A planned meeting on the fate of New Castle’s mail processing facility may add some clarity to a muddled issue.
The U.S. Postal Service will conduct the session starting at 7 p.m. July 15 at New Castle High School. Those attending are to hear specifics about a study that examined moving at least some postal operations from New Castle to Pittsburgh.
Ever since word of this study and its potential consequences came to light earlier this year, it has been controversial. Naturally, New Castle postal employees, who could be impacted by any change, are worried about their jobs. And this is an area that can ill afford a decline in employment.
Plus, there are objections that shifting operations to Pittsburgh will slow local mail delivery.
But there have been mixed messages from the postal service, union representatives and government officials over what is happening or not happening with this proposal. The July 15 meeting should give residents a better sense of what’s to come.
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These may be tough economic times locally, but when it comes to fireworks, the show must go on.
Traditional community fireworks displays, held on and around the Fourth of July, are still on tap in Lawrence County. That’s good news for fans of these aerial shows.
And it’s good for the local economy as well. After all, fireworks employ people here, mainly because of two community businesses, Zambelli Internationale and Pyrotecnico. These firms shoot off local fireworks, as well as displays around the globe.
But another benefit of fireworks shows is their impact on the broader economy. People travel to see these bursts of colors and they presumably spend money on food and other items in the process.
So, in a sense, fireworks are not merely good fun, they are also good business.
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There must be something about Lawrence County school administrators that impresses the folks in Hermitage.
Former Neshannock superintendent Karen Ionta went on to become superintendent in the Hermitage school district. And with her retirement this year, Shenango superintendent Dan Bell was selected as her replacement.
Of course, Bell is no stranger to Hermitage. He began his educational career there as a teacher, before Shenango snatched him up as an administrator. But this is more than just payback on Hermitage’s part. Board members in the larger district recognize talent.
Shenango must now look for a replacement for Bell. That’s going to be the hard part.
Editorials
EDITORIAL: Odds and ends
- Editorials
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Postal service’s financial woes not of their own making
