Maryland man pleads guilty to illicit sexual conduct with a minor

Frederick Singletary, 42, of Parkville, Maryland, pled guilty on June 21 to federal charges of traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography announced the FBI.

According to the evidence, on February 12, 2013, Singletary contacted an undercover officer with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, who had posted an ad on a social networking site. Over the next few days, Singletary engaged in online e-mail, instant message, text message, and telephone conversations with the undercover officer, whom he believed was the father of an underage girl. Singletary arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child.

Singletary also sent the undercover officer 10 images of child pornography. On February 14, 2013, Singletary traveled from Maryland to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C. When he arrived, he was arrested. Singletary is scheduled for sentencing by the Honorable Beryl A. Howell on September 20, 2013. Singletary faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct and a maximum of 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography, as well as a fine of $250,000 on each count.

Public invited to participate in ‘Appalachian Bat Survey’

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) announced June 6 that PGC biologists are seeking assistance from the public. Summer 2013 a regional monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data will occur. The monitoring is deemed highly important to measure bat mortalities caused by White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease that affects hibernating bats in Pennsylvania and other parts of the eastern United States.

More than a million cave bats have died from the fungus Geomyces destructans (Gd) that causes WNS over the past five years. The pervasive Gd strikes while bats are in communal hibernation, often clustered like sardines in a tin to conserve energy. Bats spend about sis months in hibernation and live off of a finite supply of energy. Gd irritates the deep-sleeping bats, forcing them out of their hibernation, which requires increased energy consumption from a reserve that barely sustains them through winter. Death often follows, regardless of whether the bat stays put or flies

Although WNS primarily kills bats in the winter, the complete impact of the disease cannot be measured using the winter estimates. The public is needed to help conduct a summer bat count to fully gauge the impact of WNS. While all are encouraged to participate, the PGC urges people who’ve previously participated in a bat count to do so again. For more information and an application to participate in this vital wildlife conservation effort, please visit “Appalachian Bat Count.”

Heat advisory for Adams County

NOAA the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a heat advisory for Adams County. With heat index values at 105 and above, the heat advisory will remain if effect through 9pm, Saturday, July 24th.

Young children and the elderly are often thought of as the main concern when a heat advisory has been issued but anyone is susceptible to the life-threatening side effects of harsher weather conditions. The most common health concerns during the hot weather are dehydration and heat stroke. By taking preventative measures these life-threatening situations may possibly be avoided. The Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) advises the first preventative measure as the ability to identify the onset of both dehydration and heat stroke.

Signs of dehydration include excessive thirst, less-frequent urination, dry skin, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth, increased heart rate and breathing. In children, additional symptoms may include, dry mouth and tongue, no tears when crying, no wet diapers for more than 3 hours, sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks, high fever listlessness, irritability, and skin that does not flatten when pinched and released. Precautionary measures to avoid the harmful effects of dehydration include drinking plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun. Make sure that you are taking in more fluid than you are losing and try to schedule physical outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day. Before making plans for outdoor activities, check the heat index.

Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening emergency. It is a condition that develops rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment The most common symptoms of heat stroke are headache, dizziness, disorientation, agitation or confusion, sluggishness or fatigue, seizure, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, a high body temperature, loss of consciousness, rapid heart beat, and hallucinations. It is important for the person to be treated immediately as heat stroke can cause permanent damage or death. There are some immediate first aid measures you can take while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Immediately get the person indoors. Have the person lie down in a cool area with their feet slightly elevated. Remove clothing and gently apply cool water to the skin followed by fanning to stimulate sweating. Apply ice packs to the groin and armpits. Precautions that can help protect you against the adverse effects of heat stroke include drinking plenty of fluids during outdoor activities, (water and sports drinks are the drinks of choice; avoid tea, coffee, soda and alcohol as these can lead to dehydration), wear lightweight, tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing in light colors. Schedule vigorous activity and sports for cooler times of the day. Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses and using an umbrella. Increase time spent outdoors gradually to get your body used to the heat. During outdoor activities, take frequent drink breaks and mist yourself with a spray bottle to avoid becoming overheated.

*Medical Advice Disclaimer: The information included in this article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her health-care provider.

Location for casino public hearing announced

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Gamming Control Board announced the location for the public hearing where testimony by citizens will be heard regarding the Mason Dixon Resorts and Casino.

The hearing is set for August 31st, 2010, and will begin at 10am. Location for the hearing is at the Comfort Suites hotel located at 945 Baltimore Pike Gettysburg, PA 17325. In order to present testimony, citizens must register with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board no later then noon on Thursday, August 26th, 2010. To register, contact Mickey Kane at (717) 346-8300 or visit the PGCB website. 

With one remaining Category 3 gaming license to be granted, competition for the Mason Dixon Resorts and Casino is bound to be stiff. Three other entities are vying for the last Category 3 license as well. The other applicants are Holiday Inn Harrisburg West in Cumberland County, the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County and the Fernwood Hotel and Resort in the Poconos.

Written comments may also be submitted for the record prior to the hearing and up to 60 days after. The comments may be submitted from the PGCB website, by fax to (717) 346-8350, or by mail to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board at P.O. Box 69060, Harrisburg, PA 17106.

Gaming Control Board spokesman Richard McGarvey stated, “Depending upon the turnout, a second hearing may be necessary but the chairman is expected to make a decision before the end of this year.”

LeVan as casino project's front man?

Recent reports are insinuating that there has been some sort of conspiracy on the part of Mason-Dixon Resorts GP, LLC. Accusations are surfacing that Gettysburg businessman David LeVan is simply a “face” on the Mason Dixon Resort and Casino project. The insinuations that Mr. LeVan is the “poster person” for the casino project stem from the fact the LeVan’s business partner Joseph Lashinger owns are larger interest in the corporation and that the “real” person calling the shots in the Mason Dixon Resort and Casino project is Mr. Lashinger.

This alleged scandal surfaces only 45 days prior to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s first hearing, to be held on August 31st, where public testimony will be heard regarding the granting of the last remaining Category 3 gaming license to David LeVan and Joseph Lashinger. The facts about who owns what portion of Mason-Dixon Resorts LP, the company that would own and operate the proposed casino, is no secret and any interested party could have easily obtained this public information.

As stated by associate professor Michael Hussey of Widener Law School, "The idea is that limited partners will make their investment into the entity and in exchange they'll have limited liability. They'll only be on the hook for the amount of their contribution. What Mason Dixon is doing is standard. They've made the general partner, Mason-Dixon Resorts GP, LLC, responsible for the day-to-day management of the limited partnership. They're the entity that has the ability to sign contracts on behalf of the limited partnership."

The issue has been and still remains to be whether or not the Mason Dixon Resort and Casino will affect the hollowed ground of the Gettysburg Battlefield. Perhaps the real question is why anyone would make allegations of a conspiracy when the alleged hidden information has always been accessible to anyone wanting to obtain it?

Onorato smack-down for Corbett

Democrat gubernatorial candidate, Dan Onorato “served one up” to Pennsylvania attorney general and Republican gubernatorial candidate, Tom Corbett.

Friday, Corbett stated to a WITF radio station reporter, "The jobs are there." Corbett claimed many people are intentionally staying unemployed to collect the benefits attributing his information to a candy company owner and a plumbing company owner, having told him they can't fill jobs because people would rather stay home on benefits. "People don't want to come back to work while they still have unemployment benefits,” he said. "They're literally telling employers 'I'll come back to work when the employment runs out.' That's becoming a problem, if we keep extending unemployment the people are going to sit there."

Onorato verbally thrashed Attorney General Corbett for "blaming the victims" and sounding unsympathetic to people who have lost their jobs and claiming they are just "sitting there," living on federal unemployment compensation benefits, rather than looking for work. Mr. Onorato said, "I don't know what world Tom Corbett is living in. Our economy is struggling." "Families in Pennsylvania are hurting and Harrisburg insiders like Tom Corbett aren't doing anything to help them. Does Tom Corbett believe that Pennsylvania workers are lazy because an anonymous plumber or a candy company owner told him so?"

Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley said, “If Dan Onorato wants to hold a news conference every time Tom Corbett makes a statement, that's up to him, if he wants to attack Tom, we'll let the voters decide on that."

This writer respectfully says, “Welcome to open-season election.” The voters will indeed decide. If you have not yet registered to vote you can easily do so by clicking here.

Pennsylvania filmmaker can choose Hell

In 2007, independent filmmaker George Kalman filed paperwork with the Pennsylvania Department of State Corporation Bureau to register the name "I Choose Hell Productions L.L.C." Kalman’s application was denied due to a 1977 state law that forbids blasphemy and profanity in company names. Mr. Kalman’s initial reaction was disbelief that quickly turned into anger and then action. Kalman, a Downingtown, Pennsylvania resident stated, “They’re actually imposing their religious beliefs on me, they’re saying that you either believe what we believe or we won’t let you live your life.” Kalman filed under the corporate name I.C.H Productions and then filed suit against Pennsylvania.

Fast forward to Wednesday, June 30th, 2010. U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson issued a 68-page summary judgment, in favor of Kalman. Baylson said the 1977 law barring the use of "words that constitute blasphemy, profane cursing or swearing or that profane the Lord's name" violates the First Amendment guarantee of free speech and protections against laws that promote any religion. The 1977 blasphemy law was passed after an outcry from some churches over the incorporation of a McKeesport businessman's gun store as "The God Damn Gun Shop," according to Baylson's ruling. The problem, Baylson wrote, was that the only religion that seemed to matter was Christianity, and workers at the Department of State’s Corporation Bureau arbitrarily applied the rules with no training in religion. Then there was the matter of an ever-changing list of forbidden words.

Officials in the Pennsylvania State Department, which oversees the bureau, were conferring with lawyers Thursday about the prospect of an appeal, said department spokesman Charlie Young. Between October 2005 and October 2009, the department rejected 11 corporation filings, including Kalman's, on grounds that they violated the law, Young said.

“No offense was intended to anyone. It's an anti-suicide message,” Kalman explained, “as in hell on Earth is better than the alternative.”

A place for domestic violence victims

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911, (717) 632-0007, or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233. Remember that you are not alone, you do not deserve to be abused, and you can get help.

Since 1981, the Safe Home Program of the YWCA of Hanover has been serving domestic violence victims of York and Adams Counties. The first thing that a victim can do is to call the confidential 24-hour hotline at (717) 632-0007. (Servicios en español)

Many people do not realize that they are being victimized. A few quick facts offered from the YWCA website are: Domestic violence victims may suffer from one or more of the following types of abuse, physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and social. Domestic violence may include threats, harassment, intimidation, unlawful restraint or stalking. Domestic violence may involve family members or couples (whether married, separated, divorced, or single). Domestic violence includes dating violence, even if the victim is no longer dating the perpetrator. Domestic violence victims are of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, classes, religions, and so on.

Safe Home gratefully accepts donations and donations are tax-deductible. Items needed include, baby supplies, cleaning supplies, deadbolt locks, door viewers, fuel/utility certificates, grocery/store/gas cards gift certificates, phone cards, non-perishable food, and of course financial contributions. To make a contribution, please call (717) 637-2125.

Snyder's of Hanover gets eco-friendly

On April 22nd of this year, Snyder’s of Hanover introduced new packaging for their Organic Pretzel Sticks, planning the launch just in time to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. This announcement alone is hardly Earth shattering but the packing is assuredly something to brag about. The packaging is made from renewable raw material and is produced utilizing as little as half of the energy used to produce traditional petroleum-based packaging. This new packaging is created from 90% plant-based material. A product labeled renewable or bio-based means that it was produced using renewable resources like paper, corn or sugarcane.

Claude O’Connor, Vice President of Marketing at Snyder’s explained, “Snyder’s of Hanover has always been committed to creating products that are ‘better for you’ and now Snyder’s takes that one step further by introducing a renewable packaging solution that is ‘better for the Earth’ as well.”

The local snack maker’s efforts toward sustainability do not stop with renewable bags. Visiting the website, you will find an abundance of information about what this company is doing to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Part of Snyder’s efforts to reduce waste include, using low wattage high efficiency light bulbs, motion sensors in low traffic areas, meters on ovens to control gas usage, reducing the size and thickness of their cartons, and a streamlined delivery system to use less fuel. 

Bailouts, buildings, and bull

Thursday, the United States Supreme Court reduced prosecutors' use of an anti-fraud law that has been fundamental in the of conviction of persons involved in many of our nation’s major corruption cases. The justices voted 6-3 to keep the law in force, although unanimously deciding to weaken it. This decision may very well lead to the overturning of convictions for two of our nation’s most notorious, Jeffrey Skilling of Enron and former newspaper owner Conrad Black. Aside from the obvious ramifications of the Highest Courts’ decision to our nation, there is another less obvious but no less important effect.

Pictured above: Architectural sketch by Richard Neutra ~ NPS

Cyclorama buildings are a rapidly disappearing resource in the United States. At the turn of the last century, this form of entertainment engaged its audience with a round painting, delighting the visual senses. Today, only four such historic buildings exist. Two have been renovated for new uses and two continue to display cyclorama paintings. Only one is in danger of demolition, Neutra's Cyclorama Building in Gettysburg. The Cyclorama Building was designed in 1961 by architect Richard Neutra as a place to view the 1883 Paul Philippoteaux cyclorama painting of the Battle of Gettysburg. Dion Neutra, son of Richard has been fighting to preserve his father’s work, which he helped design and construct. For years, park officials have tried to demolish the building, which they say leaked and was inadequate to preserve a historic circular painting of the Battle of Gettysburg that is now the centerpiece of the visitor’s center. As a result, the building has stood empty while the Park Service fought the legal battle to demolish the site. In March, a federal judge ruled against the plan to demolish the Cyclorama, stating the park had not adequately considered alternatives to demolition and failed to sufficiently compile an environmental impact report, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Dion Neutra had begun to circulate a petition long before the federal judge ruling in March. "We have 5,000 signatures from all over the world and it seems to me like it would be a win-win situation for everybody. After all, this is a taxpayer-paid-for facility." said Neutra. This building is a National treasure, which once housed a spectacular painting. The Neutra Cyclorama Building in Gettysburg is part of the heritage of Adams County and every United States citizen. It just seems that we as tax payers should have slightly more say in the processes of where our money is spent. Please click here if you would like to sign the petition.

Aryan Nation rally uneventful

In spite of the usual looming threats that are the standard for such events and the necessary presence of five separate law enforcement agencies, by all accounts the well-planned event was thankfully uneventful. Although park officials said they do not support the views of the group, they're still obligated to accommodate those exercising their First Amendment rights. As protesters gathered, Aryan Nation Alabama State Leader Bradley Jenkins invited the opposition forward. "Okay everybody, I would like to invite them to come and speak with us," he said. This gesture from Jenkins was followed by "Hey hippies come here," "Power to the white man you pieces of s***."

Protestors from the communist group Progressive Labor Party responded with "Aryan Nations you can't hide, we charge you with genocide," "Yo Nazis, Yo Nazis what's up what's up. Come to our town, we'll f*** you up." Noel Phillips, who identified herself as one of a group of communist protesters, said she came from New York to attend the day's rally. Many of the protesters said they learned about the rally on the Internet. "We're here to take the Battle of Gettysburg one step further against these fascist scum," she said.

The true highlight of yesterday was the gathering along Route 30 in Gettysburg at the Adams Unity Coalition's Unity Vigil. With large signs reading "Hate has no home here," Janet Powers, one of the event's organizers said, "We are letting the world know this community is united against white supremacists and doing so in the action of peace.” The Aryan Nation had said previously they might stop by the vigil, but Powers said their group was advised they wouldn't show up. Unity Coalition supporters also helped to create a peace chain, composed of small slips of paper with messages of peace and love that were combined into one large chain. A coalition tent set up at the Gettysburg Festival was also collecting pieces of the chain, which will be joined and put on display as the group meets today to re-consecrate the lawn where the Aryan Nations' rally occurred Saturday.

The new face of PTSD ~ Part 1

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)  is an anxiety disorder that some people acquire after seeing or living through a traumatic event. An emotionally healthy person, in a dangerous situation, will have a natural responsive fear trigger that prepares them to either take action or flee from the situation; this is referred to as the “fight-or-flight” response.  People who are afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have an altered “fight-or-flight” response. They may feel highly anxious or frightened when they are not presently in any danger.

Although PTSD has likely existed ever since human beings have experienced trauma, the American Psychiatric Association did not officially recognize the disorder until 1980. However, PTSD was referred to using different names as early as the American Civil War, during which combat soldiers were considered to be suffering from "soldier's heart." Until recently, PTSD has been most closely associated with soldiers returning from combat but this disorder has become highly prevalent in a new and somewhat unexpected group: Adolescents and Teens.

PTSD statistics in adolescents and teens reveal that more than 40% of children have experienced a minimum of one traumatic incident. Within the United States as many as 60% of kids surviving through a traumatic situation have this disorder. The youth of today have experienced The Gulf War, the tragedies of September 11th, The Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War. In conjunction with the aforementioned horrors, kids are exposed to very adult situations without the emotional or mental development necessary to navigate through these situations.

Due to the fact that a child is not developed mentally, emotionally, or physically, treatment for adolescents and teens with PTSD is quite different then treatment for adults suffering from this disorder. Furthermore, the availability of information to quality treatment for these young people is limited. The future of our community belongs to the youngsters in it. We as a community must first acknowledge that the young members of our community may be suffering from PTSD and then take appropriate actions on their behalf to ensure that quality treatment is readily accessible. 

Geolocation technology's latest use

Although geolocation technology has been around since 1999 its use has recently exploded into the social networking scene. Not familiar with this technology? Geolocation software is used to figure out the geographical location of a specific party. Finding the geographical location of a specific person is done by first identifying a subject’s IP (Internet Protocol) address, then determining whom the IP address has been assigned to, and finally locating the physical address of that person. Geolocation technology’s use in this manner can be extremely helpful to law enforcement agencies and protect consumers from fraud. But as always, there’s the flip side.

Geolocation isn’t used exclusively by law enforcement. Since geolocation software can get the information of user’s location, companies have long used geomarketing. Advertisements and content on a website are tailored to specific users. Have you ever noticed when you go to sites like Google or Yahoo, that the advertisements are targeted for our specific area?

Now this technology has crept its way into social media sites. So why is location such a big deal? Consider the fact that advertising is what makes social networking profitable. The rise of Twitter has made it possible to share your up-to-the-minute location with the world. Taking Twitter one step further, location-based networking websites such as Foursquare have turned the process of sharing where you're at and what you're doing into a social game. Mobile phone technology allows social media users to access the Internet 24 hours a day from practically any location. Because of this constant access, advertisers are in a unique position to connect with potential customers in a powerfully personalized way. However, while there is great excitement over location-based technology from a marketing perspective, we as consumers need to be extremely concerned about our privacy and furthermore our safety.

One of the biggest criticisms of location-based social networking websites like Foursquare is that when users "check-in" at a destination, they are also unintentionally notifying the world that they are not at home. While this may not seem like a big deal at first, when you consider the possibility that criminals could monitor your status updates, the danger of over-sharing online becomes much more real. Taking the criminal element one step further, geolocation technology may soon be easily available to anyone.

Corbett withdraws Twitter subpoena

On Friday, after being convicted in what has come to be known as Bonusgate, former legislative aide Brett Cott was led away in handcuffs. Cott was sentenced to 21 to 60 months in prison for conspiring to use state funds for political campaigning. Prosecutors said that they had withdrawn a subpoena sent to Twitter, Inc. on May 6th that sought the identities of two Twitter users, one of whom they suspected was Cott. Attorney General Tom Corbett’s office said that Cott’s sentencing made the subpoena unnecessary.

Controversy looms large over whether Corbett went too far by using the grand jury to acquire the subpoena in the first place. Attorney and legal director of the local ACLU, Vic Walczak, who is representing the two anonymous Twitter users, stated “While we are pleased that the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has withdrawn the subpoena seeking the identity of our clients, the ACLU maintains grave concerns regarding the PA Attorney General’s handling of this entire affair.” Prosecutors said the subpoena was based on “legal reasons” for which they could not elaborate due to the secretive nature of grand jury proceedings.

The subpoena has brought an onslaught of criticism from First Amendment and Internet privacy advocates, who argue that the subpoena boils down to a blatant attempt to silence and intimidate anyone who disagrees with Corbett. Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, called the subpoena "unbelievable", further stating "using such a tool to find information for a sentencing argument was well outside the sphere of sentencing guidelines." The controversy regarding the subpoena is rather untimely, as Attorney General Tom Corbett has just begun his campaign to run for Pennsylvania governor.

Corbett subpoenas identities of Twitter users

On May 6th, the grand jury subpoenaed the identities of two users from Twitter, Inc. Over the past several years, Corbett's office has been using the grand jury process to look into allegations of the illegal use of government resources to run political campaigns. The subpoena was prompted over criticism made of the Pennsylvania attorney general on Twitter. The subpoena seeks the subscriber information for two Twitter accounts, bfbarbie and CasablancaPA.

Twitter user CasablancaPA links to an anonymous blog, "CasablancaPA: Exposing the hypocrisy of Tom Corbett," which also has criticized Corbett and how his office has handled the investigation of the legislature known as Bonusgate. Signor Ferrari, an alias used by one of three people who post to the CasablancaPA blog, said the group received notice of the subpoena from Twitter on Tuesday night.

ACLU lawyer Vic Walczak is helping the two anonymous Twitter users fight an effort by prosecutors to unmask their identities. Walczak said the subpoena by a statewide investigative grand jury is an unconstitutional retaliation that violates First Amendment free-speech protections. Walczak will ask a judge to throw out a subpoena seeking the identities of the two Twitter users. This situation is quickly evolving into Twittergate.

Peace promoters gear up for Aryan rally

Last week, the Aryan Nation announced their application for a permit to demonstrate at the site of the Old Cyclorama Center on June 19th, during the Gettysburg Festival. According to Katie Lawhon, management assistant for Gettysburg National Military Park, “Denying the permit would be a violation of the first amendment. The park is not organizing the rally, nor do they support the views of the Aryan Nation.” 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War and Gettysburg has begun plans for a 5-year commemoration. This year’s festival is certainly a well-calculated time for a demonstration of this sort.

On May 16th, community members met at the YWCA Gettysburg and Adams County to discuss various community alternatives to the rally if the National Park Service approves the permit. In attendance were area residents and several representatives from the NAACP, Pennsylvania Human Relations Committee, Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, and Battlefield Harley-Davidson. Issues of concern are security precautions and crowd control, as well as, avenues to divert attention from the rally.

Community members will meet again at the YWCA on Tuesday, May 25th at 5:30 pm. Further discussion of avenues to peacefully handle the rally are planned and anyone interested in promoting peace is encouraged to attend. Those who cannot attend, but wish to be kept informed of the planning process, may contact Andyshak Hayes at (717) 334-9171 ext. 113 or aahayes@ywcagettysburg.org

"We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work, which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced." ~ A. Lincoln, November 19, 1863

Primary 2010 touted as the make or break election

Predictions about this election are reminiscent of Limp Bizkit's song, "He Said, She Said". Perhaps the more intelligent approach in this primary election would be to find out what the candidates have sincerely accomplished.

What makes a candidate worthy of your coveted vote? According to the US Department of Labor, the Pennsylvania unemployment rate sits at 14.3%, placing our state in the Federal Emergency Unemployment category. Each candidate proclaims an interest in keeping and bringing jobs to Pennsylvania. But which ones have stood behind the outsourcing of of Pennsylvanian's jobs?

While unemployment within our state is of utmost importance, Pennsylvania has another huge but rarely reported issue, the Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice system. Has anyone forgotten Luzerne County? The Juvenile Center, located in Philadelphia, is working diligently to ensure that the disgraceful actions that occurred in Luzurene County never happen again. Which candidate is willing to stick their neck out on that issue?

Who's in the Pennsylvania primary election?

On Tuesday, May 18th, Pennsylvanians will line up to cast their votes in primary election.  For a look at the unofficial election results check out 2010 General Primary and a full candidate directory for November, can be found at Build My Ballot. In an effort to help inform fellow Pennsylvanians, below is a list of Tuesday's candidates.

United States Senator
Joe Sestak (D)
Arlen Specter (D) 
Peg Luksik (R)
Pat Toomey (R)

Governor
Dan Onorato (D)
Jack Wagner (D)
Anthony Hardy Williams (D)
Joseph M. Hoeffel (D)
Tom Corbett (R)
Samuel E. Rohrer (R)

Lieutenant Governor
Doris A. Smith-Ribner (D)
Scott H. Conklin (D)
Jonathon A. Saidel (D)
Steve Johnson (R)
Jean Craig Peeper (R)
Russ Diamond (R)
Chet Beiler (R)
Jim Crawley (R)
Bill McCue (R)
John Kennedy (R)
Stephen A. Urban (R)
Daryl Metcalf (R)

Chester County teen dies in crash

Friday morning, a one-vehicle crash claimed the life of 19-year-old Matt Bickert. The dry statistics are that at 7:43am Friday morning, the West Caln Township police responded of the 1000 block of West Kings Highway, where the westbound black Dodge Neon crossed the eastbound lane, traveling down an embankment and striking a tree. Police identified the driver as Matthew Bickert and Matt was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation and West Caln Township police request that anyone with information please call (610) 384-3115. We, as a community, offer our deepest condolences to Matt’s family and friends.