This editorial will air on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, September 3 and Thursday, September 4

IN OCTOBER, 07, HEALTH BUREAUCRATS TOLD US THERE WERE 38 CONFIRMED CASES OF A RARE BLOOD DISORDER IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS. THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NO LINK  BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS & POLYCYTHEMIA VERA. LAST WEEK, THOSE SAME BUREAUCRATS TELL US THE CONFIRMED CASES DROPPED TO 33, BUT IT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE...& SOME OF THE HIGH RISK AREAS HAD POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCES IN COMMON. THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE KNOW FROM A STUDY THAT BEGAN IN NOVEMBER, 06--ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO. 

POLYCYTHEMIA VERA OCCURS WHEN YOUR BONE MARROW MAKES TOO MANY RED BLOOD CELLS. IT COULD ALSO MAKE TOO MANY WHITE BLOOD CELLS & PLATELETS. TOO MANY RED BLOOD CELLS MEANS MORE BLOOD IN THE BODY THAN USUAL. BLOOD IS THICKER THAN NORMAL & HAS DIFFICULTY CIRCULATING IN SMALL BLOOD VESSELS. PV IS CAUSED BY A MUTATION OF DNA IN A SINGLE CELL IN YOUR BONE MARROW. THE MAYO CLINIC CALLS IT THE JAK2 V617F MUTATION. MORE THAN 90% OF PV PATIENTS HAVE THIS MUTATION. IT'S ACQUIRED RATHER THAN BEING INHERITED. 

POLYCYTHEMIA VERA OCCURS IN 1 OUT OF 100,000 PERSONS. YET, IN A SMALL 40 MILE AREA BETWEEN TAMAQUA & HAZLETON, THERE ARE 33 CONFIRMED CASES. SOME AREA DOCTORS SAY THERE ARE AROUND 100 CASES. THERE IS NO CURE FOR POLYCYTHEMIA VERA. DOCTORS CAN ONLY REDUCE OR PREVENT SYMPTOMS. 

WE LEARNED LITTLE FROM LAST WEEK'S "FINAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY" FROM THE AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES & DISEASE REGISTRY & PA. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.  THEY SAY THEIR STUDY WAS DESIGNED ONLY TO COUNT PV CASES, VERIFY THE DIAGNOSIS, & LOOK FOR COMMON CHARACTERISTICS...NOT TO IDENTIFY A CAUSE. A ROUNDTABLE OF EXPERTS MET IN PHILLY PRIOR TO THE HAZLETON MEETING TO IDENTIFY RESEARCH PRIORITIES. THEIR GAME PLAN IS TO CONDUCT RIGOROUS RISK FACTOR STUDIES, LONGTERM CLINICAL EVALUATIONS, ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC MARKERS FOR PV & ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE, & EVALUATE OTHER SIMILAR DISORDERS.  

U.S. SENATOR ARLEN SPECTOR SAYS THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A $262,000 EARMARK FOR A PLANNED DREXEL UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATION INTO OUR AREA'S POLYCYTHEMIA VERA CLUSTER. BUT, THAT FUNDING MUST FIRST BE APPROVED BY THE FULL SENATE. ONCE AGAIN---WE MUST WAIT & GET SICK WHILE THE FEDS PUSH THROUGH PORK SPENDING TO STUDY THE SPAWNING HABITS OF SALMON. 

SPEAKING AT LAST MONDAY'S MEETING WAS DR. VINCE SEAMON. HE WAS THE GUY I HAD LINED UP TO APPEAR ON AIR YOUR OPINION IN NOVEMBER, 06, BUT HIS BOSSES REFUSED TO GIVE HIM THE OK. VINCE CALLED IT "GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY AT ITS BEST". WHEN ATSDR HAD ITS PUBLIC MEETING LAST OCTOBER IN HAZLETON, VINCE WAS NOT THERE. HE WAS CONVIENENTLY SHUFFLED OFF TO AN ASSIGNMENT IN AFRICA. VINCE DID INDICATE IN SEPTEMBER, 07, THAT HE'D STILL LIKE TO APPEAR ON AIR YOUR OPINION TO ADDRESS WHAT HE CALLED "NUMEROUS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE AREA." 

SO FAR, AREA RESIDENTS LEARNED ABOUT STUDIES, SEEN A LOT OF SLIDE SHOWS, & HEARD A LOT OF BULLPUCKY. BUREAUCRATS ADMIT THEIR INVESTIGATION THAT BEGAN ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO WAS NOT DESIGNED TO PINPOINT A CAUSE. BUT, LOCAL FOLKS ARE TIRED OF GETTING SICK & TIRED OF SEEING LOVED ONES GET SICK. LOCAL FOLKS WANT ACTION. MANY BELIEVE THEY KNOW WHAT CAUSING PEOPLE TO GET SICK.  

IT'S THE FORMER MCADOO ASSOCIATES TOXIC WASTE DUMP SUPERFUND SITE. IT'S WHERE HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF BARRELS OF TOXIC WASTE WERE DUMPED OVER 30 YEARS AGO PRIOR TO ITS 1979 SHUTDOWN BY THE FEDS. IT'S SAID PAINT SLUDGE, WASTE OILS, USED SOLVENTS, PCBS, CYANIDE, PESTICIDES, & MANY KNOWN OR SUSPECTED CARCINOGENS WERE DUMPED THERE. GOD KNOWS WHAT ELSE WAS DUMPED. ALL THIS DUMPING IS WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE OF THE STILL CREEK RESERVOIR.  

WE HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF DIGGING UP THAT TOXIC WASTE DUMP & DRILLING BORE HOLES DOWN 500 FEET TO SEE IF WHAT TOXIC CHEMICALS ARE STILL PRESENT & IF THEY ARE REACHING LOCAL AQUIFERS. WE HAVE REPORTS OF FISH WITH TUMORS BEING IN THE STILL CREEK RESERVOIR. WHAT DON'T WE KNOW. 

RESEARCH IN THE LAB IS FINE...BUT AREA FOLKS WOULD FEEL MUCH BETTER IF SOME REAL DIGGING FOR ANSWERS TAKE PLACE. ISN'T IT STRANGE...WE CAN SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DIG UP OLD TOMBS IN EGYPT TO FIND PHAROAHS THAT HAVE BEEN DEAD FOR 5,000 YEARS. BUT, BUREAUCRATS DRAG THEIR FEET & WON'T SPEND THOUSANDS TO DIG FOR TOXIC WASTE CLUES IN OUR OWN BACKYARD...CLUES THAT WILL TELL US WHY FOLKS ARE DYING & OUR AREA IS HOME TO THE FIRST & ONLY POLYCYTHEMIA VERA CANCER CLUSTER IN THE WORLD. 

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, August 27 and Thursday, August 28

LAST MONTH A 25 YEAR OLD MEXICAN ILLEGAL ALIEN WAS BEATEN TO DEATH IN SHENANDOAH.  THIS BEATING...A STREET FIGHT THAT WENT BAD... HAS DRAWN NATIONAL ATTENTION TO SHENANDOAH & SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. 3 SHENANDOAH YOUTHS HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN THE BEATING DEATH, BUT WHO ELSE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TRAGIC & UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT? 

BRANDON PIEKARSKY & COLIN WALSH ARE CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE, ETHNIC INTIMIDATION, & OTHER OFFENSES. DERRICK DONCHAK IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, ETHNIC INTIMIDATION & OTHER OFFENSES. CHARGES ARE PENDING AGAINST ANOTHER YOUTH IN JUVENILE COURT. 1ST & 2ND DEGREE MURDER CHARGES HAVE BEEN TOSSED. THE 3 TEENS PLAYED FOR SHENANDOAH'S FOOTBALL TEAM LAST YEAR. DONCHAK WAS A QUARTERBACK & HOPES TO CONTINUE AT BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY. PIEKARSKY IS AN HONOR SOCIETY MEMBER. ALCOHOL WAS A MAJOR PLAYER IS THIS STREET FIGHT THAT WENT BAD. DO WE HOLD THE ADULT WHO FURNISHED BOOZE TO THE KIDS PARTLY TO BLAME FOR RAMIREZ'S DEATH? 

IT'S REPORTED LUIS RAMIREZ WAS LIVING ILLEGALLY IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 6 YEARS. HE REPORTEDLY WORKED 12 HOUR SHIFTS 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR 2 EMPLOYERS. HE CUT TREES & PICKED FRUIT IN BERWICK & WORKED IN A FACTORY IN HEGINS. SHOULD THE EMPLOYERS BE CHARGED BY THE FEDS FOR HIRING AN ILLEGAL? ARE THESE EMPLOYERS PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR RAMIREZ'S DEATH? 

RAMIREZ WAS LIVING WITH 24 YEAR OLD CRYSTAL DILLMAN IN SHENANDOAH. HE FATHERED 2 KIDS WITH HER. THE TWO WERE NOT MARRIED. IN A READING EAGLE INTERVIEW, DILLMAN SAYS SHE & RAMIREZ SUFFERED VERBAL ABUSE FROM TOWN RESIDENTS REGARDING HIS ETHNICITY & THEIR RELATIONSHIP. SHE SAYS IT GOT SO BAD, RAMIREZ PLANNED TO MOVE BACK TO MEXICO IN DECEMBER & SHE WOULD FOLLOW WITH THE KIDS IN THE SPRING.  SHOULD DILLMAN BE CHARGED FOR HARBORING AN ILLEGAL? WAS DILLMAN'S SILENCE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HER BOYFRIEND'S DEATH? 

EVER SINCE THAT TRAGIC BEATING ON JULY 12TH, SEVERAL HISPANIC ACTIVIST GROUPS HAVE CONVERGED ON SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. THEY CLAIM TO BE HERE TO PROMOTE UNITY & DIVERSITY & TOLERANCE. BUT, THE OPPOSITE IS ACTUALLY TRUE. THESE PUBLICITY-SEEKING ACTIVISTS ARE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD. 

THEY DIDN'T LIKE HOW LOCAL POLICE & DA'S OFFICE CONDUCTED THE INVESTIGATION & ACCUSED THEM OF FOOT-DRAGGING. THEY WANT THE FEDS TO PROBE THE BEATING CASE. 1 OF THESE GROUPS WANT TO KNOW WHAT STEPS SHENANDOAH SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE TAKING TO PROTECT LATINO STUDENTS FROM POSSIBLE ETHNIC HARRASSMENT. 

AT A HEARING IN POTTSVILLE, ACTIVISTS SUPPORTING IMMIGRATION & CIVIL RIGHTS HELD DEMONSTRATIONS & DISRUPTED THE PROCEEDINGS. THESE SUPPORTERS OF ILLEGALS CARRIED SIGNS SAYING EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL WORKERS...STOP THE RAIDS & DEPORTATIONS. THE DEMONSTRATORS WAVED FLAGS...NONE OF THEM WERE AMERICAN FLAGS.  CAN THESE ACTIVIST ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT ILLEGALS IN THIS COUNTRY BE PARTLY TO BLAME FOR THE DEATH OF LUIS RAMIREZ? 

YES, A LOT OF BLAME CAN BE PASSED AROUND. AS LONG AS WASHINGTON POLITICIANS & STATE POLITICIANS DO NOTHING TO DISCOURAGE ILLEGALS IN THIS COUNTRY & CONTINUE TO PANDER TO ACTIVIST GROUPS THAT SUPPORT & ENCOURAGE ILLEGALS, WE WILL SEE MORE TRAGEDIES LIKE WE SAW IN SHENANDOAH LAST MONTH. ARE POLITICIANS PARTLY TO BLAME FOR LUIS RAMIREZ'S DEATH? 

MOST AMERICANS ARE FED UP WITH ILLEGALS BREACHING OUR BORDERS BY THE MILLIONS & LIVING NEXT DOOR. AMERICANS ARE FED UP WITH ILLEGALS SPONGING OFF TAXPAYERS & GETTING WELFARE, HEALTHCARE & EDUCATION BENEFITS. IT'S TIME FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO START ENFORCING THE LAW TO THE LETTER. IF YOU ARE IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, IT'S A CRIME & YOU DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL. THAT IS NOT ETHNIC INTIMIDATION IS OUR BOOK. 

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, August 20 and Thursday, August 21

WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEING BOMBARDED WITH ESCALATING COSTS & UNFUNDED STATE & FEDERAL MANDATES, SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE BEING FORCED TO THINK "OUTSIDE THE BOX".DISTRICTS ARE FINDING THEY CAN'T KEEP GOING TO THE TAXPAYER WELL. A FEW YEARS AGO, WE ADVOCATED CORPORATE ADS IN SCHOOLS.  WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE PANTHER VALLEY IS CONSIDERING CORPORATE ADS TO MAKE ENDS MEET. 

BUSINESSES & PROFESSIONALS RECEIVED A MAILER FROM PANTHER VALLEY'S ATHLETIC & ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR, KRISTIN BLACK, OUTLINING A PLAN TO PUT UP CORPORATE SIGNS AT THE PANTHER VALLEY STADIUM. KRISTEN SAYS MONEY WOULD BE USED TO CONTINUE STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS & OTHER UPGRADES IN PV'S SPORTS DEPARTMENT. 

IT'A NOT A BAD DEAL: A 3 FOOT BY 6 FOOT SIGN FOR $150 A YEAR PLUS COST OF THE SIGN.  SIGNUP FOR 3 YEARS FOR ONLY $420. LAMINATED, PRE-PAINTED ALUMINUM SIGNS CAN BE PERSONALLY DESIGNED & PURCHASED THROUGH THE DISTRICT THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH SUE FRENDAK AT FRENDAK SIGNS. ALL SIGNS ARE SUBJECT TO SOME "COMMON  SENSE" RESTRICTIONS IN KEEPING WITH COMTEMPORARY STANDARDS OF GOOD TASTE THAT PROMOTE POSITIVE VALUES FOR THE SCHOOL, STAFF, STUDENTS, & COMMUNITY. 

KRISTEN BLACK SAYS SHE HAS ALREADY RECEIVED MORE THAN 15 INQUIRIES & ADDS ADVERTISERS CAN BE FROM WITHIN THE DISTRICT & OUTSIDE. IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A MAILER FROM PANTHER VALLEY & ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A BILLBOARD GOOD NEIGHBOR, CALL KRISTEN BLACK AT 645-4207. 

SIGN PLACEMENT WILL REMAIN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE DISTRICT. I ACCOMPANIED KRISTEN, SMOKEY KRAJNAK, & MEMBERS OF THE COACHING STAFF AS THEY EVALUATED SIGN PLACEMENT LAST WEEK. ADVERTISERS WITH 2 OR MORE SIGNS WILL BE ASSURED PLACEMENT ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FIELD FOR OPTIMAL VIEWING. 

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER "OUTSIDE THE BOX" IDEAS FOR SCHOOLS TO PONDER. A FEW YEARS AGO, WE TALKED ABOUT CORPORATE SIGNS ON SCHOOL BUSES. MASS TRANSIT BUSES HAVE THEM, SO WHY NOT HAVE THEM ON SCHOOL BUSES. IN COLORADO SPRINGS WHERE MY SON TEACHES A CASH-STRAPPED DISTRICT 11 MOVED TO HAVE SIGNS ON THEIR SCHOOL BUSES OVER 16 YEARS AGO. IT'S 1 OF THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO DO THIS. 

IF PANTHER VALLEY IS SUCCESSFUL WITH THE STADIUM SIGNS, IT WILL CONSIDER SIGNS AT THE GYM & BASEBALL FIELD. HOW ABOUT A CORPORATE SPONSOR TO NAME THE LANSFORD STADIUM. AGAIN, BUSINESSES PAY BIG BUCKS TO HAVE THEIR NAME ASSOCIATED WITH FOOTBALL & BASEBALL STADIUMS & ARENAS. 

PANTHER VALLEY HAS TAKEN A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS ENHANCING ATHLETIC PROGRAMS WITHOUT GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND WELL. LET'S HOPE BUSINESSES & PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE & SUPPORT THIS VENTURE. IF CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS START TAKING OFF AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE MAY END UP SEEING IN ADDITION TO SUPERINTENDENTS, PRINCIPALS, BUSINESS MANAGERS, & ATHLETIC DIRECTORS A NEW POSITION...DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT. 

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, August 13 and Thursday, August 14

ON JULY 28TH, AM 1410 WLSH BECAME OLDIES 1410 WLSH. 2 WEEKS AGO, WE COMPLETED OUR TRANSITION FROM "THE STATION YOU GREW UP WITH" TO "THE MUSIC & TALK SHOWS YOU GREW UP WITH". YOUR REACTION TO OUR OLDIES/TALK FORMAT HAS BEEN POSITIVE. 

EVEN THOUGH JULY 28TH WAS THE OFFICIAL BIRTH OF OUR NEW FORMAT, WLSH HAS BEEN MAKING SUBTLE CHANGES THE PAST 5 YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN PHASING OUT MUSIC OF THE 40S...THE BENNY GOODMAN, GLENN MILLER, & DORSEY BROTHERS MUSIC. WE SLOWLY PUT IN MORE MUSIC FROM THE 60S & 70S...BEACH BOYS, BEATLES, & ELTON JOHN. OUR GOOD  GOLD ROCK N ROLL WEEKENDS THAT INCLUDE COOL BOBBY B'S DOO WOPP & DICK CLARK'S ROCK, ROLL, & REMEMBER WAS OUR OLDIES FORMAT TESTING GROUND.   

MUSIC IS NOT THE ONLY CHANGE. WLSH RETURNED TO ITS TALK SHOW ROOTS & FEATURE ALL THE LOCAL TALK SHOWS YOU GREW UP WITH DURING THE BUD & MICKEY ANGST ERA OF THE 60S, 70S, & EARLY 80S. THE DUTCH TRADER, WEEKDAY MORNINGS 9-10, WAS THE 1ST TO RETURN IN THE 90S. AIR YOUR OPINION, SATURDAYS 9-12 NOON, WAS REBORN IN JULY, 03.  ASK YOUR NEIGHBOR, TUESDAY & THURSDAY AFTERNOONS 1-2, MADE ITS COMEBACK IN  APRIL. ADDING A WEEKDAY VERSION OF AIR YOUR OPINION & WEEKEND EDITION OF DUTCH TRADER ARE BEING CONSIDERED & DISCUSSED. 

WLSH CONTINUES BROADCASTING TRADITIONS WE ALL GREW UP WITH. THE MOST-ASKED QUESTION WE FIELDED THE PAST 2 WEEKS: WILL WLSH STILL AIR BEAUTIFUL NON-STOP CHRISTMAS MUSIC? NORTHEAST PA.'S ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS MUSIC STATION WILL RUN  CHRISTMAS MUSIC THANKSGIVING DAY THRU ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS ON JANUARY 7TH.  WLSH SPORTS 1 OF THE LARGEST CHRISTMAS SHOW MUSIC LIBRARIES IN THE NATION... ALL ON COMPUTER HARDDRIVE. SOME SHOWS COME OFF RECORDS MADE IN THE 40S & 50S & HAD TO BE DIGITALLY ENHANCED & RESTORED.   

YOU'LL STILL HEAR SHOWS LIKE BILL O'REILLY'S RADIO FACTOR WEEKNITES STARTING AT 6. SPORTS PROGRAMS INCLUDING LIVE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL & BASEBALL, IRONPIGS BASEBALL, SPECIALTY SHOWS LIKE GRIDIRON GUESSES, PENN STATE & NOTRE DAME PREVIEWS, & INTERVIEW SHOWS WITH LOCAL COACHES CONTINUE. DOYLE DIETZ'S EXPERIENCE THE OUTDOORS AIRS SATURDAY MORNING AT 7:30. SUNDAY MORNING'S BLOCK OF RELIGIOUS PROGRAMING & CHURCH SERVICES WILL CONTINUE FOR THE PRESENT TIME. 

WLSH EXPANDED ITS INFORMATION SEGMENTS. HEAR NATIONAL NEWS AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR WITH THE USA RADIO NETWORK. RADIO PA. STATE NEWS AIRS ON THE HALF HOUR.  REGIONAL TRAFFIC REPORTS THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH CHANNEL 69 ARE UPDATED TWICE AN HOUR WEEKDAY MORNINGS & AFTERNOONS. LOCAL WEATHER FORECASTS ARE NOW UPDATED UP TO 6 TIMES A DAY. THE WLSH EDITORIAL, A BUD ANGST ERA STAPLE RESTORED IN '97, AIRS WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, & BEFORE SATURDAY'S AIR YOUR OPINION.  HEAR & DOWNLOAD WLSH EDITORIALS 24/7 AT OUR WEBSITE  WWW.WMGH.COM 

YOU'RE ALSO HEARING INFORMATIVE SHOWS LIKE DR. BOB MARSHALL'S HEALTHLINE 4 DAYS A WEEK, ST. LUKE'S MINERS HEALTHLINE ONCE A MONTH, & A NEW TALK SHOW, MORTGAGE & BUILDERS REPORT, FRIDAYS AFTER THE DUTCH TRADER. WEEKDAY MORNINGS DURING OUR DAYBREAK SHOW, HEAR SHORTY REPORTS LIKE THE OLD FARMERS ALMANAC, EARTH & SKY, & INFORMATIONAL TIDBITS DEALING WITH HEALTH, FINANCES, COOKING, & MORE. 

1 MORE THING WE'D LIKE TO ADD TO OUR OLDIES MUSIC ROTATION & WE NEED YOUR HELP.  WE'RE LOOKING FOR OLDIES PERFORMED BY LOCAL BANDS FROM THE 50S, 60S, & 70S. WE HAVE MUSIC FROM GROUPS LIKE THE JORDAN BROTHERS & ANGIE & THE CITATIONS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER GROUPS & MUSIC TO DOWNLOAD. IF THERE ARE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF LOCAL OLDIES BANDS, WE'D LIKE YOU TO RECORD AN INTRODUCTION TO YOUR SONGS. CALL ME OR STATION MANAGER BILL LAKATAS IF YOU CAN HELP US OUT. 

EVEN THOUGH MANY SO-CALLED EXPERTS SAY AM RADIO IS A DINOSAUR OF BY-GONE DAYS, OUR MANAGEMENT & STAFF BELIEVE WLSH CAN CONTINUE TO BE AN INTEGRAL & VITAL PART OF OUR AREA. ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, DOZENS OF AM STATIONS HAVE GONE DARK & HAD THEIR CALL LETTERS RETIRED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. PLACES LIKE SHENANDOAH & SHAMOKIN USED TO HAVE THEIR OWN AM STATIONS WITH LOCAL DJS & LOCAL PROGRAMS. THOSE STATIONS ARE NOW JUST A PART OF HISTORY. NEWSPAPERS EVEN FIND THEMSELVES FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES. SOME HAVE SHUTDOWN & OTHERS LIKE THE MORNING DAY HAD MASSIVE CUTS IN PERSONNEL & OFFICES. 

OLDIES 1410 WLSH WILL BUCK THE TREND AS WE FOCUS ON LOCALISM. OUR NEW OLDIES/TALK FORMAT TARGETS THIS AREA'S AGING DEMOGRAPHIC. YOU, THE LISTENER, & YOU, THE ADVERTISER, WILL ULTIMATELY DETERMINE IF WLSH WILL PREVAIL OR JUST BECOME A PART OF HISTORY. COMMENTS REGARDING OUR PROGRAMS ARE WELCOME. E-MAIL US AT WMGH@PTD.NET OR MAIL US AN OL' FASHION LETTER OR POSTCARD TO WLSH P.O. BOX D LANSFORD, PA. 18232. 

I'M MARK MARK WITH THIS WEEK'S WLSH EDITORIAL.

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This editorial aired on AM 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, August 6 and Thursday, August 7

FIRST CAME THE PA. LOTTERY. NEXT IT WAS LEGALIZED BINGO & SMALL GAMES OF CHANCE.  THEN, CASINO SLOTS PARLORS OPENED. COULD WE SOON SEE LEGALIZED VIDEO POKER MACHINES IN NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL CLUBS? 

STATE REP TOM CALTIGIRONE INTRODUCED HB 1663 THAT WOULD ALLOW CLUBS LICENSED UNDER THE PA. LIQUOR CODE TO OPERATE VIDEO DRAW POKER MACHINES. THE BERKS  COUNTY DEMOCRAT INTRODUCED THE LEGISLATION LAST JUNE. IT WAS REFERRED TO THE HOUSE GAMING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IN JULY, 07. THE BILL SAT THERE IN LEGISLATIVE LIMBO FOR OVER A YEAR BEFORE LAST WEEK'S PUBLIC HEARING. 

HB 1663 WOULD ALLOW CLUBS TO OPERATE UP TO 5 VIDEO DRAW POKER MACHINES. CLUBS WOULD PAY AN ANNUAL FEE OF $1,000 PER MACHINE. MONEY COLLECTED FROM THESE FEES WOULD BE DEPOSITED IN THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FUND. VIDEO POKER MACHINES WOULD BE CONNECTED TO A CENTRAL COMPUTER TO MONITOR BETS & PAYOUTS. THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE'S STATE LOTTERY DIVISION WOULD OVERSEE THE SYSTEM. 

60% OF THE NET REVENUE WOULD GO TO THE SOCIAL CLUB. THE OTHER 40%  WOULD GO TO THE STATE. 25% OF THE STATE'S CUT WOULD GO TO THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THE POKER MACHINE IS LOCATED. THE STATE'S SHARE-AFTER THE COST OF MACHINE MONITORING IS SUBTRACTED-WOULD GO TOWARD SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. 

CALTIGIRONE SAYS AUTHORITIES ARE HARASSING SOCIAL & FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT RELY ON SMALL GAMES OF CHANCE LIKE RAFFLES & SCRATCH CARDS, WHICH ARE LEGAL, ALONG WITH VIDEO POKER, WHICH ARE NOT LEGAL. PROCEEDS HELP TO PAY BILLS & HELP CHARITABLE CAUSES. IT'S REPORTED COUNTIES & MUNICIPALITIES ARE STEPPING UP ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMING THANKS TO A $5 MILLION GRANT ALLOCATED UNDER THE GAMING CONTROL ACT. 

THE LCB IS ALLOWED TO CONDUCT WARRANTLESS SEARCHES OF ESTABLISHMENTS WITH LIQUOR LICENSES. A SQUAD SUPERVISOR IN THE PHILLY DISTRICT OFFICE QUIPPED TO THE PHILLY INQUIRER THAT RAIDS ARE OFTEN PROMPTED BY ANGRY WIVES WHO CALL WHEN THEIR HUSBANDS BLOW THEIR PAYCHECKS ON VIDEO POKER MACHINES. CALTIGIRONE WAS QUOTED SAYING "DON'T STATE POLICE HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO WITH THEIR TIME?" 

HB 1663 GOT MIXED REVIEWS AT LAST WEEK'S HEARING. VALERIE MOORE, EXALTED LEADER OF THE WEST CHESTER ELKS, SAYS THE BILL IS A GREAT IDEA. GAMBLING OPPONENTS SAY ALCOHOL & VIDEO POKER MACHINES MAKE A HIGHLY ADDICTIVE COMBO. RANDALL WAGNER OF THE PA. FAMILY INSTITUTE CALLED VIDEO POKER MACHINES THE "CRACK COCAINE" OF GAMBLING. A STATE POLICE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE AGENCY DOESN'T HAVE A POSITION ON THE BILL. SOME CASINO OFFICIALS DECLINED COMMENT. 

WE WILL SEE LEGALIZED VIDEO POKER MACHINES SOMEDAY. CALTIGIRONE SAYS HIS BILL LIKELY WON'T GET A COMMITTEE VOTE 'TIL AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION & PERHAPS NOT 'TIL THE NEW SESSION CONVENES IN JANUARY. 

HARRISBURG POLITICIANS FREQUENT SOCIAL CLUBS...ESPECIALLY AROUND ELECTION TIME. THEY HEAR ABOUT THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS. SOME POLITICIANS MAY EVEN FIND THEMSELVES IN A CLUB WHEN IT'S BEING RAIDED. AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF RAIDS SINCE SLOTS GAMBLING CAME TO PA. 

IT'S REPORTED THERE ARE ABOUT 5,000 CHARTERED PRIVATE CLUBS & SOCIAL HALLS STATEWIDE. LET'S DO SOME OVERLY-OPTIMISTIC MATH: 5,000 CLUBS TIMES 5 MACHINES PER CLUB EQUALS 25,000 MACHINES. MULTIPLY THAT BY $1,000 & THAT'S $25 MILLION JUST IN MACHINE LICENSE FEES PER YEAR. THAT'S $25 MILLION GOING INTO A FUND FOR SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. 

WE'D EXPECT MOM & POP TAVERNS TO KICK UP SOME DUST IF VIDEO POKER MACHINES ARE ALLOWED IN CLUBS. LEGALIZED POKER MACHINES IN CLUBS COULD HURT MOM & POP BARS MORE THAN THE RECENTLY-PASSED SMOKING BAN. TOM CALTIGIRONE MAY GET PRESSURE TO ADD CORNER BARS TO HIS BILL. THAT'S JUST MORE LICENSE FEE MONEY FOR SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. LIKE WE ALWAYS SAY...PEOPLE LOVE TO GAMBLE, BUT HATE TO PAY TAXES. 

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

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