The Publisher's Page BY HAROLD T. BECK

FEBRUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 26, 1999

FEBRUARY 26, 1999

Another weekend

........is about to begin. First we have to get through the day. It is 27.8 degrees at 6 A.M.

It's supposed to be sunny today. A year ago at exactly this time on this date I started south for a week in Florida.

I was driving a new car. I had just taken it off the lot the day before and I remember how I was looking forward to being alone in the car just driving. I have always enjoyed car travel. No, I have no fear of flying. I just enjoy the open roads and the sights. To me, it is relaxing. It was nice because I had everyone's luggage so they could fly with relative ease, and I was alone with my thoughts in the car.

There is no trip to Florida this year. We are getting new carpet instead. Somehow, it just isn't the same. Last year's trip was one of  the nicer ones I have taken. I guess I am smart not to try to top last year. Still, I will miss the time of relaxation. Here it is work work work.

When you think about it, we take an awful lot for granted. We make assumptions that we really have not right to make. We think things will always be the same.

Our lives change ever so little each and every day.  The change in most cases is so slight that we barely notice it. Then all of a sudden something happens and things will be forever changed and we will never be able to go back.

What was in the mind of  Police Officer Steve Jerman one week ago? What was in the mind of Timothy Williams as he began his day one week ago? Did the police officer realize that he was about to begin his last day alive? Did Williams think about going out and killing someone? How was it that fate - or destiny - brought them together?

For Steve Jerman it began the day he first put on a police uniform. I was old enough to remember my father taking a job as a part time police officer in Baldwin Township. I remember how proud of him I was - we all were. I remember him accepting a full time position and becoming a Lieutenant and then the Chief. I remember the times, two of them, when his life was placed in imminent danger. One involved an automobile accident.

Once he went into an electrical sub-station to pull a motorist out of a vehicle. The transformers were arcing and throwing sparks out all over the place and several live wires were laying over the automobile. Carefully, ever so carefully, he made his way to the unconscious man and began to take him out of the car. My father was a strong man. His arms were as big as most men's legs. He carried the man, over his shoulder, to safety.

Then there was the time that he was called on a Saturday afternoon. A man had a gun and was in the home of  his ex-wife and her mother. By the time he arrived, the mother was dead and the pregnant ex-wife shot and bleeding on the floor. As my father entered the house, the man went out the back and up a hill into a wooded and brushy area. As others arrived, he went after the man. He was carrying his .38 service revolver and a pocket full of extra cartridges. He had no way of knowing, yet he may have suspected it from the wounds to the two women, he was out gunned. The assailant had a .45 automatic.

Years later, my father in one of those very private father and son times, talked about those next moments.

"Buddy," he said to me. "I was really scared. I had a lump in my throat that I thought I was going to choke on. My legs were wobbly and don't know how they took me up that hill. It had rained earlier and I could see where he walked through the wet brush. Then I came up to a little clump of trees and somehow I knew he was there. I was going to tell him to come out when shots went off. I just remember the sounds. Wham! Wham! Wham! I don't even remember raising my pistol to fire back. I shot three times and there weren't any other shots.

"I stayed put. I could hear other people coming up the hill. There wasn't any movement and I had no way of knowing if he was hit or just waiting for me to come in so he could get a better shot at me. I thought about your mother and you kids and knew I had to get to him before he could shoot at anyone else. I reloaded and got ready to go in. I fired one shot at the place from where he had fired at me and I rushed in. There he was on the ground shot through the head. The newspaper incorrectly said he shot himself. It didn't matter to me. I didn't feel all that good about killing him even though he had killed his wife and mother-in-law."

My father passed away in 1992 and I don't think he would mind me sharing our conversation with you. We were very proud of him. Sometimes, to a teenage son, it seemed that he cared more for the people out there than his own family. I had no idea the burden of the responsibility of his job. You don't think of the danger that your father is in every time he walks up to a car. He, like all the other police officers who walk up to cars every day - just as Steve Jeman did, are all heroes. They are because they unselfishly work to protect us all - sometimes even from ourselves.

Comment on this article at rdhedbud@penn.com.

FEBRUARY 25, 1999

Capital vs Capitol

Good morning. It is 23 degrees right on the nose at 5:41 A.M.  here at the home of M.I.T. ( The Marshburg Institute of Technology). The snow is just beginning to fall and the national weather has "impassable" over this part of the nation on the weather map. Are we supposed to get a snow storm today?

Fortunately, if we are, the snow held off until the services for Officer Jerman were completed.

My fellow journalist and good buddy Jim Buck and I got together last night. You got it. We were at our favorite place - The Bradford Hotel. Yes. We even had a few brews, too. Jim was concerned about me.

"You have to be careful," he said. "With all this publicity about you calling for the death penalty and being critical of Michele Alfieri as District Attorney, she will have the police laying for you."

"Don't worry, Jim," I told him. "My limit is two and I have my niece as my designated driver. I am not driving after I have had anything to drink. Don't you think I don't realize that she has people laying for me. She would do anything she could to embarrass me."

Jim agreed. "You have been hard on her."

"Bull feathers!" I said. "Look at the scrutiny I am under. She is the highest ranking law enforcement officer in this county and personally and professionally, she is a joke."

"Now wait a minute," Jim said. "What is this personal thing?"

"Two things, Jim," I said. "There is that mileage thing she pulled. You can't tell me for a minute that the secretary made a mistake. She jacked up the mileage to pay for the expensive dinner she bought that night. She was trying to pay for her alcohol that way. And beyond that, she lied under oath on the witness stand in my case. I sat there and watched Jeff Duke shake his head to indicate how she should answer. She went along with it and gave the court the Charlie the Tuna story which was a lie and perjury. Heck, Jim. We called Judy Ordiway  as a rebuttal witness and she gave a totally different account and backed it up with documents. Alfieri and Duke lied."

Jim reminded me on one thing. "As you always say - lawyers are liars, what did you expect."

"I expected an oath to be sacred."

"Now who's living under a mushroom?"

"I know," I admitted.

"So, tell me about the funeral. Were there many people there?"

"My God, Jim. What a turnout. Jim Weaver and I got there at 5:30 and stood in line until almost seven when Barry Morgan came along and rescued us. He told us we were dignitaries and we didn't have to stand in line. I saw Michele and her husband come in, but never saw them get in line with us. I told Jim that it seems in this case "Rank has it privileges." Even Judge Cleland got in line and waited like the rest of us. He didn't throw his weight around and he could have."

"How many people were there?"

"There had to be thousands. I couldn't estimate the number. The service is still going on," I told him. (It was just after eleven.)

"So. What's your feedback on this call you made for Capital Punishment?" he asked.

"People agree with me. No one can understand why she didn't stand up and say she was going to go for the death penalty. One lawyer told me that she wasn't man enough for the job. I am beginning to wonder."

"What do you mean?" Jim asked.

"What if our District Attorney has a problem with asking for the death penalty? What if she is against Capital Punishment? Will she cite another conflict and ask the Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor? Will she do that, or come up with some lame excuse to justify why she can't ask a jury to execute that kid?"

"I don't know," he said. "That is an interesting thought. I hadn't looked at it like that."

"Heck," Jim I said. "Read your own paper. Look at all those charges they filed against him. What are they doing? He killed a police officer! A lot of people are asking why those other two kids are still free? They should be accessories. They took part in that business that started in Hazelhurst. It had to have gone on for at least twenty minutes. Kane isn't just down the road. That 9MM didn't just appear when Steve stopped them. They had to have known he had a gun."

"You would think so," he said.

"My son, Geoff, said it very well the other night. He shocked my wife and I with the way he put it.

"The police, he said, are entrusted by us to protect our laws and see they are enforced. It is our duty to protect our police. When someone kills a policeman, it is a crime against not only all of us, but against our laws and our way of life. If you kill a policeman, there should be no question. You should lose your life."

Jim didn't comment. He didn't say whether he agreed with Capital Punishment or not. I didn't ask.

"I said it before and I'll say it again - Alfieri is sending the wrong signals. I can appreciate her wanting to consult with the family, but killing Steve Jerman was a crime against all of us. It was a crime against the state and against society. Even after you ran my statements she was still ducking the issue. She accused me of being premature. That's crap! She should have been out there leading the way saying that she was going to demand the death penalty."

"What if you are right? What if she does not believe in the death penalty? What then?"

"She should resign because she has no business being District Attorney."

"You're tough."

"No I'm not," I said. "I am saying what everyone else is thinking. They all agree with me. What she is doing is inexcusable. These kids see cops being killed on television every night and they think it is okay. Her actions, or in-actions, are only reinforcing that same message. It should be cut and dry. You kill a cop, you get killed. Period. End of sentence. Done deal!"

Just the Tanya came in. "It's time for me to take you home, Uncle Bud," she said.

I agreed and said my farewells to Jim and the rest of the local writers who were in residence at that time.

"By the way, Uncle Bud," Tanya asked. "Is it c-a-p-i-t-o-l; or, c-a-p-i-t-a-l?"

"It is a-l, honey," I said. Only the building is o-l."

Comment on this article at rdhedbud@penn.com.

FEBRUARY 24, 1999

With eight, you get eggroll; and.....who was the jerk in the Bradford   Journal?

Good morning. It is 17.2 degrees at 6:15 A.M. on this Wednesday morning.

The county commissioners election race now has eight candidates. There are seven Republicans and one Democrat. Remember the movie: With eight, you get eggroll?

I am going to pat myself on the back. You should too. Think about it. Return with me now to those not so thrilling days of yester year when Bevis, Butthead, and Olive Oil were the County Commissioners.

- County taxes increased each and every year in successive years by 2 to 5 mills. It was a gradual increase, but in no time at all we were at 25 mills - the legal limit for Counties of our size.

- You seldom heard any news from the Commissioner's meetings. They lasted only five minutes or less.

- When you did hear news from the County Commissioners, there was some crisis and no money for the fix.

- Employees were forming unions because those who worked for Judge Cleland got all the raises. The rest of the employees took what was left over with many getting nothing year after year.

- County spending was out of control but without a Controller, who knew?

Along came THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL REVIEW.

It was humor packed in the first issue and was intended to be a magazine that would showcase the good things about Warren and McKean Counties. However, we were soon drawn into the secret slimy world of local government - the way it was being run back then.

We had a U.S. Congressman who lived  at Chautauqua in New York. He voted for NAFTA and put 500 people in Warren out of work. There was a District Attorney down there who tried to have an innocent man sent to the electric chair and we had a District Attorney who thought he was God. To make matters worse, our Judge - King John - was sure he was descended from deity. Then there were the three monkeys who met every Monday - Hear no evil, See no evil, and Speak no evil.

We wrote about it all and in writing about it put it out in plain view for all to see. To some that was bad - real bad. To others, people who had never imagined they had a voice, it was wonderful. They could see what was happening for the very first time. They had an opposing view - one that did not defend the way things always had been done. They liked it and finally took an interest in local government. And I started that.

In the process I stepped on many toes. Big deal! You have to break a few eggs if you want eggroll. However, many amateur political pundits emerged and many of them with opinions. One, a Bernie Moore of 75 Belleview Ave., Bradford, PA, e-mail: cnac@penn.com  emerged.

Writing to The Bradford Journal on Thursday, February 18, 1999, he attacked my "good friend and fellow journalist" Jim Buck.

Just the other day Jim and I were sitting down over a few cold brews at The Bradford Hotel (the new writer's hangout here in the McKean County Writers' Colony) and discussing the letter. I looked into Jim's sparkling eyes. They weren't darting, and they certainly were not "Manson-like."

"Why would he write such a thing about me?" Jim asked.

"It has to be the coffee," I said. "He says he "....grabbed a cup of coffee" before leaning back. He was probably on a caffeine high - or maybe he hit his head when he leaned back. Head trauma can cause a change in personality. I read about it," I told Jim, trying to console him.

"Do I have an ominously impish smile?" Jim asked.

"No," I said. "Nothing like that."

"You said I looked like a ferret," he reminded me.

"Jim. Buddy. You don't look like a ferret. The picture makes you look like a ferret. I offered  to take you over to Cin Dee's House of Fine Photography on Congress Ave. and personally pay for new pictures for you. Heck, Jim. Even Marty maintains a portfolio. She told me she has thirty of them for all occasions I was just trying to help. No major publication can take you seriously with a picture like that."

"I guess you're right about the picture. But what about him accusing me of writing something tantamount to a "paid political advertisement" he asked.

"Sour grapes," I said. "It was nothing like that. It was a well thought out and perfectly presented editorial. It asked the pertinent question and then went on to answer it. You highlighted all of my fine accomplishments. I thought it was a great article."

"Of course you would," Jim said. "He didn't compare you to Charlie Manson."

"No," I said. "Instead, he compared me to Bill Clinton - and brought up that military thing again. No one ever told him about the deal and the phony award for that little expose. Heck, the whole thing was over me trying to conceal the fact I was in a mental hospital and then in a military jail. You knew that! He doesn't realize that the people all know I am nuts and the Attorney General wants to put me back in jail so the whole thing is moot now."

Jim finally laughed. "Give us two more brews over here!" he hollered at the barmaid. "I'm glad we are buddies," he said. "You really brighten up my days when I am down like this."

I stopped him. "Don't go getting all mushy on me Jimmy boy. I still think you lead a bit more toward Jimmy Olsen than Woodward and Bernstein."

"Thanks," he said.

"Think nothing of it," I said. With that we finished our brews.

All in all, the political fever will increase to a high pitch. There is no telling what will happen. I suspect The Bradford Hotel will become a hotbed of political talk and many deals and alliances will be made. That is politics in McKean County. Still, I would like to know who that jerk really was and the eggroll will be on me. Comment on this article at rdhedbud@penn.com.

FEBRUARY 23, 1999

Replacement Parts

Good morning. It is 3.4 degrees at 4:57 A.M.

Yesterday, I went shopping. I went shopping for a new Certificate of Deposit rate and for sub-woofers for one of my twenty year old speakers. With the CD I ended a long term and favorable relationship over 1/2 of a percent. That was business - at least on my part.

The sub-woofers were much easier. I went to the local Radio Shack at the Bradford Mall where Ruth, once more, came to my assistance. I enjoy shopping locally.

I find the people in Bradford just a bit more helpful and a tad more honest. If they don't know, they say it and don't allow you to draw any false conclusions. I hate getting home and finding out the item I bought was not the one I needed. I have found that to be true throughout our county, whether I am in Smethport, Port Allegany, or Kane. There are a lot of Ruths out there and they are our own best ambassadors and salesmen for this place where we live. It is the personal touch that counts and when we turn our backs on it for the glitz and plastic surroundings  in Olean or Erie, we are the losers.

Man's World on Main Street is another one of those places and Joe Butler is one of those people. I saw Joe after Ruth sold me two new sub-woofers for my twenty year old Optimus T-100 tower speakers. I wasn't picking out shirts or buying a suit. I was speaking to the Bradford Stroke Group and Joe made the arrangements.

We talked about the Homestead Sham. I detailed for them how it will, in all probability be 2005 before anything could be filtered down to the people. We talked about how it should have been and why it wasn't.

Another subject we discussed was the service provided by the Area Transit Association and how it was lacking. Joe used to be involved in Silver Wheels and he properly points out that when they retired their service in lieu of ATA, they were told the people would receive better service with newer equipment. That, they claim, is not the case.

"They let handicapped people out on the curb and drive away. People with wheelchairs need at least minimal help getting on and off of the buses."

Another complaint was the buses stopped running at 6 P.M. and there was no service on Sundays and people had trouble getting to church from some of the homes and assisted care facilities. Ironically, it was yesterday that Jim, Larry, and I passed a resolution giving ATA $37,500 for fiscal year 99/00. I promised to look into the situation and get back to them.

While my new sub-woofers were exactly what I needed, evidently ATA is not what they told Silver Wheels they would be. Replacement parts are not always what we believe them to be.

Once more, thank you for all the e-mail you send. It is gratifying to know that so many of you read this column every day. It is also gratifying to know that so many of you share my opinions. One man from Warren County wrote to us about their Tourist Promotion Agency.

"Mr. Beck. Someone has a misconception about the abilities of these people over here who are in charge of promoting tourism in Warren County. It is nothing more than a social club the gets together and hashes and rehashes the same thing meeting after meeting. They accomplish nothing except to pat themselves on the back for non-existent accomplishments. We should be looking to secretly merge with you, not you with us. Or, maybe we should turn our tourism efforts over to the Poconos and get their overflow on weekends when they have more than they can handle."

Evidently someone out there thinks they know Richard Esch. They said:

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for calling Richard Esch exactly what he is - a liar, a liar, a liar. You captured him to the point when you mimicked him saying 'You are not listening correctly. I did not say that.' It is his trick to confuse whoever he is speaking to. He is deceitful and if the President of Pitt thinks that he is an appropriate representative then he should re-think a few things himself. Thank you for exposing a truly dishonest person - Richard Esch - that is him."

There were others and they went beyond Esch.

"Where does Dick McDowell get off sending his employees out to try and take over tourism in the County? Charlie Dach may not have run in the fancy crowds the eminent Doctor who has been given everything he has from other people, but Charlie cares about one single job and not the entire world. That is what we need more of - people keying in and doing one thing good. Dictators, benevolent or otherwise went out after World War II. Get Pitt's finances straightened out first before you try taking over City and County governments, Dickie boy."

"Pitt needs to teach and stay out of tourism. Dick McDowell had no right to take Charlie Dach's job away from him. Neither did Zippo."

"This is just another case of Zippo Manufacturing putting its interests ahead of the interests of the people. They kept Eastman Kodak out of here because they did not want to compete in the job markets. Now they are making a play to take over tourism. Tell they to stay out and that goes for Mr. McDowell and the UPB gang."

"Thank you for putting it out there. Why does Rick Esch get to take time off from work to participate in a takeover of Tourism in McKean County? You put it out there for us to see. He is able because it is Dick McDowell doing it, not Rick Esch."

And there were more that essentially said the same thing.

We should ask questions regarding this group known as Seneca Highlands Tourist Association. We should question why they, in their attempt to represent us, find a need to meet in secret and project a secret agenda? Why do they find a need to lie about the impending merger if it is, as Esch and Slocum has said many times, a done deal? Are we too stupid to grasp the concept. What stake does the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford have in tourism? Are we going to sell the students or their parents camps up here? Do we need Pitt to facilitate it?

Is it that, or is there a greater political agenda in the works?

As one reader put it, "Dictators, benevolent or otherwise went out with World War II." What is being planned for us? Are the old barons being replaced by the University and Zippo? I recall in the not too distant past when Mike Schuler, through then City Councilman Mark Austin, tried to take the City's paid fire department and make it a volunteer fire department. I also remember them wanting to close the fire station on East Main Street. In closing our local Tourist effort down in lieu of regionalism, we will suffer the same effects the residents of the city would have suffered . That is a drastic loss of service.

Comment on this article at rdhedbud@penn.com.  

FEBRUARY 22, 1999

PART TWO: The forest, the trees, the forgotten land...and now, the secret meeting

Good morning. It is 4.3 degrees at 5:57 A.M. It is cold outside, but that does not dissuade certain people from putting forth their secret agendas.

If you remember, I wrote about tourism - regional tourism - last month. It began with: "Tourism is the second largest industry in Pennsylvania. In McKean County it has become a battleground. Why? Is it so lucrative that it can become a King Maker for the right person? Is it a jumping off point for a bright political career? I don't know but it would seem that way."

In that article, I pointed out: "Everything converts to dollars and cents, but a strong case for convenience can easily be made. The main north-south route through the county and this part of Pennsylvania, U.S. Route 219, is a winding two lane trail that goes up and down mountains. The addition of passing lanes in recent times give some relief, but they are a far cry from the modern four lane limited access superhighway that this area dreadfully needs. That single addition, a modern U.S. Route 219, would mean more to tourism than the most qualified director in the entire world. With all other parts of the state readily accessible using interstate and superhighways, we remain an isolated and forgotten land." Well, we had no idea how inaccessible we really were. We had no idea of the opinion that Harrisburg had of us.

The Warren Times Observer, in its Opinion/Commentary column on Thursday February 11, 1999, ran a story Harrisburg ignores us. They point to the state's 1999 Visitors Guide and point out that ".....the state's conception of the Allegheny National Forest Region is so far removed from reality as to be laughable." They point to the description of "No traffic lights. No four-lane highways. No radio stations. And no daily newspapers." They ask: "Is this the same place where we live?"

The state visitor's guide goes on to describe the area as: "It's a place where you can row down Tionesta Creek and watch a 300 year old wilderness pass by." The WTO points out correctly when they ask the question, "Who rows down Tionesta Creek? As far as we know, most people paddle down the Tionesta." They call it laughable and place the blame squarely on the state; however, the unidentified author of the editorial fails to realize that the description did not originate in Harrisburg in the office of a career bureaucrat. They did not have to look any farther than down the street from their offices to their own tourism office. The same office that certain people would have McKean County become a subservient part.

The regional issue came to light when last October State Senator Bill Slocum described for me the plans that he had for McKean County and all the counties the comprise the "Allegheny National Forest Region." Since then Senator Slocum has conveniently first forgotten the conversation and lately denies that it ever took place. About that time another player entered the game, Richard Esch. While Mr. Esch is an employee of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, he seems to have unlimited time during the normal work day to pursue his activities that seem to be politically based and motivated. One might be forced to question the role of a state funded university being directly involved in local political issues. One might even be forced to ask the president of the university, that being President Richard McDowell, to clarify for us, his/their intentions.

We can understand the concern for the area. The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is a good citizen and is responsible for millions of dollars of revenues that pass into and through the area. However, a stake in tourism seems to be reaching just a bit beyond traditional areas in which you would imagine to be the realm of a university.

In the original article I wrote: "Why would someone travel here when the Poconos Resort Area can be reached by the Northwest extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Interstate 81, or Interstate 80? Why would they travel here when the Poconos offer ten to twenty times the modern hotel accommodations we have to offer as well as local skiing and other attractions. We do have the Kinzua Bridge, but after that where do you go? After the cigarette lighter museum, what do we have in Bradford? There is the oil museum, but what then? Do we send them over to the Bradford Hotel or the Riddel House to meet the local population? Maybe we could offer a Historic Tour and make beautiful Old City Hall a major attraction. Think about it! What do we have to offer?

"If you believe Rick Esch, we have a whole lot to offer; but beyond Zippo and the Allegheny National Forest, he is not very specific. Instead, he says things like: We want to expand our scope. Working more with surrounding counties, we can take advantage of regional marketing initiatives the state has in place. He denies that McKean County will merge with Warren County as State Senator William Slocum (R) has said is about to become a definite reality. Mr. Esch's regional marketing initiatives sound very much like Senator Slocum's grand scheme of merging all the counties in his voting district into one tourism bureau headquartered in Warren, PA. He is no more convincing when he denies the existence of the plan to merge than when he attempts to sell the wife of a Zippo executive to us as the most qualified candidate for director."

Since the first article, the commissioners, (me being one) have met with Mr. Esch on two more occasions. Mr. Esch in each of those meetings has vehemently denied that any plan exists to merge with Warren or anyone else. In the midst of those denials we hear conflicting reports also coming from the same Mr. Esch as he speaks to local groups. Beyond that, as recent as last Thursday, February 18, 1999 at 9:30 A.M., Esch and selected members secretly met in Mt. Jewett at the Skoog House and discussed the impending and planned merger.

As they entered, two notables who were in several meeting with the County Commissioners, were absent. No, they didn't have other engagements. Mr. Esch chose to leave them out of the loop. As they filed into the secret meeting, bringing with them their own folding chairs, Bob Lovell and Bob Foote were not with them. Why? It seems that Mr. Esch believes that Lovell is in league with me and is a leak. (That is laughable because neither Lovell nor I would throw a glass of water on the other if we were on fire!) As for Bob Foote, he has served his purpose, and now Esch is casting him aside as is his practice.

Along with Esch, Bruce Burdick, Jim Bryner, Margie Painter, Lynette Sluga, and two other unidentified people were in attendance. Mark Gobel of the Allegheny National Forest was not there, nor was he invited. It seems that Mark also is suspect of being a mole for the commissioners. (No Ricky boy, it isn't him - and you would be shocked if you knew how I know what you did last Thursday!)
When Esch laid out in very plain terms how and when McKean County tourism would be absorbed by Warren and the Regional Group, Margie Painter questioned him. "I thought you said we weren't going to do that," she inquired. "You don't listen correctly!" Esch said to her. "I did not say that." If Esch said that once in the meeting, he said it thirty times. "Yes," he admitted. "We are going to merge and it does not leave this room until we are ready." With the exception of Painter, the entire group was in agreement that the secret plan would be carried forward. Finally, Esch asked for another cup of coffee. "Make it black to go." he said. Then they took up their folding chairs and loaded them back into the vehicles.

Esch is a brilliant liar but he carries in him one fatal flaw. He believes himself to be smarter than everyone else. That is not true. He is just another con artist who seems to be carrying out the wishes of the administration of the University. In doing so, he and they, have failed to take into account a single fatal flaw that will prove to be their undoing and the ultimate end to all of their dreams of regionalization.

As I wrote before, I re-state again. "While I agree on the concept, I disagree on the procedure. With Seneca Highlands Tourism Association divided, I question their effectiveness. It no longer seems to be a genuine association of people who have come together for a common purpose. Instead, it appears that it is some pivot point for a power base. Mr. Esch, who has suddenly appeared on the scene, aside from his full time employment at the University of Pittsburgh Bradford, now is involved heavily in a number of committees and community endeavors. That is commendable, but what gives him the background and the knowledge to participate so heavily? I am leery of people so heavily involved. Many times they fizzle out and everyone suffers. Along the same line, what is the connection between him, his employer, and his involvement? Who is really calling the shots? What agenda are we missing? "

Now we know, and it is by Mr. Esch's own words: "I did not say that. You do not listen correctly." And it seems we indeed did not! But we stupidly believed that the representative of UPB and President McDowell was a man of integrity and honor. No, we did not listen correctly. Mr. Esch never said he was those things. He is a deceiver on a grand scale and just as he has turned on Lovell and Foote, he will in turn do the same to all who are around him when they no longer fit into his/UPB's agenda.

Ironically, today a new political ad of mine begins. In it I say: "This election is unique. It is so because we have a serious choice to make. That choice is between the past and the future. do we go back to government conducted in secret; or, do we go forward with government conducted in plain view with all the people, not just a select few, represented in this county. That choice, as easy as it sounds, is yours to make. If you share with me the idea that we need to go forward, then cast one of your two votes in the Republican Primary on May 18th for me, Harold T. Beck." How timely am I? It really is about just that and these dark, secret forces are real. They are out there telling us that they know what is best for us and never giving us a chance to make up our own minds. They would make all the decisions for us and let us find out in our own time - the way things used to be in this county.

In the end, when it is all said and done, nothing much will have changed. Route 219 will still be the same road it has been for the past thirty years. There still will be no easy way to get here. More of our campers will have died out, fewer hunters and fishermen will come with each new season, and the camps will be absorbed into the National Forest. The trees will grow and the forest will remain. Regardless of who the Director is or where the tourism headquarters is or what the bureau is called we will still be a forgotten land. So, what is this really all about? How much power is there in tourism? Please comment on this article at rdhedbud@penn.com.

FEBRUARY 21, 1999

Another funny tale

As an elderly lady sat on her front porch reflecting on her long
life, a Fairy Godmother suddenly appeared and offered to
fulfill three wishes for her.

"Well," said the woman, "I guess I'd like to be rich.

POOF: The Fairy Godmother turned her rocking chair into solid
gold.

"And I wouldn't mind being a young and beautiful
princess."

POOF: The Fairy Godmother turned the old woman into an
exquisite young princess, with a priceless crown of jewels.

"Your third wish?" asked the Fairy Godmother. The elderly woman's dog raised his head and uttered a single, weak, hoarse "woof." "Could you possibly turn my wonderful dog into a handsome prince?"

POOF: There, in front of the old woman, who has now turned into a
beautiful princess, stood the most handsome young man anyone had ever seen. More handsome than anyone could possibly imagine.
She stared at him in awe, completely smitten. As he came toward
her, her knees weakened. He bent down, brushing his lips across her ear as he whispered, "I'll bet you're sorry you had me neutered."

FEBRUARY 20, 1999

True story
Dear Sir:
Last year I upgraded Girlfriend 1.0 to Wife 1.0 and noticed that the new program began unexpected child processing that took up a lot of space and valuable resources. No mention of this phenomenon was included in the product brochure. In addition, Wife 1.0 installs itself into all other programs and launches during system initialization where it monitors all other system activity. Applications such as Pokernight 10.3 and Beerbash 2.5 no longer run, Wife 1.0 crashes the system whenever these applications are selected. I cannot seem to purge Wife 1.0 from my system. I am thinking about going back to Girlfriend 1.0 but uninstall does not work on this program. Can you
help me?

Jonathan Powell

Dear Jon:
This is a very common problem men complain about but is mostly due to a primary misconception. Many people upgrade from Girlfriend 1.0 to Wife 1.0 with the idea that Wife 1.0 is merely a "UTILITIES & ENTERTAINMENT" program. In fact, Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and designed by it's creator to run everything. It is impossible to uninstall, delete or purge the program
from the system once installed. You cannot go back to Girlfriend 1.0 because Wife 1.0 in not designed to do this. Some have tried to install Girlfriend 2.0 or Wife 2.0 but end up with more problems than original system. Look in your manual under WARNINGS: Alimony/Child Support. I recommend you keep Wife 1.0 and just deal with the situation. Having Wife 1.0 installed myself, I might also suggest you read the entire section regarding General Protection Faults (GPFs). You must assume all responsibility for faults and problems that might occur. The best course of action will be to push the apologize button then reset button as soon as lockup occurs. System will run smooth as long as you take blame for all GPFs.
Wife 1.0 is a great program but is very high maintenance.
Good Luck
The Answer Man.

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