This editorial will air on AM 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, July 2 and Thursday, July 3

PANTHER VALLEY PROPERTY OWNERS CAN KISS AWAY SLOTS TAX RELIEF THIS YEAR. BY A 5-4 VOTE, PV DIRECTORS PASSED A $20.9 MILLION BUDGET CALLING FOR A 6.95 MILL TAX HIKE FOR CARBON & A 2.35 MILL TAX HIKE FOR SCHUYLKILL. 

MANY CARBON TAXPAYERS ARE UPSET THIS TIME AROUND. CARBON'S MILLAGE GOES FROM 46.76 TO 53.71...A 14.9% INCREASE. SCHUYLKILL'S MILLAGE GOES FROM 47.94 TO 50.29...A 4.9% INCREASE. YOU'LL RECALL 2 YEARS AGO COALDALE GOT WHACKED WITH A 28.4% INCREASE WHILE CARBON HAD A .4% HIKE. LAST WEEK'S FINAL BUDGET DID NOT CHANGE FROM THE BUDGET PASSED BY A 6-3 VOTE IN MAY. SCHOOL DIRECTORS MICKEY ANGST, TOM SHOBER, & BILL HUNSICKER VOTED AGAINST BOTH BUDGETS. JEFF MARKOVICH VOTED NO LAST WEEK.  

WHEN PANTHER VALLEY UNVEILED ITS "PIE IN THE SKY" BUDGET IN JANUARY SPENDING WAS PROJECTED AT $21.58 MILLION. INCOME WAS PEGGED AT $19.67 MILLION...A $1.91 MILLION SHORTFALL. PV'S FINAL BUDGET IS ABOUT $670,000 LESS THAN JANUARY'S PRELIMINARY BUDGET. IF YOU FACTOR IN SAVINGS FROM THE REFINANCING OF SOME BONDS, THERE WERE NOT A LOT OF CUTS. THAT HAD TAXPAYERS UPSET AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING. 

HERE'S THE PROBLEM: TAXPAYERS WANT SPENDING CUTS. PV HAD CUT LIFE SKILL CLASSES LIKE SHOP, HOME EC, & ON THE ROAD DRIVER ED. SOME DON'T WON'T TO SEE ART & MUSIC CUT. SOME DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT CLOSING THE SWIMMING POOL, ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY, UNIONIZED SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS, TRIMMING ATHLETIC PROGRAMS OR CUTTING BACK ON COACHES. PAY TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WAS SUGGESTED & SHOT DOWN. STUDENTS & STAFF WILL PAY $10 TO PARK AT THE HIGH SCHOOL & MIDDLE SCHOOL 

JEFF MARKOVICH GOT HAMMERED WHEN HE SUGGESTED ELIMINATING THE JROTC PROGRAM. WE HEARD HOW THAT WOULD DISHONOR OUR VETERANS & BE UNPATRIOTIC. MANY SEE THE JROTC AS A CENTER OF PRIDE. KIDS LOOK GREAT AT PARADES. BUT, IT'S ALSO A PROGRAM THAT SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WHY SHOULD PV TAXPAYERS FOOT THE BILL FOR JROTC ADVISORS & THEIR HEALTH CARE? IF THE FEDS CAN WASTE BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR AN UNPOPULAR OCCUPATION OF IRAQ, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEND A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS FOR JROTC PROGRAMS BACK HOME.  

PANTHER VALLEY IS 1 OF ONLY 28 PA. SCHOOLS & 1,500 SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE THAT HAVE JROTC. OTHER NEARBY SCHOOLS WITH JROTC ARE PINE GROVE, SHIKELLAMY, & WILSON WEST LAWN. IF PANTHER VALLEY WOULD BE  "UNPATRIOTIC" IF IT DUMPED JROTC, WHAT ABOUT THE 470 PLUS PA. DISTRICTS THAT DON'T HAVE JROTC...ARE THEY UNPATRIOTIC? 

ONCE AGAIN, WE MUST ASK: CAN PANTHER VALLEY CONTINUE TO EXIST AS A STAND-ALONE SCHOOL DISTRICT? CONDITIONS HAVEN'T CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS...PERHAPS THINGS GOT WORSE. A STATE STUDY LAST WEEK REVEALS 53.3% OF PV FAMILIES ARE LOW INCOME.  THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE IS 8.6%. A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PV'S POPULATION ARE EITHER SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES OR YOUNG FAMILIES ON WELFARE. WITH FEW NEW JOBS & STAGNANT TAXABLE GROWTH, & SCHOOL DIRECTORS FACED WITH GROWING UNFUNDED FEDERAL & STATE MANDATES, SOARING ALTERNATIVE & SPECIAL ED COSTS, IT'S EITHER RAISE TAXES TO THE MAX OR UNPOPULAR PROGRAM CUTS. WHICH WILL IT BE? 

I'M MARK MAREK WITH THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.

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This editorial aired on AM 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday, June 26

WINDSTREAM PHONE CUSTOMERS IN COALDALE, LANSFORD, SUMMIT HILL, HAUTO ESTATES, HAUTO VILLAGE, & LAKE HAUTO WERE ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD LAST WEEK.  WE WERE TRAPPED IN A BUBBLE & KEPT IN THE DARK. TO BE ISOLATED IS BAD ENOUGH...TO NOT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON & TO BE TREATED LIKE 3RD WORLD COUNTRY CITIZENS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE & INTOLERABLE. 

IT STARTED LAST WEDNESDAY. THE 645 EXCHANGE COULD NOT MAKE LONG DISTANCE CALLS, CALLS TO 800 NUMBERS, & CALLS TO 668 & 669 EXCHANGES IN TAMAQUA & NESQUEHONING. INCOMING CALLS WERE SPORADIC...SOME GOT THROUGH BUT MOST DIDN'T. 

ADDING TO OUR FRUSTRATION, WINDSTREAM CUSTOMERS COULDN'T REPORT A PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO DIAL AN 800 NUMBER & THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. YOU USED TO CALL A LANSFORD OFFICE TO REPORT PROBLEMS. YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO PAY PHONE BILLS AT THE LANSFORD OFFICE. YOU CAN'T DO EITHER ANYMORE. WLSH TRIED E-MAILING WINDSTREAM. AN AUTO-REPLY SAYS WE MUST WAIT 48 HOURS FOR A RESPONSE...A RESPONSE WE NEVER RECEIVED. 

THURSDAY MORNING, I VISITED WINDSTREAM'S LANSFORD OFFICE. THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. SERVICE VANS WERE PARKED IN FRONT... SO I RANG THE DOORBELL. A SERVICE TECH CAME TO THE DOOR & TOLD ME THERE WAS A BREAK IN A VERIZON TRUNKLINE...AN ISSUE GOING FOR A WEEK. IT GOT WORSE ON WEDNESDAY. WE ASKED HIM TO HAVE A CORPORATE REP CALL WLSH SO WE CAN INFORM LISTENERS. 

WITH SERVICE DOWN & NO WORD FROM WINDSTREAM FRIDAY, I E-MAILED MARK NALESNIK & ART KAPLAN, CARBON & SCHUYLKILL EMA DIRECTORS. MARK KNEW LITTLE MORE THAN US.  HE WAS LATER TOLD THERE WERE ALSO SOFTWARE PROBLEMS. ART WASN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT LATER GOT FINGER-POINTING FROM THE FIRMS. BOTH EMA DIRECTORS FILED REPORTS WITH THE PA. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY IN HARRISBURG. 

I CALLED KEITH MCCALL'S LANSFORD OFFICE & ASKED FOR KEITH FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION. I COULDN'T REACH DAVE ARGALL'S TAMAQUA OFFICE. KEITH & DAVE RECEIVED FOLLOWUP E-MAILS FROM WLSH STATION MANAGER BILL LAKATAS. BILL SAYS THE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS FRAGILE & WINDSTREAM EITHER DOESN'T CARE ABOUT CUSTOMERS IN THIS PART OF PA. OR THEY ARE TOTALLY INCOMPETENT. 

KEITH MCCALL WASTED NO TIME FIRING OFF A LETTER FRIDAY TO PUC CHAIRMAN WENDELL HOLLAND. COPIES WERE HAND-DELIVERED TO ALL PUC COMMISSIONERS. KEITH CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE & THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE COMPLETE & UTTER FAILURE OF TELEPHONE SERVICE. HE CRITICIZED THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM WINDSTREAM OFFICIALS TO LOCAL & STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS. 

KEITH ADDS THANKFULLY THIS OUTAGE DIDN'T RESULT IN ANY EMERGENCIES EXACERBATED BY A FAILED TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM--WHICH MEANS WE WERE LUCKY THIS TIME.  THAT IS TO SAY NOTHING OF THE INCONVIENENCE TO THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS OF ALL AGES & BUSINESS LOST TO COMPANIES UNABLE TO COMPLETE TRANSACTIONS. DAVE ARGALL  SENT A SIMILAR LETTER TO PUC CHAIRMAN HOLLAND. DAVE SAYS THE PHONE PROBLEMS HAD THE POTENTIAL OF CREATING HAVOC IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. 

IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CELL PHONE...YOU COULDN'T CALL OUTSIDE THE AREA TO SCHEDULE OR CANCEL DOCTORS' APPOINTMENTS OR CALL OFF SICK FROM WORK. EVEN WITH CELLPHONES,  VERIZON & AT&T SERVICE IN THE VALLEY IS MARGINAL TO FAIR AT BEST. NEXTEL IS EXCELLENT BECAUSE OF ITS LOCAL TOWER. BUSINESSES COULDN'T SEND OR RECEIVE VITAL FAXES OR CALL SUPPLIERS. BUSINESSES COULDN'T PROCESS CREDIT CARDS. WE'RE TOLD PA. LOTTERY MACHINES WERE DOWN. IN COALDALE, ST. LUKE'S MINERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WASN'T EVEN INFORMED. BORO OFFICIALS WERE SWAMPED WITH CALLS FROM ANGRY & FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS & COULD NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS. TALK ABOUT AN UTTER CORPORATE PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER. KEITH MCCALL'S WORDS SUM THINGS UP--" WE WERE LUCKY THIS TIME".   

WE DESERVE BETTER FROM AN S&P 500 FIRM BOASTING $3.3 BILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE, 3.2 MILLION ACCESS LINES, & 7,500 EMPLOYEES IN 16 STATES. JEFF GARDNER, PRESIDENT & CEO, SAYS WINDSTREAM IS AN EXCITING COMPANY WITH EXTRAORDINARY TALENTED PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE AN INDUSTRY & ARE COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF CUSTOMERS & SHAREHOLDERS. SHAREHOLDERS GOT A 25 CENT QUARTERLY DIVIDEND MAY 8TH, BUT PV AREA CUSTOMERS GOT SHAFTED FROM WINDSTREAM SUITS LAST WEEK. 

BILL LAKATAS HAD A CONFERENCE CALL WITH WINDSTREAM SUITS SATURDAY AFTERNOON. BILL WAS TOLD BECAUSE 911 SERVICE WAS UNAFFECTED, LEGALLY, WINDSTREAM DIDN'T HAVE TO CONTACT THE PUC. WINDSTREAM'S PR GIRL, ERIN ASCIONE, CLAIMS SHE SPOKE WITH TV 13 THURSDAY & WLSH ON FRIDAY. WE HAD NO SUCH CALL. BLUE RIDGE TV 13 SAYS THEY CALLED ASCIONE FRIDAY & WAS TOLD A LINE WAS CUT BETWEEN LANSFORD & SCRANTON. TV 13 DIDN'T RUN A STORY FRIDAY BECAUSE SERVICE WAS RESTORED BY 2PM FRIDAY. 

MONDAY MORNING, WLSH RECEIVED A STATEMENT FROM MIKE HAYDEN, WINDSTREAM'S VP OF OPERATIONS FOR PA. & NEW YORK. HAYDEN SAYS DISRUPTIONS WERE INTERMITTENT THURSDAY & FRIDAY. WE KNOW IT WAS LONGER. HAYDEN SAYS SERVICE WAS RESTORED AROUND 1:30 FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WINDSTREAM IS STILL CONDUCTING A ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUE WITH SPRINT, ITS LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORT PROVIDER. 

WE URGE WINDSTREAM CUSTOMERS & LOCAL BORO LEADERS TO CONTACT THE PUC, FILE A COMPLAINT & DESCRIBE YOUR PHONE NIGHTMARES. WE FEEL WINDSTREAM CUSTOMERS DESERVE A 10% REBATE ON A FUTURE BILL PLUS ASSURANCES FUTURE SERVICE ISSUES CAN BE ADDRESSED TO THE LANSFORD OFFICE...NOT SOME UNATTAINABLE 800 NUMBER IN PIGSKNUCKLE, ARKANSAS. 

I'M MARK MAREK WITH THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.

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This editorial aired on AM 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 19

5 YEARS AGO, STATE LAWMAKERS & GOVERNOR ED RENDELL CAVED-IN TO PRESSURE FROM MOTORCYCLE LOBBYISTS & REPEALED PA.'S MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW.  A UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH STUDY RELEASED LAST WEEK INDICATES THAT REPEAL WAS NOT ONLY A BAD IDEA FOR BIKERS, BUT IT'S ALSO BAD FOR PA. TAXPAYERS & INSURANCE RATEPAYERS. 

PITT RESEARCHERS EXAMINED DATA FROM PA. ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS FOR 2 YEARS BEFORE & 2 YEARS AFTER THE HELMET LAW REPEAL. IT'S NO SURPRISE THEY REPORT A 32% JUMP IN HEAD INJURY DEATHS & A 42% INCREASE IN HEAD INJURY HOSPITALIZATIONS. THE NON HEAD-INJURY DEATH RATE DIDN'T CHANGE. HELMET USE BY BIKERS INVOLVED IN REPORTED CRASHES WENT FROM 82% IN 2001-2002 TO 58% IN 2004-2005. 

THE PITT STUDY LISTS 1.3 HEAD INJURY DEATHS PER 10,000 MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATIONS IN 2001 & 1.9 HEAD INJURY DEATHS IN 2002. IN 2004, THE NUMBER JUMPED TO 2.8 & IN 2005 IT ROSE TO 3.0 HEAD INJURY DEATHS PER 10,000 MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATIONS. SINCE THE 2003 HELMET LAW REPEAL THE NUMBER OF HEAD-INJURED, HOSPITALIZED BIKERS NEEDING FURTHER CARE AT FACILITIES SPECIALIZING IN REHAB & LONG-TERM CARE JUMPED 87%.ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL CHARGES FOR MOTORCYCLE-RELATED HEAD INJURIES MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM $53.5 MILLION IN 01-02 TO $124 MILLION IN 04-05. THAT COMPARES TO A 69% INCREASE FOR NON-HEAD INJURIES. THE NUMBERS ARE ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION. 

THE PITT STUDY IS MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN A 2006 STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE. THAT REPORT SHOWED A 33% INCREASE IN TRAUMA CENTER ADMISSION RATES FOR MOTORCYCLE-RELATED HEAD INJURIES FOR 04-05 VS 01-02 & AN 11% INCREASE IN MOTORCYCLE-RELATED DEATHS. THE LEGISLATIVE STUDY DID NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HEAD INJURY DEATHS & ALL MOTORCYCLE DEATHS. THE PITT STUDY DID. 

THE DEBATE OF OVER MOTORCYCLE HELMETS HAS BEEN A HEATED ONE...JUST LIKE THE DEBATE OVER PUBLIC SMOKING BANS. LOBBYISTS LIKE ABATE, THE ALLIANCE OF BIKERS TOWARD EDUCATION, SAY IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM OF CHOICE. ABATE CONTINUES TO PUT PRESSURE ON LAWMAKERS TO KEEP THE HELMET REPEAL IN PLACE. 

WHEN STEELER QUARTERBACK BEN ROETHLISBERGER WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH 2 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH & HE WASN'T WEARING A HELMET, THAT IGNITED NEW DISCUSSIONS IN HARRISBURG ABOUT REVERSING THE 03 REPEAL. CURRENT LAW ALLOWS BIKERS TO RIDE BAREHEADED IF THEY HAVE 2 YEARS RIDING EXPERIENCE OR THEY HAD A RIDER EDUCATION COURSE. IN 2006 & 2007, THERE WAS A MOVE TO BRING BACK HELMETS,  BUT LOBBYISTS TURNED UP THE HEAT & FREEDOM OF CHOICE FOR BIKERS TO PUT THEMSELVES AT MORTAL RISK PREVAILED. 

THE PITT STUDY RELEASED LAST WEEK MAY REIGNITE THE MOTORCYCYLE HELMET DEBATE.  BAREHEADED BIKERS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSING HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS TO RISE FOR NON-BIKERS & PA. TAXPAYERS. IT'S LIKE THE EFFECT OF SECONDHAND SMOKE ON NON-SMOKERS. FREEDOM OF CHOICE & FREEDOM TO SMOKE IN PUBLIC SHOULD GET TRUMPED BY HEALTH & FINANCIAL CONCERNS. 

ANOTHER FACTOR FOR LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER...WITH GAS PRICES TOPPING $4 A GALLON, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE BUYING & RIDING MOTORCYCLES. THAT WILL RESULT IN MORE BAREHEADED BIKERS, MORE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS, HOSPITALIZATIONS, LONG TERM CARE, REHAB & FATALITIES. BEAR IN MIND, PA.'S WEAK HELMET LAW IS ATTRACTIVE TO BIKERS IN NEIGHBORING STATES WITH STRICTER HELMET LAWS. 

PARDON THE PUN, BUT IT'S A NO BRAINER TO BRING BACK STRICTER HELMET LAWS IN PA. IT'S STRANGE TO HEAR TERMS LIKE "CLICK IT OR TICKET" WHEN POLICE ARE ENFORCING SEATBELT LAWS.  YET, IT'S OK TO BUZZ AROUND PA. ON A BIKE AT SPEEDS TOPPING 50 MPH WITHOUT A HELMET. FREEDOM OF CHOICE OR HEALTH & SAFETY & FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE INSURANCE PREMIUMS...WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT TO STATE LAWMAKERS & GOVERNOR ED RENDELL? 

I'M MARK MAREK WITH THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.

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This editorial aired on AM 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, June 11 and Thursday, June 12

FOR MONTHS, WE FOLLOWED STATE LAWMAKERS EFFORTS TO PASS A STATEWIDE SMOKING BAN. WHEN IT APPEARS A SMOKING BAN IS NEAR...LAWMAKERS CHOKE OR TRY AN END RUN  WITH A WATERED-DOWN, EXCEPTION-LADDEN PIECE OF LEGISLATION. 

A HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE PROS & CONS OF A STATEWIDE SMOKING BAN. THE COMMITTEE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM PRO-SMOKING GROUPS LIKE THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION & THE NEW RACETRACK/CASINOS. THE COMMITTEE HEARD FROM ANTI-SMOKING ADVOCATES LIKE THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY & CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE KIDS. AFTER HEARING BOTH SIDES, LEGISLATORS WERE DEEPLY DIVIDED. 

A STATEWIDE SMOKING BAN IS AN EMOTIONALLY-CHARGED ISSUE. SMOKERS SAY THEY ARE TIRED OF HAVING THEIR RIGHTS & PRIVILEGES SNUFFED AWAY. NONSMOKERS SAY THEY'RE TIRED OF BREATHING SECONDHAND SMOKE--SOMETHING LINKED TO CANCER & OTHER HEALTH ISSUES. LOBBYISTS ON BOTH SIDES CONTINUE TO HAMMER AWAY & LAWMAKERS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE CAUGHT IN A CATCH-22. 

LAST WEEK, THE HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE KICKED OUT SB 246. IT WAS A COMPROMISE BILL...ANOTHER WATERED-DOWN, EXCEPTION-LADDEN PIECE. MANY SAY IT DOES NOT GO FAR, BUT THEY SAY IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING. AFTER SPENDING NEARLY A YEAR DEBATING SMOKING BANS, THEY NEED TO PASS SOMETHING. 

EXCEPTIONS IN THE BILL WOULD ALLOW SMOKING IN AT LEAST 25% OF A CASINO FLOOR, IN PRIVATE MEMBERSHIP CLUBS AT LEAST 10 YEARS OLD, IN 25% OF MOTEL/HOTEL ROOMS...IN SMALL MOM & POP TAVERNS WHERE FOOD SALES DON'T EXCEED 20% OF REVENUE. THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THE COMPROMISE BILL...IT WOULD ALLOW PHILLY'S SMOKING BAN TO STAND BUT WOULD SILENCE OTHER SMOKING BANS...LIKE ONE PROPOSED IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY  WHICH WAS OVERTURNED IN THE COURTS. 

WESTERN PA. LEGISLATORS SAY WITH THE COMPROMISE BILL IT'S OK FOR PHILLY FOLKS TO BE PROTECTED FROM SECONDHAND SMOKE, BUT FOLKS IN PA.'S 2ND LARGEST CITY ARE IGNORED & TREATED LIKE 2ND CLASS CITIZENS. 

LAST WEEK, THE COMPROMISE SMOKING BAN BILL WAS DEFEATED IN THE SENATE 31-19. ALL SENATE DEMOCRATS VOTED NO ALONG WITH 10 REPUBLICANS. THINGS WERE DIFFERENT IN THE DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED HOUSE WHERE THE MEASURE PASSED BY A WIDE MARGIN...163-38. GOVERNOR ED RENDELL INDICATES HE'LL SIGN THE BILL IF IT PASSES. 

SOME ASK IF LAWMAKERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF ITS CITIZENS. WE HAVE DUMPING OF BIOSOLIDS ON FARM LANDS THAT COULD THREATEN DRINKING WATER. FOLKS ARE OPPOSED TO THE DUMPING OF RIVER DREDGE & FLY ASH IN STRIPPING PITS BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY THAT WILL HAVE ON WATER AQUIFERS. MANY ASK WHY MORE ISN'T BEING DONE TO FIND OUT WHY WE HAVE SO MANY CASES OF THE RARE BLOOD DISORDER, POLYCYTHEMIA VERA, NEARBY. AND REMEMBER WHEN LAWMAKERS REPEALED THE MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW A FEW YEARS AGO. WE'RE SEEING MORE MOTORCYLE FATALITIES & SERIOUS INJURIES ON OUR STREETS & HIGHWAYS AS A RESULT. 

NOW, LAWMAKERS ARE CHOKING ON A TOTAL SMOKING IN PUBLIC BAN. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SETTLE FOR COMPROMISE MEASURES WHEN DEALING WITH HEALTH ISSUES. A 90% SMOKING BAN IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH HERE IN PA. IF SMOKERS WANT TO LIGHT UP IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR HOME...THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS. "A MAN'S HOME IS HIS CASTLE". THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NON-SMOKERS TO HAVE THEIR HEALTH THREATENED BY SECONDHAND SMOKE IN PUBLIC & AT WORK. LAWMAKERS STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SHOW THEY DO CARE ABOUT THE HEALTH OF PA.'S CITIZENS. 

I'M MARK MAREK WITH THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.

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This editorial aired on AM 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, June 4 and Thursday, June 5

COULD PANTHER VALLEY JOIN A GROWING NUMBER OF SCHOOLS SEEKING TO MODIFY ITS DRESS CODE BY IMPLEMENTING A UNIFORM DRESS POLICY? THAT TOPIC WAS DISCUSSED AT LAST WEEK'S PV SCHOOL BOARD EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING. 

RIGHT NOW, PANTHER VALLEY HAS A 20 POINT DRESS CODE. STUDENT DRESS & GROOMING IS EXPECTED TO REFLECT APPROPRIATENESS, CLEANLINESS, & SAFETY WITHIN THE CLASSROOM & SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. STUDENT DRESS MUST NOT BE IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY DISTRACTING TO THE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHOOL. SOME PEOPLE SUGGEST THE PRESENT DRESS CODE IS NOT BEING ENFORCED. 

PV'S DRESS CODE SAYS NO HATS & HEAD APPAREL IN SCHOOL. NO UNDERSHIRTS & UNDERSHORTS AS OUTER GARMENTS...NO TANK TOPS & MUSCLE SHIRTS...NO SEE-THRU BLOUSES, SHIRTS, & MESH SHORTS...NO HALF-BLOUSES & SHORTS...NO MINI-SKIRTS & DRESSES SHORTER THAN MID-THIGH...NO BEACH FOOTWEAR...NO RIPPED & TORN CLOTHES...NO PJ TOPS & BOTTOMS...NO SHIRTS WITH MESSAGES OR PICTURES CONSIDERED DEROGATORY OR OBSCENE...NO OUTERWEAR TO BE WORN EXCEPT ON ARRIVAL & AT DISMISSAL. 

PV'S DRESS CODE SAYS NO PAGERS & CELL PHONES, NO ENTERTAINMENT DEVICES, NO CIGARETTE LIGHTERS, NO LASER POINTERS, & OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES. NO BODY JEWELRY IN PHYS ED CLASSES...NO WALLET CHAINS & CHAINS ON CLOTHING. NECK CHAINS & BRACELET CHAINS ARE LIMITED...NO DOG CHAINS, NO DOG COLLARS, NO SPIKES. SUN-GLASSES ARE OK WITH ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL. 

THERE IS NO SPECIFIC MENTION IN PV'S DRESS CODE ABOUT BODY PIERCINGS, FUNKY HAIRSTYLES & WHACKY HAIR COLORS, & NO SPECIFIC MENTION OF STUDENT HYGIENE ISSUES.  THAT CAN BE COVERED UNDER DRESS CONSIDERED DISTRACTING TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. DRESS CODES THAT PROHIBIT THE WEARING OR CLOTHING OR SYMBOLS LINKED TO GANGS HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY UPHELD BY THE COURTS. 

BY IMPLEMENTING A UNIFORM DRESS POLICY PANTHER VALLEY WOULD MANDATE VERY SPECIFIC CLOTHING & VERY SPECIFIC COLORS. THAT POLICY WOULD ALLOW ONLY BLACK, GOLD, OR WHITE POLO SHIRTS WITH BLACK OR KHAKI PANTS. EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON DONNA TRIMMEL WAS QUOTED AS SAYING A UNIFORM DRESS POLICY WOULD BE MORE ECONOMICAL TO PARENTS & COULD HELP IMPROVE LEARNING FOR STUDENTS.  TRIMMEL ADDS SHE'D LIKE TO GET STUDENT, PARENT, & FACULTY IMPUT ON THE PROPOSED UNIFORM DRESS POLICY. A UNIFORM DRESS POLICY WOULD ALSO TRIM DOWN THE PRESENT 20 POINT DRESS CODE. 

3 YEARS AGO, TAMAQUA CREATED A STIR WHEN IT IMPLEMENTED ITS DRESS POLICY. THEIR POLICY WAS SPECIFIC WITH ITS COLOR & STYLES OF SHIRTS & PANTS & SPECIFIED THE COLOR OF SOCKS & SHOES. A PETITION WITH 800 NAMES DECRYING THE POLICY WAS GIVEN TO THE TAMAQUA SCHOOL BOARD. PARENTS & STUDENTS THREATENED THE DISTRICT WITH WALKOUTS, PROTESTS, LAWSUITS, & OPEN DEFIANCE. THEY CLAIMED IT VIOLATED THEIR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION & FORCED THEM TO BUY NEW CLOTHING. 

TAMAQUA SCHOOL OFFICIALS OFFERED FINANCIAL HELP TO NEEDY FAMILIES WHO SAY THEY COULDN'T AFFORD THE NEW CLOTHES. AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM WAS SETUP TO HELP NEEDY FAMILIES WITH DONATED CLOTHING FROM GRADUATING STUDENTS. 3 YEARS LATER, TAMAQUA'S UNIFORM DRESS POLICY IS GOING WELL. COMPLIANCE IS GOOD. KIDS LOOK GREAT GOING TO & FROM SCHOOL. PARENTS ARE SAVING MONEY BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER TO BUY A FEW PAIR OF PANTS & POLO SHIRTS THAN IT IS TO BUY A BACK-TO-SCHOOL WARDROBE OF DESIGNER-NAME OUTFITS. OTHER AREA SCHOOLS ARE NOW FOLLOWING TAMAQUA'S LEAD. 

WE SUPPORT THE UNIFORM DRESS POLICY. IT COULD IMPROVE DISCIPLINE & THAT COULD EVEN LEAD TO BETTER TEST SCORES. WE SUPPORT THE IDEA OF TEACHERS BEING ASKED TO WEAR UNIFORMS. IT WILL SET A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR STUDENTS. IT WAS SUGGESTED ON LAST WEEK'S AIR YOUR OPINION SHOW SCHOOL DIRECTORS SHOULD DRESS THE PART WHEN ATTENDING MEETINGS. THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TOO. 

PANTHER VALLEY SHOULD IRON OUT DETAILS OF ITS UNIFORM DRESS POLICY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PERHAPS, IT CAN BE READY FOR THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. A LIST SHOULD BE DEVELOPED WHERE TO BUY THE POLO SHIRTS & PANTS. PARENTS BEING HIT WITH PROPOSED TAX INCREASES CAN THEN SAVE MONEY NOW ON THEIR BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING. A UNIFORM DRESS POLICY IS WORKING IN OTHER SCHOOLS. IT CAN WORK AT PANTHER VALLEY TOO. 

I'M MARK MAREK WITH THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.

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