Salute Our Troops Broadcast And Lunch

Teri Adams of the Independent Hall Tea Party Association points out that WPHT 1210 AM and Dom Giordano are hosting a 2013 Salute Our Troops!
Live Broadcast Luncheon, 11 a.m., Presidents Day, Feb. 18 at the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge, 260 Mall Blvd, King of Prussia, Pa.

Tickets are $25 and can be gotten here:  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5210859822#

PennDOT Summer Jobs

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is now accepting applications for 2013 summer employment for students and government services interns, according to State Rep Jim Cox (R-129).

To qualify, candidates must be 18 years of age and enrolled in college for the fall 2013 semester. Applicants must also have a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license.

The Summer Employment Program runs from May through August to supplement the permanent workforce.

For  information on PennDOT summer employment opportunities, visit here.

Fire School Officials Who Suspended PA Kindergartner For “Terroristic Threat”

 
It is time to immediately boot all school administrators who had any involvement in suspending a five-year-old kindergartener from the Mount Carmel Area Elementary School in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. And we should require that their official employment records always disclose the exact reason why they were terminated. Hopefully, such a scarlet letter would prove so weighty that their education careers would sink into oblivion.

Come to think of it, they should be barred from ever working around children again. Judgment, discretion and common decency are—or at least should be—mandatory skills for those working around our young people, but appear to be nonexistent in the Mount Carmel District.

What was the child’s offense? What was so ignominious, so dastardly, so outright diabolical that the Mount Carmel brain trust saw fit to suspend her for 10 days and mandate she undertake a psychological evaluation?
Did she swipe the school computer password to inflate her show-and-tell grade? Boycott naptime? Not share her crayons?

Far worse. She talked about using her pink Hello Kitty Bubble Gun—admittedly, a device that has been known to completely eradicate sad faces with one trigger pull.
 
Honest to God, this makes the Manti Te’o story look tame.

*****

Earlier this month, while waiting for a school bus, the kindergarten mastermind was overheard talking about shooting a classmate with the bubble gun, which, it should be noted, she did not even possess.

For that, she was actually accused of making a “terroristic threat” and branded as a “threat to harm others.” According to reports, the girl was questioned the following day for 30 minutes without a parent present and, her mother stated, was told she could go to jail for making such a threat. Despite being evaluated as “normal” by the district’s psychologist (what a surprise), the student was suspended anyway. Officials have since reduced the suspension to two days, but have refused to expunge the incident from her permanent record.

The family’s lawyer, Robin Ficker, simply wants the incident removed from the child’s record and the school district to apologize, admitting it made a mistake. But no can do.

The district is fighting back, having released a statement that reads “ … we are confident that much of the information supplied to the media may not be consistent with the facts in this matter. The Mount Carmel Area School District has investigated the issue and will continue to do so … When given the opportunity in the appropriate forum, we look forward to presenting information that will portray our school district in a more positive light.”
What are they doing? Bringing in the CSI team?

Assuming there are no national security secrets in this case, this one is simple. School administrators wildly “jumped the gun,” choosing to bow at the altar of political correctness and get their 15 minutes of fame rather than rationally think this situation through to its logical conclusion. And now they are too proud to admit they screwed up. In the process, they have traumatized a little girl, stigmatized her family, and perhaps worst of all, stolen a bit of childhood innocence from every student in that school.

And the more we sit back and allow these situations to occur, the faster America will decline. It is not enough to have the lawyers settle this behind the scenes, even if the girl and her family “win” everything they are seeking. The damage is done, and nothing short of firing Superintendent Bernard Stellar and other administrators complicit in the suspension will make it right.
Is advocating the firing of these officials for their “zero tolerance” itself zero tolerance? Absolutely. And it should be. We all make mistakes, which is why God made erasers, but mistakes like this are unforgivable. We entrust these people with our most precious gift: our children, indeed our future. And when they cannot even handle the most basic, common sense situation, it is time for them to find another profession.

Sadly, America is becoming a nation that doesn’t act with common sense, but one that overreacts to damn near everything without actually solving its problems. That way, faceless bureaucrats can feel good about themselves and justify their existences.

It’s time to fight back. It’s time for the silent American majority to be heard. It’s time to send the message loud and clear that political correctness is the greatest enemy this nation faces, and that we must enact zero tolerance for moronic decisions that so negatively affect the most innocent among us.
Demand that the Mount Carmel School District administrators be fired, and burst their politically correct bubble once and for all.

Child Porn Charge Upheld — But 31 Dropped

 By Pattie Price

Scott Richmond, 37, of Newtown, waived a hearing Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Lee Hunter on one count of possession of child pornography. In exchange for the waiver 31 counts of possession of child pornography, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and disruption of service were withdrawn. The charges stem from an April 25 incident at his Rhoads Avenue residence and his place of employment on Campus Boulevard.

According to the affidavit, Delaware County CID Detective David Peifer said Richmond worked in the Information Technology  department of a Newtown Square company when police were alerted he had uploaded suspected child pornography on both his home and work computers. The investigation involved Google, MySpace, Facebook, and Linkedin, and PennDOT records.
A search warrant was obtained for Richmond’s home and work computers.
Richmond admitted that he searched for male pornography on both computers. He identified one of the people in the picture as his ex-boyfriend whom he started dating when the boyfriend was 18.

As a result of the search warrant, police seized 14 glass vials of cocaine along with the computers from Richmond’s residence.

Thirty-two images of children under the age of 18 engaged in sexual acts or poses were also identified.

Richmond was remanded to the George W. Hill Prison when he was unable to post 10 percent of $100,000 bail. He is scheduled for a Feb. 13 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.
 

Charges Stem From Heroin Overdose

By Pattie Price


Eric Gallagher, 22, of Newtown, waived a hearing. Thursday. before Magisterial District Judge Lee Hunter
on five counts of possession of a controlled substance. The charges stem
from an incident 5:55p.m., Nov. 12, at his Third Avenue residence.

According
to the affidavit, Newtown Sgt. Gary Sebra said police responded to
Gallagher’s home to investigate a report that he was unconscious due to a
heroin overdose.

Sebra said Gallagher was unresponsive and unconscious. Several dime bags of heroin were confiscated from his dresser.

Gallagher’s step-father told police Eric had just completed a 29 day rehab program that day.

Eric was transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital for treatment.

He is scheduled for a Feb. 13 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.

* * *

Bernard Pagliaro, 74, of Newtown, waived a hearing  on the charges of DUI for an incident 10:16 p.m., Nov. 12, on West Chester Pike at St. Albans Avenue. In exchange for the waiver the charges of careless driving and a turn signal violation were withdrawn.

According to the affidavit, Newtown Officer Joe Vandegrift saw Pagliaro operating a silver Nissan Altima as he was exiting the parking lot of St. Alban’s Shopping Center. The Nissan’s interior light was on and the driver’s door was open.

Vandegrift said Pagliaro veered across the lanes on West Chester Pike and then turned right onto St. Albans Avenue from the inside lane. As Pagliaro navigated the traffic circle he almost struck a utility pole and curb.

He was stopped when he hit the curb and almost struck another pole.

He admitted consuming two big glasses of Bacardi rum.

Pagliaro was transported to Springfield Hospital for a blood test. He was released and is scheduled for a Feb. 13 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.

* * *

Trokon Gbapaywhea, 31, of Philadelphia was held for a Feb. 13 arraignment in Common Pleas Court on the charges of DUI, driving on roadways laned for traffic, and careless driving. The charges stem from an incident 9:55p.m., Oct. 5, in the 3700 block of West Chester Pike.

According to the affidavit Newtown Sgt. Gary Sebra said police responded to West Chester Pike and Route 252 for a report of a reckless intoxicated driver.

Lt. Michael Savitski saw the white Mercury van stopped in the left travel lane on West Chester Pike. Savitski got behind the van and said it appeared to be stopping but then accelerated and passed other drivers while swerving. Savitski activated his lights and siren in an attempt to stop the driver, later identified as Gbapaywhea. As he approached Valley View Lane, the van swerved into the right lane, onto the shoulder and came to a slow rolling stop.

Savitski said Gbapaywhea had a strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot glassy eyes, slurred speech and was extremely unsteady on his feet.

Gbapaywhea admitted he had “just one beer.” He failed field sobriety tests. A portable breath test revealed a blood alcohol level of .142 percent. Gbapaywhea was transported to Riddle Memorial Hospital by Sebra for a blood test.

* * *
Francisco Arroyo, 38, of Camden, N.J., waived a hearing on the charge of receiving stolen property for an incident 8:52 p.m., Oct. 15, at the Acme, 3590 West Chester Pike.

According to the affidavit, Newtown Detective John Newell said Arroyo was the driver of a white Lincoln used as the get-away car in numerous thefts from the Acme’s in the tri-county area. On Oct. 15, Acme employees called police when Arroyo’s two co-defendants fled the store and one of the suspects jumped into the Lincoln.

Arroyo was stopped on West Chester Pike at Barren Road by Sgt. Steve Sangiorgio and Officer Joe Alonso. He told police he is a “hack” taxi cab driver and was hired by the co-defendants to drive them to numerous stores in Pennsylvania.

Seized from the trunk of the vehicle were numerous over the counter medications and razors.

Arroyo is scheduled for a Feb. 13 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.

* * *

David Kelly, 48, of Marcus Hook, waived a hearing on the charges of defiant trespass for an incident 8:40 a.m., Jan. 4, at Saint Anastasia School.

According to the affidavit, Newtown Officer Todd Welch was monitoring school traffic when he saw Kelly walking towards the church and rectory.

Kelly had been previously arrested by Newtown Police for a burglary at another church in the township to which he plead guilty. Kelly was told on Dec. 15, 26, and Feb. 9 that he would be arrested if he returned to the property.

Kelly was remanded to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility when he was unable to post 10 percent of $5,000 bail. He is scheduled for a Feb. 13 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.

* * *

Carl Kasarsky, 20, of Marple, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for an incident 11:35 p.m., Dec. 23, at a home in the unit block of Ashley Road. In exchange for the guilty plea the charges of aggravated harassment by a prisoner, underage drinking, and public drunkenness were withdrawn.

* * *

Charges of DUI and recklessly endangering his two children were dismissed against Charles Cantlin, 45, of Newtown  from an incident 2:30p.m., Oct. 25, at his Echo Valley residence.
 

Right To Work Program Unveiled In Pa.

A contingent led by State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12) introduced, this morning, Jan. 22, a series of bills that would boost the economy of Pennsylvania and returned needed money to the wallets of the rank and file worker.

One would think it would be a no-brainer for such legislation to pass but that is far from the case as the money to do this good thing would come from the wallets of the state’s union bosses and the campaign funds of the Democratic Party.

Metcalfe was joined on stage in the Capitol media center by at least 37 others including a nurse, a public school teacher and Majority House Whip Stan Saylor (R-94).

The six bills were introduced by their sponsors starting with Metcalfe and HB 50, the Freedom of Employment Act that would make employment no longer conditional upon union membership or paying dues to a union.

Following him was a representative of the Pennsylvania Right To Work who noted that 70 percent of the general public — and 40 percent of union households — supported a prohibition of automatically deducting union dues from workers paychecks which is what now occurs in the state.

State Rep. Fred Keller (R-85) was next with the introduction of his bill, HB 52, that would prohibit labor organizations from collecting compulsory union dues from non-union state workers.  He said the loss to these workers is $600 a year, which over 10 years would cover  a semester of tuition at a state university.

Kevin Shrivers of the National Federation of Independent Businesses -Pa. said with the recent passage of free employment laws in Michigan and Indiana, Pennsylvania must act quickly to avoid losing manufacturers to those states.

Kathy Rapp (R-65) introduced HB 51 that would prohibit labor unions from collecting compulsory union dues from non-union public school employees hence overturning Act 88 of 1988.

“Pennsylvania teachers deserve a better deal,” she said.

While she supports the bans on compulsory union dues, she noted she is not against collective bargaining.

She criticized, as many others later did, Gov. Tom Corbett for his coolness to the issue, and gave a dig to the Republican legislative leaders noting that they have yet to allow an up or down vote on the matter.

Neil Weidman, an English teacher at Garden Spot High School in Lancaster County, was next. He said his conscience prohibits him from joining the teachers union due to the political causes they support, and asked that it be stopped from taking money from his paycheck without his consent.

Gene Barr, who is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber, addressed the “free rider” claim union leaders use to compel dues from non-members. He pointed out that his organization can’t and shouldn’t be allowed to compel dues from all businesses in the state but that all businesses benefit from the research and legal tasks his group performs.

Barr also described his own union background along with his family’s.

“It’s my view (that) it’s a pro worker (series of bills),” he said.

Justin Davis of the National Right to Work Committee spoke of the morality of changing the law.

“In a free society there is no natural right to compel membership in an organization,” he said.

He noted the bills are not anti-union.

“Good unions don’t need compulsive unionism and bad unions don’t deserve it.”

Simon Campbell, a director on the Pennsbury School Board in Bucks County and president of STOP Teacher Strikes, noted that there are 3,000 public school employees in Philadelphia who are not union members but still must pay union dues. He noted that  the state government has 20,000 non-union employees who have to pay union dues.

He joined in the criticism of Gov. Corbett by pointing out that he kept the compulsory collection of union dues when the approved the contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees although he did not need to.

Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) described his bill, HB 53, that would prohibit labor organizations from collecting compulsory union dues from non-union local government employees.

David Taylor, executive director of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association pointed out that $1.6 billion in new investment flowed into Indiana in just six months after it passed right to work legislation. He said it would be greatly disadvantageous to Pennsylvania if it let Ohio beat it in becoming right to work.

Barry Miller, president and CEO, of Associated Builders & Contractors, Keystone Chapter, also described the special advantages Pennsylvania would get if it became right to work.

“Over a third of the U.S. is within a days drive and there is not a right-to-work state connected to us,” he said.

He reiterated the point that compulsory dues don’t benefit workers.

“The only group that benefits from forced union dues is your bosses,” he said.

Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-124) introduced HB 54 which would prohibit private-sector employment from being conditional upon membership or non-union membership in a labor organization and prohibit compulsory dues for non-union members.

He said that 700,000 non-union manufacturing jobs were added to the U.S. economy between 2010 and 2012 while there was a loss of 60,000 union manufacturing jobs.

“I want to issue this challenge to the union bosses: prove your worth,” he said.

Dr. Catherine Fike, a director on the Southmoreland School Board, described the corruption caused by compulsory dues.

“Many of our elected leaders are afraid of angering (unions) because of the amount of money (the can funnel into elections). . . We the taxpayer directly subsidize (this corruption).

She offered a solution.

“To kill the monster cut off the head,” she said.

She said she came from a union background and that once unions were noble organizations.

Steve Bloom (R-199) introduced HB 250 that would give public employees the freedom to quit the union at anytime during the contract. Current law only allows employees to quit their union membership 15 days prior to the end of the contract.

David Nace, vice president of Wickersham Construction & Engineering Co., described first hand the adverse affect forced unionism had on people and how he had to leave western Pennsylvania for Lancaster County to find an entry level job as a young man.

Jennifer Stefano, state director of Americans for Prosperity, joined the criticism of Corbett for his lack of political will.

“You don’t build monuments to committees,” she said.

She explained how political will caused public sentiment to change in Michigan for a right to work law, and itemized examples of violence by local unions.

 

Right To Work Program Unveiled In Pa.

 

House Committee To Examine Corbett Lottery Plan

The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee will hold  informational meetings about the Corbett administration’s plan to privatize management of the Pennsylvania Lottery, today, Jan. 22, and tomorrow at the state Capitol, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

The Corbett administration recently took steps to execute a management agreement with Camelot Global Services PA, which would act as a private manager of the lottery for 20 years. Camelot guaranteed the state $34.6 billion in profit over the two decades of the contract. The contract is subject to review and approval of the Office of Attorney General.

Lawmakers intend to examine how Camelot will generate the additional revenue and what protections will be in place if it should fail to do so.

Pennsylvania’s lottery, established in 1971, is the only one in the nation whose proceeds exclusively benefit senior programs, including low-cost prescription drugs, property tax/rent rebates and long-term living services.

To view a live web stream of the meetings, visit www.pahousegop.com.

Cryptowit

By William W. Lawrence Sr

Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.
Sam Adams