PA ignoring state’s Supreme Court

August 4, 2020

By Ron Evans Reportedly, when Andrew Jackson disagreed with a decision of the Supreme Court’s chief justice, he said, “John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.” All three branches of commonwealth government are saying the equivalent regarding a ruling the Pennsylvania Supreme Court made in June 2017. Then the court ruled in favor of the Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundatio, which was suing the governor for not executing the environmental amendment to the PA Constitution. The amendment states, “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and ...

Skill games seek PA regulation

July 22, 2020

As Blair County navigates the pandemic, we are facing a time when many businesses and social clubs are determining if they can stay alive. I know this because I hear everyone from restaurants, bars, social clubs, convenience stores, tobacco shops and many other small business owners worry as they try to keep their doors open. My business distributes legal games of skill to these establishments. They like the games because their customers enjoy playing them and the machines can make a difference financially. Many tell me that these legal skill games are the financial lifeline helping ...

Pandemic made hospital better

July 10, 2020

In recent weeks, I have been reflecting on the unprecedented challenges that our community and our team at Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Roaring Spring have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, I’ve been intentionally looking for every possible silver lining in a time when — let’s face it — we all need some positive news. I believe that adversity is one of the greatest paths to improvement, and improving is what we have done despite the difficult circumstances. And the truth is: There are silver linings everywhere. First, I cannot say enough how ...

Improving election night process

July 9, 2020

Editor’s note: This commentary was written by Blair County commissioners Laura Burke, Bruce Erb and Amy Webster. As the Blair County Board of Elections, we always knew that the first election after the passage of Act 77, allowing no excuse mail-in voting, would be much different than the norm. However, we had no idea until March that COVID-19 would vastly impact not only the number of mail-in ballots cast, but also the number of polls that needed to be moved, the number of poll workers available and the need for sneeze guards and personal protective equipment at the polls. ...

Learn from the heroes in your life

June 20, 2020

My heroes have died. How fortunate am I. Though sad that I have had three life mentors die in the past two years, I feel fortunate to have had them bless my life in a time when many young men have none. What lessons have I learned from my heroes? My heroes were from the Greatest Generation. Like many of their peers, they were self-made men, willing to sacrifice their lives for their country and their personal ambitions for an unwavering commitment to family. They understood sacrifice for the greater good. My father, Dick Gildea, was born in 1924. The eldest child of a loving ...

PA holds troopers to high standards

June 17, 2020

Pennsylvania state troopers don’t enlist for medals or to win popularity contests. Many of us grew up wanting to be troopers, proud to serve our communities and willing to lay down our lives if necessary. Since the formation of our department in 1905, our ranks have suffered 98 line-of-duty deaths. Some date back so far we don’t even have pictures of those brave troopers. We believe our Call of Honor is nothing less than a sacred oath. Every trooper must memorize it. In particular, it includes this line: “It is my duty to obey the law and to enforce it without any ...