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Opinion

Raystown facility merits full staffing

Letters to the Editor

Lake Raystown is the crown jewel of tourism. Its flood control achievements, coupled with other projects there, are well-documented successes. But shocking to many, including myself, happened this year with the closing of different locations within the federal facility, possibly because of a staffing shortage. As a result of these unexpected closings, is it likely a ripple effect has caused many area businesses and vacation planners to be negatively impacted? It is worth mentioning what occurred in Georgia, where we reside. Near us is Lake Lanier, built and operated by ...

Rise in alcohol use by women concerning

Editorials

There is a new “chapter” in the saga of alcohol-consumption health consequences. Actually, the chapter itself is not new, but there’s a new recognition that hasn’t been front-and-center in a widespread way up to now. Now that recognition is becoming more visible and, with that, more troubling. Women and their spouses — or significant others — need to pay attention and, perhaps, have some heart-to-heart discussions about what’s at stake and what needs to be done to avert a tragic outcome. No right-thinking person should consider the issue one to be pooh-poohed. Those who ...

Public media, communities, under attack

Opinion

Imagine turning on your TV or radio and finding silence where “Sesame Street,” local news, and emergency alerts used to be. No more “Our Town” stories celebrating your neighbors in Blair County. No more trusted voices guiding your children through their earliest years. No more WPSU. That’s the future we could face if Congress approves the rescission package recently submitted by the White House. Among its sweeping cuts is the elimination of critical funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — the lifeblood of local stations like WPSU. This funding represents ...

Firearm suppressors don’t silence gunshots

Letters to the Editor

The provision in the budget bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives allowing firearm suppressors, often mistakenly called silencers, does not mean school shooters would go undetected. Contrary to the nonsense we see in spy movies where suppressed firearms make a “pfft” sounds, a rifle chambered in .223 / 5.56, the cartridge most common in AR-15 platforms, the unsuppressed sound reaches about 165 db, while a suppressed shot might register around 135-145 db. Meanwhile, a jackhammer registers at 120-130 db. The suppressor merely helps firearm users minimize hearing ...

Suppressors help reduce hearing loss

Letters to the Editor

The U.S. House passed a bill in late May that removes firearm suppressors from the National Firearms Act. It would also eliminate the $200 tax to own one. This is good news for the millions of gun owners across America because it can help reduce hearing loss for those who hunt and shoot. Firearms typically produce noises of 140-170 decibels for more powerful rounds. A 22 LR produces approximately 145 decibels unsuppressed; suppressed it is reduced to 115 decibels which is still louder than a rock concert. The average suppressed firearm still produces noise levels in the 130-140 decibel ...

Funding cuts hit on freedom of speech

Letters to the Editor

It felt like a punch in the gut when President Donald Trump cut all funding from the VOA (Voice of America). The VOA has been sending our news all around the world for over 80 years and they didn’t dress us up in our Sunday best when we erred. It didn’t matter if a Democrat or Republican was in the White House. VOA kept broadcasting the truth. It’s the only news many countries were able to get that wasn’t their countries’ propaganda. They heard the truth about their own countries, too. Now all funding has been cut from NPR (National Public Radio) and PBS (Public ...