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.
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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.
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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.
