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Job reductions at ANF will take toll on county

The headline in the Feb. 22 edition of the Warren Times Observer reads “Forest Service layoffs may affect ANF.” How devastating would cuts to the ANF be to the Warren community? Let me give you the facts. As of January, the Allegheny National Forest employed 151 full-time people spread between three offices in Warren, Bradford, and Marienville. These 151 foresters, engineers, hydrologists, wildlife biologists, archeologists, recreation specialists, and more, not only work on the ANF but they represent 151 families that own homes, shop for groceries in our markets, send their kids ...

Lessons for the U.S. can be found in Sweden

About six years ago, Economist Johan Norberg produced a documentary about Sweden’s recent economic transformations entitled “Sweden: Lessons for America.” The program is very informative as well as entertaining, and will challenge what you thought you knew. You can still catch it on YouTube (highly recommended). Sweden was one of the poorest countries in the world prior to 1850 when many fled to avoid the grinding poverty. (The first Swedes came to Jamestown in 1849; immigration locally continued through the World War I era.) Later, Sweden adopted free markets to become one of ...

Rounding Third: You have arrived at your destination

I hate seeing a new doctor. The obvious reason is that one of my physical systems is experiencing a kerfuffle that requires yet another brilliant medical specialist. And another trip to Doctor City (Erie). “Please arrive at the doctor’s office 15 minutes prior to your appointment and make sure to bring your insurance cards.” This is a recording. Frankly, I don’t leave the house without my insurance cards. They have a permanent slot in my wallet. At my age, I could need them on the way to the hairdresser. I never risk the 70-mile drive to Doctor City without all insurances ...

Time is right to rebrand Warren Area High School

By ROBERT JEPSON I wrote this letter to every school board member and superintendent. I received a generic kick rocks letter back from Mr. Paul Mangione. It’s a “we don’t honestly care about the public opinion” letter. Voices deserve to be heard. I am inquiring about when the school district plans to start its rebranding process and what that will look like. This is obviously the only fair route that needs to be taken after tearing apart two communities. During the school consolidation and closing process, one of the board members frequented the sentiment that some are ...

Many still wonder why Youngsville, not Eisenhower

One has to wonder what is the driving force behind the Warren County School District wanting to close a school and shift other students. Well, like many things in life, the answer to this is money. The district has made the claim that it is in a bad financial situation. How did the district get here? When looking at this, it is hard to believe that an entity with a $91 million budget would have this issue, but when looking deeper, it is easy to see how this happened. How bad is this situation? Why Youngsville and not Eisenhower? The district at one point stated it will go broke ...

View from Hickory Heights: Buyer beware!

Today I share a personal experience with you. We were trying to refinish my kitchen floor. It was done about ten years ago, but needed a new coat of finish. My son came up one Wednesday and gave it a light sanding. He planned to apply a coat of finish on Saturday. We knew what we were doing so we had an expected outcome in mind. It looked beautiful when it was done. My son left for home, but left his equipment since he planned a second coat. A couple hours into the drying process I looked at my floor. It said it needed four hours of drying time. What I saw was not what I expected. ...