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Diamonds to new Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown and to new Luzerne County Council members Kendra Radle and LeeAnn McDermott for trying to set a new tone in our frequently mean-spirited political discourse. Brown took office with a promise that rightly earned the lead headline in Tuesday’s paper: “We can all work together.” McDermott and Radle launched their new council terms with an email calling for all council members to “conduct themselves with courtesy and respect for their fellow officeholders, the executive members of the administration, county employees and the public.” The two specifically mentioned the use of Facebook and other social media platforms to launch attacks and criticisms, pointing out the obvious: There is a way to go about attacking a person’s ideas without attacking the person. Let us hope we can find that way.” Indeed. Pointing out differences and offering alternatives are fine. Ad hominem attacks or generic insults not soundly backed up with facts and options is the path of cowards and demagogues. Here’s hoping these lofty intentions survive the sausage machine of politics.
Coal to the seemingly endless parade of people willing to steal from much needed and often-struggling emergency response companies. The latest example resurfaced this week when Duryea’s Eric John Wruble was sentenced for siphoning off money from the fire company by writing himself checks, and for using a credit card to purchase lawn tools. All told, police said, he forged a stunning 158 checks in the course of nine years. He was ordered to pay back more than $150,000, but the damage is done. Coal within this coal to the organizations that fail to put checks and controls into their financial matters to catch such abuse. It’s one thing to miss such misdeeds for a year — these are often small groups relying on low-paying or volunteer positions to handle finances and other issues. But to miss it for nine years makes it a “Shame on me” moment.
Diamonds to the students at Ross Elementary in the Lake-Lehman School District for raising $1,934 for Shriners Hospital for Children. The amount is impressive coming from such young children, and the cause is certainly worthy. Even if you are a little tired of those persistently cute spokeschildren Alec and Kaleb telling you how great Shriners is for children battling for their lives in those TV commercials, you can’t argue with the goal of the charity, or with its success. Sources of money, according to the Ross youngsters, included a daily “bag of change from the top of the fridge,” asking “my mother if she could give me some money,” and “money from my allowance.” Principal Heather Wertman put it succinctly, and best. “I was just blown away,” she told the students. “I am so very proud of all of you.”
Coal to the never-ending reports of child pornography arrests and convictions. The newest news: A Mocanaqua man sentenced to five to 10 years on nearly 500 counts. It may seem obvious to the rest of us, but it clearly needs to be pointed out to offenders: seeking child porn is a sign of a problem. Don’t look for the porn, look for the mental health help and support your craving proves you need.