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Our Opinion

Our opinion: Ferry’s major impact on agency

It was certainly a surprise to see that Casey Ferry is leaving the Warren County Visitor’s Bureau. In roughly three years Ferry has made a mark on the county through her position as executive director of the WCVB whether it was creating new ways for area residents and visitors to appreciate the region’s artists, helping create a new disc golf attraction in the county, working to bring in Kinzua Rocks the Wake on the upcoming Labor Day Weekend or simply finding ways to quantify where tourists are coming from and how much they are spending. All of the things we’ve listed, by the ...

Our opinion: Discipline changes needed

There should be no debate about the fact that student discipline has been a growing issue in the Warren County School District in recent years. The real debate was what to do about it. And while school districts around the country, including here in Warren County, need to do their part when it comes to helping to change behavior, the best solution to student discipline issues is to bring consequences for disrespectful and disruptive behavior in classrooms. Too many teachers over the past few years have shared stories of classrooms where it’s hard to believe any student can learn. ...

Our opinion: Expanding Act 54 won’t save rural fire departments

For the uninitiated, rural Pennsylvania has a growing issue with fire protection and EMS services. As our rural population drops, there are fewer volunteer firefighters available for fires and, more pointedly, 24-hour EMS response. As those who have been following the issue over the years know quite well, there is no single solution - particularly cheap ones. A state lawmaker is proposing to make a potential solution available to second-class townships across the state if they and their residents are willing to pay. Rep. Chris Pielli, D-West Chester, sponsored House Bill 393, ...

Editor’s corner: Grousing Democrats fail to find direction at top

Warren County and Pennsylvania have always had a balance when it comes to elections. Current Gov. Josh Shapiro is from the left, but during the 2024 Election, the state went right in backing President Donald Trump. In the U.S. Senate, there’s representation from Dave McCormick, a Republican ...

Our opinion: Conewango email mess avoidable

Felony charges filed last week against the former Conewango Township clerk should provide a lesson for area governments as they work to join the 21st century. The clerk set up the township’s email address that was used for township purposes like logging into Quickbooks to handle the township’s financial records and for communication with constituents. When the clerk was fired, for undisclosed reasons, she asked for and was given access to read the emails in the town Google mail account because she was using the address for personal reasons, too. The first mistake Conewango ...

Our opinion: Quick sale best for district, area

Some members of the Warren County School District Board are pushing for a quick sale of the Youngsville Middle/High School building. In our opinion it’s the right move. Board member John Wortman’s suggestion to pursue a quick sale of the Youngsville building came after a school board committee approved the sale of the former Sugar Grove Elementary School for $75,252 to Jay Groves and Brian Horner. Gary Weber, district superintendent, said the bid is 30% more than the highest bid received the last time bids were solicited to sell the building. The last thing either the school ...