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Our opinion: Time to pay the EMS piper is coming

Local taxpayers probably don’t want to hear this - but the time to pay the EMS piper may be coming. Council of Governments members recently continued their discussions of the county EMS crisis with the creation of a local EMS authority, a possible solution being tried in neighboring Forest County, falling out of favor with taxpayers there as well as facing an uphill battle in the state Legislature. “When (Forest County) went to do assessments of property owners, the wheels kind of fell off,” said Troy Clawson, Youngsville councilman and COG member. “They were not prepared for ...

Our Opinions: FBI failures need examination

\People should be gravely concerned about reports that the FBI is falling short in referring allegations of child sexual abuse to local and state law enforcement. More than concerned — people should be furious. In a review prompted by the FBI’s mishandling of allegations against former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nasser, the bureau’s inspector general found that there is no evidence that the FBI followed mandatory reporting requirements in about 50% of cases. According to an Associated Press report, the FBI appears to have referred allegations within the 24-hour timeframe its : ...

Our opinion: Wrong time to punt on merger

Listen carefully, Warren County residents, to the arguments made during discussions over the possible closure of high schools in Youngsville and Sheffield. What arguments are based on logic and statistics and which are ad hominem arguments that seek to distract from the real issues at hand? Which arguments get around immovable objects and which arguments create speed bumps that can be navigated around with cool heads and a little logic? We say this because we’re already seeing ad hominem arguments crop up, and the school board has only just begun the process to possibly move ...

Our opinion: A day to reflect for Americans

On this day 23 years ago, many Americans had hardly gotten settled into their workday when the day was shattered by the news that jetliners had struck both towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, another jetliner had crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth plane still was in the air over Pennsylvania and was headed in the direction of Washington, D.C. Of course, that last plane ended up crashing in a field alongside a wooded area just outside of Shanksville, Somerset County, miraculously sparing that community and neighboring Indian Lake Borough of what could have been a ...

Our opinion: Plan for more Jakes Rocks success

Designation of the Trails at Jakes Rocks as the state’s Trail of the Year shows people are taking notice of what we’ve known for quite some time - we have some outstanding offerings for those serious about outdoor recreation. It’s easy for us to forget, however, that the work isn’t done. At Jakes Rocks there are still another 12 miles of trail to be built, according to the master plan for the trail system, at a cost of around $2 million. Last week’s Trail of the Year celebration was a golden opportunity for federal and state officials not only to celebrate what has been ...

Our opinion: Remain proactive on medication

State Rep. Kathy Rapp wants the commonwealth to be proactive rather than reactive in its approval of opioid overdose reversal drugs. We agree. In 2014, the state Legislature enacted Act 139 which allowed law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and fire companies to give naloxone when someone is having an opioid-related drug overdose. That access was expanded to other overdose reversal drugs in 2022. Rapp said she was moved to begin drafting her legislation after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zurnai, the first nalmefene hydrochloride auto-injector for the ...