dingle was running with exceptional ability and contagious smile that you would see around campus. I was later to find out the Jeff basically became the stay-at-home dad while his wife was completing her studies to be a practicing pediatrician.

On that Tuesday, September 11th, Dingle was reentering the workforce at a new job and was at a company breakfast at the Windows of the World Restaurant. I found this online about Jeff while at Villanova, he had a great day on September 10th, 1988.

The story of Jeff Dingle has taught me try not to take things for granted and try to get the most out of life that we can.

Since 9/11 our nation has held great regard for all of military which had taken a back seat since the end of the Vietnam War. We still have men and women who may have been under 10 years old on 9/11 still volunteering to serve. Hopefully, this will be a positive as our nation goes forward.

On the other hand, our political leadership on both sides of the aisle have adopted a "scorched earth" policy of the other side bordering on childish.

Like the ordinary citizens who stepped out of September 10th and became heroes on September 11th, 2001, we are seeing that same spirit displayed as the worse flood in nearly 40 years comes to visit this September.

Mount Carmel - Lewisburg Round 1

2011-09-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

In a week where the Susquehanna Valley was revisiting June of 1972, there was one football game played in Central Pennsylvania. Lewisburg hosted Mount Carmel at Christy Mathewson Stadium at Bucknell University. The Red Tornadoes scored 27 unanswered points for a 27-16 win over last years District IV AA Champions. The Green Dragons were attempting to beat Mount Carmel 3 games in a row.

You can read the coverage of the game here and here.

Some observations from the sidelines:

Merle Moscarello is the best player in the Heartland Conference. Runs like Ricco Rosini alum of Southern Columbia. Moscarello has that rare combination of power and speed.

Mount Carmel although highly touted at this time still has a long way to improve. Right now, too many fumbles and turnovers on offense very sloppy tackling on defense for a Red Tornado team.

The Mount Carmel O-line was very good in pass protection and very good in the second half.

Lewisburg is very quick on turf and maybe more athletic in week 2 than Mount Carmel.

Mount Carmel should scrap the old option play with Varano trying to read the defensive end.

In team spirit, it was great to see the team rally around Zach Wasilewski especially without Shustack and Lamb in the backfield.

This is a rematch worth seeing sometime in November.

As far as the decision to play football last night. It was totally up to Lewisburg. They have to look in the mirror today and wonder if it was worth playing with university students being evacuated and part of the town being flooded a few blocks away.

For the players, it was still hard to gauge, how the weather affected each squad. I guess we will have to hold judgement until November.

Shamokin Preview for Jersey Shore

2011-09-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

With Tropical Storm Lee affecting most of Eastern PA this week, this week's preview will be brief. Both squads were so out of their routine for week 2. It will be the team and staff that could pick up the fastest and get their respective teams ready to play Monday night. As of now Jersey Shore has had the least disruption.

Shamokin also has to clean up the turnovers and score touchdowns. Maybe with the disruptions this might be easier said than done.

GOP Contenders 2012

2011-09-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Two years ago this man talked about seceding from the Union. For the love of country, where is my $2.00 a gallon gas. I guess corn dogs go well with tea.

Labor Day

2011-09-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Labor Day. The chance to celebrate the economic and social contribution that the labor force is making to this country. There are somewhere between 14 and 25 million Americans sitting on the sideline(unemployed) this Labor Day.

Read these post by Gort42 and Walt here and here.

Week 1 Wrap Around the Heartland Conference

2011-09-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Although the stats don't jump out of a newspaper and on to your lap, Brad Fegley (7-46, 1TD on the ground and 4-8, 48 yards through the air) had a great game on Friday night against Line Mountain. Fegley making his first start at quarterback as a senior, led an all-rookie backfield to 6 touchdowns and 460 yards of offense against a very good Eagle team in a convincing 42-25 win on Friday night.

The story on Friday night was not so much about the Friday performance but more about perseverance. Fegley often injured since his freshman year not only directed the Southern "O", but played outside linebacker on a very stellar Tiger "D". Hopefully, Fegley will be rewarded for his hard work with a solid senior year. If Friday's performance is any indication, the Tiger's will be in good hands.

*****

In Hughesville's OT victory over Warrior Run on Friday, the Spartans kicked a 24-yard field goal. The attempt was a little more than a chipshot for most high school players. But when you look at the name of the kicker, Greta Newhart, is a first-year female kicker for the Spartans. Great job by Greta.

*****

Shamokin Area came into Friday's game with Mifflinburg knowing they would have to rely on their defense. With the score tied at 3 with under 7 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Wildcats scored 29 unanswered points as the Indians committed 4 turnovers.

*****

Mount Carmel used a few big plays to beat Selinsgrove on Friday night at the Silver Bowl. Which leads me not make any changes in my Heartland Fab 5. Two years removed from the AAA state title, the Seals will be a good football team. The win by the Red Tornadoes sets up a showdown at Chrisy Mathewson stadium at Bucknell University which will be the biggest crowd their this season.

*****

Former Southern Columbia running back is officially a New York Giant making the 53-man roster. Depending on offensive sets, the rookie fullback should see plenty of playing time in the season opener. Good luck and congratulations to Henry and his family.

Friday Afternoon Pep Rally!!!

2011-09-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Listen to the Southern Columbia vs. Line Mountain Game here.

If you can't get excited for tonight, listen to this!!!! Are you afraid of the Thunder???

Southern vs. Line Mountain Preview

2011-09-02T05:10:00.000-07:00

Southern Columbia hosts a very talented athletic Line Mountain squad in a non-conference opener for both squads. For the Tigers, the Eagles will be their only "A" team on the schedule until November. Big losses for Southern from graduation include Jake Townsend and Jake Morton. Morton was a big horse in the playoffs the last two years for the Tigers. The Tigers also lost Tyrell Thomas in the opening minutes of the first preseason practice.

Any coach worried about replacing their entire backfield would be worried, but over the years Southern has been able to plug in athletes. The Tigers have lost Henry Hynoski, Ted Heitzman, and Tom Schetroma all to injury at key times of the season. The coaching staff knows how to get through the loss of Thomas. It does help if you have 6-2, 200 lb. senior Matt Moore. Moore has been a special teams terror and great defender, now it is his time to shine on offense.

For Line Mountain, the Eagles will fly on how far Marty Beninsky's wings or shoulders will take them. The Line Mountain quarterback did not play in a playoff loss to Southern his sophomore year. Opening day last season saw Beninsky leave the game after putting his team up 20 - 0 with 200 total yards in the first quarter.

How good are the Eagles? Coach Mike Carson thinks this year's group of receiver are ahead of last year's at this point in time. To beat Southern, you have to be good up front. Can Line Mountain be up to the task? If scrimmages are any indication, the Eagles did very well against a highly touted Lewisburg Green Dragon squad.

I still like Southern by 2 touchdowns at home.

In other games around the region. I like Mount Carmel over Selinsgrove. Mount Carmel has been waiting for a team like this since 2002. Shamokin over Mifflinburg. Last year, Mifflinburg scored their only TD in the waning moments against the Indians. The Indian "D" is tough. If they get some "O", this game could be won easily. My alma mater, Lourdes Regional, will be idle this week. Salute to the OLOL Class of 1981, they will be celebrating their 30th reunion over the weekend.

Here is Coach Roth's take on tonight's game, turn up your volume.

The Heartland Fab 5

2011-09-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

For the second year, I have decided to have my Heartland Fab 5 football poll. Here they are with no scientific reason other than what teams I will believe will be the last ones standing in the playoffs:

Mount Carmel
Southern Columbia
Lewisburg
Bloomsburg
Selinsgrove

For the first time since 2008, Mount Carmel will have the same person at the helm that they had the previous year. In Tornadoland, this is hard to believe. The Big Red has 16 starters returning from last season. The team improved as the season went along. Should be a favorite for the District IV title game.

Southern Columbia lost their only returning running back when Tyrell Thomas went down 10 minutes into two-a-days. This team however is loaded with athletes plus the line has more experience than in recent years. Sure Jake Morton will be missed, but out of central casting comes Matt Moore to pick up slack. How quick the Tigers 8 new position starters transition on defense will go a long way. Tiger pride was hurt in the playoff loss last year not being in the game at all.

Many have Lewisburg at the top of the heap, but their are some nagging and off the field injuries starting to pile up. Merle Moscarello may be the best player in the conference, but will surely miss Nate Brown who was a tackling machine on defense and provided solid leadership. Moscarello will have to play more defense and will his supporting cast be as good as 2010. Hats off to the Green Dragons for believing in Coach Tilford.

With Bloomsburg, how much of a supporting cast do they have around Blake Rankin, a Rutgers recruit. Selinsgrove were state champs in 2009, they need to be here somewhere.

Teams to watch if they catch a break will be Mifflinsburg, Jersey Shore, Shamokin and Danville.

Hurricane Irene and the National Guard

2011-08-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

First of all, for those who suffered the lose of a loved one you will be in my prayers.

For the rest of us that didn't notice, I just had to wonder. After watching numerous local and national news stories......did any state's National Guard get called? Are they all deployed overseas? They are supposed to be in case of a domestic emergency.

In case of an emergency, do not follow the pictures below.

Joy in Mudville

2011-08-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

Strike Three!!!

In Ernest Lawrence Thayer's memorable poem Casey at the Bat, there is no joy in Mudville because mighty Casey has struck out. This past summer, I was able to find some joy in my Mudville. With the loss of the Keystone All-Stars last night at the Little League Series, I was able to put a season behind me. More importantly, I have come away on a positive note even in defeat.

When Carl Stotz tripped over his lilac bush in 1938 in Williamsport, what he created out of necessity has become the largest organized youth organization in the world with 2.5 members. Carl's vision of providing a safe place for young boys to play baseball is the lasting one. He wasn't a big fan of the corporate version.

The Shamokin-Coal Township Little League had been laughing stock for District 24 for nearly 30 years. Small miracles were making a game last to the 5th inning. This is not a knock against the kids that played, but an indictment over adults in the area having two leagues over a money issue. I knew the only way to South Williamsport was going to be by hopping in the family car and driving up Route 15.

I got to watch my son grow up through Little League baseball and facing it's trials and tribulations. He was fortunate enough to be on 3 league champions when his team was only considered a favorite once. He settled into the catcher's position for his league team and all-star team knowing his dad once played the position. His all-star team ended up with two victories. It was the first time since 1980 that his team won 2 games in districts.

As pictured above, his Little League career came to end on July 4th. He happened to be the last out. We were able to catch Keystone in the Section 3 tournament as fans. Keystone has been playing a long time since July 4th.

It was nice to watch a local team make it to the Little League World Series. Back in 1997, I watched a coworker coach his Railway Park league to the South Williamsport's paradise. Whether you struggle to win a district game or have the talent to go all the way, most of the characteristics of the teams are the same. Fathers trying to coach and be examples for the sons. Boys and some girls playing a simple game of baseball with the neighborhood friends. Boys getting a chance for the first time to represent their community. Players taking their swings and chances at fielding a ball. Take away all the fanfare, this is most basic part of the game.

Keystone will be remembered in their community forever. Lost over time will be who they played and how many games they won. What will be remembered is the efforts by the kids, coaches and parents coming together and uniting a community and state. Although my son only won two games in the local district tournament and he was the last out to end the dream, there was still joy in Mudville.

Where is My Shamokin?????

2011-08-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

Recently a page came to be on Facebook called "You Know Your from Shamokin When." It talks about all the things that people grew up with in Shamokin and it's surrounding Coal Township. It is a little skewed to do most social media users being under a certain age. Most of the memories come from the last 40 years but there were a few like that went a little further back.

It is hard to pinpoint why such things now so dear to our memories have been lost and to the reason why. The reasons really don't matter.

Here are some of the things Shamokin had at one time:

Edgewood Amusement Park.
Three movie theaters called the Majestic, Capitol and Victoria.
A drive-in movie theater.
Trolley service
Passenger train service
A vibrant downtown that included clothing, shoe, and sporting goods stores often with multiple selections of stores. Anything a person wanted could be found downtown.
The F&S Brewery.
2 major industries were coal and textiles.
One radio and one television station.

It is hard to comprehend, but this phenomena wasn't unique to Shamokin. It happened all over northeast Pennsylvania. Pick any town from Shamokin to Scranton. You can see what happened for better or worse. Are there remedies? Only those of us left can decide.

One Week and Wake Up Until Kickoff

2011-08-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's hard to believe. A little more than one week away from the kickoff of the high school football season. Once again, Clear Channel Williamsport will be covering Shamokin Area, Mount Carmel Area and Southern Columbia on the BILL95 and VARIETY 99 stations.

What's cooking after a week of practice? On the very first day of practice Southern took a big blow with Tyrell Thomas being sidelined for the year with a knee injury. The Tigers are going to lose over 1500 yards from scrimmage from the talented senior. Tom Schetroma returns after sitting out the 2011 campaign with a knee injury. According to newspaper reports, Matt Moore looked good on the offensive side of the ball for the Tigers.

Mount Carmel looks to have their best team since 2008 when the Red Tornadoes lost in the state playoffs to Lancaster Catholic. Once again, the Red Tornadoes look down both barrels with the opening two weeks against Selinsgrove and Lewisburg. Reports out of the Green Dragon camp are that they are little dinged in the preseason.

Shamokin will be trying to implement more of a platoon system and also strengthen the secondary. The are looking for a leader in the backfield in trying to replace Jared Montgomery. They also need to find someone to take up the scoring slack. A strong experienced offensive line and opening games against Mifflinburg and Jersey Shore may take some of the pressure off the young Indians.

As time permits in the following weeks you will see our radio schedule. Previews and interviews about upcoming games and a salute to the 1991 Shamokin Area Indians. In 1991, they are the only Shamokin Area team since the jointure to finish the regular season undefeated. The Indians lost to Conestoga Valley in the AAA state semifinals at Bucknell University.

Celtic Festival is Upon Us!

2011-08-19T02:42:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the 8th Annual Celtic Festival will take place at Spyglass Ridge Winery near Sunbury on Saturday. Here is a sample of my favorite bands:

Silence on Clinton Avenue

2011-08-15T02:46:00.000-07:00

With the start of official practice for scholastic football players in Pennsylvania, there will be at least one team gone from the annual August event. Lourdes Regional will not field a football team and entered into a co-op agreement with Mount Carmel Area High School. Economics and numbers finally caught up to the Red Raiders.

This is kind of a far cry from the early 70's when Mount Carmel, Lourdes Regional and Shamokin won 3 consecutive Eastern Conference titles which was the only championship to be won.

Lourdes Regional has fielded a football since the early 60's when Leo Mulhall was the first head coach and is the namesake for the current stadium.

Cautiously Optimistic!

2011-08-14T02:36:00.000-07:00

Shamokin Area football boosters held their annual preseason picnic on Saturday in a downpour at the RCA grounds. With many first year starters at the skilled positions and seven starters returning on defense, Coach Foor talked about being "cautiously optimistic"

Mike Gurski returns to be defensive coordinator and Paul Stehman returns to coach the offensive line. The Indians will take the field this week at 8 am and 5 pm. with a 10 am scrimmage on Saturday against Williamsport.

Could this be the last year for two-a-days?

Only Four Weeks!!!

2011-08-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

Kickoff for the 2011 season is just four weeks away. Start the countdown!!!!

Look Out Below!!!!

2011-08-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

Today, the Dow tanked 500 points. If your cashing your retirement out Friday, you could have a problem. On July 21st the Dow closed at 12,724.41. Today, the close was 11383!!!! A loss of 1341 points in two weeks!!!

It is interesting how it parallels with the debt-ceiling debate. The real crisis is jobs. WE HAVE A JOB CRISIS!!!!!!

Since coming to the majority on January 3rd, 2011, the House GOP has yet to introduce a jobs bill. I have made a little counter on the left to remind them how long they have had the power to do so.

This guy has some good ideas:

And the best way to get jobs and growth back is for the federal government to spend more right now, not less – for example, by exempting the first $20,000 of income from payroll taxes this year and next, recreating a WPA and Civilian Conservation Corps, creating an infrastructure bank, providing tax incentives for small businesses to hire, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, and so on.

Good night and good luck!!!

Geisinger in the News

2011-08-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Geisinger Health Systems have made the headlines in our area recently. They have to pay 1.3 million back into Medicare for overcharging.

The next day, the health system thought it was a good idea to give 5 million to 10000 employees as a bonus.

There was a great article about the charges by Geisinger for a baby delivery by News-Item reporter Julie Nicolov in her "Don't Get Me Started" column, but it seems the scrubbers were at work. The article appeared on July 22, 2011. Geisinger seems to want her first born as payment.

I am not against anyone receiving a bonus at all. However, with revenue being collected from insurance and Medicare, one just has to wonder where the system is going?

MTV Turns 30

2011-08-01T02:51:00.000-07:00

MTV turns 30 today. For better or worse, they have moved away from showing music videos. In it's heyday, they gave bands a new format for promotion. Today, they give us Snooki. Here is the first video that aired and some of my favorites for no particular reason.

The US Postal Service Says Goodbye to "The Gap"

2011-07-27T02:34:00.000-07:00

The US Postal Service has announced the possible closings of the following post offices in the country including Locust Gap and Aristes in our immediate area. Close to 3700 offices are marked for possible closure. Other some notable places in PA include: Rebuck, Shunk, Lopez, Troxelville, and Weikert.

Here is the full list of closings.

Alpe d'Huez, the Mecca of World Cycling!!!

2011-07-22T05:07:00.000-07:00

Today's 19th Stage of the Le Tour will be the legendary Alpe d'Huez stage. Twenty-one hair pin turns highlight the last 9 miles going up an 11% grade. It is hard to believe it has been 10 years since Lance Armstrong through down the gauntlet to rival Jan Ulrich.

In 2004, Armstrong passes Ivan "The Terrible" Basso in the time trial!!!!

Here is some video of Lance Armstrong's ride in 2001 and 2004:

End of an Era Today

2011-07-21T05:44:00.000-07:00

The space shuttle is coming home for the final time today. This marks the end of the shuttle program plus it will be the last manned mission sponsored by NASA in the near and maybe far future. Thinking back to when I started kindergarten in 1971, the space program was all the rage and you were taught to think big and have an interest in science and the cosmos.

Simply Left Behind has a great post that I will reprint:

Enjoy and Godspeed

It is with deep sadness that I take note of this:

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. A space shuttle left the International Space Station for the very last time Tuesday, heading home to end the 30-year run of a vessel that kept U.S. astronauts flying to and from orbit longer than any other rocketship.
Atlantis slipped away after performing a partial lap around the space station. Ten pairs of eyes pressed against the windows, four in the shuttle and six in the station.
All that remains of NASA's final shuttle voyage is the touchdown, targeted for the pre-dawn hours of Thursday back home in Florida.

The last NASA manned mission, possibly ever. Since my childhood, with the launch of Alan Shepard, American men & women have been in space or preparing to go. Now, no, at least sponsored by the government.

Many would point out that space has become a boondoggle of cost overruns and incremental returns for massive investments.

Perhaps that's true. It's also true of war, unless you want to fight a war for survival or to acquire an empire, none of which is exactly a concern right now, yet here we are in three different theatres, bankrupting the nation and for what? Oil?

The promise the space program held for me as a child is the same promise it holds today: enormous knowledge, the most precious, priceless thing man has invented.

Think of what has come out of the space program: from TANG to transistor radios to computers to GPS to the Internet, all of these come from the space program. Technologies unheard of prior to figuring out how to protect a man in space, from dry suits developed out of space suits to the metal ends of thermometers that more efficiently transfer body heat for more accurate readings. Hell, baby foods have become better because of trying to work out how to feed an astronaut. MRIs, folding walkers, titanium eyeglass frames, pacemakers, all these can trace their roots to figuring out how to help an astronaut in space.

The many triumphs and too many tragedies of the space program have led up to the world we have now, and that program has had a far greater impact on your life than anything, ANYTHING, else of the past fifty years.

We should go back to space. We NEED to go back to space. There are too many problems down here that require us to find solutions out there.

Tom Marino Marches to Johah Goldberg

2011-07-21T02:39:00.000-07:00

Pot Meet Kettle

Both Congressman Tom Marino and syndicated comlumnist Jonah Goldberg talk about "Ideology." When will the new regime begin to talk about jobs?

Selinsgrove Hops and Vines

2011-07-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

I plan on attending the Festival located in Selinsgrove on Saturday. I can't wait to try the Blue Ball Porter by the Intercourse Brewing Co. I promise to enjoy Intercourse responsibly.

I should have time to begin ramping up blogging and post some interesting pictures.......I'm slowly coming out of pit road.

So Long Lynn Marie 1958-2011

2011-07-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

I remember the call I received around three years ago in August of 2008. My cousin Lynn Marie Fracalossi and my uncle had been searching for a home outside of Dearborn Heights, Michigan since the passing of my aunt in 2003. The call that I thought I was going to get regarding selling of the home and impending move was nothing of the sort. "Hi Eddie, it's Lynn and now we have something else in common. I have been diagnosed with cancer and start treatment soon." The diagnosis came one week after they closed on a home in Monroe, Michigan.

It was only a month earlier that Lynn and I spent the 4th of July holiday golfing together at Indian Hills Country Club. Lynn showed no signs of impending illness when she easily shot in the low 80's that day. "I have been through all this was my reply over the phone. I will try to get you through this cancer too."

In life, Lynn Marie was one of the most simple yet one of the most complex people I have ever known. Each one not in a bad way. She was simple in the fact that she could visit Pennsylvania and find some unique place to visit or market to explore while I never knew they existed. She was complex in the way she talked about her illness. She would tell me about every intricate detail of her treatment, but would not tell anyone at what stage was her cancer. Intimate while remaining private. Sometimes it was hard for a person to understand.

Lynn was the happiest in the midst of nature whether it was at the shoreline of an ocean or in the garden right outside her kitchen window. She saw beauty among nature and never lost her appreciation for all things living. At the hospital less than 9 days away from her passing, she was giving out instructions on how to care for some of her favorite plants.

Lynn spent her adult life single and never really dated. She had the best features that Tyrolean and Ukrainian genetics could offer and would not have a problem attracting someone. Through a lifetime of phone calls, emails and personal visits, I never asked the question of her choosing to remain single. I figured that I have witnessed many couple split over the years, the question itself became less important over the years. In the end the question would never be asked and I'm sure Lynn would have never wanted to share an answer.

I went to visit Lynn Marie on June 9th in the hospital in downtown Detroit. I cried immediately when I entered the hospital room. Instead of seeing the eternally young 52-year old, I saw the eyes of my 76-year old grandmother who had passed nearly 35 years earlier. The cancer had taken it's toll. She still had the same voice and told me that she put up a great fight and is at peace with what was happening. At that moment, I was composed enough to have a normal conversation. We talked about the past and somethings about present.

The conversation even got light-hearted. My father and Lynn's mother were brother and sister and took "worrying about everything" to new heights in modern human history. My father who was the youngest of three siblings passed in December of 2001 while Lynn's mother passed in June of 2003. I told Lynn that she will see them soon and then I asked, "I wonder if they stopped worrying by now?" Lynn laughed as hard as her physically limitations would allow. I thought we were going to have to call a nurse for assistance.

We left Michigan on Saturday June 11th before Lynn came home to hospice. In my last conversation over the phone (which she sounded great) I told her that we are still 2-0 against cancer. You didn't let it get you down and it brought our family together. Before my voice started to crack the last thing I simply said was, "Lynn, I love you."

I knew there was going to be an impending phone call coming from Michigan in the near future. I attended my local Relay for Life, but couldn't escape the thought that Lynn was in her last hours. I was hurting inside inside wondering if anything really if it was worth any effort. I had to find a way to heal myself and started to think of all the people who would travel down this path once again. As the sunset, I left the Relay in better spirits.

The call I knew I had coming shortly after I left Michigan came Sunday afternoon. Lynn passed away 8 days later on Sunday, June 19th. It was 8 years and 12 hours since her mother's passing on June 18th, 2003. We never know how much time we have on this earth. We just need to make every moment count.

July 4th, 1776

2011-07-04T04:08:00.000-07:00

235 years and counting.............

My Dog Louie

2011-07-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

My dog Louie and my neighbor's dog Murphy having some summertime fun!!!! Enjoy!!!

Inequality Anyone???

2011-06-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

If you are a working stiff, the chart should be of great concern to you.

I have been off the blog trail for a little while with some personal things that needed attention some good, some bad!!!!

Some thinks to think about as the summer goes on Tommy and Louie are camera shy if they don't know ya.

June is usually a good month for teachers. Not so much this year. That ax you hear outside is not the long overdue landscape project, but being a teacher under Tom Corporate.

Making the Grade

2011-06-01T19:36:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted much lately. I have been very busy with many things. With the weather situation in Pennsylvania the last few weeks, I have been very busy as an baseball/softball umpire. Being an official in any sport is part vocation, part volunteer, part hobby and maybe part occupation.

A few years ago at the urging of a friend, I took the PIAA high school softball test to be an umpire. After a cancer diagnosis in 2002 and baseball in some form being part of my life for most of my years at that point. I wanted to figure out a way to get back in the game ( I grew up less than 200 yards from a baseball field). The way back came in the form of being an umpire.

Like with any sports related, the next level doesn't come easy. You may have been a good player, but that does not guarantee success as a manager, coach or official. You have to work at it!!!! You have to practice your trade. Often times you question why you chose to officiate.

After umpiring hundreds of games over the past few years from high school softball down to Little League baseball, I was rewarded with my first playoff game week. I worked the bases in Bloomsburg's upset win over Mifflinburg. On Sunday, I got the call that I would be part of a 4-man crew working a District IV semifinal between defending state runner-up Montgomery and state semifinalist, Northeast Bradford.

It was only fitting that each man in that crew had a part in me being there. I was chosen to work 1st Base. The home plate umpire and crew chief Duff Ripka has been a great influence and believed in me getting me started in summer ball and working elite travel tournaments. Art Rovito was the 2nd Base umpire. I worked my first high school game with Art. Dave Fetterman was at 3rd base and gave me some great advice working together when starting out.

The best reward we received after working a 2-0 Northeast Bradford win was nothing. The final out was made and we walked off the field while the fans cheered both teams. Our exit was not noticed and that's the best reward of all, it's all for the players.

In a vocation where you only are as good as your next call or next game, one quote sticks out in my mind:

So many people want to make it to the top, but are not willing to start on the bottom.

Post Election Wrap, the "Team" is Gone.

2011-05-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

A field of 13 candidates got whittled down to 6 for November as 4 candidates received double nominations in the race for the Shamokin Area School Board. Bernie Sosnoski, Robert C. Getchey, Ron McElwee and Charles Shuey were nominated on both ballots. Jeff Kashner and incumbent Mark Anonia will square off in November. They will join incumbents Tracey Witmer, LaRue Beck, Ed Griffiths, and Brian Persing when the board reorganizes after the fall election.

Incumbents Todd Hockenbrock, Charles Carpenter, Barry Rebuck and Daniel Venn who ran as the "The Team" in 2007 were ousted.

The new board will have most of 2012 to prepare for what could be a 4.3 million dollar shortfall. Shamokin Area is fine for 2011-12.

As much as people want change at the SASD, things stayed boring for now in Northumberland County with incumbents Vinny Clausi, Frank Sawicki (D-I)) and Merle Phillips (R-I) joined by newcomer Rick Shoch (R) for the 3-member board.

Some of the issues facing Northumberland County are funding an OHV Park near Shamokin and ongoing employee lawsuits.

Some winners on Tuesday were Tracey Witmer and Myron Turlis. Witmer led the charge to oust "The Team" on election day. Turlis, the mayor of Kulpmont, had a great showing finishing just behind Sawicki.

Olive Branch?

The ink has not been dry on the results and the first shots were fired at the Shamokin Area School Board meeting on Thursday. In some business:

Pre-K was dropped.

It is a sad day," commented Shamokin Area Superintendent James Zack after the board voted to eliminate the K-4 program that affects more than 100 students. "This isn't something we recommended or want to do, but we really have no choice. It hurts to cut K-4. It's not an easy decision, but we had to move in this direction."

Zack, who noted the district is facing a potential $4.3 million deficit in the near future, said a proposal was made to Shamokin Area Education Association to increase class size at the elementary school in an effort to retain the K-4 program, but he said the teachers' union did not accept the offer.

The superintendent, who did not blame the union for the board's decision to eliminate the K-4 program, said the four teachers currently involved in the program will be reassigned within the elementary school. He noted five elementary school teachers are retiring at the end of the school year. "The only good thing about this is that the K-4 teachers won't lose their jobs," Zack said. "We will have enough money in the budget to cover their salaries."

In a strange irony, the measure passed on a 6-2 vote with Witmer siding with "The Team."

Later in the meeting, the first shots were fired between Charles Shuey, Director Griffiths and Superintendent James Zack.

At the beginning of the meeting, Charles Shuey, who earned the Democratic and Republican nominations for a seat on Shamokin Area School Board in Tuesday's primary election, asked Zack why he didn't attend a recent meeting in Harrisburg with state Sen. John Gordner to discuss proposed drastic cuts in education in the state budget.

Shuey said Zack was one of two superintendents in the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit who did not attend the session.

Zack told Shuey he had a conflict with another meeting that day and was working in the district. "I didn't think that was a priority since I have met with state legislators Kurt Masser and Lynda Culver in the past to discuss the proposed cuts," Zack said. "I thought my time was better spent working in the school district. I was here at work doing my job."

Griffiths criticized Shuey, who has lodged numerous complaints at school board meetings in recent years, for "attacking" Zack for doing his job.

"Why is Mr. Gordner so concerned about our superintendent not being present at a meeting?" Griffiths asked. "He hasn't brought much industry to our area over the years."

Griffiths' response prompted Shuey to reply, "Maybe that's why the election went the way it did." Shuey's comment was in reference to the four incumbents (Venn, Hockenbrock, Rebuck and Carpenter) known as "The Team" being defeated in the election.

Griffiths then said, "You got your shot in, now sit down."

With a project 4.3 million dollar shortfall for 2012-13, and the "spineless one" still being in office, the new board should not waste time on the following:

-Running the superintendent out of town.

-Firing the football coach.

-micromanaging day-to-day operations.

-reignite old political battles.

These have all been "oldies, but goodies" but the clock is ticking.

Be a Citizen, Please Vote Tomorrow

2011-05-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania will be holding primary elections tomorrow in the Commonwealth. Although state and national offices are few if any, local elections are an inferno of activity.

In Northumberland County, 11 candidates have stepped up to the plate to run for the office of commissioner. Many local school boards are having elections. These elections will be important as the winners will eventually captain local government ships through some stormy weather.

If you agree with the status quo or not, be a citizen. Learn about a candidate and their vision. Go to a poll and make a choice. On Tuesday, be an American.

I would like to wish good luck to all the candidates that have come forward.

Raising a Glass to the Cerise and White Football Team.

2011-05-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

Early this week, Lourdes Regional entered into a co-op agreement with Mount Carmel for football and baseball ended nearly 50 years of Lourdes Regional football. Although, not unexpected it is a little bit of a shock. The Red Raiders finally got caught up in a numbers crunch where fielding a team became a safety issue.

Shutting down the football team and co-oping with MCA is a wise decision. When I entered the halls of Lourdes Regional in the fall of 1980, 550 students were in grades 9 through 12. Now a high school class averages from 20 to 30. It's not that students deserted Lourdes Regional. Working families fled the area that feeds the high school.

Over the years, Lourdes Regional did have some success on the field in different decades. The 1972 team was undefeated in the old Central Penn Catholic League which featured team like Bishop McDevitt, Lancaster Catholic and Trinity. The 1974 team went 10-0-2 and tied West Scranton for the Eastern Conference Class A crown. The '74 team was part of local "golden age" where Mount Carmel were champs in '73, then Lourdes in '74 followed by Shamokin's magical '75 team.

The 1983 team went 9-1 and was narrowly edged out for a EC division crown by Southern Columbia who went to win the first of many EC, District and State titles.

Although most of the Red Raiders glory years were absent of playoff games and wins but some of the highlights include:

1974 - 12-12 tie with Mount Carmel
1974 - 14-14 tie with West Scranton for a share of EC big school title.
1974 - 26-19 win over Shamokin in first game between the schools.
1983 - 20-8 win over Shamokin for first win against the Indians since 1974.
1984 - 20-14 win over Shamokin on the "Reiprish to Olear to Witt" hook-and-ladder in the final minute.

Some of the top players for the Red Raiders over the years include Rich Reiprish who went on to earn a Super Bowl ring with the New Orleans Saints. Ron Gryzbowski who starred at North Carolina and had a try out with the Dallas Cowboys. Dennis Zmudzin who was a star at Penn State. Dr. Martin DeFrancesco who went on to Brown University. Finally, Judge Tom Vanaskie who starred at Lycoming College.

Leo Mulhall was the first head coach at Lourdes Regional. Michael "Gish" Klembara had two different stints and still remains the face of the program. Bob Oravitz, Ron Gryzbowski, Bob Chesney, Ken Shedleski, and Corey Houser round out the group of head coaches. I may be missing a name or two from the 60's.

I played for both Gryzbowski and Chesney. Both were men of great integrity. Many things that I learned from them and their coaching staffs, I apply in my daily life. I can honestly say, without them, graduating college would not have been possible.

If this is the final whistle for the football team, it will not be measured by wins and losses or trophies in the case. It will be measured on the character of men it produced and how they affected and helped the lives of others.

Cancer Revisited

2011-05-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

A few years ago when I started this blog, many articles were geared toward the fight against cancer and advocating for colon cancer screening. I have been cancer free for about 8 years now and some of my individual issues have been on the back burner.

Well the "beast" has returned to my family once again. My first cousin, Lynn, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the summer of 2008. Since that time she has been the recipient of multiple chemo treatments, hospitalizations and surgery. We have reconnected since my father's death in 2001 her mother's in 2003 and both of our cancer diagnoses.

Although I finished my treatment in 2003 and have been cancer-free and Lynn continues her fight to this hour, I still consider both of us to be survivors. How have I come to this conclusion? You have the point you feel a pain of have something going on physically that you never experienced before. You go to your doctor. They run tests. You may see a specialist or have a biopsy....more test. Then the day comes when your sitting in an office somewhere and a doctor tells you the words you know that are coming, "you have cancer."

Being a survivor has nothing to do on whether you live or ever become disease free. Being a survivor is about not letting the disease rule you life and to continue to live your life on your terms.

Cancer really does hit women harder than men especially in ovarian and breast cancer. The treatments can be brutal. Weight gain, weight loss and hair loss are part of the norm. The "loss" of physical appearance can be emotionally draining for some if not most. The silver lining to this is you could can focus on the heart and soul which now shines brighter than ever.

While laying in my hospital bed in '02, it was time for the "Jimmy V Classic" on ESPN. They replayed his speech at the ESPY's that night and for some strange reason I knew I would be ok.

Here is the last part of that great speech:

Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.

For anyone taking part in Relay for Life this season, think of those words above.

Saying Goodbye to the Par-3

2011-05-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Around the rumor mill, the Par-3 neighborhood bar in Coal Township is changing ownership this weekend. This leaves Nolter's Cafe as the longest owned neighborhood tavern in Coal Township under one family.

If John Patrick had his way, this was the final song on the jukebox:

The Last Word

2011-05-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

On the mark!!!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Presidential Bumps

2011-05-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Reposted from Andrew Sullivan's The Dish.

I trust polling and political science ... up to a point. But seriously, the idea that this event does not transform the arc of the Obama presidency is to miss the moment.

Obama avoided a plunge into the second Great Depression. He saved the auto industry. His bank bailout may make a profit. He has withdrawn most troops from Iraq. He has ended the ban on openly gay servicemembers. He has appointed two women to the Supreme Court. He muscled universal healthcare through the Congress into law. He ended torture as the law of the land.

Abroad, since his Cairo speech, democratic revolution after revolution has occurred. From Tehran to Tunisia to Egypt, Bahrain, Syria and Yemen, the march of freedom George W Bush imagined has actually swept the region under his successor. Where Obama has failed - Israel/Palestine - he may still prevail.

But the capture and killing of bin Laden eclipses these. It does two things instantly: it tells us that an American named Barack Hussein Obama ordered the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. A man who symbolizes an integrative, tolerant, multicultural future defeated the symbol of a twisted, dark, fundamentalist past. A man who represents the human continuum of the developing and developed worlds defeated a man who seeks only one world and Shariah rule over all of it. And it also tells those who have been bombarded with lies and rumors and disgusting smears that this president, whatever they have been told, is no weakling, no terror-lover, no alien. He is as American as every new passport holder and every ancient Southern or Yankee family.

He found and killed the man Red and Blue America equally wanted found and captured or killed. And in that specific fact, a certain narrative - the narrative the degenerate right has been trying to fix to him for years - must now die. And it must die in the heart of the red states as well as in the mind of the blue ones.
Far from being somehow un-American, this president is only conceivable in America. Which makes this moment so rich with meaning and justice and, yes, hope.

Why We Golf? Hopefully You Will Understand!!!

2011-05-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

Over the last quarter century I have been ribbed why does one actually golf?? Mark Twain once said, "It is a good walk wasted."

I could list a few of my reasons in no particular order:

I'm in touch with nature.
It is relaxing.
I clear my mind.
I don't need a another player.
You could play in the rain, (except lately of course)
Still get to play and wear nice clothes.
You can still play while smoking a cigar.
You can play while drinking.
You can play while eating.
It gets you out of the house.

This past weekend was an interesting 72 hours where we saw British Royalty get married and the killing of the world's most wanted terrorist.

I am simply amazed at the timeline of our President this past weekend. On Friday at 8:20 am, President Obama gave the order for the mission. He flew to Alabama to comfort tornado victims. He flew back to the White House Correspondents dinner and took down Donald Trump. Then Sunday is awesome.

On Sunday, Obama went to play golf in the morning at Andrews Air Force Base. He played 9 holes in chilly, rainy weather and spent a little time on the driving range, as well. Meanwhile, the principals were assembling in the situation room at the White House. They were there from 1:00 PM and stayed put for the rest of the day.

At 2:00, Obama met with the principals back at the White House. At 3:32 he went to the situation room for another briefing. At 3:50 he was told that bin Laden was "tentatively identified." At 7:01 Obama was told there was a "high probability" the high value target at the compound was bin Laden. At 8:30 Obama got the final briefing.

So just before the biggest counter terrorism strike to date, President Obama was working on his golf game even at the range!!!!! The next time anyone wants to nag a guy loading the clubs in the back of the car please think of this and what it has done for the country and the world.

On a serious note, there is a why to everything. This mission was top secret. It had to stay that way. Nothing could raise eyebrows.

Obama did not carry the assault rifle. But as Commander-in-Chief, as assembled his team including keeping the previous Secretary of Defense in Robert Gates. He followed the directive of two former Presidents and he called both before he briefed the nations. By the way, he was not holding up military pay. Read your civics, Congress pays the bills.

This wasn't President Obama win. It was a winner for the Presidency of the United States. It was a win for military he commands (read your Constitution) and finally, it was a win for "We the People."

Osama Bin Laden is Dead!!!!!

2011-05-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

ABC News has reported that US forces have killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. The US has been looking, hunting and searching for Bin Laden since September 11, 2001 and finally the effort has paid off.

For nearly a decade, many US troops have hunted for the face of terrorism and have met with mixed results along the way. Many of our troops and their families have sacrificed and paid the ultimate the price for our freedom here and abroad.

Today, we may have killed the face of terrorism. Have we stopped the movement? Only time will tell. That is not the reason to celebrate.

Let us lift our glass to celebrate and remember the efforts of our troops for the past decade both home and abroad. May we remember their effort and never forget their sacrifice.

Peace out!!!!

Happy Blogfest!!!

2011-04-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

For those of you heading to the Rooney's Pub in Pittston for the spring Blogfest, I am wishing everyone a good time.......hope to meet you guys sometime soon.
By the way, what was Minuteman Haz Mat cleaning up near the Celotex plant in Sunbury yesterday. The Daily-Item only has this story in their print edition.

The NFL Draft Starts Tonight With a Local Twist

2011-04-28T04:33:00.000-07:00

The NFL has moved the 1st round of their annual draft from Saturday at noon to Thursday (today) at 8 pm. Only the first round takes place today even under the lockout by the owners. Probably not since the days of Gary Brown of Williamsport and John Flannery of Pottsville will the draft have an impact so close to home.

Henry Hynoski of the University of Pittsburgh and Southern Columbia High School is expected to fall between the 4th and 6th rounds as a fullback.

Broadcasting local high school football for the past 15 years and covering it for 22 overall, I got to see the highs and lows of Hyno. I was in Scranton when he was injured his freshman year in a playoff run and had to watch the rest from the bench. I had the call his sophomore year when he rushed for 409 yards and 6 touchdowns against Pius X. That game legitimized his speed and set the tone for his junior and senior seasons. I was also their when Old Forge asked the question of "Henry Who?"

As devastating as Henry was as a high school runner, Pitt utilized him as a blocker helping Dion Lewis, Shady McCoy and Ray Graham to new heights.

While most of Pennsylvania knows about Henry from what they seen on Fridays and Saturdays, the rest of us never seen the hard work Henry put the other 5 days a week since junior high.

The NFL draft is something of football capitalism plain and simple. Your not mentioned in the draft unless you have the skills and work ethic to produce......plain and simple. NFL "War Rooms" take this very serious not to waste picks and build teams, but complete flops could come back to haunt you both in the short term and long term. The 4th through 6th rounds are considered value areas where you can get great player even future Hall of Famers and not have to part with big dollars. To get to this area of football you have to have talent, some luck, but a huge heart.

When the 4th round starts on Saturday, hopefully Henry is surrounded by friends and family when that phone rings and says, "This is _______, we have selected you in the draft." With all of things wrong in this world, the locals will have something to cheer!!!!

Good luck Henry!!!!

The Real Housewives of Wall Street

2011-04-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

Why is the Federal Reserve forking over 220 millions of bailout money to the wives of two Morgan Stanley bigwigs????

Great article by Matt Taibbi in the Rolling Stone.

Highlights include:

What started off as a targeted effort to stop the bleeding in a few specific trouble spots became a gigantic feeding frenzy. It was "free money for shit," says Barry Ritholtz, author of Bailout Nation. "It turned into 'Give us your crap that you can't get rid of otherwise.' "

In the case of Waterfall TALF Opportunity, here's what we know: The company was founded in June 2009 with $14.87 million of investment capital, money that likely came from Christy Mack and Susan Karches. The two Wall Street wives then used the $220 million they got from the Fed to buy up a bunch of securities, including a large pool of commercial mortgages managed by Credit Suisse, a company John Mack once headed. Those securities were valued at $253.6 million, though the Fed refuses to explain how it arrived at that estimate. And here's the kicker: Of the $220 million the two wives got from the Fed, roughly $150 million had not been paid back as of last fall — meaning that you and I are still on the hook for most of whatever the Wall Street spouses bought on their government-funded shopping spree.

- Muammar Qaddafi received more than 70 loans from the Federal Reserve, along with the Real Housewives of Wall Street.

Perhaps the most irritating facet of all of these transactions is the fact that hundreds of millions of Fed dollars were given out to hedge funds and other investors with addresses in the Cayman Islands. Many of those addresses belong to companies with American affiliations — including prominent Wall Street names like Pimco, Blackstone and . . . Christy Mack. Yes, even Waterfall TALF Opportunity is an offshore company. It's one thing for the federal government to look the other way when Wall Street hotshots evade U.S. taxes by registering their investment companies in the Cayman Islands. But subsidizing tax evasion? Giving it a federal bailout? What the fuck?

They asked for shared sacrifice, but for who??????

Protecting Our Village

2011-04-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Great Article by Paul Golias

When you step back for a moment and consider the bigger picture, the Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling expansion does not appear to be in the best interests of Pennsylvania residents.

But then again, how often does the welfare and quality of life of Pennsylvania citizens come into play when there is money to be made?

It just does not seem like Pennsylvanians will come out of this experience with positive outcomes. And we have the century-long experience with coal mining as evidence.

As you travel through Luzerne County and Northeastern Pennsylvania, you see culm banks and scarred landscapes that are reminders of the days when coal barons took the coal and left the waste and ruin. Only the value of once-shunned coal within the waste banks has prompted their removal, for profit, and millions in state money have been spent to clean up polluted creeks, reforest land, prepare acreage for development or seal mine entrances and air shafts. Yet many of these problems remain decades after coal companies have shut down.

With this as background, it was encouraging to see that Back Mountain communities have updated zoning ordinances to deal with natural gas drilling problems, to the limited extent that communities can set parameters. Kingston Township, for example, is eyeing truck traffic and compressor stations as potential issues.

It also is encouraging that citizens are mobilizing to protect children in home and school settings, neighborhoods, streams, reservoirs and communities in general. For the sake of jobs and the economy, we allowed Northeastern Pennsylvania to be ravaged by coal companies for decades; now, we have folks balancing all of the factors and, in many cases, choosing quality of life over the dollar.

One revelation that makes these decisions to favor quality of life easier is that foreign companies have a large stake in the natural gas drilling market. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported, in a dispatch carried in The Citizens' Voice, that foreign companies are buying significant shares in drilling companies and plan to liquefy the natural gas extracted in Pennsylvania and ship it overseas.

Once banned, exports of oil from the North Slope of Alaska are now allowed, up to 7 percent of production. Environmentalists make a good argument that allowing exports of oil or gas, at any ratio of total production, is a poor trade-off for risking land and sea degradation.

The realities of the oil and natural gas business appear to run counter to the argument of the industries that drilling and development of the resources will help alleviate our dependency on imports. Then tie in the political instability in the Mideast, our military adventures there and the expense thereof, in lives and billions of dollars, and you have some perplexing questions.

Looking at the still-scarred face of the eastern mountain overlooking Wyoming Valley, and realizing that coal seekers stripped the land and then walked away 60 years ago, one would be justified in wondering what scars will be left by the natural gas drillers of today. Are we re-living history? Is the potential degradation of the 21st century more evil than that of the 20th century, given the geopolitical quagmire in which we are enmeshed?

We applaud those individuals, citizen organizations and municipalities that are taking action to protect our village for generations to come.

Paul Golias, retired managing editor of The Citizens' Voice, writes a weekly column on regional issues. He can be contacted at pgolias@ptd.net.

GOP Votes Tax Cuts For Rich, No Medicare For You

2011-04-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

The is a post by John Morgan from the PA Progressive site.

The US House of Representatives today passed Congressman Paul Ryan's budget proposal by a vote of 235-193. It calls for $2.9 trillion in tax cuts for the richest Americans and corporations while ending Medicare and Medicaid. Instead of government managed healthcare for seniors with a mere 3% administrative cost elderly and disabled Americans would get vouchers to buy insurance in a private market where overhead is 30% and they can be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions or denied medical care at the whim of a corporate death panel.

This extreme proposal was supported by every member of the Republican delegation from Pennsylvania:

Jim Gerlach
Charles Dent
Mike Fitzpatrick
Joe Pitts
Mike Kelly
Tim Murphy
Tom Marino
Lou Barletta
Pat Meehan
Bill Shuster
Todd Platts

It is amazing to realize that each of these men chose to run on this issue next year. How many seniors will support someone who just sold them down the river? How many of those facing long term care will decide eliminating Medicaid will help them? How many of the poor who depend on the program for health care will continue to vote Republican? How many working people will continue voting for the further enrichment of the richest people in the country and against their own financial interests? We'll see.

By the way, here is what they have also taken away courtesy of John:

When Republicans use the word "reform" they really mean "eliminate." In the past ten years they've "reformed" everything on this list. I sat down the other day and began compiling everything they have either taken from us or are attempting to steal. I'm sure I missed some so feel free to add to the list in your comments.

Your job
Your house
Your healthcare
Your pension
Your clean air
Your potable water
Your collective bargaining rights
Your wages
Your right to privacy
Your right to a fair trial
Your right to a lawyer
Your right to see evidence against you in court
Your right to a civil trial
Your right of habeas corpus
Your right to keep your financial records private
Your right not to have your home searched without probable cause
Your private library records
Your private telephone and email conversations
Your private correspondence
Your reproductive rights
Your right to wed the person you love
Your right to medical care
Your right not to live in poverty
Your right to vote
Your right to dignity
Your right to vote
Your right to sue for negligence if injured
Your right to a good public education
Your right not to use your tax dollars for religion
Your right not to get shot
Your right not to be forced to give birth to your rapist's child
Your right to safe food
Your right to safe medicines
Your right to unemployment insurance
ALL YOUR MONEY
Your right to sue a doctor who cuts off the wrong limb
Your right to sue a company which injures you

GOP's War on the 20th Century

2011-04-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

Last Friday around this time, lawmakers in Washington were haggling through the 11th hour on how to trim less than pennies of the federal budget. Last night the House and Senate passed the rest of the 2011 spending bill and now comes the big fight for the trillions. The House voted 260-167 while the Senate passed it 81 to 19 and sent it off to the President's desk. (There is a whole blog post about the vote coming.)

Enter Paul Ryan. The six-term congressman from Wisconsin and head of the Committee on Budget, Ryan just newly knight from St. Reagan's Roundtable. As fast as you want to say "frack" in PA, that is how big the economic tsunami that will come to pass if this budget is implemented.

The GOP campaigned heavily in 2010 to "vote for us, we won't touch your Medicare." Ryan wants to end that with a voucher system to go out and buy your own private plan. Your $8000 voucher will leave you about $16,000 short in Connecticut if your around 64. Hypocrisy anyone?

Medicaid??? Hell, let's hand that off to the states like PA has handed off education to the locals. Even David Stockman has been lost.

Once again, if your rich, you get another 10% tax break. Here are 9 things they don't want you to know!!!!

This should be boom to the construction industry were two or three generations of family will be living together on Walton's Mountain.

Harry the K

2011-04-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

March 26, 1936 - April 13th, 2009

We still miss you!!!!!

The Donald for President? Look Beneath the Surface!!!

2011-04-09T11:27:00.000-07:00

It has been touted around for a few weeks now about Donald Trump possibly making a run for President in 2012. On the surface, Trump appears as tough, no nonsense business winner. If you ever made a trip to Atlantic City, it is possible you may have gambled in one of his casinos or have been a guest in one of his hotels. You may want to have him on your side in the board room, but as a business person maybe not. If his legend ever met the real person would they recognize each other?

From Snyder County Commissioner and chairman of the Snyder County Republican Committee in this weeks Daily-Item:

Kantz thinks Donald Trump would be a strong Republican choice.

“I know a lot of people don’t take him seriously,” Kantz said, “but I like that he is a tough, America-first businessman, and not afraid to take on the powers in the Middle East. He also has that star power that can take on Obama. And he’s well-known by the younger generation.”

So far in this millennium, business under the Trump umbrella have filed for bankruptcy 3 times. You could also look back as far back in the 1980's with Trump as an owner of the New Jersey General's of the USFL.

For those of you who don't remember, the USFL was a professional spring football league that played for 3 seasons. (Philadelphia was the dominant team, but that's another story.) It was the Donald's idea to sue the NFL and try to play a fall schedule and go toe-to-toe with the NFL. The NFL had a 400 million contract at the time and the USFL had a 20 million dollar contract.

At the time baseball was undergoing a few scandals and some labor strife. Spring football was actually catching on in the country and most USFL owners were happy with the spring slate. The USFL had a marketable product.

Trump figured he could back door his way into the NFL and triple or quadruple his franchise investment. The USFL won the court case and damages for one whole dollar which was tripled under US anti-trust laws. In 1990 the USFL was issued a check for $3.76 which was never cashed.

As a candidate for president, you may want to look for someone who could build on "We, the People" not "I, the Donald."

The Golden Bear's Magic 25 Years Later

2011-04-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

The Masters begins it's opening round tomorrow in Augusta, Georgia. This years marks the 25th anniversary when Jack Nicklaus shot a 30 on the back nine to win by one stroke with a 7-under par, 65.

To shoot a 30 on the back nine anywhere is amazing. To do it at age 46 in major championship is legendary. When you look at the 75 years at Augusta, most of the champions come from the late 20's through mid 30's.

I was on my way back to Villanova on that Sunday and missed most of Nicklaus' performance but caught the tail end in the student union building. Although now at my current age of 45, I don't feel old at all. Nicklaus played even golf through 8 holes that day. Then on hold number 9 caught fire. His only hick up was the par-3, 12th hole which he bogeyed.

Could we have someone over 46 win again??? This year's field of contenders include Couples, Love, Singh and O'Meara. As the Masters proves, time isn't on your side.

Government Shutdown?

2011-04-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

The federal government is pondering a shutdown again this Friday. Dr. Robert Reich asks these simple questions of the American people:

Why are most citizens in the richest nation in the history of the world losing good jobs, good wages, and vital public services?
The American economy is twice as large as it was in 1980 but hourly wages have barely budged, and public schools and infrastructure are worse. Why?
Third riddle: Why are the top 1% taking home twice the share of income and wealth they did 3 decades ago, and at a far lower tax rate?

Early Morning, April Four.............

2011-04-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

Leonard Pitts talks about Martin Luther King and the labor movement.

A Somber Saturday......Longie and Mena

2011-04-03T20:23:00.000-07:00

I awoke Saturday morning and confirmed by the newspapers that Jason Long was the man pulled out of the river after parking his oil delivery and jumping in to the Susquehanna River earlier this week. Jason's son and my son were on the same soccer teams and Jason coached in our baseball league.

I never really knew Jason other than donating toward his battle with leukemia. I lost a very good friend to disease back in 2000 and knew the hell you and your family go through for treatment.

A cancer survivor myself, it can be rough going through treatment then tack on additional surgeries and the like. I know a few people with this experience. As a survivor, I may have asked Jason once how he was doing and that was at our first meeting. My experience was documented in the media while Jason's ordeal needed fundraisers.

With youth sports these days, often teams and players are picked randomly rather than being from the same neighborhood. One kid could be your best teammate in basketball and your worst enemy in baseball. It also doesn't give the parents a time to get to know each other as well.

I traveled to Shamokin Dam on Saturday with my youngest to do some spring-related shopping less than mile from rescuers pulled Jason from the river. I met a young women named Mena Noll who was at Tractor Supply raising awareness for the Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation and Toxic Free Kids. Mena was at the "Horse of Hope, Hand for Hand campaign.

Mena has been fighting for her son who had an inoperable brain tumor but is slowly on his way to recovery. She pointed out that environmental factors have much to do with childhood cancers. She also talked about kids being treated for cancer but not having family present due to financial hardships. Listening about the story of her son and the heartache her family had been through is touching to say the least.

In this day and age, listening is something we all can do. Through years of training, I have been taught that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It also happens when the reasons for dying outweigh the reasons for living. All this can happen in a matter of minutes. Hinting that this is a coward's way out is totally BS. None of us were in Jason's shoes that afternoon.

I extend my prayers and condolences to Jason's family especially his wife and son. My hope is that someone or others may be able to find the strength and help that they need get through a tough time. For me, his big smile will be missed.

Ed Washuta

Happy Anniversary!!!!!

2011-03-31T19:48:00.000-07:00

April 1st, 1985, 26 years and going strong!!!!!!

Opening Day, Beat the Drum and Hold the Phone

2011-03-31T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well it's Opening Day for baseball and it's March 31st. Baseball used to the Reds for opening day and in April. Snow and rain threaten most of the schedule.

Will the Phillies pitching and hitting stand the test of 162 games. Will there be a new San Francisco? The calendar says spring and everyone is 0-0.

What is the most important magic number in April? It would be 19. It the Pittsburgh Pirates don't win 82 games it will clinch their 19th straight losing season. I did see this franchise win a World Series in my lifetime.

All Quiet Under the Teepee????

2011-03-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

With the budget proposal of Governor Corbett on the table most school districts in the area have big problems and budget gaps on the horizon. With the constant in fighting among board member for the last three decades the norm, no one has sounded off about any potential budget issues in the district.

With measure bordering drastic being discussed in Miton, Shikellamy, Mifflinburg, Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, and Midd-West, does Shamokin Area have any armour to stand up against Tom Coporate's tax cuts.

Read this little ditty about team Tom-Tom.

When Will This Winter Leave?????

2011-03-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

One of the first sounds of the upcoming summer I love to hear is the Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement Park. It is the first thing you here when you open your car door. Although this sound is still a month away, maybe the Beach Boys could chase this winter away. Here are my two favorites:

Remembering Elizabeth Taylor 1932 - 2011

2011-03-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

I don't comment too much on pop culture but the world lost a shining star early this morning. While in the near term, Taylor will be remembered for her 8 marriages as much as her two Oscars and many personal demons. She will always be remembered for her style, beauty and transition from child to adult actor.

You have to look at Taylor's work with the disease AIDS that will last the test of time. Back in the early to mid-1980's when AIDS was called "gay cancer" by the media, Taylor stood up and stood by the side of former co-star Rock Hudson who was probably the first big name celebrity to die from the disease. At that point in time and looking back, the act was brave and courageous. Taylor was way ahead of curve in humanity and we are still trying to catch to catch up. In this day, will humanity catch back up to her?

While my only ties to Taylor was sharing the same birthday date and her visit to a local amusement park in the 1988, we could look at her charitable work as stepping stone for us all.

In another local tie to the area, Taylor won her first Oscar in the movie BUtterfield 8. The novel by the same name was written by Pottsville native John O'Hara.

Teacher Bashing Should End!!!!

2011-03-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

This letter was written by a good friend......food for thought.

To the editor: I am writing this letter in response to your article on the opinion page of The News-Item on March 15. As a retired teacher, watching what is going on with our economy and what is being done to the teachers in Wisconsin, and what is being asked of our teachers in this great state of Pennsylvania, Ohio and other states, I can no longer sit back and not speak out.

You expressed your opinion that teachers should go along with the idea of making financial sacrifices to help our state's economic woes. You made an attempt to balance the argument with the following paragraph. "Many critics of educators wouldn't last long in their shoes, whether it's trying to get through to the wandering mind of an 8-year-old or control a room full of 10th-graders who suddenly have all the answers. So let's not allow this to be a case of unjustified teacher-bashing. We're all in this together." I'll give you an "A" for effort, but it IS teacher bashing and we are NOT all in this together, not by a long shot.

Now, my opinion.
I am enraged at the direction our country is taking in dealing with the teaching profession in conjunction with the economy. Again, it seems the only solution to our state's deficit and the national deficit is to go after teachers.

Allow me to paint you a picture and then ask you if you see anything wrong with it. First, let me start with our country's financial situation. As our country's economy goes, so does most of our state economies. So let's take a look at our federal government's answers in dealing with our economy.

We taxpayers are paying for the billions of dollars for the stimulus and the bailouts, but I believe the stimulus and the bailouts saved our economy. At the very least, the stimulus helped states save thousands of jobs, but why did our government stop there? Has anything been done about bank CEOs giving millions, if not tens of millions, in bonuses each year after WE just bailed them out? Has anything been done to get corporations, including oil companies, to pay their fair share of taxes? Has anything been done to stop corporations and major companies from shipping jobs overseas? Has anything been done to get the banks (again, after WE bailed them out with our money) to make more money available for low-interest loans to individuals and small businesses? Has anything been done to get the wealthiest of our country, men and women, to pay their proportionate share of taxes? So where will we go for revenue? Education.

Anything wrong with this picture?
Secondly, let's look at the states. Let's look at what just happened in Wisconsin. Gov. Walker took office with a huge debt. What did he do first to deal with that debt? He gave corporations more tax breaks, but he knew what he could really do to deal with the debt - take resources from the teachers and strip them of their bargaining rights. He did not do this to the firefighters and police officers, which he should not any more than he should teachers.

How about Pennsylvania's Gov. Corbett? What is his answer to our state's financial problems? Make sure a company, which will make millions on top of millions of dollars, digging our shale does not pay its share of taxes. Why not have this corporation pay its fair share? Because we can go after teachers.
Anything wrong with this picture?

Why is it so easy to go after teachers? Well, first of all, they are overpaid. They are just glorified babysitters. They only work nine months a year. They get all holidays off. They are unworthy of the benefits they receive, health insurance in particular. Therefore, they are disrespected and unappreciated so the general public will be behind political leaders, the ones to fix the economy, and will definitely be behind busting their unions.
A teacher is special. What a teacher does is beyond compare. The work that is done at home every night. The preparations during the summer months. The pressure of the job every day to get every student to learn as much as possible. Teachers are not only the daytime guardians of all our children, they are responsible for molding every child to become an asset to society. Yes, our county's future is in the hands of our teachers. Teachers are worth every penny that they get. They did not steal those pennies from the taxpayers, they bargained for them.

Month after month after month, I hear politicians complaining about our students falling behind other counties in math and science. They complain about the dropout rates and shout about the continuing decline in our public schools. Who do we blame? We blame the teachers. So what can be done to help teachers do a better job? Fire. We need to attract less qualified people into the profession. Offer less so our best minds will have to go elsewhere to make a living. Offer less so that our best minds, who are already teaching, leave the profession to go elsewhere. Offer less so that there is low morale for those who choose to stay in the profession. Offer less so that the people who are directly responsible for shaping our future feel disrespected and unappreciated.

Anything wrong with this picture?
Not only am I angry, but also scared. Maybe the goal of one of our political parties is to gradually do away with public education all together and have education become totally private. What scares me about this is the continuation of the widening gap between classes. We seem to be on a path to having two classes in our society, the wealthy and the poor. This is the picture that I see being painted.
My only hope is that what is happening in Wisconsin and what is happening in our state is waking a sleeping giant. And how do I see this picture - teachers leading the way.
"So let's not allow this to be a case of unjustified teacher-bashing." It already is.
"We're all in this together." No, we are not.

Ken Culton
Shamokin

It All Begins on Tuesday with Baseball and Softball

2011-03-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, my eldest son will start practice for his last year in Little League major baseball (10-12 year-old division). While all prospects look good that he will continue to play past 12 year-old, some of that innocence will be lost be lost going forward. Win, lose or draw it has been a nice ride.

I will start my 5th season being a high school umpire. My schedule will be kind of hectic until mid-July but I still enjoy it. Play ball!!!!!!!