JULY 2009 GREENESPEAK
HITS THE STANDS JULY 2ND!
STORIES YOU WON'T READ ANYWHERE ELSE....
--Guess who got fined for Asbestos Violations?
--And who do you suppose is being investigated by the Audior General?
--THE WET HEN: We just KNEW 330 jobs at Wal-Mart was too good to be true!
--CENTERFOLD: Anantomy of a SAVED GRAVE.
--And in honor of Independence Day, we caught up with Greene County's own Flag Man.
AND LOTS MORE! TAKE ONE AND SHARE ONE.
HELP US GET THE WORD OUT THAT REAL, LIVE PEOPLE WHO GO TO CHURCH AND BELIEVE IN GOD AND SPEND THEIR MONEY WISELY AND DON'T LIKE PHONIES LIVE IN GREENE COUNTY. These are the folks we produce this paper. Unlike the other newspapers, who pander to elected officials and "powerful" community leaders, we have spent the past 5 years working for you. AND WE LOVE IT AND PROMISE TO DO MORE!
--
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF
GREENESPEAK monthly newspaper
A member of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
Cindy Bailey, Editor/Publisher
PH: 724-344-7980
cindy@greenespeak.com
Headquartered at
99 S. Washington St.
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Maiing Address:
P. O. Box 1003
Waynesburg, PA 15370
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS
WEBSITE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.
Call Cindy today:
724-344-7980
Beginning August 7th the August GreeneSpeak will appear on newsstands - sort of like the ghost of Jacob Marley coming to haunt Greene County's various corrupt public officials who are as greedy for power and money as Mr. Scrooge himself!
Pick up your copy of GreeneSpeak and LISTEN TO THOSE CHAINS RATTLE!
We've got LOTS of fun stuff for you. Public officials everywhere will be donning their trench coats and sunglasses to pick them up to see who's getting their you-know-whats beat up today. Hurry and get yours. If you're coming to the fair tonight, stop by and get your copy, fresh off the press. We will be there in the upper 4-H building.
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JULY 2, 2009
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GreeneSpeak hits the stands today. Hurry and get yours while they last.
I've been told my Greene Scream comment page isn't working correctly. I will be revamping this site soon, so stay with me until I get it fixed.
Also, there is no Cindy's Wind in the July paper. I have posted last month's on this site on the Cindy's Wind Page and hope to put a new one on there in the next day or so.
Hope to see you all at the Let Freedom Ring Concert on July 4th at 8 pm, Waynesburg Fairgrounds. My friend Jeannie Waychoff has been working hard on bringing this community choir together. You will love it. Lots of patriotic and all-American Gospel music.
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JUNE 3, 2009
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JUSTICE WAS SERVED, BUT NOTHING WILL MAKE IT BETTER
In what may have stunned half the courtroom in Waynesburg this afternoon, Btitnee Moore was found guilty of Homicide by Vehicle, Manslaughter, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person following a 2-and-a-half-day trial this week. The jury deliberated for about 2 hours before delivering their verdict.
When the verdict was announced, Moore did not react. Hope's mother whispered "Thank God."
In her closing remarks to the jury earlier today, District Attorney Marge Fox had pointed out that even if Moore's speed could not be pinpointed exactly at the time of the crash, there were a number of other things going on that contributed to the fatal outcome.
Testimony indicated that it took Britnee about 45 minutes to drive from Uniontown to Blacksville and then back to where the crash occurred--a distance which Tpr. Pash says took him AN HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES to travel at the posted speed limits.
During the last hour before the crash, there were 13 phone calls between Britnee and her parents, indicating some sort of discussion, or attempts at discussion. Apparently Britnee did not attend her college class in Waynesburg that evening and I suspect her parents were wondering where she was, maybe arguing with her. That may have been the biggest factor contributing to her apparent speeding, but we'll never know for sure.
Meanwhile, she was carrying on various text conversations during this time WHILE DRIVING. Her former boyfriend apparently lied on the stand, noting they didn't meet anyone in Uniontown, but texts show that a mysterious meeting had been set up with someone names Rumbaugh. It was not made clear what this meeting was or was not.
She was also apparently arguing with someone named Maura at the same time in text messages. She had deleted these nasty messages, but Fox had obtained them from the phone company.
At the time of the crash, around 9:01 p.m., she was reaching for her cell phone to answer a call from a friend, while she was speeding and heading for a blind curve. NOW DO YOU GET WHY SHE PLOWED INTO HOPE, who was traveling at a normal speed on her own side of the road as she was headed the other way to her dad's house for her birthday?
After the jury was dismissed, Fox asked the judge for an increase in Moore's bail because she said she had been given a photo of Moore standing in front of a bar. One of the terms of Moore's bail had been that she was not allowed to be around anyplace serving alcohol. The judge denied Fox's request.
Moore's attorney asked for an acquittal because he said his "expert" witness Dr. Eck (see yesterday's entry for my take on that guy) did not have access to the Maley vehicle for his research. The judge denied that request as well.
Homicide by vehicle carries a maximum 7-year sentence, but I suspect she won't get the max.
After the trial was over, Marge pointed out that she represents the people, not the Maleys or the Moores and she thanked the state police for all their work on this case. The defense attorney was brutal to them both, esp. Tpr. D'Andrea, but both of them took the hits like, well, TROOPERS.
While I understand Fox's point that she tries to show no bias, I take issue with her opinion that she represents both families equally. Of course she had to do her job as fairly as possible and all these folks are taxpayers but as the prosecutor, she has to pick a side and SHE IS NOT HERE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE DEFENDANT'S CHAIR WHO ARE CHARGED WITH CRIMES. THAT IS THE JOB OF THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND IN THIS CASE, A COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEY. And as of this afternoon, Britnee is unfortunately a criminal, a convicted felon, who will face the consequences of stealing Hope's life from her.
And yes, it's sad that this is the story of two young women whose fates are eternally entwined in the worst possible way. And yes, lots of innocent people are heartbroken today, including Britnee's family and friends, but Britnee will most likely be able to live out a relatively normal life if she cleans up her act; she'll maybe even accomplish something one day.
But Hope is dead and the promise of her life and what she could have accomplished will never be realized and her family and friends have empty arms today.
Fox said she hopes this story and its outcome is a cautionary tale and that it will remind people to think about their driving speed and the use of cell phones behind the wheel, but added that this crash was the result of "a combination of factors."
I suppose it is a cautionary tale for adults as well. I know I've been guilty of calling and texting my girls when they were late getting home. I was mad if they answered the phone, demanding to know if they were answering the phone while driving. But I was also mad if they didn't return my calls and I was forced to fret until they got home.
Since I learned the details of this particular accident, I try to be more judicious about calling them and have repreatedly told them both that I'd rather have them home in one piece a little bit late, rather than not at all.
No, the conviction of Britnee Moore today will not bring Hope back, but as Fox said, her job isn't about making things better. The accident on March 13, 2007 is was it is and nothing can change it. But today was about justice, and in my opinion, justice was served this day in Greene County Court.
COMMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED ON THE GREENE SCREAM PAGE
OR to cindy@greenespeak.com
If you want to remain anonymous on this site, please tell me that!
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JUNE 2, 2009
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PROSECUTION CHEWS UP, SPITS OUT DEFENSE'S 'EXPERT'
Well, I must say things went much smoother and much more OPEN today in the second and final day of testimony in the Britnee Moore Homicide by Vehicle trial (referenced below in yesterday's entry). Now I'm not sure, but I think maybe some little birdies passed my concerns on to whoever is in charge of this outfit and most of today's discussion was open and when things were admitted as evidence, the judge said "so moved or so admitted" so you could at least have a clue. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but I suspect having a Wild Card in the gallery (ME) makes them behave a little more responsibly. There wasn't so much of this "approaching" the bench.
Anyway, most of the morning was spent with Commonwealth witness Tpr D'Andrea on the stand. He has been a crash reconstruction expert with the PSP for over 20 years. He explained in great detail what his findings were, most notably that Moore was traveling at least 70 mph in a 35 mph area, that she fully crossed the center line and that she hit Hope's car almost completely head-on with such force that Hope's own car was crushed in on her.
He also pointed out that within eight-tenths of a mile, he did in fact have cell phone service.
When defense attorney Mike Bigley cross-examined D'Andrea, he tried to discredit the officer in a number of ways, even insinuating that the trooper should have "preserved" the evidence (cars). He calmly explained that this wasn't his job. Of course, Bigley was just trying to do his job, which is to create a reasonable doubt regarding the trooper's findings.
But Bigley went too far, I think, spending a ridiculous amount of time trying to argue that one formula used to calculate the speed of the cars was "angle sensitive" which could cause a huge variation in the calculations, making them more like a guess. The trooper calmly explained that he was well aware of this sensitivity so that's why he used several methods to calculate the speeds, including HIS OWN TWO EYES AND COMMON SENSE.
Bigley tried the same thing on Tpr. John Pash who also said he had no authority over impounded cars and where they ended up and who searched them. Then Bigley started on the cell phone. Hope's mom Darlene Maley had gone to Wade's Body Shop shortly after the accident to retrieve personal items from her daughter's car, including her cell phone.
Turned out the phone was actually Britnee Moore's phone. So Darlene called Pash who came and got the phone. End of that story.
Meanwhile Bigley had some problems with his other witnesses, one apparently very reluctant and the other over zealous.
James Mason, owner of Wade's, provided little information and actually said PSP investigators took a cell phone from BRITNEE'S car, which is apparently an incorrect recollection. He mostly said he couldn't remember much because it was so long ago and his shop deals with as many as 30 wrecked cars in a month's time. Fortunately they let that busy man go back to work after a short time on the witness stand.
Bigley's last witness was some egghead with the unlikely name of "Eck" who is surely very smart on the page and in the civil engineering classroom, but who did not go over too well in a courtroom full of ordinary people already overloaded with car crash info. (Your tax dollars at work here!)
In essence, Eck pretty much said that the two vehicles could have been traveling anywhere between 5 mph and 116 mph (Geeze, I could have told them that!) but there was no way to be sure and even a vivid shot of the obliterated front end of Moore's white Civic could not induce the venerated doctor to admit to District Attorney Fox that Moore might have been traveling at an excessive speed.
While on the stand, Dr. Eck and Bigley couldn't seem to locte their copy of the trooper's accident reconstruction report, so Bigley asked Marge for her copy. Unfortunately when he got the fat document in his hands, Eck got a little bit icky and had to admit that he had not seen the whole report.
Eck also admitted he had not seen the autopsy report and whined that he had not be able to examine Hope's car because it was no longer available by the time Eck was contacted. (Which is apparently why Bigley hounded the troopers about the preservation of evidence).
Toward the end, Fox pretty much blew him out of the water (or off the road although I don't think he would understand that expression) by noting, "Dr. Eck, your opinion is that you have no opinion except that the state police are wrong."
And so the rumpled little man with the big glasses was excused, taking very large, clumpy steps to get the hell out of there, tucking his last shred of dignity behind him. I believe the T.V. people followed him out there. Poor little professor....
Interestingly, during the cross-examining of Eck, Mr. Bigley was the most quiet I had seen him in these past two days. I could swear I saw the steam rising from his hairless head as he surely pondered WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING WHEN I HIRED THIS GUY?
Now lest you think I am making light of the horrific death of a beautiful girl who was someone's daughter, sister, niece, friend, (pictured above the day she got her driver's license, wearing a shirt that ironically says, "LIVE YOUR LIFE"), surely by now YOU KNOW ME BETTER THAN THAT. Allow me to remind you that I have devoted much of my life these past several years to helping people make their way to justice. Pardon me if I find some levity when God humbles the oppressors in His own good time.
But it's not over. Tomorrow will be the closing arguments and then the jury gets to decide. Check this website for updates tomorrow.
If you want to add your 2 cents, e-mail me at cindy@greenespeak.com
Or enter you comments on the Greene Scream Page on this website.
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JUNE 1, 2009
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SHROUD OF DARKNESS IS ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE IN GREENE COUNTY COURT
The jurors in the Homicide by Vehicle trial of Britnee Moore had baggy eyes today as they left the courtroom around 4:10. District Attorney Marge Fox presented a large portion of her case today regarding the horrific head-on crash that killed Hope Maley, 16, on March 13, 2007. Hope would have been 17 the next day.
Police say Moore plowed into Hope's car on Rt. 218 in Franklin Township at a speed of 70 mph on a curve marked with a 35 mph sign. Hope was heading to see her dad for her birthday.
Fox is trying to prove that Moore was also using her cell phone and her recklessness and negligence violated PA law. Her evidence today largely concentrated on cell phone records which seem to indicate Moore was on the phone about 9:01 p.m. A neighbor came upon the accident scene and dialed 911 at 9:03 p.m., according to police.
Fox is also trying to prove that Moore and her then-boyfriend Brandon Lauden met someone in Uniontown that night just before the crash. Lauden said they weren't meeting anybody, but cell phone text messages seem to indicate that the two were trying to hook up with someone named Rumbaugh. Whether it was for some unsavory activity has not been brought out yet. However, Lauden's story had some big holes in it today.
Moore's friends, Shanna Puthuff and Shadoe Martin, testified that Moore told them she was reaching for her cell phone when she crashed into Hope.
Moore's court-appointed attorney, Mike Bigley, is trying to prove that Moore's actions did not reach the criminal level. He seemed to be spending the day trying to keep the evidence to a minimum even after admitting to the jury that he largely agrees with Fox's description of what happened. For instance, he refused to allow Fox to enter a photo of Hope taken right after the accident in which she was deceased and trapped in her car; and he would not allow her friend Nicky Coleman to speak about her last phone conversation with Hope.
It was a grueling day for a number of reasons, including Dr. Cyril Wecht's description of Hope's autopsy during which her mom Darlene quietly wept and wiped her eyes, but the day became increasingly exhausting and frustrating mostly because Bigley had an objection to and requested a sidebar for nearly every piece of evidence and every witness Fox tried to introduce in court today. There were something like two dozen exhibits and maybe 10 witnesses. For nearly every one of these, Bigley asked to approach Judge Nalitz at which time Bigley was granted a lengthy "sidebar" between him and Fox and the judge. In some instances, I couldn't tell whether the items were being admitted as evidence or not. Maybe I just wasn't quick enough to follow everything, but don't you think the average juror would be having similar problems?
Anyway, if you read last month's GreeneSpeak, in "The Wet Hen," I wrote about the excessive use of sidebars (and some other issues) during the jury selection held in April in preparation for this trial and several others.
At that time, Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Media Law Counsel Melissa Melewsky said she felt that a few sidebars are appropriate in exceptional instances but that too many sidebars are contrary to the public process. EVERY SIDEBAR CONVERSATION HELD IN THE JURY SELECTION THAT DAY WAS
PRIVATE.
Regarding today's trial, Melewsky said that the only people in that courtroom who should not have heard these sidebar discussions were the jurors, and they should have been sequestered (removed from the courtroom)for every one of those conversations which then should have been held in the open.
However, you can see the logistical problem with removing the jury for 30 or 40 different items, especially since at least one juror uses a cane and walks with difficulty.
But Melewsky says that THE CONVENIENCE OF THE TIPSTAFF, ATTORNEYS, AND/OR JUDGE IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR EXCLUDING THE PUBLIC FROM THESE SIDEBARS.
I am not sure my concerns are being heard or seriously considered by any of the folks who can do something about this. This is ruffling my proverbial feathers on many levels. Today was an extemely frustrating day to be a reporter in the gallery. I wonder why my colleagues--at least two other newspaper reporterss and a TV guy--don't ask the same questions that I do.
The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association has been providing me with ongoing assistance and is encouraging me to hold these elected officials accountable. GreeneSpeak is at a crossroads at this very moment. As a publisher, I feel that it is my duty to inform the public of secrecy in our local government. How far I go to do my part to ensure the public process in Greene County Court will depend on whether and how my concerns are addressed in the very near future. Stay tuned....
The trial will continue for at least the next two days, I think.
If you would like to comment on this and have it posted on this website, please use the Greene Scream Page or just e-mail me at cindy@greenespeak.com. You will have to supply your name and e-mail to me (Cindy Bailey, GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher) but IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS PLEASE TYPE 'ANONYMOUS COMMENT' IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR E-MAIL.
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APRIL 22, 2009
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5TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
It has been five years since I decided that I wasn't going to be silenced just because the Good Ol' Boys and Girls didn't like it when I shed too much light in their dark corners.
GreeneSpeak actually began as a website in February 2004, which county officials quickly blocked from their comupter systems, even though everyone had access to all other local news content. Oh well.
The website's popularity led me to believe I could do a print product which would not disappear into the spam files of local government workers.
In May 2004, the first GreeneSpeak was printed with much blood, sweat, and tears and today it looks a little rough, but the seed was sown!
Imagine my vindication when I placed my first newspaper box at the door of the county office building where it still sits today!
GreeneSpeak now circulates 4-5,000 free papers throughout the county and has earned numerous state and national journalism awards for Editorials, Invesitgative Reporting, my column, "Cindy's Wind", photos, layout, etc. Our causes are social and environmental justice, but we also just want to be mirror of the community.
Last week I was notified that GreeneSpeak won four Keystones from the Pa. Newspaper Association and numerous honors from the Pa. Press Club, six of which will be submitted to the National Federation of Press Women. I'll tell you more about all that later.
Our journey has been one day at a time, one step at time, but GreeneSpeak continues to grow as other newspapers are shrinking and in many cases, shutting down.
So I'm telling you all this because there are still a few days left if you want to submit anything to this very special 5th Anniversary Edition of GreeneSpeak, including community notices or ads, but you need to let me know ASAP by contacting me: cindy@greenespeak.com or 724-344-7980.
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POSTED MARCH 12, 2009
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HERE'S WHO IS RUNNING IN THE PRIMARY!
I got this list from the Elections Office yesterday.
Print out and share or study as you desire!
Pardon the spacing. I just cut and pasted it in.
Gotta run!
2009 COUNTY CANDIDATES
OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
CORONER
DEMOCRATIC
GREGORY P. ROHANNA 4 YR
JURY COMMISSIONER
DEMOCRATIC
LYNN LEATHERS 4 YR
MELANEY DUFALLA 4 YR
REPUBLICAN
ROSALIND B. LAUR 4 YR
SHERIFF
DEMOCRATIC
RICHARD C. (DICK) KETCHEM 4 YR
___________________________
2009 SCHOOL DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
DISTRICT REGION PARTY NAME TERM CROSSF
ILED
CARMICHAELS AREA SCH. DIST.
DEMOCRATIC
DAN BAILEY 4 YR
DEAN W. SWANEY 4 YR
DENNIS OSBORNE 4 YR
FRED C CLARK JR 4 YR
PETER SHLOSKY 4 YR
RICHARD L. KRAUSE 4 YR
RONALD (DOUG) KERR 4 YR
SEAN SHEA 4 YR
VICTOR P. FRYE 4 YR
REPUBLICAN
DR. WILLIAM (BILL) 4 YR
CZYZEWSKI
JASON J. VOITHOFER 4 YR
CENTRAL GREENE SCH. DIST
PERRY, WAYNE, WHITELEY
REPUBLICAN
JOANNE L. BROOKOVER 4 YR
WAYNESBURG BOROUGH
DEMOCRATIC
ANDREW M. CORFONT 4 YR
REPUBLICAN
ALEXANDRIA A. FITCH 4 YR
JEFFERSON-MORGAN SCH. DIST.
DEMOCRATIC
BOB MITCHELL 4 YR
DEBBIE PHILLIPS 4 YR
JOHN CANTONI 4 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 1 of 2
DISTRICT REGION PARTY NAME TERM CROSSF
ILED
MARK S. POCHRON 4 YR
REPUBLICAN
DAN BAZZOLI 4 YR
JOHN W SHAFFER III 4 YR
SOUTHEASTERN GREENE SCH. DIST.
DEMOCRATIC
ED "JK" KAMENOS 4 YR
JANET PENNINGTON 4 YR
JANET PENNINGTON 4 YR
LEONARD S NOVAK 4 YR
SANDY THEIS 4 YR
REPUBLICAN
DON HUMBERT 4 YR
GINNY EBERHART 4 YR
J. R. ANTILL 4 YR
SAM COSSICK 4 YR
WEST GREENE SCH. DIST.
ALEPPO, FREEPORT, GILMORE & SPRINGHILL
DEMOCRATIC
MICHELLE ASH 4 YR
SHELIA D. SIMMS 4 YR
CENTER & MORRIS
DEMOCRATIC
ELIZABETH A. "LIZ" STAHL 4 YR
HARRY D. GILLISPIE 4 YR
JAMES A. HANDLEY 4 YR
JAMES M ZIMMERMAN 4 YR
LORETTA COOK 4 YR
GRAY, JACKSON, RICHHILL
REPUBLICAN
GRETA B. MOONEY 4 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 2 of 2
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2009 JUDGES & INSPECTORS OF ELECTIONS
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
ALEPPO TWP.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC KRISTI M. (SOTLER) ROHM 4 YR
REPUBLICAN MARY I. BRIGGS 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC GAYLE M. JORDAN 4 YR
CARMICHAELS BORO.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN MERLENE FOX 4 YR
REPUBLICAN SHARON I. HATHAWAY 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC JOANNE YURICK 4 YR
CLARKSVILLE BORO.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC HELEN G. MARLING 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC RUTH A. CAMPBELL 4 YR
REPUBLICAN DEBRA A. YOUNG 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC BONNIE L. WALKER 4 YR
CUMBERLAND - NEMACOLIN
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC RICHARD COOKE 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC MILDRED C. 4 YR
WONDERLING
CUMBERLAND #1
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC CAROL A. HARRISON 4 YR
REPUBLICAN NANCY J. SHIPE 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN LISA A. MILLER 4 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 1 of 6
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
CUMBERLAND #4
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC MARILYN BANGHART 4 YR
REPUBLICAN JANET ANDRENOK 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC ROXANA M. MILLER 4 YR
DUNKARD - BOBTOWN
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC PATRICIA A. WISE 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC MARY L. HORNICK 4 YR
DUNKARD - DILLINER
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC MARY LOUISE DINGLE 4 YR
REPUBLICAN VIVIAN CHADDERTON 4 YR
DUNKARD - LOWER
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC JEAN DILLINGER 4 YR
REPUBLICAN SYLVIA D. MATHEWS 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN MARLENE MATHEWS 4 YR
DUNKARD - UPPER
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC KATHY HUTCHISON 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN VONDA M. FISHER 4 YR
FRANKLIN - EAST
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC JOYCE COSS 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC KATHRYN I. PEDUTI 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC CAROL A RHODES 4 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 2 of 6
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
FRANKLIN - NORTH
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN IRENE D. GAPEN 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC KATY TSAI 4 YR
FRANKLIN - SOUTH
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC MARGIE S. RUSSELL 4 YR
REPUBLICAN SANDRA S. HAMPSON 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC NADINE LEMLEY 4 YR
FRANKLIN - WEST
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC CATHY YENCHIK 4 YR
REPUBLICAN CAROLYN GRIMES 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC EILEEN WOOD 4 YR
FREEPORT TWP.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC GEORGIA HELEN COSS 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC PEGGY KING 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC CARROL R GRIM 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC TAMARA K. COSS 4 YR
GILMORE TWP.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN BETTY M. WEAVER 4 YR
REPUBLICAN SUSAN W. HUFFMAN 4 YR
GRAY TWP.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC NANCY ORNDOFF 4 YR
REPUBLICAN MARILYN BALDWIN 4 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 3 of 6
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC DEBORAH R. INMAN 4 YR
GREENE TWP.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC DORTHA L. KIGER 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN DORIS BLAKER 4 YR
JEFFERSON #1
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC CHARLENE MITCHELL 4 YR
JEFFERSON #2
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC PAMELA LOCKETTE 4 YR
JEFFERSON #3
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC JEANNINE BURKETT 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC PEGGY MUSCAVITCH 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC MARIE POGUE 4 YR
JEFFERSON #4
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC HAROLD WHITE 4 YR
REPUBLICAN LOIS DAVIS 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC LESLIE HIROSKY 4 YR
JEFFERSON BORO.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC IRMHILD DAVIS 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC LISA M. WRIGHT 4 YR
REPUBLICAN SARA MCKINNEY 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC REBECCA J. KOSCHECK 4 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 4 of 6
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
MONONGAHELA #1
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC PAMELA J. OPFER 4 YR
REPUBLICAN JUNE E. HELLEN 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC SUSAN E. DREW 4 YR
MORGAN - LIPPENCOTT
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC DEBRA J OSTRICH 4 YR
MORGAN - MATHER
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC BERNADINE MANFREDI 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC BERNADETTE 4 YR
LAWRENCE
MORGAN-CHARTIERS/TGRDN
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC PATRICIA LAIGHT 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC JOE PORTLER 4 YR
MORRIS TWP.
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC SHERRI L. DURBIN 4 YR
RICHHILL TWP.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN KIMBERLY ROHM 4 YR
REPUBLICAN RICHARD BREEDING 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC BARBARA ROBISON 4 YR
SPRINGHILL TWP.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN DESHAWNDA L. BISSETT 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 5 of 6
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
DEMOCRATIC RHONDA J. PIPER 4 YR
WASHINGTON TWP.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC TAMI HERROD 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC WANDA L. COLE 4 YR
WAYNE - EAST
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC ETHEL PEARL SIMMONS 4 YR
REPUBLICAN MARTHA W. HOY 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC OLETA KIGER 4 YR
WAYNE - WEST
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC GRACE E ROUPE 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC TAMMY L. CUMBERLEDGE 4 YR
WAYNESBURG #2
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN JONATHAN L BUNCH 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC ELLEN ZIMMERMAN 4 YR
WAYNESBURG #3
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC LINDA C CORFONT 4 YR
REPUBLICAN KIMBERLY KELLER 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
REPUBLICAN KAREN KELLER 4 YR
WHITELEY TWP.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC MARY ATKINSON 4 YR
JUDGE OF ELECTION
DEMOCRATIC GRETCHEN GRAHAM 4 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 6 of 6
_______________________________
2009 TOWNSHIP & BOROUGH CANDIDATES
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
ALEPPO TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC SHIRLEY ZIMMERMAN 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC CHARLES (BUB) MARTIN 6 YR
CARMICHAELS BORO.
MAYOR
REPUBLICAN DAVID B. PRICE 4 YR
MEMBER OF COUNCIL
DEMOCRATIC ANNETTE THOMAS 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC JOHN PALETTA 4 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC JUDITH A. ARMSTRONG 4 YR
CENTER TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC JOYCE E. WATSON 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC CHARLES L WHIPKEY 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC EDWARD "BUTCH" DETER 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC JOHN D. HUGHES 6 YR
REPUBLICAN DAVID H. SMITH 6 YR
CLARKSVILLE BORO.
MAYOR
DEMOCRATIC SAMUEL A. BENYI 4 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC JAMES D. LEWIS SR. 4 YR
CUMBERLAND TWP.
CONSTABLE
DEMOCRATIC DANIEL "MIKE" LEWIS 6 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 1 of 8
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
DEMOCRATIC CHRISTINA KNESTRICK 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC JOYCE WYDO 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC CHARLES "PYE" PLASKO 6 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC JAMES (JIM) SOKOL 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC JEFF HATHAWAY 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC JOHN A. COX 6 YR
DUNKARD TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC JACALYN FLETCHER 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC ROSE M ANTONELLI 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC ALEX SHUPPE 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC DAVID L. PRITCHARD JR. 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC DAVID M. CLITES 6 YR
FRANKLIN TWP.
BOROUGH AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC BONNIE J. SMOUSE 4 YR
CONSTABLE
DEMOCRATIC RANDY YENCHIK 6 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC MARGIE E MASON 4 YR
REPUBLICAN CONNIE S. BURD 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC JOHN H. HIGGINS 6 YR
FREEPORT TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
REPUBLICAN DARLEEN K. BARNHART 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC BRANDT E. HOAG 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC ETHEL M. PHILLIPS ( 2 YR
GILMORE TWP. TOOTLE)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 2 of 8
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
BOROUGH AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC LINDA C. MILLER 6 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC BONNIE CUNNINGHAM 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC JEFFERY L. RODE 6 YR
GRAY TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC SHELLEY A. WALKER 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC DAVE BOWERS 6 YR
GREENE TWP.
CONSTABLE
DEMOCRATIC RICHARD A. CLARK 6 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC DOROTHY L. CLINE 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC BARBARA A. ZALAR 6 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC DONALD WAGNER 2 YR
DEMOCRATIC KENNETH KIGER 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC RONALD E MANCHAS 6 YR
GREENSBORO BORO.
MAYOR
DEMOCRATIC ARNIE BOWSER 4 YR
MEMBER OF COUNCIL
DEMOCRATIC RALPH H. JANNINI 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC ROBERT SWARTZ 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC SHAWN MCMANIS 4 YR
JACKSON TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC KATHY J. KIGER 4 YR
REPUBLICAN DANETTE BERDINE-MECEA 4 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 3 of 8
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC DANIEL W WRIGHT 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC OWEN J KIGER 6 YR
JEFFERSON BORO.
MAYOR
DEMOCRATIC EDWARD A. SHIPLEY 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC SANDRA K. DULIK 4 YR
MEMBER OF COUNCIL
DEMOCRATIC DARLENE SHIPLEY 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC DAVID C BRICHETTI 2 YR
DEMOCRATIC DAWN R. WOOD 2 YR
DEMOCRATIC DAWN R. WOOD 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC DENNIS CRILE 2 YR
DEMOCRATIC JUNE BLAIR 2 YR
DEMOCRATIC LANCE SAHADY 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC SANDRA K. DULIK 2 YR
DEMOCRATIC STEVEN T. DULIK SR. 4 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC MARJORIE BROADWATER 4 YR
JEFFERSON TWP.
CONSTABLE
DEMOCRATIC DONALD J (DON) PARKER 6 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC JOHNETTA M. HARDIN 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC KIMBERLY S. COLES 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC TIMOTHY D. COTTLE 6 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC GLENN DAVIS 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC MICHAEL A. (MUTTZ) 6 YR
DEVECKA
DEMOCRATIC MICKEY DIKUN 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC RICHARD (DICK) FADDIS 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC RON KURTYKA 6 YR
MONONGAHELA TWP.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 4 of 8
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
CONSTABLE
DEMOCRATIC ANTIONETTE CLINE 6 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC RITA KENDRALLA KING 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC CRAIG LINT 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC GARY L DREW 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC JOHN M. WHYEL SR. 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC LOUIS J. KOVACH III 6 YR
REPUBLICAN VIEN K HUMBERT 6 YR
MORGAN TWP.
CONSTABLE
DEMOCRATIC JEFFREY P ROHANNA 6 YR
REPUBLICAN MICHAEL BATES 6 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC JEAN SOWDEN REDMAN 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC SUSAN DUKE-DAINS 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC FREDA B. PYLE 6 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC DOMINICK J. BARBETTA 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC GEORGE E. HANDFORD 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC JEFF KNESTRICK 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC TED W. TURNER 6 YR
MORRIS TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC JOHNETTA L. LORENZ- 4 YR
SHIELDS
REPUBLICAN BARBARA W. MOONEY 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC KAREN SKERTICH 6 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC GLENN ADAMSON 6 YR
PERRY TWP.
CONSTABLE
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 5 of 8
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
DEMOCRATIC JOHN H WEAVER 6 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC CHRISTINE K. JARRELL 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC DONNA JEAN WEAVER 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC KRISTINA SZCZYRBAK 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC DANIEL MORRIS 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC ROBERT (BUCK) KENNEDY 6 YR
REPUBLICAN TOM LOFIEGO 6 YR
RICES LANDING BORO.
MAYOR
DEMOCRATIC FAY S. GUESMAN 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC RYAN T BELSKI 4 YR
MEMBER OF COUNCIL
DEMOCRATIC BARRY ELLIOTT 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC CHARLOTTE BLAKER 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC SUE RUFFNER 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC THOMAS TRAVIS 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC WILLIAM M. KOZICH 4 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
REPUBLICAN KIMBERLY PROVANCE 4 YR
RICHHILL TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC JOYCE HELPHENSTINE 4 YR
REPUBLICAN HEATHER R. GUTHRIE 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC CHARLES DAY 6 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC HAROLD (SONNY) THARP 6 YR
DEMOCRATIC THOMAS A CHESS III 6 YR
SPRINGHILL TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
REPUBLICAN NANCY HUGHES 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 6 of 8
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
DEMOCRATIC BRENDA YEATER 6 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC REX MILLER 6 YR
WASHINGTON TWP.
BOROUGH AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC ROLAND DANIELS 4 YR
CONSTABLE
REPUBLICAN MARK A BRIDGE 6 YR
REPUBLICAN SAMUEL D. SMITH 6 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC KAREN L. STOCKDALE 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC DEBORAH STEPHENSON 4 YR
REPUBLICAN WALTER S. STOUT 6 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC LEONARD "DUCK" 6 YR
DULANEY
DEMOCRATIC M. WAYNE MILLER 6 YR
REPUBLICAN SCOTT GAPEN 6 YR
WAYNE TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC JOAN L. LEMLEY 4 YR
TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
DEMOCRATIC JOHN C. VAN METER 6 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC C. BRYAN COLE 6 YR
WAYNESBURG BORO.
MAYOR
DEMOCRATIC S. BLAIR ZIMMERMAN JR. 4 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC MARY JANE MCCLURE 4 YR
WAYNESBURG BORO. #1
MEMBER OF COUNCIL
REPUBLICAN BRYAN F JOHNSTON 4 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 7 of 8
MUNICIPALITY OFFICE PARTY NAME TERM
WAYNESBURG BORO. #2
CONSTABLE
DEMOCRATIC RICHARD W. OWENS 6 YR
MEMBER OF COUNCIL
DEMOCRATIC MILES A. DAVIN JR 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC PATRICK J. BURNS JR. 4 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
REPUBLICAN HOLLY J. DAVIN 4 YR
WAYNESBURG BORO. #3
CONSTABLE
REPUBLICAN HOPE H. CLOSSER 6 YR
MEMBER OF COUNCIL
DEMOCRATIC LINDA L. BUTCHER 4 YR
REPUBLICAN JUDY K. HOWARD 4 YR
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC LINDA "LYDIA" CORFONT 4 YR
WHITELEY TWP.
TAX COLLECTOR
DEMOCRATIC LINDA VANDRUFF 4 YR
DEMOCRATIC SUSAN SHRIVER 4 YR
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
DEMOCRATIC JEFFERY RADDISH 6 YR
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Page 8 of 8
#####
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POSTED JANUARY 27, 2009
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The FLAP
Hope you are warm and dry at home today.
God bless you if you are out in it!
I have been busy with all sorts of stories this month and have been trying to follow through on several stories from the past few months.
I'd just like to issue a warning to anyone on the public payroll who thinks they can do whatever they want or don't want: YOUR GIG IS UP. GREENESPEAK IS ALIVE AND WELL.
I would say that most business days, I get calls from distraught people in all kinds of situations. The common denominator in most of these situations is someone on the public payroll WHO THINKS HE OR SHE IS GOD.
May I remind us all that NO ONE IS GOD EXCEPT GOD.
My door is always open to anyone with any kind of story, but my pledge is to help people who feel they are not being heard. That they are up against unreasonable odds, that no one who can help will. As the editor and publisher of GreeneSpeak, I make all the decisions on what stories I cover and all the other content in my paper, but these stories are what goes in before anything else.
Unlike your average newspaper, I do not pander to the Folks in Charge nor advertisers who would tell me to jump and how high. GreeneSpeak has been blessed to have advertisers who respect what we're about, even if they don't agree with all my opinions and politics all the time. They understand, thank God, THAT THIS IS STILL AMERICA EVEN IF IT IS GREENE COUNTY.
Ditto for the writers in the GreeneSpeak stable. They are all intelligent folks with various areas of expertise who THINK FOR THEMSELVES.
Having said that, knowing that so many folks are a part of each edition of GreeneSpeak keeps me responsible and keeps me from ever getting wreckless with my opinions or anything else.
Unfortunatey many folks who are paid with tax dollars don't seem to have this same system of checks and balances. And the higher you go up the food chain, the worse it is. Deparmtment heads and other political appointees are the people I'm talking about here mostly. I know there are rank-and-file folks in our county government, for example, who hide their copies of GreeneSpeak under their trenchcoats. They are cheering us on when we go after the bad guys at the top.
Speaking of bad guys....
I have just witnessed another CYS debacle in which a child with mental and physical disabiites was snatched from her home because she came to school with a small abraision on her temple area. They took this child from class and who knows how many adults interegated her without her mother's knowledge. They came that evening with the police department and hauled her to the hospital where the doctor listed the boo-boo as an "abrasion" and said he felt that the child, who has documented inner ear problems, most likely tripped and fell, and was NOT abused by anyone. But the child was placed in foster care until a meeting could be held with CYS.
This is a small child who doesn't speak clearly and is in her first year of school. Do YOU suppose she looked terrified when the school officials were pounding her with questions? How would YOU feel if you had a child like that stolen from your arms?
The mother called me for help. I told her what I tell all these parents: I'll show up at the meeting, but I can't promise you anything. However, I think the CYS people know me well enough now to realize that I will print exactly what they do to people. I don't have to imbellish or make up a single word. So they all look at me wide-eyed and I can almost here them collectively thinking, "Geeze, what's SHE doing here? I don't get paid enough for this...."
I suggested the mother invite a pastor or some person who could serve as her religious counsel, which she did. Also a neighbor who knows the family came.
However, none of us were acknowledged. CYS was supposed to be "investigating" and they didn't even bother to ask any of us why we were there. I did not expect them to talk to me, but ignoring the others was not only rude, but I suspect a violation of the mother's rights, especially the folks she asked to come as her religious counsel. I was under the impression that they couldn't refuse someone like this from attending the meeting.
CYS did manage to bring up an unfounded case from last year regarding this child. Can someone call Greene County CYS and explain to them what "unfounded" means?
Anyway, after a long day of waiting and unreturned phone calls, the mother went up to the office and she's been told she is to get the child back. Which means this whole thing was an exercise in stupidity. I don't know if they are just filling their quotas of abuse reports or what. I also wonder if they just don't know what they're doing.
To date, there has not been an expanation as to the cause of this drama. They did it BECAUSE THEY CAN.
The mother tells me in the first 48 hours of this inane incident, no less than FIVE different CYS caseworkers were in contact with her. It's no wonder no one knows what's going on! It sounds like the most disorganized bunch of people I ever heard of, so who are THEY to tell other people to get their lives together????
The whole thing SMELLS and served no purpose other than intimidation. You put your kid on the school bus; you figure they will come home UNESCORTED BY THE COPS!
I think whatever eagle-eyed person who saw this child's boo-boo may not realize THE CRAP THEY HAVE PUT THIS FAMILY THROUGH. If you think reporting something to CYS is in the interest of a child, be aware that one anonymous phone call can rob a child of her parents, maybe forever. They can harass people FOR YEARS and the child may be submerged in the system somewhere AND NEVER GET OUT.
You may not agree with how some people live, but as I said this is STILL AMERICA. People with little money can't live like many of the people on THE PUBLIC PAYROLL.
Of course, there are times when such a call is warranted, but TAKE CARE, lest you start something that could ruin lives.
I am watching this closely and will print the whole story with names and details if the child is not returned as they have promised. Stay tuned....
On another note, we have two new Greene Screams today.
Enjoy!
##
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POSTED JANUARY 12, 2009
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The FLAP
LOOKING A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH
UPDATE ON THE RESCUE OF TIM THE BELGIAN HORSE
By Cindy Bailey, GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher
Why is the Humane Society asking for help for Tim when dozens of folks were standing at the ready to do whatever was needed FREE OF CHARGE the day he was rescued?
It has come to my attention that the Humane Society of Greene County is now soliciting funds (see the excerpt from their website, below) from the public for Tim the Belgian - a horse rescued Dec. 30 from the Culp family who live in the Carmichaels/Rices Landing area. This only occurred when it did because three volunteers mounted a massive effort to save that horse. (See the January GreeneSpeak, "Rescue or respite?" page 16. Also, commentary "The WET HEN" page 4).
Now, before anyone gets their back up about my lousy attitude, allow me to say that I am glad the Humane Society got a siezure warrant and found someone to temporarily care for Tim. However, I refuse to pat them on the back for doing their job, which they dragged their feet on since April.
Also, I know that the people who were the most wrong in the first place are the people who were not taking proper care of Tim.
HAVING SAID THAT, however, I think the public should know that there were at least three offers of free housing and care for Tim during this fisaco. I personally talked with the operator of Hog Heaven Rescue (www.hogheavenrescue.org)who incidated that they had been on standby to accept Tim since November.
I also talked with Faith Bjalobok, one of the volunteers who cared for Tim this year, who said she was ready to house Tim. She owns more than a dozen horses, most of them rescued, and other assorted critters on a farm in McMurray, including a rescued potbellied pig named Margaret Ann. I should mention that Faith is a respected philosophy professor at Duquense, WVU, and Waynesburg U, specializing in animal ethics. She has professional and volunteer affiliations with a large number of animal protection agencies.
Another rescue outfit, Second Chance Equine also indicated they would take Tim, according to Faith.
Offers of free transport were also available.
Additoinally, a rather large sum of money had been collected for Tim's vet care through the efforts of Faith, and the other two volunteers, Pam Mitchell and Carol Pultorak, both of Greene County.
However, although the three women and these two rescue organizations were on standby during Tim's rescue, THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREENE COUNTY SNUBBED ALL THEIR EFFORTS AND FUNDS.
I personally was not allowed to view Tim during or after his rescue, and neither were these three women WHO HAVE FED AND CARED FOR HIM SINCE APRIL 2008. The Humane Society found someone else to temporarily care for Tim, a situation they are now asking YOU to pay for. Even the Humane Scoeity admits, "...most Greene County residents know that it is expensive to keep horses."
So my question is, WHY IS THE HUMANE SOCIETY NOW PESTERING THE PUBLIC FOR MONEY WHEN THIS WHOLE THING WOULD NOT HAVE COST GREENE COUNTIANS A DIME IF THEY WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED ANY OF THESE SEVERAL TRUE OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE?
What gives? Is this just a personal vendetta that YOU, THE TAXPAYERS OF GREENE COUNTY, ARE NOW BEING ASKED TO PAY FOR?
Is anyone else wondering if this type of thing has happened in other situations at the Humane Society of Greene County? Does it smell like horse manure to you, or is it just me???
Is anyone else wondering if this is one reason why the Humane Society of Greene County has so many money troubles? Because they only accept money if they LIKE you? Because they don't accept money from you if you got in their hair and might make them look bad? (FYI: I have received a number of calls from some other folks whose offers of resources were completely snubbed, as well as from some folks who have other concerns about the way things are being handled there. TAKE NOTE: I do not comment on this lightly or for the fun of it, but I do have a number of my ducks already in a row).
I don't know about YOU, but I think the Humane Society of Greene County is RARELY, IF EVER, IN ANY POSITION TO REFUSE BONIFIDE OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES that affect abused, neglected, or abandoned animals here. Do you agree?
Refusing free resources and then asking the public for money doesn't sound legal or ETHICAL to me....It also sounds pretty damned arrogant.
Please write in on the Greene Scream Page if you have any comment on this at all. You don't have to agree with me. All light is good. Or contact me directly at 724-344-7980 or cindy@greenespeak.com.
For the moment, Tim is safe, but I understand that the Culps will be appealing the judge's court order of Dec. 9 in which they were found guilty of cruelty to animmals and ordered to pay a fine in the death of a pony that lay suffering for several days before the neighbors called the police. They were ordered also to surrender Tim. (I still don't completely understand why the DA's office had to get a seizure warrant for Tim in light of this court order, but I am not an attorney so maybe I'm not smart enough to understand why the HS did not collect an animal the judge ordered the Culps to surrender to them. I do know from the puppy lawsuit a few months ago, Jane Gapen, HS director, noted that once an animal has been surrendered to the HS, "We can do whatever we want with it." Maybe she was referring only to puppies being confiscated from little disabled children....sorry didn't mean to be so sarcastic....)
At this juncture, I am concerned about the financial handling of Tim's care and rescue, and I think the public should know that FUNDS AND PERMANENT HOUSING WERE READILY AVAILABLE FOR TIM, FREE OF CHARGE, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, PERSONAL OR NOT, THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREENE COUNTY WOULD NOT ACCEPT THESE OFFERS.
I am going to try to get some response from the Humane Society of Greene County, but I won't hold my breath.
I urge any person reading this to contact the Humane Society of Greene County at humanegreene@windstream.net.
Maybe you can get a straight answer or ANY answer at all regarding this matter. I'd just be tickled pink as Margaret Ann to hear what you find out!
I have been chastized for looking into this matter, which incidentally took a turn for the better a few days after GreeneSpeak got involved.(You decide if that is a coincidence or not; I don't really care; I just do my thing. I did call DeWeese's office, too, and they are trying to help.)
I have been told that if I TRULY wanted to help the Humane Society of Greene County, I would get the word out that people should donate to help Tim. Make no mistake: I want to see Tim cared for; I'm just saying that if you donate for his care, you might want to ask a few questions first.
Here is the plea for money for Tim from the Greene County Humane Society's website (www.greenepet.org):
Horse Rescue Request
The HSGC is asking for the public's help to house, feed, and medicate a Belgian horse rescued from a farm near Carmichaels, PA. Send donations to the Humane Society of Greene County, 183 Jefferson Road Waynesburg PA, 15370, or donate via PayPal on our website. At the top of this page you will find our address and links to donate using PayPal.
We get horses only occasionally, but most Greene County residents know that it is expensive to keep horses. We feel that this horse can be saved and adopted, but only after some TLC. Please help us.
##
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POSTED JANUARY 5, 2008
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Start your New Year off right
with GreeneSpeak, available
beginning Jan. 5.
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POSTED NOVEMBER 20, 2008
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A new Greene Scream came in today. Enjoy!
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POSTED NOVEMBER 19, 2008
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The FLAP
WOULD SOMEBODY TELL BILL DEWEESE THAT HE WON?
Enough already!
Would someone kindly get on the phone or send an e-mail to bill@billdeweese.com and inform him that HE WON?
While you're at it, tell his diehard supporters the same thing. People are still accusing me of not supporting Bill, to which I reply: GUILTY AS CHARGED. (See The WET HEN'S UN-endorsements below).
The election is over; can we move on now?
Personally, I'm tired of hearing Bill whine about being up against "the dirtiest campagin" of his career. If I were the Hopkins Team, I'd be demanding to know exactly what he is referring to. That very calculated remark borders on slander as far as I'm concerned, and is designed, I suspect, to cast shadows on Greg, just in case this upstart should choose to give Bill another run for his (our) money.
Now I know there are zealots in every campaign and supporters, like sports fans, can get carried away at times, but Bill's much-quoted comment seems to imply that the Hopkins Team was systematically doing unfair/untrue things to our poor Dollar Bill, who was so disadvantaged. HA!
I have personally met many of the folks who were working on Greg's campaign and they are good people. It's slanderous, I tell you!
THE TAXPAYERS IN GREENE COUNTY DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT BILL MEANS BY "DIRTIEST CAMPAIGN"? HE OR ANYONE ELSE WITH REAL INFORMATION SHOULD GIVE ME A CALL AT 724-344-7980.
Perhaps Bill feels that it's "dirty" to be challenged. I am convinced that most of his supporters in Greene County feel that way.
HellOOOOOOOOO! Must I continually remind people that Greene County IS IN FACT still in America? And it's OKAY for any law abiding citizen to run for office, no matter WHO the incumbent is????
Meanwhile, maybe Bill has had his head up you-know-where trying to cover his you-know-what and doesn't realize that he is the victor, although it looks like another leg got sawed off his Hallowed Throne in the State House. Yes, he got his broken body out from under the bus, but he has been demoted to Whip, meaning he is Number 3, instead of Number 2 (no pun intended). WAH.
According to all his starry-eyed supporters (including Greene County Democratic Committee Chair--pardon the earlier error--who said Greene County won't get SQUAT without Bill), I guess this means that Greene County's coffers will now get less dough. Could someone get out a calculator and figure out the monetary difference between the Whip and the Majority Leader and I'm not talking about his personal paycheck. Then we will know exactly how much WE spent on Bill's campaign and how much money we WON'T get because that seems to be all the DeWeese supporters care about. Who cares if he has been steering the USS Corruption through the Commonwealth's polluted seas for three decades? Everybody has to pay to play, you know; sometimes with their soul....and that includes Greene County voters who refuse to see the light.
Meanwhile, SOMEONE should be listening. In the Year of the Democrats in America, Greene County voters chose McCain, Corbett, and Hopkins. The race between Murtha and Russell (a virtual unkown) was surprisingly close with Russell getting more than 47% of the vote.
Like an old song says, SOMETHIN'S HAPPENIN' HERE...
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POSTED NOVEMBER 11, 2008
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The FLAP
ASK ANY COMBAT VETERAN
If your candidates did not win the election, you may be a little disillusioned right now, which is understandable, but know that the fight for what is good and right is not over and never easily won. Ask any combat military veteran.
Throwing the towel in may look attractive in these let-down days, but your labor is not in vain. And as I always say, follow the money, particularly in regard to incumbents. Most of this is not about what is good and right or public service; it's about who pays to play and who owes who and what's-in-it-for-me.
We owe gratitude to the candidates who ran against the Big Dogs in spite of people who are outraged that anyone would challenge our hallowed public officials. PLEASE LET THE UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES KNOW THIS.
People forget that the blood of U.S. soldiers covered the shores of places like Normandy so we CAN challenge the people in office and hold their feet to the fire. DON'T STOP.
I don't understand the disconnect, really. If you are reading this and you are mad that DeWeese and Murtha were challenged by upstarts, then SHAME ON YOU. Some guy called me a couple of days ago (like five days AFTER the election) and yelled at me not not endorsing DeWeese! Huh?? DeWeese won, remember? What else does the guy want? Oh wait, I know: AN APOLOGY. Now where have I heard THAT before?
Do people have any idea what the First Amendment is about? What newspapers are about? You know, newspapers aren't required to do anything except stick to the truth. They don't HAVE to endorse anyone. Newspapers are NOT public service agencies; they are private buisnesses. THANK GOD!
If some diehard Democrats that I know had their way, no one would even be ALLOWED to run against IMPORTANT, POWERFUL, OVERBLOWN officials like Jack Murtha and Bill DeWeese! And NO NEWSPAPER would ever be allowed to criticize public officials and/or encourage their challengers. SHEESH!
DOES THIS BUG YOU AT ALL? IF SO, LET ME KNOW AT: cindy@greenespeak.com
Meanwhile, don't give up the ship, even if the USS Greene County is listing in the sea. There are still a great number of us out there with our sand pails, bailing out the water!!!
Hope you are remembering those who fought and died for our freedoms today.
Also there is a new Greene Scream related to this topic.
Enjoy!
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POSTED NOVEMBER 10, 2008
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Housekeeping stuff....
I apologize if I have removed some of your favorite content, but I noticed things were slowing down on this website and that usually means I have too much stuff on it.
The election, however fortunate or unfortunate, is over and it's time to move on to other things.
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POSTED OCTOBER 30, 2008
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THE WET HEN
[From the November print edition of GreeneSpeak]
Introducing...
THE GREENESEPAK
UN-ENDORSEMENTS
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This editorial concerns Greene County’s two hottest races which will be decided on Nov. 4th with YOUR vote. One is the battle for the 12th Congressional seat between Jack Murtha and challenger Bill Russell. The other is the contested seat for rep of the 50th District between Bill DeWeese and second-time challenger Greg Hopkins. See more about the candidates in their own words in our CENTERFOLD].
The position of this newspaper has been that we don’t endorse candidates (unless their opponent is convicted of a serious crime, of course). Newspaper endorsements are a dinosaur still hobbling along from the days when people didn’t have 24-hour access to news and commentary from all over the world.
There were no irrate blogs or cocky websites. Talk show hosts were pleasant and didn’t get into the nitty gritty too much with their guests. Public officials were respected just because they were. Think of the rampant promiscuity in the Kennedy administration while the president walked around town with his plastic trophy wife on his arm. Ignoring it was the thing to do
People were much more dependent on the daily newspaper, even as little as 20 years ago, to keep them abreast.
Well, as District 50 Candidate Greg Hopkins likes to say, it’s a New Day.
Voters don’t like being told what they should care about or who they should vote for by a group of aging, talking heads in a boardroom somewhere with bloated egos and salaries to match, stuffy types with a constant eye on their bottom line, which is bottoming out in many newsrooms even as this is being written. These old guys in their old mothball-ey suits can’t understand why newspapers are going down the, uhm, drain. But we digress...
GreeneSpeak is a nonpartisan newspaper and we are holding fast to our decision NOT to endorse candidates, despite the recent proximity to crime, bad judgement, prejudice, and poor ethics among our incumbents, Congressman Jack Murtha and state Rep. Bill DeWeese.
However, these are bizarre times calling for bizarre measures, which is why we introduce the first ever “GreeneSpeak UN-endorsements.”
First, we UN-endorse Jack Murtha because:
1. We cannot endorse his disregard for the integrity and welfare of our troops, not only in regard to his infamous poor treatment of the U.S. Marines, one of whom lives in Canonsburg and is suing Jack for slander, but also because as Defense Appropriations Chair, he has made a habit of shortchanging our troops for his politics. He offers no apology for his behavior.
2. We cannot endorse his remarks about the “racist, rednecks” who are apparently driving politics in the 12th District, according to him. It’s not just that he said these words; it’s that they came out so easily, that he seemed surprised that anyone took offense at these remarks. But remember, he’s not as young as he used to be, maybe he got mixed up, didn’t really say what he meant, which brings us to the next point...
3. We cannot endorse Jack Murtha because time marches on for all of us and at the risk of being politically incorrect, he’s just getting too old and he’s out of touch. The Good Ol’s Boys Network is no longer in vogue.
4. But the Number One reason we cannot endorse Jack Murtha is the very reason he says he’s the best candidate: his power, or least the voters’ perception of his power. He claims he has earned his coveted Top Dog position through a 34-year history as a Congressman. Which is the problem. Greene County is a stellar example of the power of Good Ol’ Boys like Jack who threaten to throw you to the proverbial dogs if you don’t pay to play. In fact, he has been dubbed the “King of Pork” for his tendency to throw money at oddball projects in his district–the pet projects of Democratic committee people (like the Foundry in Rices Landing, used once a year by people from Pittsburgh). But somebody’s paying for all that fat: YOU. How ‘bout that bailout?
Here’s an example of what certainly appears to be power abuse: Murtha’s campaign is claiming that Russell’s Hot Dog Day fundraiser for Fisher House, a military charity, was not endorsed by them and that Russell stole their logo. When GreeneSpeak asked about this, Russell’s campaign produced a letter of permission from Fisher House. Russell’s people figure Murtha exercised his considerable power over this charity to get them to pressure the Russell campaign and make him look bad. Russell’s position is no comment, as he doesn’t want to hurt the charity. Oh, and the donation amounts to $10,000 for Fisher House from the hot dogs, apparently the wrong kind of pork....
Second, we UN-endorse state Rep. Bill DeWeese because:
1. We cannot endorse the person who has been at the top while the General Assembly has been scrambling to CYA over the Legislative Pay Raise Scandal two years ago and now the Bonusgate Scandal. DeWeese’s’ righthand man, Mike Manzo, has been indicted and called a “kingpin” in this. Does Bill really expect us to believe that he did not have daily contact with Manzo and was completely in the dark here? What are we, stupid rednecks? We’ve never been called THAT before. (See #2, above). We resent Bill for corrupting his staff (or allowing them to be corrupted), many of whom are local folks.
2. We cannot endorse Bill because he never makes mistakes. Even God reconsiders his design from time to time. Recall Noah and the Flood. Bill, like Jack, never offers any apology or “oops, maybe I used poor judgement.” He has not been charged with any crime, but allow us to wax proverbial and say that it is CRIMINAL that he’s been in the driver’s seat of the legislature while the wheels have been wobbling off one by one.
3. Like our UN-endorsement of Jack Murtha, the Number One Reason we cannot endorse Bill DeWeese is his much self-touted clout. More than any other single person, we believe “Dollar Bill” DeWeese has encouraged and exploited the Good Ol’ Boy mentality which keeps community leaders, public officials, nonprofits, and even industry, under his direct control, for fear of losing jobs or grant money or legislative sway. The oppressive atmosphere perpetrated daily on Main Street, Waynesburg and in municipalities all over Greene County, has taken three decades of sowing on the part of Bill and all those he has made promises to. He’s doing too much CYA here and in Harrisburg among the folks he owes. So where does that leave the rest of us? We say, it’s time to plough under the dried up sticks and plant some new seeds.
As Murtha’s campaign says: INTEGRITY MATTERS
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[POSTED OCT. 22, 2008
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BUSY REPUBLICANS
The Greene County Republican Committee is definitely on the move these days.
Shown above right, a group of volunteers pause for a photo around the McCain "Straight Talk Express" bus which stopped by Greene County the same day McCain came to Pittsburgh.
Volunteer Republican Victory Office Manager Mary Sue Crayne said the center, located in the Waynesburg Subway Plaza, is open weekdays from 11-8.
Dozens of folks are coming in to pick up signs and buttons and shirts, Crayne said, adding that volunteers are needed on Saturdays to go door to door and also on Election Day.
For more information, contact Rich Yeager, chairman of the Greene County Republican Committee at yeagers1@windstream.net.
Also pictured above are, Bill Russell (R), top left, who is challenging Jack Murtha for Congress, and state Rep. Mike Taurzai(R-Allegheny), bottom left, who is raising money to oust our own state Rep Bill DeWeese. Both men spoke at last weekend's Republican fall dinner.
BILL RUSSELL (www.williamrussellforcongress.com)
A retired Army Lt. Colonel, Russell says Murtha's now infamous remarks about several Marines, all of whom have been cleared except one, "hurt every American serving in uniform."
Russell, who lives in Johnstown, adds, "a veteran lawmaker in touch with the military would never have made that accusation" in the first place.
He calls Murtha a "Washington insider that supports Washington's lack of values....with 30 years of pork...Pork doesn't create jobs."
Russell says he is pro-life, pro traditional marriage, pro 2nd Amendment, thinks parents should have choices regarding their children's education and that the Constitution should be protected and upheld as written.
He also opposes taxes and wants to eliminate the death tax. Earmarks should be ended, as well, he says, noting, "If it's a good enough project, let's get it out in the open and vote on it."
Additionaly, he thinks our borders should be protected from illegal immigrants.
Energy independence is crucial and not that hard, Russell said. There's enough fuel in the U.S "to produce 100 million gallons of liquid fuels annually for the next 700,000 years."
Committed to our national security, Russell says the military should "use every tool in the tool box" against terrorists over THERE to keep them from coming over HERE.
MIKE TAURZI (www.repturzai.com)
Elected state Rep. of the 28th District in 2001, Mike Taurzi says it's time to clean up the "Harrisburg cesspool."
The "big shots," he says, led by Gov. Ed "Spendell" just want to spend our money.
"We need to get rid of the big shots like DeWeesse and put in people who are repsectful of your hardearned dollars and cut taxes," he added.
"Greg Hopkins is an everyday guy," Taurzai says. "He gets it."
Taurzai thinks there is too much government intervention in Pa. "Ask DeWeese how many private jobs he got for people here...you can't grow government and the private sector at the same time."
Taurzai says he wants integrity in government and real reform. DeWeese's much-touted measure to stop voting after 11 p.m "is not real reform," he added.
"This gambling thing is nuts," Taurzai added, particularly in regard to the ill-fated Pittsbrugh area casino.
"The DeWeese/Hopkins race is the Number One targeted race," he said. "If he can get away with being re-elected, I'm not sure where Pennsylvania is going."
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On a related note, if I seem to be supporting the Republicans, please note the following:
1. While GreeneSpeak is nonpartisan, I think we need CHANGE, and of course I tend to empathazie with the underdog more than the "power players." You know, the REAL people, like most of us are!
2. I believe in voting for the candidate, not the party.
3. I also beieve that doing what you know is right should trump party loyalty EVERYTIME. (I am a registered Democrat).
4. The local Democrats never invite me to anything. Heck, the commissioners won't even send me press releases with just general information for the good of their constituents, which I believe is in violation of my First Amendment rights as a newspaper publisher. The Republicans, especially Rich Yeager, Wayne Hart, Albina Olson, and some Team Hopkins members keep me updated and always invite me to cover their events. I must say DeWeese and Murtha always invite me to their events, even though I criticize them off and on.
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[POSTED OCT. 9, 2008
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The FLAP
THE CHANGELESS
Had no idea that my comments about Our Dollar Bill would end up on the front page of today's Post-Gazette. It's okay; it's what I said: People who support Bill DeWeese will support him, no matter what, with the exception of his being convicted of a violent crime.
Bill of course, hasn't been charged with anything, but things are getting murkier all the time. Of course his former chief of staff is disgruntled, but I just don't think Manzo would get on the stand and take on Bill for no reason other than retaliation, especially if Bill is the powerhouse that he claims to be.
It's not for me to decide, but as a newspaper publisher, I AM allowed to write about it and comment on it, whether Bill's supporters like it or not. It's called Free Press and it's one of the foundation stones of America.
The first thing that goes down in an oppressive regime is the newspapers. Books are banned and burned. And then people are arrested and shot for speaking out.
Get on your knees and thank God that we're all allowed to speak out and write our opinions.
Thank God that a young fella' like Greg can get in there and give it a shot. He's made more progress than any Republican in Greene County since Ed Martin who was elected governor 50+ some years ago, I suspect.
If some of the folks in Greene County who have received state money or state jobs in the past several years had their way, NO ONE would be allowed to run against DeWeese. Ever. Now that's LOYALTY. Loyalty, however, is overrated.
I completely fail to understand why people think Bill is so personally responsible for any state money that comes to Greene County. HELLO GREENE COUNTY IS IN PENNSYLVANIA; HENCE GREENE COUNTY WILL GET WHAT IS ENTITLED TO OTHER PENNSYLVANIANS.
Our economic status has not changed in my lifetime. Nor have the major employers. Nor has the tourism industry. Nor has the population. Nor the Morrisville traffic bypass.
On the other hand, the environment is probably worse off than when Pittsburgh was under steel-mill smog. Longwall mining was in its infancy then.
I supsect there are more folks below the poverty level than ever before.
There has never been ONE NEW INDUSTRY OF ANY KIND in my lifetime. The recent gas drilling industry may be the exception, but it has little to do with Bill's political influence.
We have less police protection and more criminal issues than ever before. Every municipaity I've covered lately and many more are dealing with vandalism, dangerous truck traffic, speeding, and drugs. Citizens everywhere are asking for their own law enforcement officials.
Citizens are also asking for more oversight of local municipal governments. We have the Ehtics Commission of course, which bascially refuses to do anything unless an EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNT OF MONEY IS MISSING.
That's why you have some supervisors and council members acting cocky and insulting citizens who ask questions. That's why they're not keeping records of how much gas is being used, where the money is going, etc. That's how they vote on things without public input; how they can make a motion, have it seconded, and then not vote on it (really, this is happening). How they leave things out of the minutes if it makes them look bad. How they can put a loser back on council - without any public input - immediately after he has been voted out of office.
That's how they can stand up and read diatribes about fellow public officials, employees, even newspaper publishers, accusing these folks of slander and threats with no one moderating the meetings.
That's how they continue to ignore people with safety concerns; tree limbs ready to fall on homes; raw sewage leaking; trucks barreling through town; drag racing in the streets; dangerous dogs; slum landlords whose crumbling buildings house drug activity or other unwelcome activities.
My point is, VITURALLY NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER IN 50 YEARS HERE. How can anyone say that if Bill gets voted out of office, Greene County will go to hell?
It's already there!
I suppose it could get worse, but I think the worse that could happen is that things will continue on as the are, which is no different than at least the past 50 years. I live here because I love Greene Couty, warts and all, so I'm not saying love it or leave it, just be realistic!
And our local public officials have modeled themselves after the untouchable legislator, the King of Cocky, Our Dollar Bill, who ran unchallenged for most of the past 32 two years because no one DARED challenge him or ask any mean questions.
Well, it's a new day. Time and the courts will tell the truth regarding Bill's role in all of this, but he can never go back to the good ol' days of doing what you want when you want how you want and paying Peter to shut up Paul.
I hope you will make your voice heard on Nov. 4. Vote for the candidate of your choice and then God help you live with your decision.
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[POSTED OCT. 8, 2008
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The FLAP
Poor Dollar Bill, tossed about on the Black Sea of Politics
I'm not sure, but I think our Dollar Bill has not only been voted off the island but also is apparently being SET ADRIFT following Mike Manzo's testimony earlier today.
Manzo, his former chief of staff, says Bill knew about and even directed the bonuses for staff members who worked on his campaign when they were supposed to be doing their real jobs. (See the Post-Gazette story at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08282/918276-100.stm
Anyway, I am now awaiting some sort of statement from Bill DeWeese's office. Bill is to be holding some sort of press conference later today.
No charges yet. The Attorney General has said there will be no charges until after the election, but this development makes you wonder.
A reporter from the P-G had seen the GreeneSpeak website and loved my take on the Meet & Greet (shown at left), so she called me to see what I thought about it all. And I told her that short of murder or a heinous crime against a child, there are Diehards who will vote for Our Dollar Bill, no matter what.
The P-G reporter agrees that we might really see something happen here BEFORE the election. And lucky for GreeneSpeak readers, there is one more print edition which will be published the week before the election! Hopefully, I will have something to tell on this, one way or another.
In the meantime, anything I get will be posted RIGHT HERE.
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If you read the folowing story and think Jaden should have his dog back, send an email with CHOOSE *JADEN* in the subejct line to: humanegreene@windstream.net
I am still working on this, but am no longer forwarding e-mails to them. I figure if I keep it up much longer, the next thing they'll do is try to slap me with a harassment suit.
As I already said, I AM working to get some documents from the Humane Society. I'll keep you posted on that.
LITTLE DOG LOST
Judge upholds Humane Society's decision not to return dog to disabled preschooler
By Cindy Bailey, GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher
WAYNESBURG–Jaden Hayes is a blonde-haired boy of three who has shining dark eyes. He laughs a lot and he’s very active.
Right now this child, who suffers from erratic and severe epileptic seizures, knows only a handful of words, mostly, “Mommy,” “Daddy,” and “Puppy.” It’s this last one that causes in a lump in his mom Candy’s throat.
“Every night when he goes to bed, he says ‘puppy,’” she said as she sat in the GreeneSpeak office earlier this month, while in the midst of a court battle with the Humane Society of Greene County. The subject of the case is the little sandy-haired dog of mixed breed that once saved Jaden’s life by waking Candy from a sound sleep during one of his seizures. He was life-flighted to a nearby hospital and treated in time.
As Jaden explored the office, getting into things like most little kids, Candy described the first horrendous weeks of his life when he went from normal health to life-threatening illness within a few days.
What began as chronic diarrhea escalated to the point where the baby couldn’t keep anything down. He began having seizures and doctors told her he was experiencing “ bleeds” and blood clots in his brain. He suffered a stroke which paralyzed his left side.
Eventually he stabilized at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh where no one could really explain his condition despite a battery of tests. He began to tolerate a specialized formula and was sent home with a vague diagnosis of a “metabolic” disorder.
Meanwhile, Jaden’s father “couldn’t handle it,” Candy said and he left.
Fortunately, longtime friend Chuck Wolfe and his wife of Graysville, who already had a houseful of kids, took Candy and Jaden in, as well as her sister Dorthea Carter.
Candy Matusik admits that her situation is not your traditional 1950s style home with a husband, wife, 2.5 serene children, and a well-bred dog. Yet she is devoted to this family, who helped her and her small son when she had nowhere to go.
For all intents and purposes(not legally or biologically), she says, "Chuck is his dad.” Chuck is also dad to six of his own kids, one of who has autism, and foster dad to his half-brother, as well.
He speaks with concern about his own disabled son, as well as Jaden, who regresses every time he has a seizure. “He has to learn everything all over again,” Chuck says, which accounts for his limited vocabulary.
But he gets around remarkably well and wants to keep up with all the other kids in the house, most of whom are under the age of 10.
This is where Buffy comes in. Candy says the dog makes him want to walk even more when they put it on a leash.
Buffy was among a litter of mixed-breeds born in the spring; she is long like a “wiener” dog but sort of resembles a miniature collie otherwise.
In a household this size and with this much going on, most things are communal including the pups, but Dorthea had taken a liking to Buffy so Chuck said she could have her. Then Dorthea thought it would be nice to buy the license and tags for Buffy and present her back to the Wolfes for their toddler, Joshua.
As animals sometimes will do, Buffy somehow sensed that there was something different about Jaden, so she adopted him instead. They played together and slept together and the dog became a constant companion, something his physical therapist says was very good for him. In a letter, entered as an exhibit in court, the therapist wrote, “Jaden is very attached to this dog, and with all of his physical limitations, it is a positive relationship for him to be able to have.”
In August, Jaden went to visit his Grandma to give Candy a respite from his care. Chuck’s brother Robert Keller asked to watch Buffy during that time, since he owned one of the sibling pups, “Jack,” and thought they could play together.
According to Chuck, a disagreement arose between Robert and his wife about the dogs in the house, so after trying unsuccessfully to reach Chuck, Robert took the dogs to the Humane Society on Aug. 13.
Here the story gets complicated, (even the attorneys and judge were getting mixed up) so the events appear in a chronological list as follows:
•On Aug. 16, Mrs. Keller returned for Jack but did not pick up Buffy. The Humane Society did not request proof of ownership, only that she pay expenses for Jack’s stay.
•Meanwhile Robert had not been honest about where Buffy was, and Chuck and Candy were getting frantic.
•On Aug. 18, Dorthea, who had just moved to Waynesburg, went with a friend to the Humane Society to look at dogs and saw Buffy and told the staff it was “her dog,” but she didn’t ask for it.
•That evening she told Chuck about the dog and he left a message at the shelter which was closed.
•On Tues., Aug. 19, society director Jane Gapen said she knew Chuck had called but proceeded with plans to adopt the dog out.
•On Weds. Aug. 20 Chuck, Dorthea, and Candy went back, showed the dog license (still in Dorthea’s name), told Jaden’s story, and pleaded with them to have the dog back. They were told it had been adopted out. (It was actually at the vet’s being spayed).
•At around noon on Wednesday, Dorthea left a handwritten note for Craig Wise of the society board at his office with her concerns.
•The three returned later on Wednesday and Dorthea stayed behind while Chuck and Candy consulted attorney Mary Pruss.
•Craig went to the shelter late in the day and apparently he and Dorthea had an argument, although their testimony in court diverged. Wise, Gapen, and kennel manager Anita Jaggie all say Dorthea cried and said she was “afraid” of Chuck and that she willingly surrendered her rights to the dog. She says Wise threatened to put her in handcuffs and throw her in jail and “tricked” her into signing the paper.
•Meanwhile Humane Society solicitor Dave Pollock had been consulted by Gapen and he advised her to return the dog.
•On Thurs., Aug 21, Chuck bought his own license for Buffy and returned to the shelter with Pruss and Candy to no avail, although Gapen had agreed to see if the other adoptive family would give the dog back.
•On Monday Aug. 25, Pruss filed an emergency petition in the court and the dog was returned to the shelter. Chuck and Dorthea then filed a complaint against the shelter.
•The hearings were completed Sept. 2 and on Sept. 5, the judge ruled that the Human Society “may deliver the dog in question to a person or person of its choosing.” He based his decision on the law which says that any unlicensed dog “unclaimed after 48 hours may be humanely killed or given to a humane society...”
Pruss was disappointed with the ruling. In a legal brief she filed Sept. 4, she concluded, “The Humane Society ignored the attachment that Buffy has for Jaden and Jaden has for Buffy. It is difficult to understand the coldness of heart towards a three-year-old child while purporting to care about a puppy.”
Though somewhat distraught over the situation, Chuck says his household is grateful for the support of family and the community, as well as the Attorney Pruss and GreeneSpeak.
Candy, her eyes red from crying when she heard the judge’s decision, echoed Chuck’s comments, but she asks, “I’d like to ask Ms. Gapen what do I tell my son when I put him to bed and he’s asking for his ‘puppy’ ?”
[EDITOR’S NOTE: As we noted at left, GreeneSpeak has launched an effort to reunite Jaden and Buffy. If you would like to help, please send an e-mail with CHOOSE *JADEN* in the subject line and e-mail it to cindy@greenespeak.com and we’ll forward it to the Humane Society as they come in. Or write the same message on a slip of paper and mail it to: GreeneSpeak, P. O., Box 1003, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Or drop it in our box at the office on 99 S. Washington St. in Waynesburg.
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[CLICK ON THE ABOVE AD TO PRINT OUT AND MAIL IN FOR GREENE COUNTY'S BEST ADVERTISING DEAL!]
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[POSTED SEPTEMBER 8, 2008]
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PUBLICATION DELAYED!
For the first time in GreeneSpeak's history I made the editorial decision to hold up publication until I learn the outcome of at least one court case, maybe two.
Have you been following the Humane Society story in the O-R? Chuck Wolfe and his family contacted me before the case went to court, asking me for help, so I've been talking with himm, his attorney, Humane Society officials, their attorney and also been attending the hearings. We're supposed to learn something today, Friday, Sept. 8th.
It takes a lot of work to try and get both sides, especially when one side isn't very friendly.
Please understand that GreeneSpeak has been a supporter of the Humane Society and continues to firmly believe in their purpose and necessity in Greene County, but everyone makes mistakes...admitting them is the hard part.
As you well know, we fight for the UNDERDOG (pun intended)when we believe they are not being adequately heard, because the more traditional media tend to tell everythiing from the public officials' point of view, crowding out the voices, views, and hearts of the people!
Let's just say GREENESPEAK will cover this story LIKE
NO OTHER MEDIA. Please be patient and understanding with this harried, hassled newspaper publisher.
I am also covering the Britnee Moore preliminary hearing which was set for today. I haven't heard that it's been continued or anything. You recall that this girl was driving the car that hit and killed Hope Maley head-on in March 2007 near Spraggs. Tragic case, all around, but as I've said before if I hit someone head-on and killed them, the victim's family, as well as the citizens of the commonwealth, would deserve some answers.
PLEASE SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS TO THE GREENE SCREAM PAGE REGARDING ANY TOPIC.
I have several backed up and plan to post them later today.
Wish me luck!
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[POSTED JULY 17, 2008]
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THEATER OF THE ABSURD CONTINUES ITS AMAZING RUN
So anyway, I find it curious that GCCYS Director Lori Harbert has been transferred to that same position in Washington County even as the investigation of Baby T. is SUPPOSEDLY going on. Recall that Harbert was allegedly the person who practically yanked Baby T. from her mother's arms last fall.
I can't get any word on what's going on, if anything, regarding Baby T., and I have to tell you that I am skeptical of anything ever happening to bring justice to this toddler.
Apparently the local politicians and/or political appointees here have gotten to Mr. Richard Gold, the state deputy secretary of the DPW, who wrote me personally and guaranteed that an investigation would commence.
He came here and met with some foster/adopt/birth parents last week, but not before he rudely and unprofessionally told me to, uhm, GET OUT. All of those folks, with a couple of exceptions, asked me to be there for at least part of that meeting.
As soon as I said my name, I could see he was loaded for bear. After all, he had spent the day with the fine folks at Greene County CYS, who gave him an earful about me and the other nutcases he was about to meet with. TOO BAD SOMEONE THIS HIGH UP CAN'T THINK FOR HIMSELF. OH WELL, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? THEY TREAT BABIES LIKE CHATTEL, SO HOW TO DO THINK THEY WILL TREAT TROUBLEMAKERS??????
Really, Mr. Gold, for all his fancy pants, is not too smart. What is the first thing a political appointee like him should learn? TREAT THE PRESS WITH CARE, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A WHOLE LOT MORE INK, WHITE SPACE, AND CYBERSPACE THAN YOU.
But Mr. Gold was RUDE, UNPROFESSIONAL, and told me to get off the property. Who is he to tell me to get off pubic property? He violated my constitutional rights, plus he pissed of all the people in the meeting, most of whom had already told me their stories which have been printed in GreeneSpeak. This ain't over, believe me....
Anyway, Washington County can have the compassionate Ms. Harbert for all I care. She certainly created (or helped greatly to create) an atmosphere of intimidation here in Greene County, according to the dozens of parents I have talked with.
Fortunately, I have some contacts in Washington County who can keep me informed of her shenanigans there....
On another note, don't you just love Bill DeWeese's comment in the O-R today about Angela Bertugli who "is blessed with one of the finest families among all of my acquaintances"?????????
BILL, METHINKS THE TRUE COLORS OF YOUR PETTICOAT ARE SHOWING....
Boy, Bill sure must be SCARED TO DEATH of Pam Snyder, our fine commission chairwoman and first cousin of Angela's late father (See below for more of "Bonus Babe's" political family members). All I can say is OH MY GOD, DOES BILL THINK WE'RE IDIOTS????????????
And then there is the righteous letter to the editor from Bill Northrop, retired co-publisher of the O-R, "Finally, they got caught," who brags about his and the O-R's role in the open records laws, etc.
Mr. Northrop's family was among the founders of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association which once was located on this side of the state. The PNA, long since relocated to Harrisburg, has become a powerful lobbyist at the State Capitol. Lobbyists, as you know, schmooze with politicians in order to get their slant written into legislation.
Newspapers, as you know, need ad money and powerful friends. Large and mid-sized newspapers with bloated payrolls, like the O-R, are IN THE TOILET right now because of their greedy grab for ad revenue to OVERPAY their executives and to hire staff who DO NOTHING but kiss public officials' backsides.
Do you see a connection here as to why the mainstream media often is biased in favor of public officials as opposed to the common people?
GreeneSpeak is a member of the PNA and we largely support their efforts, but you always have to be aware of the big picture and remember that EVERYONE has an agenda....Mine is THROW THE BUMS OUT and JUSTICE FOR THE UNDERDOG!
CHECK OUT THE GREENE SCREAM PAGE FOR MORE FUN STUFF TODAY.
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[POSTED JULY 12, 2008] 2:30 p.m.
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Okay, so I just found out that Angela's brother, Chris, is on the PA Gaming Board. Type in his name and you will see he was hired as an "investigator" in 2006. But surely all these related folks getting great PA government jobs isn't political or nepotistic or anything, do you think?
Unfortunately the other newspapers out east are making fun of Ms. Bertugli's former reign as Miss Rain Day. She is being called the "Bonus Babe" etc. Too bad for innocent kids who want to wear that crown or who have worn it. Too bad for well-meaning volunteers who are trying to do put on this pageant for downtown Waynesburg, but unfortunately this year's pageant will be TAINTED with the smell of this ugly scandal.
On the other hand, we have a Bertugli as the president or co-president of the Rain Day Pageant this year and the committee has decided to snub GreeneSpeak, removing us from the media list and not participating with us this year, even though they always have and even though we always rent a booth there, and we ALWAYS cover both before and after the event with tons of photos. We HOPE it's nothing political that they refuse to send us press releases. Do YOU think it is????????
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[POSTED JULY 12, 2008]
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'UNTOUCHABLES' ARE GOIN' DOWN!
By Cindy Bailey, GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher and Greene County Pubic Official's Biggest Pain in the You-Know-What
Regarding Bonusgate, don't you just love Mike Manzo's photo on the front page of the O-R? I recall having met this cocky little smooth talker a number of times. That expression on his face today isn't remorse or agony; he's just pissed off that they actually had the gall to put him in cuffs.
That's why he worked so well in PA politics: he definitely had a bloated vision of himself as some kind of untouchable and he managed to bamboozle a lot of other people under him to believe the same thing about themselves.
It's a sad day for the state of PA, but the COMMON PEOPLE WHO PAY ALL THEIR SALARIES HAVE BEEN VINDICATED!
I don't figure too many of them will see jail time, but at least they won't be around the legislature anymore.
I loved how the O-R would not mention Angela Bertugli's name yesterday, but they were forced into it today because the Philly Inquirer plastered her face on THEIR front page.
So what does the O-R do? The QUOTE the Inquirer in a little gray box WITH NO BYLINE. Now, you couldn't expect any of Greene County's reporters to take the heat for that one, could you?
You mean they can't write their own story about a Greene County native with a Greene County political name who's grandpap Remo was longtime sheriff and only recently resigned as Rices Landing Mayor?
Not to mention that Remo Jr. and Commissioner Pam Snyder were cousins. Remo, Jr. was a longtime school board member at Jeff-Morgan and football coach at West Greene.
Now, I'm not implying that Pam or the elder Remo had anything to do with any of this, but don't you suppose that the girl thought she was untouchable since she had such an old respected NAME?
Perhaps her name will keep her out of jail???????????
OF COURSE, the O-R wouldn't want to do anything to hurt Pam Snyder's little delicate feelings. How can the O-R continue to be her personal pep squad if they are picking on her relations?
You know, she might cause them to lose some ads and we all know that the O-R, like every other bloated print newspaper in America, IS LOSING THEIR SHORTS these days.
But THE SMALL, FREE, ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS LIKE **GREENESPEAK** ARE KICKING EVERYONE ELSE'S BUTT JUST BECAUSE WE TRY LIKE HELL TO GET TO THE TRUTH (See today's first Greene Scream for more on that) and we write ALL LOCAL STORIES AND COMMENTARY.
My God, but the people in charge here sure do run the other newspapers....TOO BAD THEY CAN'T RUN GREENESPEAK, but they sure as heck are working to block my every move
You see, they can control all the people on the public payroll, even a little weenie DPW Secretary of the state CYS, BUT THEY CANNOT CONTROL THE PEOPLE.
They cannot control all the families who have come forward voluntarily to report on what happened to them in regards to GCCYS. THIS AIN'T OVER!
As I have said for months now, in my mind, I have an image of a little toddler I call "Baby T" and she represents ALL those kids who have not had a chance to become a part of a normal family or to return to their own family because some little weenie bureaucrat who has over 20 years in the offices here says "THESE KIDS ARE MINE AND YOU AREN'T GETTING THEM."
No, it's not over. NOT EVEN CLOSE!
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