It's Nice to be Read

In this past Sunday's News-Item, I got a plug Talking Points author Greg Maresca.  Mr. Maresca references a post I made back in December titled Carney being Courted by the Darkside.  If you don't want to link up with the original article, here is the text:

Chris Carney (D-PA10th) was asked by John McCain to join the Republican Party.


With Malcolm Derk of Union County being the first to throw his hat into the Republican Party, there are several questions to ask? Do the national Republicans have or want to throw any money into this campaign. In 2008, Dan Meuser and Chris Hackett were well funded and lost a district McCain won by 9 points.

Could they be strong arming Carney with a threat of big money? Stay tuned.

Since I ran the original post in December of 2009 and the decision in Citizens United vs. the FEC, SCOTUS ruled 5-4 in favor of corporations and unions with First Amendment protection came out in January, My last sentence turns out to be true.

On his October 24th article, Mr Maresca argues that people are not leaning left or right, but back to the Constitution..  In his article published on September 26th, Maresca wonders why the GOP can't find room for O'Donnell under the "big tent."

In only a few short weeks, O'Donnell had problems with the First Amendment while debating her Democratic counterpart.  In an interview ala Sarah Palin, O'Donnell had problems with naming a SCOTUS decision that she didn't favor.  In her deer-in-the-headlights moment, she said she would put it on her website.

Columnist Leonard Pitts opined over the weekend that "we get the leaders we deserve."

In a letter to the Daily-Item on Sunday, William Shirk questions the "conservative outrage." 

I would love to see the US go back to the Constitution.  We have spent 1.1 trillion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Why was Article 1, Section 8 ignored?  To boot, most of the money came in supplemental spending and was not included in a fiscal year appropriation.

We have a local candidate in the 107th that wants to put Healthcare Reform Bill on a PA Referendum.  Please check Article VI of the Constitution.  He follows a gubernatorial candidate who filed a lawsuit 7 minutes after the bill was passed.

In all the ads leading up to the November 2nd election, you would think Nancy Pelosi was running for a House or Senate seat in PA.  She is currently the speaker of the House and it is up to her to get legislation to the floor for a vote.  If you approve any legislation, you will side with the speaker of the House no matter what party they represent.  You can usually find a Pelosi reference in Talking Points weekly.

Tony Rhodin thinks Pat Toomey is very smart and also very wrong.  Rhodin offers a simple version of Pat Toomey while sitting on the Lehigh Valley Express eeditorial board. If you can read a little more than a bumper sticker, this is for you.

Also, please read Dave Johnson's Eight False Things the Public "Knows" Prior to Election Day.

I once read in Talking Points how the stock market tanked from the Election of Barack Obama until mid-February.  For the record, since Obama took office the Dow Jones is up nearly 3000 points.  (2935.08 to be exact from his first full day 1/21/09 to the close of the market on 10/25/10.)

If you want a regurgitated version of what is said by the Heritage Foundation with a sampling from Fox News and a vilified sidebar of the New York Times, Newsweek, or Time, Talking Points is a great read for conservative fans of the Sunday News-Item.  Colbert and Stewart are usually off on Sunday.

Health Care Reform Panel?

In 3/5 edition of the News-Item, the paper published their 2010 business roundtable including a panel of heath care providers talking about heathcare reform.

Listed in the panel were doctors, hospital administrator, home health care providers, senior living, pharmacy, and a government representative.

What was missing from the panel? WHERE WERE THE PATIENTS? OR IN THEIR EYES, WHERE ARE THE CONSUMERS?

I do agree with many things that were discussed. Shamokin Area Community Hospital is a fine heath care facility. Dr. Miller discussing food industry. Mary Stout discussing the way things were when people were covered 100%.

Somewhere along the line, insurance companies forgot about spreading the risk.

Trudy Rubin of the Philadelphia Inquirer, opines how the US ignores health care success in Europe and Japan.

The panel argues that Medicare Part D has been successful. Yes, but at what cost? It is still illegal to negotiate the price of drugs even those Medicare is "Big Pharma's" biggest customer.

We need a start in reform. Where will it come from?????

Tragedy on the front page

Today's front page of The News-Item, you can take a pick of which story exemplifies the human condition.

A young teen is killed in a car accident. Shamokin City employees try to find a happy medium while their employer is looking at bankruptcy. Although I never seen one before, but that looks like a soupline at a local food pantry. (Remember the line in "It's a Wonderful Life"? Ernie Bishop (cab driver) says to George Bailey, "George, I never seen one before, but that looks like a run on the bank."

Coal Region Voice Makes Sound-Off!

Well it has taken a long time, almost 20 years to be exact, but I have made Sound-Off. In lieu of writing a letter to the editor, people could call and leave comments anonymously to the News-Item.

Lunch box, press box?

With regard to Ed Washuta’s letter to the editor about food in the press
box, I have a question: Does he not get paid for his duties? When I worked
construction, I took a lunch box and thermos with me or we purchased food from a
neighboring restaurant. In any case, we provided our own food. I think he should
do the same.

Get a hoagie

I was just reading Ed Washuta’s letter to the editor about the press box
being catered. Doesn’t he know that on the way to the stadium, Mac’s is right on
Arch Street? He can stop there and get a hoagie instead of depending on the
school district to feed him.

Here is my letter to the editor

To the editor: As a resident of the Shamokin Area School District and member of the electronic media, I would like to thank the athletic department and school administration for providing food and refreshments for the press box this past football season.

On any typical game day, I arrive at Kemp Memorial, unload and set up radio equipment and try to interview the visiting coach before he goes into the team pregame routine. Having refreshments in the box gives me the opportunity to get these things done. Once I am “on the air” at 6:40, I am not off air until 10 minutes after the game, whenever that may be. Time spent at the stadium is usually from 4:30 until 10 p.m. It is worse for the print media who, after the game, must conduct interviews and file a story before their deadlines.

This season, a Heartland Conference member did deny access to the press box to the school television station and myself. This is our chance to be noted for “good will” rather than bomb scares.

With articles in your paper on Nov.12 and letter to the editor on Nov. 14 from a school director, I feel, as a taxpayer, time could be better spent trying to solve the lack of student space in the district.

Trying to draw a link between students not having enough to eat during the day and providing food to the press box after the school week is over is very weak at best.

Edward Washuta

I'm glad that readers are concerned that I may getting something for free. Mac's would be great, but I avoid Arch Street on game night. Stopping means being delayed once again getting to field. I did mention I set up equipment. The closest I could park is near the visitor's lockeroom. Two trips from the car to the box with setup and checks and all of a sudden the visitor's are ready for pregame.


I'm sure if I worked construction, I would patronize the neighboring restaurant. I would also pack a lunch and a thermos. Being that major construction has not on in Shamokin since the new wing at SACH and SCI-Coal Township, I would be looking at 16 hour day with work and travel.


My problem lies with logistics. Once I go "on the air", I don't leave the box for 4 hours. Try talking for fours straight without drinking something.

More Support for Coach Zielinskie

A few people have written letters in support of Coach Z. Read this one from a Shamokin grad and this one from parents of a current Shamokin player. As a parent, if you have faith in the coach that is where the support should be measured.

Here is something from his college roommate. A guy named Jim from Florida comments:

I was Coach Z's room-mate at Lock Haven (At that time State College) from 1977-80. Z played a lot, I practiced a lot. He actually was responsible for winning a couple of games with key interceptions and tackles from his Safety spot. I live in Tallahassee Florida now. I'm not sure what happened to high school football in the past 25 years, but things are getting a bit insane. Where I live, there is a school called North Florida Christian. One of their players actually went on to Florida State, and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneer's, as a pretty decent QB. His name is Casey Weldon. He was hired as Head Football Coach at his alma mater a couple of years ago, in three seasons he was fired. His record? 25-3. Hang in there Zeebo!!!!!!
November 20, 2008 8:39 AM

Running up the score?

I was a little surprised on Friday with Riverside choosing to air it out against Southern leading 18-7 and under 3 minutes left in the game. Up until the Southern game, that was the first time I seen Riverside play so I will hold my judgement. I do question Harry Armstrong sending in Joe Klebon to kick the extra point. Why risk injury to a money player???

Dan Burda writes about it in the News-Item.

Shamokin Board Sacks Coach Z.

Chuck Souder's article printed in the News-Item covers the meeting.


Sidebar by Souder's cover's Coach Z.'s statement.


The Coal Region Voice will have special comments later this evening.

Who won???

In the girls basketball game between Lourdes Regional and Shikellamy, two different newspapers reported two different winners. The Daily Item had Shikellamy winning 59-58 while the News-Item had Lourdes Regional winning 58-54.

I guess now I have to make a phone call to see who won after buying both newpapers.

Shamokin deck Shikellamy in Wrestling!

Indians pull out a big win against the Braves. According to the News-Item, this may be the last match of the rivalry for sometime.

Chuck Souders hits a home run!!!!!!

In today's News-Item, sportswriter Chuck Souders writes Coaches can't make everyone happy. The article hits the nail on the head about being a head coach in this day and age especially football.

The News-Item sums up in today editorial the appreciation of Southern Columbia's football accomplishments.

LINE MOUNTAIN - BLOOMSBURG

With the weather expected to be cold and blustery. The key match up for tonight's game will be the play of Line Mountain's Coty Rusinko and Aaron Sheibelhut, the Eagles' center and fullback respectively against the defensive line of Bloomsburg's Mike Schlauch and Marc Francola. The winner of the game will probably be whoever wins this match up. Interestingly, the Line Mountains seniors were members of different teams last year. Rusinko was at Lourdes Regional last year while Sheibelhut was a member of Williams Valley.

BOB BAUN AWARD

Who is Bob Baun? Baun scored the game winning goal in overtime for the Detroit Red Wings in game 6 of the finals against Toronto with a broken ankle. It is why we see hockey players continue in the playoffs often ignoring serious injury to this day. Baun's legend has become the standard.

Last week, Lourdes Regional's QB Brian Dunleavy was not hit and thought he suffered a cramp or calf pull. The staff heavily taped his leg and Dunleavy quarterbacked the rest of the way. He often looked like Robbie Boscoe of BYU in the 1984 NCAA championship for the Cougars in their Holiday Bowl win over Michigan. Lourdes lost 8-7 when a 21-yard field goal was blocked. Either way the season was over for Dunleavy. After the game, the injury was diagnosed as a broken leg. Hopefully, Dunleavy could make the comeback like Mount Carmel quarterback Marcus Wasilewski did last season and compete in basketball.

Dachshund saves family from black bear.

Dachshund named "Rocky" saves family from black bear.

In central Pennsylvania, it seems with any passing year man and black bears cross paths more often from Spring to the end of autumn as growth and habitat mesh together. This past Sunday, a family left their minature dachshund, named "Rocky" outside to what was perceived as deer in the woods next to their development. However, the sound was not of deer in the woods, but a mother black bear and her two cubs. This is the scenerio where most black bears are likely to attack. "Rocky" met his end, but in all likelyhood may have saved a family that included two young boys from a future attack.

Wildlife officials are planning on trapping the bears and moving them.

Dachshunds for the size and build are probably one of the brightest and mostly loyal of a hound breed. Having a dachshund for a family pet for most of my life only proves their loyalty once again. "Rocky" you are hero.

Read the newpaper account here and television here.

Coal Township (PA) man in need of help

This article was copied from a story that appeared in The News-Item on Sunday, April 29th.

Tour raises money for desperately ill CT man
BY MALLORY SZYMANSKISTAFF WRITERmallory_s@newsitem.com
04/29/2007

COAL TOWNSHIP — Kenny Smink, 37, bought his fishing license last month. He always used to wait until the last minute.

This year, he was prepared early for days of sunny recreation, rod in hand. But about a week after his purchase, he became sick and was hospitalized with cancer.Smink, a longtime member of East End Fire Company, was honored by friends and family Saturday with a Poker Run/ $10 night. The motorcycle ride began in the former Ames parking lot along Route 61 in east of Shamokin, traveled to places as far away as Catawissa and Danville, and ended at the fire company, where there was a party awaiting the riders’ arrival. All proceeds will go to Smink and his family.The ride lasted from 2 to 7 p.m., and the 60 bikers in attendance winded down Tioga Street so Smink could see their efforts from his home. He had undergone dialysis all day at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, and was too tired to leave his bed. “He’d give you the shirt off his back. He’d give you his left arm and he’d bend over backwards for you. He never tells anybody ‘no,’” Danny Worhach, of Shamokin, said about Smink.The benefit ride was organized by Mike Engle, of Coal Township, who has been friends with Smink for about 12 years. He even had someone filming the event so Kenny could see everything he missed.“He’s been a friend for a while. I’m the godfather to one of his children,” Engle said.Smink has two daughters, Kennedy, 10, and Sheridan, 4, with longtime girlfriend Lisa Hornberger. She choked back tears at a table surrounded by friends while looking over a speech she had prepared for the evening.“I truly believe we can receive a miracle,” she had written on a sheet of white paper. She said he was sick for a couple of weeks before the doctors found that he had three different types of cancer. He was hospitalized in late March and sent home Wednesday, April 25. “He’s fighting, he isn’t going to give up,” Hornberger said. Hornberger, a 1988 Line Mountain Area graduate, met Smink about 16 years ago. He graduated from Shamokin Area High School in 1987.“If he (Smink) could be here, he would,” Hornberger said at the fire company. “He’s just overwhelmed with what everybody has done. He’s very, very grateful,” she said.Kenny Smink’s brother, Wade Smink, talked about the call he got from his brother on March 26.“He told me he couldn’t eat and they said they were probably going to hospitalize him,” Wade Smink said.He looked up at the ceiling, pausing to think.“It’s just a shame that it takes something like this to make you realize how much you really care, you know?” he said. Despite his condition, Wade Smink said Kenny’s not giving up.“He’s unbelievable, the strongest guy I’ve ever met,” Wade said of his brother.