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Our opinion: Volunteer firefighter tweak not enough

Our Opinion

The state Senate has approved legislation (Senate Bill 90) that aims to boost the number of volunteer firefighters by changing the way volunteer firefighters are certified. Current firefighter applicants must complete four training modules totaling 188 hours. They then must pass a cumulative test covering all four modules. The legislation would reform the certification process by enabling applicants to be tested following each of the four modules. “If we want the same highly trained and qualified volunteer firefighters and we want more of them in our communities, our bill is a way ...

Our opinion: Bring transparency to Kibbey case

Our Opinion

People have questions about the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Thomas Kibbey, former county chief detective. They’re not the only ones. Unfortunately it’s going to be some time before anyone gets any real answers. And, while Kibbey has been highly decorated during his time in law enforcement, we hope the Attorney General’s office doesn’t simply play the long game and slow play the investigation into Kibbey’s alleged misconduct. Trust in police has been on a downward trend for years across the country. Cases like Kibbey’s, if allowed to fester, will only ...

Our opinion: Encouraging children’s museum

Our Opinion

The Kinzua Area Discovery Center has taken a major first step with the signing of papers to purchase land for the children’s museum at 4115 Market St., the site of the former Red Maple Inn. Eventually, the site will be transformed into an immersive indoor adventure where nature and imagination meet, with plans including an enchanted forest, winding river and animals. The center is being planned as an area to promote imagination, creativity, self-expression and family togetherness with playful learning, exploration, and engagement at every turn. It sounds great, and it’s ...

Editor's corner: Runaway spending keeps impacting education

Our Opinion

Education comes at a high cost to taxpayers. And some are starting to speak up about it. According to the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania school districts increased overall revenue collected in 2023–24 to $23,000 per student, while expanding general fund reserves to $7.4 billion, ...

Rights, privileges can lead to nonsense

Local Commentaries

Judging from recent commentary, it seems the definitions of rights and privileges have been conflated in our political discourse. To start: A legal right is an action that an individual can take that cannot be legally infringed by other people or by the government. Natural rights for American citizens are defined in the second sentence of the Declaration, and are constitutionally protected by the Bill of Rights. Logically, one person’s rights cannot contradict another person’s Rights; else they cannot be considered rights. A privilege always requires infringement of one ...

View from Hickory Heights: Little things make big differences

Local Commentaries

It is strange, but sometimes little things make a big difference. I recently found a recipe for Sourdough Bread that sounded interesting. I have a recipe but the starter needs to be fed regularly. To be honest that makes it too difficult to keep going. This new recipe makes two batches of starter. Then you are done. I read through the recipe and decided to try it. I knew quite a bit about sourdough bread but of course not everything there is to know. I knew that you used glass or ceramic bowls. I also did not chance using anything but my wooden spoon to mix with. That being said, I ...