The Publisher's Page BY HAROLD T. BECK

MARCH 6 - MARCH 12, 1999

MARCH 12, 1999

The returned phone call

Good morning. It is 17.6 degrees at exactly 6: A.M.

Yesterday was new carpet day in the Beck home. I attempted to take the day off - it never works that way - there is always some business to be conducted and yesterday was no exception.

While we were admiring the new carpet in the living room and dining room, and also facing how old and dingy looking our furniture was  with the carpet, and I was suggesting mirrors on the ceiling of our bedroom, the phone rang. It was Michelle Corignani returning a call I had made to her earlier in the day. Actually, I had made two calls. I had also phoned the Mayor, Connie Cavallero.

I phoned both women because my fellow authority member, Jack Sememko, reminded me the evening before that I had promised that I would get in touch with the city and extend an offer to join the Airport Authority as a voting member. It was true and his nudge jogged my memory.

However, as I remembered saying that I would make the contact, I also remembered the attempt. Referring to my pocket calendar that I use for appointments and the such I found the January 19, 1999 meeting of the Authority at 10 A.M. with a meeting of the Commissioners and Solicitors of the four counties at 1 P.M. and my doctor's appointment at 2:30. The next day I found "CC NI" and was at a loss for that. There was another similar entry on Friday the 22nd. On Wednesday, February 10, there was another authority meeting and another entry "CC NI" on Friday the 12th.

It was not until I phoned City Hall yesterday that I realized what the entry was. "CC NI" was Connie Cavallero Not In. It is my practice to identify myself when I call someone, but I cannot say with any certainty that I did on the occasions I noted. However, I did identify myself in my message to Michelle along with a return number and she in fact did return my call. I have no reason to believe that I did not do the same for the Mayor.

Michelle was unaware that The Era had mentioned the offer to the City of Bradford to join the Airport Authority as a member.

I explained that we would like an annual contribution of $20,000 and that they would become a voting member taking over one of Warren County's two seats on the Authority. I explained that the Board had already voted to approve such an overture and I was not acting on my own. I also gave her Mr. Stratton's number and encouraged her to call him and verify the offer.

Michelle was surprised that I had communicated with her and not the Mayor.

I explained that it appears that I had attempted to do that and had forgotten when my calls were not returned. I joked that I tried to call her that day and stated something to the effect that: "Peggy was off sick today. Connie wouldn't have been able to make a decision, anyway." Michelle, always the lady, did not laugh. Me and my sick sense of humor! (Even if it was more true than I would care to admit.)

What happens from here is anyone's guess. Michelle was very interested and saw very sound reasoning behind the City having its own representative on the Bradford Regional Airport Authority.

I properly pointed out to Michelle in our conversation that the Airport originally belonged to the City. It was when the FAA demanded large areas to be involved to receive Federal Funding that the facility became regionalized and the City withdrew. I also pointed out, that I  have correctly held for three years that was no longer the case and that representation on the Authority and funding were no longer hand in glove and dependent on one another.

The City of Bradford could, with its representation, look out for the manufacturing interests of the area. The Tax Free Trade Zone I proposed in 1996 would directly affect Zippo Manufacturing  who is involved in exporting its products throughout the world. The establishment of such a zone or port, would give Zippo a local tarriff free window from which they could ship out; at the same time establishing a similar window for products coming in to the area at large. Once it starts, the possibilities are limitless!

I pointed out to Michelle that if this was ever going to be accomplished, McKean County had to first be in a position not to be outvoted on matters that directly affect it and no one else. The overly conservative and cautious approach of the smaller counties who out number us on the board 5 - 4 could stop a project like the Free Trade Zone and kill something that could not only benefit a fine manufacturer like Zippo, but kill the continued expansion of jobs in the area.

DuBois or Franklin Airports would certainly like such a prize. The fact of representatives from nearby Elk and Warren Counties could be the very factor that holds us back and allows them to go forward. Whoever grabs at it first will be the winner in airport revenues and area jobs. Michelle, herself a Zippo employee, understood my concern for the continued good fortunes of her employer. The Free Trade Zone would be one more step to insure that we did not fall prey to some foreign competition with a similar favorable situation.

"We need new manufacturing jobs," I said to the Council Woman.

She readilly agreed.

"It is highly unlikely that someone will close a plant somewhere else and move here. The Keystone Powdered Metals are far and few between. We need to enhance what we have and give our employers a reason to stay here and expand what they already have. Free Trade Zone status will do that but that will never happen until we can control the board in our own airport."

Mrs. Corignani agreed once more.

We ended the call and I returned to another fine idea of mine - mirrors on the ceiling. Sharyn promptly vetoed that concept and suggested I call the Tic Tac girl. Oh well!

Comment on this at rdhedbud@penn.com. 

MARCH 11, 1999

Hey, Jay Chapman!!!

Good morning. It is 11.7 degrees at 6 P.M. On to the story at hand.

Jay. You are a real jerk. I enjoy reading your letters to Other Voices because they show you up for what you really are. Here is number 6 that could go on your next letter. First, let me tell you what the real people are thinking.

"JUSTICE?        Dear Mr. Beck,
I don't normally do this, but I have had enough! Just how stupid does
the McKean County Justice system think we are? I have learned , through the Bradford Era, that Mr. Robert Guzan, has testified against a known drug dealer. Doesn't this make him a known drug dealer or abuser? I then learn,again from the Bradford Era, that Robert Guzan has been arrested on a third DUI. Now, I not sure, but, if I were convicted of third DUI, I don't think I would be allowed to just serve my sentence on the weekends? Then I learn, from the Bradford Era, that Mr. Guzan has fear for his life while in jail on the weekends. So, his sentence is suspended? Then today I read in the Bradford Era, Mr. Guzan was at a bar and was trying to stop some one from taking his truck. What was he doing at a bar? And why was he driving? If the Justice system worked Mr. Guzan would not be physically injured today. Respectably,
A McKean County Citizen"

Thank you for your letter. I felt the same way. Yesterday I wrote the following letter.

Dear Judge Cleland:

For two months I have been making reports to the Adult Probation Department about the activities of Robert Guzan.

To refresh your memory, Mr. Guzan is one of the Commonwealth's witnesses in a drug case that dates back to December, 1993 to June, 1995. Mr. Guzan is also a multiple DUI Offender and has been involved in a DUI where property damage was involved. Nonetheless, when he came before you for sentencing in mid-December, you granted him not only work release, but also allowed him to serve his sentence on weekends.

Immediately upon leaving your court room Mr. Guzan went to the Pennsylvania State Liquor Store and purchased a half gallon of Southern Comfort. From there he drove himself to Louie's Lounge where he drank the rest of the afternoon. About 6 P.M. Mr. Guzan arrived at the Warehouse in Marshburg and drank until closing, all the time laughing out loud how he beat the system once more.

When I began to point out that Mr. Guzan was not only drinking, but driving too, he cried foul and claimed that he feared for his life. Once more you gave him a break and allowed him to serve his sentence in Warren at an extra cost to the taxpayers of McKean County. While you have granted him work release, the fact of the matter is that he is not working. Your people have not taken it upon themselves to verify his employment even though it has been pointed out to Adult Probation by not only me, but your associate David Miller, too.

Now Mr. Guzan has surfaced once more. At 12:25 A.M., yesterday morning, he was at Tack's Inn with a motor vehicle. An eighteen year old is alleged to have stolen his vehicle and Guzan is reported to have hung on the side of the vehicle in an attempt to stop the theft. While I cannot condone the alleged actions of the eighteen year old, I do question Mr. Guzan's presence at an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages. I also question how he got there with a motor vehicle owned by him.

In successive years since I took office in 1996 you have come before me as a member of The Salary Board. In each of those years you have asked for wage increases as well as expansions in the are of personnel. The purpose, I was told, was to better serve the citizens of McKean County and protect the public at large. It appears that you have failed miserably in the case of Robert Guzan. Who is protecting us from him while he continues to drink and drive with a suspended driver's license?

Furthermore, I believe that this is a sad commentary on the equal dispensation of justice in this county. I believe that you have sent a message to the worst element in the county that says it is alright to do whatever you want just as long as you snitch out your friends when you are caught. If you play ball and give the District Attorney the headlines she needs, the judge will give you either a light sentence, or in the case of Guzan, a sentence that only appears to be punishment.

Why must the taxpayers be forced to continue to house this person in the jail of a foreign county when he only scoffs and laughs at us and our laws? Why is he granted special treatment when in fact he should be under the same threat of sentencing as the minor users that he turned states evidence on? It would be interesting to see what his alcohol blood level content was at the time of the alleged theft of his truck. Seeing how he was treated at the hospital, that should be readily available, unless that has been lost along with his fourth DUI since 1989.

Let me tell you something, Mr. Chapman. When the Judge and the District Attorney begin doing their jobs and stop running the bill up on the taxpayers, then, and only then will I stop telling them what they are doing wrong. How can you say that what they are doing is right? This Guzan thing stinks to high heaven. Maybe you should get you head out of the place that it is and look at the sunlight for a change. Maybe then you might see what the rest of us do.

Comment on this at rdhedbud@penn.com.

MARCH 10, 1999

A snowy evening at The Bradford Hotel

Good morning. It is 16.4 degrees at 5:25 A.M.

"Look at this!" I said to Jim Buck.

What?" he asked. Immediately, just from the tone of his voice I could tell that something was bothering him. I could tell when I left him at the court house at 4:20 in the afternoon promising to meet him later.

"This," I said as I handed him an e-mail. He read it aloud.

"With the current controversy with tourism going on in our County, I would like to bring to light our new website that we are working on,
www.Route-6.com. While we are a for profit website, I would be more than happy to devote a section to McKean County, and the beautiful things we have to offer to the world.

"As of now, you can send a postcard to anyone in the World from the Kinzua Bridge. www.Route-6.com/card.html. We have many more pictures to put up yet, but it is something that no one else is doing. We can expand this to any of the other places of interest that you and the other commissioners would suggest. We are very proud of our home area here, and plan to take it to the world."

"You made this up," he said immediately accusing me once more of writing my own mail to myself.

"I did not," I insisted. "This guy responded to my VISIT MARSHBURG! concept in yesterday's web editorial. This guy is the genuine article. It makes more sense for the county and the state to fund something like this than giving some Zippo executive's wife a thirty grand a year salary to be a front for something that she hasn't a clue about doing. Have you discussed this woman with any of the Main Street business owners. They are not very impressed by her track record."

"But that's Main Street," Jim said.

"Exactly! My case in point. She has done nothing for Main Street. Nothing has changed. The only thing that is improving Main Street is that the business owners have started speaking up. Pete got the McKean Theater off dead center when he reminded Connie what she promised three years ago and embarrassed her at a public meeting. Look at Kathy down at JOSEPH'S. Who has helped her? Who is helping Jose at the Riddle House? Who is helping this place? The Bradford Hotel is on Main Street, too."

Grant spoke up.

"You're right, Bud. Those people think Main Street is the Veteran's Square. They forget about the second and third floors that serve as housing for pigeons and bats."

The other writers agreed. David Poyer, in town promoting his new book, said it was similar to the Bradford of 1899.

"It took a devastating fire in December and a flood in the spring to get things moving again. The town was built of wood and that was the turning point. It was then that brick buildings began to go up. I see this as the robber barons continuing their stranglehold on the poor masses in an attempt to keep them down. It is just like the refinery strike I wrote about in the thirties."

Grant shook his head. He had heard David go on like this before. Once he got started there would be no stopping him. It would probably develop into another outline for a new book written on a series of bar napkins. We had been there before and did not want to go back. He changed the subject.

"Jay Chapman nailed the two of you in The Era today," he said.

"Jay Chapman is a jerk!" I answered. "Do you know Jay Chapman? You should find out about him from some of the people he used to work with before he became this self appointed expert on the world. The fact that he was appointed to the Solid Waste Authority by Bevis, Butthead and Olive Oil only goes to show how incompetent they are as a group. That guy doesn't have a clue."

"Yeah," Grant chided. "He may not have a clue, but he nailed the two of you."

"All he proved," Jim said. "Is that he knows how to count to five."

We were all speechless. We sat stunned for several moments before we began to laugh. Jim had said something funny! He did have a sense of humor! It was a break through!

As I recovered, I said: "I liked the H.T. Beck bit. It was like H.G. Wells, T.S. Elliott, or C.S. Howell. He, without knowing it, elevated me to a new status."

Even David Poyer, busy developing a new story line surrounding the great Bradford fire, stopped to agree. "That's right. I thought that, too. The initials instead of the first name lent you an air that you were not afforded before."

"You get elevated and all I am is Jim Buck and he is making me out to be your pupil."

"Jim," I said. "It's the picture. Go to Cindee and she will give you a shot like I used in my announcement. With a serious scowl like that, people have to take you seriously."

"I agree," Grant said. "It made you look like a Judge or something. It was a great picture. You should listen to him, Jim. You could come off like Hemmingway or Fitzgerald. Then dopes like Chapman won't be accusing you of being Bud's student."

Even the bartender agreed. "Jim. They are right. The picture is everything. You will get instant credibility with a picture like Bud's."

"Yeah, Jim," I added in. "You should probably think about growing a moustache or a beard, too. It will give you a dignified look, too. It will be like a make over and then you won't get accused of misquoting the news."

"Why did you have to go and appoint Hickey in the first place? Look at the trouble it has caused," Jim asked.

I smiled.

David Poyer picked it up immediately. "Look at him! He's smiling."

"Did you do it on purpose?" Grant asked.

"Of course I didn't," I said. "Don't be absurd."

"Then why are you smiling?" they all asked in unison.

"Things happen for a reason. Think about the meeting the other day. Did anyone discuss refinancing the bond issue? No. No one even brought it up. They diverted attention away from the fact that bond rates were now at a lower point than where they were when they started. Instead they attacked Hickey and Tony Alfieri showed himself up to be the incompetent that he is. Here is a  lawyer who does not know how to read the law. You know, Jim. Someone should look into how much Alfieri is actually paid by the Authority. They need to look at his W-2 from them and any 1099's they issued. I think you will be surprised at how much he gets."

"So. What do you see happening?" Grant asked.

"They are forcing a show down. They won't like the results. There is some questionable dealing over there. I don't think they will like it much when I bring it out."

At that point, my niece, Tanya, arrived to collect me. I said good night and left. It was just another snowing night at The Bradford Hotel.

Comment on this article at rdhedbud@penn.com.

MARCH 9, 1999

THE VILLAGE OF MARSHBURG

Good morning. It is 15.4 degrees at 6:04 A.M.

I can't figure out the weather map today. Chicago and Cleveland are getting snow and Buffalo is saying that the storm is going to miss them. The national map shows the absolute edge cutting Marshburg right in half. In fact, the cutting point is the Rainbow Inn.

My house is west of the Rainbow and the Fire House is east of it. Geoff, my son, lives in the cabin exactly behind the Rainbow. What do you make of that? Will this be some sort of phenomena like in Florida when it rains on one side of the street and not the other? Will there be ten inches of new snow to the west and none to the east? Why is the line drawn through the Rainbow Inn? Why me? Is this another political conspiracy hatched by my enemies in the Republican hierarchy? Tune in tomorrow and get the thrilling results of this mystery!

Many of you are not as lucky as my buddy "ridgerunner" who e-mails me daily. He knows the area (and properly took offense at my Ohio joke last week) and knows what and where I am talking about in my morning ramblings. (He properly takes his name from his cavorting and antics on Tracy Ridge in the National Forest.) So, in order to put you on a semi-equal basis as the demented "ridgerunner" I will attempt to describe this place.

The village of Marshburg, PA, is located high atop the allegheny escarpment about 16 miles or so south of the New York state line. It is east of the Allegheny Reservoir (14 miles from the Kinzua Dam flood gates), the largest man made lake east of the Mississippi River.

Geographically, it is in McKean County, one of 67 designated counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is east of Warren, PA (22 miles), south of Bradford, PA (12 miles), north of Kane, PA (21 miles) and west of Smethport, PA (24 miles). Keep in mind the exact mileage is approximate.

Marshburg, before the white men came to McKean County, was the site of the annual Seneca Indian summer outing. It was a three day affair in the middle of June and they would climb the mountain, carefully following the Sughar Run, and camp out under the stars, eat elk meat, and admire the Mountain Laurel. Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture keeps the spirit alive through the Pine Cone Counters of the Forestry Service with the annual event the locals and visitors alike have known to love called "Forest Fest."

Marshburg was also the site of Phillip Tome, early explorer of the region, capturing an elk, live, using ropes he rented from Chief Cornplanter after a night of drinking moonshine. Following the capture and Tome realizing what a difficulty it was trying to lead a 1500 pound elk by a hemp rope woven by Indian squaws, he was quoted as saying: "What the hell did I do this for? Don't ever let me drink with that *!#$#@% Indian again."

Before the white men came, the place was called (in Seneca) Gmoplentionethliga. That means in the literal translation of the word - before the vowel shift of 1797 - "Snow higher than an elks butt in the winter; rain, lightning, thunder, bugs and snakes in the summer; and a good place for stupid white men who don't know any better, and flat landers the rest of the time." (For those of you wondering what a flat lander is - that's the ridgerunner and the rest of his buddies - people from Ohio.)

In 1891 the Sugar Run Railroad was built. It ran from a station in Marshburg, the site of the present day Rainbow Inn, down the Sugar Run Creek to the Allegheny River at Kinzua Junction. A spur ran north to a saw mill and round table that was capable of turning locomotives and log cars around. The Marshburg station would later (1896) connect with the Pennsylvania Railroad down near the Marshburg Hotel - one mile to the east.

The Sugar Run Railroad is gone. The tracks were taken up in 1934 and the former railroad station became a bar - Ben's Place. Today the Rainbow Inn succeeds that original establishment that was destroyed by fire in 1990. About 100 or so live in the Village of Marshburg. It is governed by a loose form of government - none. It is policed by the Pennsylvania State Police and boasts a modern saw mill, a general store and two liquor licenses. It is a friendly place to visit and the Rainbow Inn serves as the Welcome Center for the village.

In the absence of a bona fide Tourist Promotion Agency willing to promote picturesque and exciting Marshburg, you can get more information by contacting the local Tourist Promotion Agency affectionately known as VISIT MARSHBURG! It is located in the Rainbow Inn and Anita, the friendly bar maid of the Rainbow will be happy to direct you to areas of local interest.

For more information and comments you may call the Rainbow Inn at 814-368-9863. We are pleased to give snow mobile reports and in the summer, the local tick count - one of the activities the locals engage in. Or, on the internet, direct them to: rdhedbud@penn.com.   

MARCH 8, 1999

Better things to do?

Good morning from frigid Marshburg. It is 1.6 degrees - not 16 degrees - but   0001 . 6  degrees at 5:52 A.M.

The mail flooded in this morning and judging from the numbers and the things you wrote about, it seems you have nothing better to do on a sunny Sunday than to read this column. I feel sorry for you. I especially feel sorry for the woman who wrote the following letter.

"I think you are a loathsome person. Not so much about your politics and the way you tear down good people who do nothing more than try and help the community, but the way you ridicule your wife.

"I do not know her but it must be especially hard for her to live with someone like you who is without a doubt the most egocentric man I have ever imagined. You and your story about the Tic Tac girl was a travesty. It was not only degrading to your wife as a woman, but exposes you as a lustful and amoral person. If my husband ever admitted even privately that he was in love with another woman, even in his thoughts, I don't know what I would do. That story was disgusting and you are disgusting. I pity your wife. She must be a truly unhappy person living with someone like you."

Publisher's Comment: I was tempted to publish your name, address, and e-mail address just to show you how totally loathsome I can be. Granted, I did place my wife in the article. In fact, the article was a love story aimed at my wife and anyone who had half a brain could have read that into the writing. Your comic strip mentality obviously needs pictures and italicized directions for you to understand serious thoughts. As for Sharyn being unhappy, the last time I checked she seemed to like the disgusting person that I am. She wanted to answer you in this column but that was where my ego stepped in. This is MY COLUMN! No one else gets a chance to write in it except for people writing in like you. Then you are fair game - and in your case - you are Goofy and Daffy Duck all wrapped into one. You need to lighten up and get a life.

I am glad that is over with.

Other letters came in about the other letters.

"I agree with you. There should be four debates and they should be about issues. The Republican Party only wants to showcase the "Johnson Boys" at the expense of you and Larry Stratton. That is the price you pay for representing the people and not the party. You two have my votes. Keep up the good work."

and,

"C. Russell Pig and Betty the Cow Comes are jokes and throwbacks to a time that is long gone. Party bosses went out with spats and rumble seats. They do not and have not ever represented us. They represent themselves. Keep up the good work."

and,

"If Russ only knew how many of his close associates call him C. Russell Pig! If he did it would astound him. How many of those little brown person jokes does he think he can tell at public functions  and not have the people he thinks are his friends start identifying him for the filthy bigot that he really is. He is a Pig - plain and simple."

Then there is tourism.

"Your article on Tourism hit it on the head. You have the knack of saying what I am thinking even before I have formulated it in my mind.

"I read the article about the new director and the way they dodged the salary the lady will receive. Also who is paying it? It is a power play for Zippo and Pitt - specifically Mike Schuler and Dick McDowell. As for the visitor days in the National Forest, that is as big a joke as the way the tourism association was taken over. If their figures are correct then we are getting 10,000 new tourists every day of the year just in McKean County. We all know that is not true. If it was we all would be rich. I doubt that 10,000 cars travel 219 every day. These people need to get real. In the end nothing will happen except us losing our identities. Keep telling it like it is."

and,

"How refreshing it is to have someone tell the truth. This is not Niagara Falls, or Atlantic City, or Yellowstone National Park. We have not great attractions here. We have trees and a reservoir which are guarded and policed by more law enforcement agencies than exist on the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. The concept of enhancing tourism here begins with the cops standing down and not being so tough on visitors. When they lay off then the visitors will come back like they did in years past."

and,

"I own one of those 70 businesses that is being left out in the cold for any hope of tourism not that Pitt and Zippo have taken over. Just what we needed!"

and,

"Zipitt is a good name for what has happened. The little guy is being pushed aside by the big guys. Where does Pitt get off thinking they have a stake in Tourism? I thought they were supposed to educate our young people. Now they are involved in government. There is something wrong with this picture. I am with you and anything you decide to do to protect our interests in this thing. Go get them!"

See what happens when I write columns on weekends! Comment on this at rdhedbud@penn.com.  

MARCH 7, 1999

The tourism hoax

Good morning. It is 7.9 degrees at 8:08 A.M. this sunny Sunday morning. The snow is over - we got over a foot - again, and the looks of the weather map shows another storm getting here about Wednesday.

Tourism.

That is a subject that has developed into a county wide issue. It has developed and has been managed by people who do not and have not had any idea of the impact of tourism or recreational activity, and in fact, do not even have a clue.

Rick Esch, the self elected President of Seneca Highlands Tourism Association, is a cafeteria worker at the University of Pittsburgh who looks good in a suit and is a capable parrot for the words of his boss.

Senator William Slocum never had nor ever will have a clue. He is from Youngsville - also known in the old days as "skin town" for whatever reason, and the height of his employment history before selling himself to the Republican Party, was dumping raw sewage into the Brokenstraw Creek.

Linda Devlin, a nice lady and a hard worker, hardly brings a wealth of experience or education that would lead any of us to be convinced that she is qualified to be the executive director chosen by the self elected Board of Directors of Seneca Highlands Tourism Association.

So, who is qualified to direct tourism for McKean County?

Evidently no one because the State wants us to forego all efforts and give ourselves over to a regional effort that will initially be headquarted in Warren.

However, with the snow that began on Thursday, took a rest on Friday, and started anew yesterday; McKean County experienced an influx of tourists. We had tourists and no tourist promotion agency brought the people here. It was the snow.

It was the snow and the fact that five years ago interested people, me being one of them, began an effort to define and clearly mark a snow mobile trail from the New York State line south to Marienville.

We took the snow mobile trail off of township roads and saw to it that crossings of major highways were clearly identified for the safety of snow mobilers and motorists alike. How did that happen?

It happened because the printed version of THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL REVIEW began to point out how unfriendly the national forest was to tourists and those seeking winter recreation. Before that we were forced to endure the propaganda of millions of visitor days - a term used to make it seem like more people come here than actually do. Already, the new Director of Tourism has fallen into that trap and is busy quoting that the Allegheny National Forest is claiming 3.5 million recreational visitor days.

Perhaps we did need to hire a new director. Perhaps we do need to regionalize. Only four short years ago, Forest Ranger and Forest Supervisor John Palmer, back from one of his world jaunts inspecting the "forests of the world," was quoted as claiming we had 11.8 million recreational visitor days.

Imagine that! A drop of 8.3 million visitor days in four short years.

No doubt the newly reorganized and self anointed Tourist Promotion Agency would lay the blame for that loss of 8.3 million visitor days squarely on Charlie Dach. Really, while Charlie and his procrastination may have accounted for it in their minds, THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL REVIEW must take the blame and the credit.

We take the credit because we pointed out what a fraudulent term "visitor day" actually was.

Visitor days included truck drivers who were passing across U.S. Route 6, PA routes 59, 62, 66, and any of the other roads that pass through the national forest while they were working. Those were sightseers, and sightseeing is a recreational activity. Visitor days also included any of us who were traveling to Bradford or Warren and passing through the forest in either direction of the same journey. Visitor day was a nice term to justify the large staff of California type pine cone counters who ride around in the green trucks and periodically lock and unlock gates.

Now that the campgrounds are under private management and you have to pay for the privilege to use our National Forest and its assets, it is increasingly difficult for the phonies in the management of the ANF to say that there are 11.8 visitor days in the forest. Even the 3.5 million is a blatant bold faced lie. Think about it.

If an average stay is a weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), that would mean that almost 1.2 million visitors come the the four counties that comprise the Allegheny National Forest. If the tourists divided themselves equally between the four counties, then 300,000 people from the outside would be visiting McKean County each and every year. If we had that many visitors for three day visits, then each and every hotel and motel in the county would be at capacity for the entire year. That is not the case for us or any of the other three counties and for the director of any tourist promotion agency to quote that absurd and fraudulent figure shows a marked lack of understanding of what is really going on.

Why would any of us who know anything about the effects of tourism on a business be surprised?

The tourist hoax continues as the new director quotes "visitor days."

The new tourist agency does not represent the interests of business in McKean County and the director does not have a clue as to how to reach out to it. The new agency needs to be re-named. It needs to be called Zipitt. That is an appropriate name because it ably identifies what has really gone on. Zippo and Pitt have taken control. The rest of us be damned!

Currently, nearly 70 businesses are without representation in the area of tourism. Those business owners are realists. They recognize that they are now excluded in favor of what has happened.

Their fates have have handed over to liars who will sell us out to a regional plan that will rob us of our identity.

The Rainbow Inn catered to 127 snow mobilers and fifteen locals yesterday. The impact of the snow mobilers was not in any way shape or form due to any effort of any tourist association. It was because it snowed and finally, there is a marked and groomed snow mobile trail. It didn't happen because of Charlie Dach or Rick Esch or any Sludge King Senator. It happened because it made sense and the people who wanted it - little business people - went to work for it.

I have said it before and I will say it again. It is much a do about nothing. It is a shame that liars like Esch and organizations like Pitt and Zippo see this as some battle field or some power base. In the end, we will all lose with regionalization. Whoever is the director in the short interim is really of no consequence. I cannot support Zipitt, or Senca Highlands or anyone who wants to rob us of our identity if favor of one big regional bureau.

Comment on this article at rdhedbud@penn.com.

 

MARCH 6, 1999

Letters and the such

It is a snowy Saturday morning. Stay where you are. We are looking at a foot or more. It doesn't look like a good day for the coyote hunters down in Corydon Township. In the meantime, here are a few of your letters.

"HEY !!!!!
I just found out that my brain is not Y2K compliant. The manufacturer refuses to admit their degree of implied responsibility stating "this was an unforeseen design flaw unknown us and others in this field at the time of manufacture."

"My question: At midnight 12-31-99/01-01-00 will I suddenly be a day older no worse for the wear or will I revert to being a twinkle in my fathers eye while he was still nothing more than a twinkle in my grandfathers eye? If the latter is the case, I guess you can have my computer...it won't be good anyway (except for parts) I guess. and it will be close to midnight 12-31-2099/01-01-2100 by the time my twinkling eyes get to cause yet another generation to bequeath it
to. Have a blast."

On a more serious note:

"I  have sat through commissioners meetings and have seen first hand how everyone is treated with respect and courtesy, even during a disagreement. That only makes it harder to sit through a Hamlin Township meeting run by Bill Kilmer. You pointed out that he is always given as much time to talk at a commissioners meeting as he
feels is necessary. That reminds me of the meeting he attended while he was still publicly pro nuclear waste dump. He was given plenty of floor time. But when Mr. Kilmer is chairing a meeting he limits taxpayers with his 3 minute timer. It can go off at any time, depending on how you define "3". And Mr. Kilmer interrupts or talks
over the speaker while the timer ticks on. While Tony Cherry was trying to ask questions concerning fears he had about the proposed music amphitheater in Lantz Corners (such as possible leaks from cars parked over his water supply, entrance and exit sites) Chairman Kilmer turned to the township secretary and told her Mr Cherry's time was up. Sure enough, the bell rang! Since I had the meeting on video tape, I was able to measure Mr. Cherry's time at considerably less than his allotted 3 minutes. He did continue to speak, but had to do so over the loud objections of Mr. Kilmer. This is unfortunately the case at every meeting if question or comment does not suit Mr. Kilmer.

"I have on tape the commissioners meeting that was held to allow discussions and questions about the proposed nuclear waste dump. I remember seeing you in the courthouse hallway and asking you if I could set up my video camera. Without any hesitation, you directed me to the meeting room and where I could set up my camera.
Compare this with the harassment Mr. Kilmer directed at me for years......to the point of spending Hamlin township taxpayer monies on a lawyer to try to keep our camera out of meetings. Finally, we are allowed to set up our camera without harassment....in the back of the room in a little area marked off with duct tape. As you know, my husband and I joined in a lawsuit against Hamlin Township supervisors because of many Sunshine Law violations. What a ridiculous waste of our time and money, all because Bill Kilmer likes to do things in secret.

"I have a suggestion for the debates....could they be broadcast on the t.v. information channels? Maybe there could be volunteer operators taking phoned-in questions. Thanks for listening. I think my 3 minutes are up."

Publisher's Comment: The phoned in questions are a good idea. I would go for that. As you know - even at the height of debate over "what I did in the war" I went on WESB-AM and answered the questions phoned in by the public. They may not have like my answers, but I was there taking their heat. That is exactly what I am talking about   when I refer to going back to a secret government and officials hiding from people. Look at the Solid Waste Authority and their "Executive Sessions" that start as the meeting is called to order. Then they show up an hour later to finish the public part. What is that if it is not secret government?

Now, for the lighter side - perhaps this guy is another candidate for County Commissioner.

"Who is Jack Schitt? ---- The Lineage Revealed.
Many people are at a loss for a response when someone says "you don't  know Jack Schitt.

" Now, you can handle the situation.  Jack is the only son of Awe Schitt and O. Schitt. Awe Schitt, the  fertilizer magnate, married O. Schitt, the owner of a Knee-deep Schitt,  Inc. In turn, Jack Schitt married Noe Schitt and the deeply religious  couple produced 6 children: Holie Schitt, the twins- Deep Schitt and Dip Schitt, Fulla Schitt, Giva Schitt, and Bull Schitt ( a high school drop out).  After being married for 15 years Jack and Noe divorced. Noe later married Mr. Sherlock, and because her kids were living with them, she  wanted to keep her previous name. She was known as Noe Schitt-Sherlock.  Dip Schitt married Loda Schitt, and they produced a cowardly son, Chicken Schitt. Fulla Schitt and Giva Schitt were inseparable throughout   childhood and consequently, married the Happens brothers in a dual  ceremony.   The Schitt-Happens children are Dawg, Byrd, and Horse. Bull Schitt, the   prodigal son, left home to tour the world. He recently returned with his  new bride Pisa Schitt.  Now, when someone says you don't know Jack Schitt, you can correct them."

Publisher's Comment: Try running that through spell check!

Another asks:

"Tell us once and for all that you are the author of the the names "C. Russell Pig" and "Betty the Cow Comes." The people that I talk to claim that you started that during the Special Election in Keating Township in 1995. Are you ready to come clean with us once and for all? LOL."

Publisher's Comment: Any claim to me being the author of such vile and degrading nick names is a damn lie! You know me and my style. I name people after cartoon characters, not barnyard animals.

I did some research on the naming of our Republican Party co-chairpersons and find that the names in fact originated in Harrisburg with the party leadership. The reference to Russ being a "pig" is because of his marked bigotry which is an embarrassment to the party bosses down there. The other reference to Mrs. Comes is ungentlemanly and does not bear further comment. I just want to go on record as saying that I am not the author of those names.

Comment on this column at rdhedbud@penn.com.

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