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EDITORIAL: Kudos to author for saving our WWII legacy

Times Leader - 2/23/2019

Feb. 23-- Feb. 23--Diamonds to author Adam Makos for preserving the saga of World War II tank gunner Clarence Smoyer, a current resident at the local Veterans Administration Hospital. As recounted in a Monday article by Bill O'Boyle, Smoyer remains an unsung hero in the halls of the local hospital, and Makos' latest book -- "Spearhead" -- gives the man his due. There are literally millions of stories about heroics in the last global conflagration, and the more we record for posterity, the better we make our future.

Coal to drivers who gripe about detours for major road repairs. Yes, in an ideal world, such delays would be magically avoided by superb engineering and clever work scheduling, and yes, none of us is immune to the frustration of being late for causes not under our control (except, of course, you can often control the amount of time you give yourself to get somewhere). Detours can be annoying, but they require more emotional energy than physical (detouring the same distance on foot or even a bicycle would be far more taxing and time consuming, for example.) Besides, in the most recent case along Route 92, a full closure of a section of highway seemed unavoidable. Cuss if you must at the moment, but keep some perspective. It's a detour, not a complete derailment of life plans.

Diamonds toWilkes-Barre City government for lending an ear to a new proposal on leasing Department of Public Works vehicles. Such a move should be made with a heavy dose of scrutiny and caution, to make sure city residents aren't left in the lurch or locked into a deal with hidden costs. But with municipalities, counties and school districts all struggling annually to secure fiscal solvency, exploring all avenues is not only good fiscal policy, it's common sense.

Coal yet again to the cultural and political forces that encourage or otherwise enable gun violence at the pace the area has seen in the past week or so. Along with multiple gunshot incidents in Wilkes-Barre, we also saw two shot at the Lucky Charms Bar in Hazleton and, of course, the recent rampage in Aurora, Ill. The nation's inability to effectively come to find, agree on and implement sincere efforts to reduce so much death and injury through guns is a stain on this great democracy.

Diamonds to all the candidates who threw their names into contention for the vacant Luzerne County Council seat. It is a time-consuming, often contentious job with modest fiscal reward. A diamond and a dose of best wishes to Pittston Area Middle School Principal Patrick Bilbow who won the seat in an election by remaining council members. Here's hoping he can remain impartial, objective and focused on doing what's best for county residents.

Coal to the Hanover Area School Board for apparently failing to give Superintendent William Jones more information on his suspension following discovery of overpayment to a transportation contractor. This is not to criticize the suspension itself, or to take sides in a situation that is still unfolding. But when Jones finally did speak out, he painted a picture of being left in the dark regarding reasons for the suspension. Unless the board can prove that's not the case or offer sound reason it is, they need to re-evaluate how the issue has been handled.

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