The right to vote is an important one in America.
And Election Day efforts made on behalf of Wampum resident Terry Jones help to document that.
Oddly, Jones was turned away when he attempted to vote Nov. 3. He was registered, but incorrectly told that — as an Independent — he was ineligible.
But when his neighbor, Gail Blakely, heard his story, she pushed for answers. Eventually, poll workers contacted county elections officials and learned they were wrong.
As the clock ticked near the 8 p.m. deadline, a police cruiser rushed to Jones’ home to tell him he could vote. Although he wound up using a paper ballot instead of one of the county’s electronic voting machines, Jones was able to participate in the process.
Lawrence County elections director Ed Allison followed up on the Wampum controversy and discovered one other voter who had been turned away. She, too, was allowed to cast a paper ballot, albeit several days late.
We applaud the efforts of private citizens and elections officials who took this matter seriously. It’s a reminder that people need to fight for their rights, even if the problem is an innocent mistake.
The story also suggests that poll workers — who are often overworked and underappreciated on Election Day — still need to make sure they understand the rules.
•
And now for something completely different.
Most of Lawrence County’s regular operations will be shut down next week around Thanksgiving, as the government center will be closed and only essential court, jail and emergency matters will be handled.
The closing, apparently the first of its kind in the county, is a result of the state’s failure to produce a timely budget this year and related uncertainty over county finances.
Most county employees are being furloughed during the week. And the whole process is expected to repeat itself in late December as another week of furloughs is scheduled.
Still unclear is how all of this will impact the county’s budget for next year along with the prospect of any change in taxes. We’ll know more when the commissioners submit a proposed budget for 2010.
•
The Stavich Bike Trail is back in business.
The trail, which runs from Union Township in Lawrence County to Lowellville and Struthers in Ohio, has been closed on the Pennsylvania end because of serious erosion and deterioration problems.
With the support of grants and some county funding, the repairs were made and the trail was repaved. It officially reopened today, although people have been using it to some degree all along.
The relatively flat (for western Pennsylvania) trail runs along an old street car line. And while bike paths are increasingly common in America, the Stavich is unusual in that it crosses a state border.
We hope the public takes advantage of this local asset.
Editorials
EDITORIAL: Odds and ends
- Editorials
-
-
Postal service’s financial woes not of their own making
It’s no secret that the U.S. Postal Service is experiencing financial troubles. One of the consequences of a deficit in the billions of dollars soon will become apparent in New Castle, when the city’s mail processing facility on Cascade Street is shut down.
-
Our Opinion: UPMC, Highmark tangle for dominance. But what about the public?
Health insurance recipients in western Pennsylvania received some good news recently. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Highmark Inc., the two local behemoths of the insurance and health care industry, reached an agreement to extend their contract with each other. The 18-month extension will be good through 2014.
-
Our Opinion: Annual Jack Butz Award honors community involvement
During his lifetime, Jack Butz was known as someone who donated much to the community. And even now, years after his passing, Butz continues to give. We refer to the annual Jack Butz Award, where a local citizen is recognized for his or her contributions to New Castle and the surrounding area.
-
Our Opinion: Why would New Castle weaken architecture standards?
There are times when communities must decide what they want to be. For New Castle, one of those times is arriving later this month. New Castle City Council is considering changes to the municipal zoning ordinance that will have the effect of seriously weakening standards for the North Hill Historic District.
-
Our Opinion: A box from 1914 says something about the past — and today
The former Elks building in downtown New Castle was demolished months ago, but one bit of business remained. And city officials addressed that last week, when a time capsule from 1914 was opened.
-
Our Opinion: Awareness campaigns protect generations of children
The first step in solving a problem is recognizing that it exists. That was a major factor behind the recent Walk for Justice at Cascade Park, organized by the Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County.
-
Our Opinion: Secret Service scandal symbolizes breaches of public trust
There are a couple of pieces of good news regarding the Secret Service sex scandal. The first is that an investigation has determined the women hired as prostitutes by Secret Service agents in Columbia apparently were just that.
-
Our Opinion: Municipalities save money with shared services
In difficult financial times, finding ways to use tax dollars more efficiently is an essential government task. That’s why we were pleased to learn that Shenango Township and South New Castle Borough have agreed to share police services.
-
Our Opinion: State politicians use campaign funds in criminal cases
If you want to wage a spirited defense against criminal charges, you need money. A good attorney, after all, isn’t cheap. But if you are an influential elected official in Pennsylvania facing trial, this problem comes with a ready solution. All you have to do is tap into your campaign funds.
-
Our Opinion: Resignation in Neshannock highlights leadership issue
With Neshannock Township now seeking a new manager, we hope the supervisors have learned something from their experiences so far. That’s because their efforts to date on selecting a manager for the municipality haven’t gone very well. Ironically, the questionable practices and decision-making displayed by the supervisors demonstrate the need for sound management in the township.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
Postal service’s financial woes not of their own making
