MARCH 20 - MARCH 26, 1999
MARCH 26, 1999
Crying in my Coca Cola
Good morning. It is 23.9 degrees at 5:21 A.M.
I don't know what I expected for yesterday when I sat to put together the
column, but your life can certainly turn around in just a few hours. Mine certainly did -
and even though I haven't talked to Eileen, my sister-in-law, I am sure that hers has,
too.
"I thought you'd be in tonight," Dave Sheffer said. "I heard you on the
radio. You fired your attorney? Is that Henry?"
"No," I answered. "It was Nickoloff from Pittsburgh."
"Why?"
"If you aren't afraid to speak for yourself, why pay an attorney?" I
answered.
"But what about the legalities of the case?"
"What Legalities?" I asked back. "There is nothing legal about
this. It is a political witch hunt that is clearly forbidden by the law. All the events of
today show is that every court in this state is tied to politics in one way or
another!"
For those of you wondering what events we were talking about, The Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania refused to hear my case regarding the $370 of campaign funds that I spent on
legal campaign expenses but didn't report it on a form the Attorney General feels is more
correct than the one I did report it on.
"Did you just find that out?" Sheffer asked.
Frustrated, I admitted that I did. "I trusted in the courts. I believed that they
were there to correct mistakes and give justice. As old as I am, that just goes to show
how really naive I really am. Even though I am covered by a decision in an identical case
in 1978 that they ruled on themselves, they have denied me the right to be heard and have
all of this stupidity thrown out of court. Now there will be a trial to see if I did
anything wrong. What a waste of time and money?"
"How much do you guess they have spent on this since the beginning?" Dave
asked. Just then Jim Buck came in with Marty Wilder. Before I could answer, Jim did for
me.
"It has to be over $300,000 by now. Doesn't it?"
"That's a fair guess," I answered. "Probably closer to $375,000 with all
the appeals and the undercover people they have watching me to see if they can catch me
doing something else."
"Undercover people?" Marty asked.
"Sure," I said to the recent award winning editor. "Congratulations on
the award," I said looking to Jim, wondering why she was along.
"Thanks," she said. "Don't blame Jim, Bud. I invited myself. I wanted to
get this power woman thing straightened out."
"Oh, Marty," I said. "You never could figure out when I was poking fun
at you and being serious. I was only teasing. That's minor. Put it in your April Fools Day
column."
"Hey, Bud," she protested. "I have only one of those a year. You have
one whenever you decide it suits you."
"You could have fooled me," I said. "It's a sorry state of affairs when
I give your Pulitzer Award winning correspondent my statement, printed in advance of my
speech, and he still misquotes me in the paper. You should have ended the column with
"April Fools!" that day."
"Anyway," I said. "That stuff is all minor. Look at this!" I handed
each of them a copy of an e-mail that I received that day.
Subject: Mobile Chernobyl Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 16:14:02 -0500
From: "Laura K. Ladlee" <weeble@penn.com>
To: <rdhedbud@penn.com>
"Bud, I just received this from Michael Mariotte and hope you can help get the word
out about this Mobil Chernobyl issue. It is really frightening to me. Also the vote on
HR45(mobil Chernobyl legislation) could be in the house in April. President Clinton has
promised to veto this but....I have more information about this if you are interested.
Thanks for any help. Laura
EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT!
CALL OR FAX SECRETARY RICHARDSON TODAY!
PH: 202-586-6210 FAX: 202-586-4403
STOP WIPP! STOP NUCLEAR WASTE!
March 24, 1999 -
The Department of Energy plans to ship nuclear waste to the Waste
Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico starting as early as this evening!
(Note: the first shipment did NOT take place Wednesday; it could take place Thursday or
Friday--NIRS). DOE plans to load waste into this facility even though the State has not
granted a license to operate the facility, and numerous studies have shown that it is not
safe.DOE plans to load transuranic (plutonium contaminated) waste from the Los Alamos Lab
into the WIPP facility tomorrow, even though DOE has promised in the past it would not
send waste there until the State of New Mexico had licensed the facility. They plan to
ship more waste from Idaho in the next few weeks. Opening this waste dump over the
objections of the State, the people, and common sense spells a dangerous new era in which
nuclear waste expediency runs roughshod over environmental and social justice concerns.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW! THIS IS A TURNING POINT, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS CAN AFFECT
ALL OUR WORK ON NUCLEAR WASTE! CALL OR FAX SECRETARY RICHARDSON
PH: 202-586-6210 FAX: 202-586-4403
TELL HIM YOU DON'T WANT WASTE TO GO TO WIPP! TELL HIM NOT TO DESTROY STATES' RIGHTS!
"This," I said. "Is a serious problem. My stuff pales in
comparison. Things like this jeopardize all of us."
"You're right," Jim said. "This business with you is
really stupid. I remember when this all started. You never formed a political committee.
Someone else did. Your sister-in-law never accepted or called herself your treasurer.
Someone else did. And, the money you got was all spent on legal expenses and it was
reported to the penny. How do they hope to convict you of anything?"
"That isn't it," I said. "It is voter confidence. They hope to make it
look like I am corrupt so I don't win in the primary. That's why this ruling was timed
like it is. Forty-five days away from the election and C. Russell and his boys will try to
make hay out of it."
"No way," Sheffer said. "The people are tired of this. They know how
stupid this is. I like that you fired your own attorney and are going it by yourself. It
shows that you aren't afraid. It shows that you are ready to face this head on and beat it
once and for all."
"I'm sick of the legal wrangling. Let's go to court and let them put on their best
case. They have to show that I committed Fraud, Bribery, or Corruption to find me guilty
of anything. That never happened. I reported every dime."
With that we began discussing the NCAA final four and if anyone could beat Duke. That
is another column.
Comment on this at rdhedbud@penn.com.
MARCH 25, 1999
The things you send to me
Good morning. It is 28.6 degrees at 5:45 A.M. Here are a few things I picked
out of the mail today.
In a message dated 3/24/99 6:39:14 AM Pacific Standard Time, Pakey writes:
"In case you needed further proof that the human race is doomed through stupidity,
here are some actual label instructions on consumer goods:
On Sears hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping.
(Gee, that's the only time I have to work on my hair!)
On a bag of Fritos: You could be a winner! No purchase necessary.
Details inside.(The shoplifter special!)
On a bar of Dial soap: Directions: Use like regular soap.
(and that would be how?)
On some Swann frozen dinners: Serving suggestion: Defrost.
(But it's *just* a suggestion!)
On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert: (printed on bottom of box) Do not turn
upside down.(Too late! You lose!)
On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: Product will be hot after heating.(Are you sure???
Let's experiment.)
On packaging for a Rowenta iron: Do not iron clothes on body.
(But wouldn't that save more time?) (Whose body?)
On Boot's Children's cough medicine: Do not drive car or operate
machinery.(We could do a lot to reduce the rate of construction accidents if we just kept
those 5 year olds off those fork lifts.)
On Nytol sleep aid: Warning: may cause drowsiness.
(One would hope!)
On a Korean kitchen knife: Warning keep out of children.
(Or pets! What's for dinner?)
On a string of Chinese-made Christmas lights: For indoor or outdoor use only. (As opposed
to use in outer space.) (Or underground?)
On a Japanese food processor: Not to be used for the other use.
(Now I'm curious.)
On Sainsbury's peanuts: Warning: contains nuts.
On an American Airlines packet of nuts: Instructions: open packet, eat nuts.
On a Swedish chainsaw: Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals. (What is
this, a home castration kit?)
On a child's superman costume: Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly. (That's
right, destroy a universal childhood fantasy.)
and;
In a message dated 3/24/99 6:36:46 AM Pacific Standard Time, Pakey writes: A blonde
decides to try horseback riding, even though she has had no lessons or prior experience.
She mounts the horse, unassisted and the horse immediately springs into motion. It gallops
along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the blonde begins to slip from the saddle.
In terror, she grabs for the horse's mane, but cannot seem to get a firm grip. She tries
to throw her arms around the horse's neck, but she slides down the side of the horse
anyway. The horse gallops along, seemingly impervious to its slipping rider.
Finally, giving up her frail grip, the blonde leaps away from the horse to try and throw
herself to safety. Unfortunately, her foot has become
entangled in the stirrup, she is now at the mercy of the horse's pounding hooves as her
head is struck against the ground . . . over and over and over again.
As her head is battered against the ground, she is moments away from unconsciousness when
to her great fortune the WalMart manager sees her and shuts off the horse.
and, on a more serious note:
"Whoa!!! What a piece!!! You know, I've been a Democrat for so long that I do not
remember why I became. It must have been a statement that a Democrat made back then that
meant alot to me to the point where I registered Democrat. Really, in all honesty, I
really am not for any party, just the person who speaks like a true and caring human being
with honesty and never loses the sight of his or her beliefs. But in this state and age,
this is the way it is. We have to do what we have to do to keep who we believe is the true
and caring
person to do the job for us and lets us know what and why is going on, no matter what
party he or she represents. All right, I'll change so that I may vote for you just tell me
how to do it. Linda"
Publisher's comment: Linda, it is really easy. You fill out a new voter
registration form and indicate it is a change of party. The form has less than 15
questions which amount to name, address, and phone number. You sign it and send it in. The
postage is already paid for you. But, it has to be done 31 days prior to the May 18th
Primary. Someone you know will deliver one to you. Thank you for the support and about ten
others e-mailed me saying much what you said. You got me to write the article so I printed
your letter. Thanks again.
and about my great labor of love, Cornplanter:
"I have visited, for the first time, your website. I am fascinated with
the contents of your Cornplanter Cronicles. Particularly so because I
am a direct descendant of Chief Cornplanter. I am also the Treasurer of a group known as
the Cornplanter Descendant's Association. This group has been in existence for many years.
I can remember, as a small child, traveling down to the Cornplanter Grant, where my
Grandfather, Chester Redeye, was the caretaker of the the school and church, and lived in
the house behind them. My Aunt Ella shot a bear out back of the house and it's hide
covered the center of the living room floor.
"My name is Pauline. I am a member of the Seneca Nation
and belong to the Hawk Clan. My family traces its roots back to
Cornplanter via his son, William O'Bail. I am very interested in
learning more about your research as it pertains to Cornplanter. His
many descendants, I know, would LOVE to hear about the man.
"Our group has continued the tradition of the annual Cornplanter
Picnic, where the descendants of the Chief gather for an day full of
activities, greet old friends and relatives and share two sumptuous
meals! It would be really terrific if you could provide some
information or even visit with us as we prepare for the annual
gathering. Plans are being made now for this year and the Year 2000
Gathering."
Publisher's comment: Pauline, thank you for your wonderful letter and kind
comments. The Cornplanter Chronicles are a labor of love for me and the reason the
Mountain Laurel Review came into existence. I have been writing them since 1993 and the
story of Cornplanter is faction - a combination of fact and fiction - obviously.
Very little has been written about your ancestor yet he was perhaps the single
most important man in the survival of your people. Your people were never defeated in war
and he was the reason. While other nations ceased to exist, your people still occupy the
same lands they have since before the arrival of the Europeans. Writing about him is very
easy - perhaps he is guiding my hand.
I have met many of your relatives and have spoken to them on occasions. Many of
the chief's descendants e-mail me from far and wide and enjoy the five or six episodes I
write each year. Feel free to contact me and I am available to come and meet with you if
you would like. Thank you again for you interest in my writings.
All of your comments are welcome at rdhedbud@penn.com.
MARCH 24, 1999
The facts of life
Good morning. It is 31.5 degrees at 6:01 A.M. It looks like another nice day.
Is spring finally here? Will the snow ever go away? Is there something called summer on
the distant horizon? We will see.
My e-mail this morning was full again. One short note caught my attention.
"Good for you!!!
McKean County without you!!! No way!!! It'll be scary as heck! You the man. I appreciate
an honest man who really cares about the county he represents. I appreciate someone who
lets us know what is going on and why. I appreciate someone who keeps the door open. I may
be a Democrat but my vote will be for you. Never let anyone get you down. Like I said,
Keep on Truckin'. Linda"
Publisher's comment: Seldom have I ever taken sides even though I have been a
Republican all my life. My views are well known. Bill Clinton is a slimy draft dodging
adulterer who has disgraced the Presidency. But, a Republican, just as slimy and corrupt,
could have done the same thing - except, you still have Ted Kennedy, and his car has still
killed more people than my guns.
National politics are one thing. McKean County politics are a horse of a
different color. If you want a say in local government in this county, you have to be
registered as a Republican. Linda, just saying that I am the man is not enough! The plain
and simple fact of the matter is that there are a whole lot of people out there that do
not believe that and are working to see that I am not the man and that you no longer find
out what goes on in Smethport. Why do you think C. Russell Johnson is backing the five
candidates against Larry Stratton and me?
Think about it, Linda. Listen to what Al Pingie is saying. Listen to Bill Kilmer. Is
anyone saying that the county is financially mismanaged like it was in 1995? No. They
can't because this is the most fiscally responsible government that McKean County has had
in years. Why is that? Because a Democrat, Jim Weaver, is wise enough and a good enough
man to put parties aside and work hand in had with two Republicans. At times he sounds
like the Republican and Larry and I sound like the Democrats. Old bigoted bosses like C.
Russell Johnson hate that! That's why he is backing the entire world against Larry and me.
We care what is good for the people of the county. He does not! He cares only
what is good for him and his little circle of followers who pay him homage as the boss.
We aren't perfect. Somethings take us longer to perfect or even get things right. But
Linda, we work at it every single day - and we work darn hard at it, too.
It's one thing to get up on Candidates Night in Port Allegany with the party
faithful in attendance and say that you are for the Senior Citizens and you want to work
with Children and Youth Services. It is another thing to work and re-work a budget so that
six Senior Centers can get $8,000 a piece instead of $4,800 to be divided among the six of
them. It is also another thing to be in the office and answer the phone and talk to people
who are on the wrong side of CYS and are fighting to preserve their family and keep their
children. It is easy to say you can do that. It is another thing to do it, like I do
every day and every week.
I championed the Family Centers.
Honestly, if it wasn't for me fighting for them, they would not exist today. I needed
Larry and Jim to support me and I had to sell them first. Then I had to fight with
Harrisburg to get enough money to open and to run them. Did you know, Linda, that McKean
County got as much as Erie and their entire county got for Family Centers? I didn't think
you did. That just didn't happen. I wrote letters and I went to Harrisburg. I cared enough
to be apart from my family and friends to be down there to lobby for something I believed
in very very much.
You see, Linda, anyone can say anything. Sure, say you want to work closer with CYS and
Seniors! Say whatever you want. That's easy because I have already done the hard work. I
have shown you how!
The Family Centers are taking some of the pressure off of CYS because we are educating
parents and families there. The Senior Centers, for the first time, have some extra money
and because of our intervention are taking advantage of state funding for improvements.
Community Development Block Grant money, about $280,000 of it, used to be earmarked only
for bridges and roads and sewers. I read the law and I fought with Penny Eddy over that
money. Now Senior Centers are getting new roofs and new furnaces with that money. Never
before! This is a first!
You are right, Linda. I am the man. I am important to people like you and there
are a whole lot of you out there. The problem is that C. Russell is not going to play this
election up very much. He wants people like you to be complacent and not care enough to do
what it takes to see that I get re-elected. Saying it is not enough. I need your vote in
the Republican Primary and the only way I get that is for you to change just for the
primary so you can vote for me. You have to do that before April 17th.
Think about what I have said here. I have created a lot of jobs at Family Centers for
young people who are Democrats. They, like you, are unaware of how their National Party
affiliation means nothing in our local scheme of things. They don't realize how their jobs
may depend on Larry and me being re-elected.
Finally, on another note, one of our readers has the following question to ask:
"If Hillary goes for that Senate seat in New York State, does this mean Jim Beaver
will be moving to Limestone so he can vote for her?"
Comment on this article at rdhedbud@penn.com.
MARCH 23, 1999
Candidates night
Good morning. It is 25 degrees at 6 A.M. They say today is going to be better
than yesterday and I don't doubt it. The South Pole had better weather yesterday.
Last night was Candidates night in Port Allegany. In spite of the winds and the
snows, all the candidates were present speaking to the Republican Women's Club of Port
Allegany. Following it, against my better judgement, I stopped at The Bradford Hotel.
The bar was empty. It was Monday night. Dave Sheffer was behind the bar and I sat down.
"Just a Pepsi, Dave," I said. "It's bad out there and I still have to
get up the hill to Marshburg."
"Wasn't tonight Candidate's Night in Port?" he asked.
"Yes," I answered. "It was Candidates Night."
"Well, how did it go? What did you say?"
I reached into my pocket and I tossed him my prepared statement that I had given to the
people at the meeting. As he began, he read it aloud for the bartender who had just
returned from out back.
"Running for County Commissioner is not a popularity contest. It’s not like
being elected class president. It is a tough job where tough decisions have to be made. I
have been able to make those tough decisions.
"Not everyone likes me. Not everyone likes me all the time. Still, in each and
every decision I make, that is not the issue. I ask if it will benefit the taxpayers and
the people of McKean County. No one owns Harold Beck and no one controls the way I vote. I
have been part of a team that has brought this county back from the brink of bankruptcy. I
have insisted that county government be run in the open and have welcomed open meetings
that end with the last public comment. The days of five minute meetings are over.
"Not everyone was happy over the reassessment but we had the courage to face what
the law required and see it through. We recognized that it was not perfect and even today
we work to make corrections and be fair. But, even after facing bankruptcy and the
reassessment, we have seen McKean County move forward.
"Since January 2nd, 1996 we have been able to bring 17.4 million
dollars in new money to McKean County without ever raising taxes. We have been able to
raise the county contribution to the Port Allegany Senior Center from $800 a year to
$8,000 a year. When the state told us we could open two new family centers we dug deeper
and found the way to open the third right here in Port Allegany. Now, it stands as a model
for the other three, and it happened because we recognized a need for the entire county,
not just Bradford, Kane, or Smethport.
"I have been a key part of a team that has delivered for the people of Port
Allegany and McKean County. I have nothing to apologize for or regret. I have delivered
the goods and in doing so deserve your support for re-election for another four years. For
that reason I stand before you tonight and ask for your vote on May 18th."
"Hey, that's good," Dave said.
"It's the truth," I answered.
"You got guts," he said. "Was C. Russell there?"
"Yes he was," I answered. "Along with Lovell, Kallenborn, and the other
candidates."
"How were they? What did they hit you on?"
"Just what I expected," I answered. "Tourism and the Garbage Dump,"
I said.
"What did Al say?"
"He said that tourism is our greatest asset and that it will keep our children
here in the community because it will attract jobs and bring the county prosperity."
"That's good," Dave said. "What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing," I said. "That's why we need debates and that's why C. Russell
won't let them debate Larry and me. Saying what Al said is like standing up and saying you
are for marriage, families, and motherhood. We're all for that. Saying it does not solve
the problem of teenage pregnancy.
"Heck, Dave," I continued." I've said the same thing. It is regional
tourism I am against. We just aren't big enough to hold our own against the whole area. We
need a tourist promotion agency that will represent McKean County first. We need a group
that will talk about The Bradford Hotel, not the Allegheny National Forest. According to
the Pine Cone Counters, the people are in the forest. We need to bring them to town and
spend some money. If they are there are a whole lot of us missing out. If it was true
there would be no fight over a Comfort Inn. That's my point. There are real issues here
and C. Russell is not allowing these candidates of his to address any of them. They are
just speaking around them."
"What about the others?" he asked.
"Really, of the challengers, Kilmer sounded the best of the bunch. Causer's a kid
and Harrington forgot whether he lived in Eldred or Port. McKean said he would focus on
issues being discussed by the news media and that is a scary thought. Everyone took a shot
at the land fill and half of them on tourism. We've balanced the budget. Larry and I
pointed that out. We've taken the county forward. We pointed that out, too. You know, this
has to be a first."
"The first what?" Dave asked.
"The first time that incumbents are challenging the challengers to debates
and the challengers refusing to debate because it would give us an unfair advantage. We
begged Kallenborn and Hannon to debate us and they ran and hid. Now we want to debate
again and C. Russell is refusing to allow them to discuss the issues out in the
open."
Dave thought a moment. "You're right," he said. The bartender agreed with
him. Then she changed the subject.
"Bud. Just before you came in, Jesus was here."
"What?" I asked.
"That's right," she said with a straight face.
"I was washing glasses and Jesus was sitting right over there. Then an elderly
Irishman came in and with great difficulty, hoisted his bad leg over the barstool, pulled
himself up painfully, asked for a sip of Irish whiskey. He looked down the bar and said,
"Is that Jesus down there?" I said it was and the Irishman told me to give Jesus
an Irish whiskey also.
"Then, old Joseph, an ailing Italian with a hunched back and slowness of movement
came in. He shuffled up to the barstool and asked for a glass of Chianti. He also looked
down the bar and asked if that was Jesus sitting down there. I nodded and the
Italian said to give Him a glass of Chianti, also.
"Finally, one of our finest, Wes swaggered in dragging his knuckles on the floor
and hollered. "Barkeep, set me up a cold one. Hey, is that God's Boy down
there?" I nodded again and the Wes told me to give Jesus a cold one too.
"As Jesus got up to leave, he walked over to the Irishman and touched him and
said, "For your kindness, you are healed!" The Irishman felt the strength come
back to his leg, and he got up and danced a jig to the door. Jesus touched the Italian and
said, "For your kindness you are healed!" The Italian felt his back straighten
and he raised his hands above his head and did a flip out the door. Jesus walked toward
Wes and he jumped back and exclaimed,
"Don't touch me, I'm drawin' disability!"
I immediately erupted in laughter. With that I finished my Pepsi and started up the
hill on a snowy, miserable night. All the way up the hill I kept imagining what it would
be like if we could have debates. Then, I thought to myself, we could highlight the
issues.
As I thought that, I realized the only real issue was me, and the purpose was
to get me out of office so things could go back the way they always have been. I decided
that I would not allow that to happen. I would work that much harder.
Comment on this at rdhedbud@penn.com.
MARCH 22, 1999
More mail and a few comments
Good morning. It is 27.7 degrees at 5:48 A.M. There is snow out there. Where
did this come from? It was 54 yesterday.
Sharyn, Aunt Rose and I drove over to Jamestown for lunch yesterday and we
watched it all begin about 2:30. The temperature dropped from the mid fifties to 34 in a
few minutes and we were getting snow and heavy rain. And that was the first full day of
spring! That darn ground hog lied!
The e-mail keeps coming in. Let's get to it.
"round the square we had a Dave Harford sighting at the Westline Inn. He was at
the bar reading a David Poyer novel, listening to Marilyn Horne on the juke box, roasting
a leek over a Zippo lighter skewed on a Case knife, on his cell phone trying to reach Ray
McMahon so they could drink a few Straub Beers together. I just thought you might
like to know what your enemies are doing now that the personal attacks on you have begun
in The Bradford Era. Hang in there and keep up the good work."
and;
"I just went back and read the Bradford Hotel series and it is a classic. I enjoy
being part of the political arena and would like to be more involved. Please call on me if
you need help in putting out signs or working the polls. You have given me and a lot of
other people a reason to be involved in politics once more.
" This place is much different than it was a years ago. The county,
thanks to you and your colleagues, is in great shape now. Bradford, on the other hand,
seems to be in a slow crumble. I am used to living in areas where there is growth and
prosperity, not restraint and failure.
"I would like to do whatever I can to make life better for all McKean
Countians, and I believe that the tourism industry is one of our
strongest chances for commercial success. I can tell you now that,
since the whole Director controversy has arose, I have secretly coveted that position. I
know that I am enough of a visionary to bring out our county's strongpoints, and that I
have seen and experienced alot of other successful tourism programs to know what will work
and what won't. Regionalism won't work! It will only save Tom Ridge money and ruin us in
the end. It is a false god and we should not worship it.
"It's just a thought but, like I said, I would be happy to help in any
way."
Publisher's comment: We haven't talked about tourism lately and thank you for
your words of confidence and encouragement. I am glad that you recognize what the regional
concept of tourism is. It will never benefit McKean County. It will only give rewards to a
few and leave the rest of us wanting. Why should we be surprised? Yes. You would be a fine
director. You should rally some support among the small businesses who have been slighted
by this latest move. Once you have an organization that truly represents the entire county
and the business community at large, come and see us.
and;
"The personal attacks on you have begun. You knew they would come. We all did. Why
would they not run true to form? It is good to know that nothing ever changes in this
dirty little world."
and;
"I thought the state policy of The Bradford Era was not to personally slander any
one person. If that is what they said then why did they publish that letter on Saturday
personally attacking you? Who is that guy anyway? I have lived in Bradford all of my life
and I have never heard of him. Was it a real letter or did they make it up? Maybe one of
their editors just plugged it in to get things rolling."
and;
"NOT! and NOT! I voted for you the last time and I am voting for you again. I
don't know where Michael Knott has been for the past four years but for the first time we
know who our County Commissioners are and what they do. What was he expecting? Were you
supposed to perform some miracle after you did the reassessment to make taxes fair and get
us straightened out financially. If he wants to pick on someone, he should pick on the
School Board. They are the ones who have sold us out. They are the ones who are putting us
and our children into so much debt that we will never get out. For every one of him there
are ten of us who are happy with you. Keep up the good work."
and;
"Who is Michael Knott related to? He cited an entire Rogues Gallery of fools and
idiots as good people and he wants to be included. I think you should oblige him."
and finally;
"I have taken great pleasure in reading your satire centered around The Bradford
Hotel. I was from Bradford years ago and I am sure we are talking about the same place and
that makes the whole thing very hilarious. (You have to be from Bradford to understand the
type of place you are writing about.) The good that has come out of this for me is I can
now picture the people you are writing of and I have purchased my first David Poyer novel.
Thank you for your fine writing."
Your comments and opinions are welcome at rdhedbud@penn.com.
MARCH 21, 1999
More letters
Good morning at 7:45 with 37.9 degrees outside on a gray Sunday morning. We
lost our sunshine and rain is in the forecast. Even at that, there is a lot to be said for
rainy Sunday afternoons. Be creative in your plans and enjoy the day.
Writing on weekends gives me insight into how many of you are wasting your days off by
sitting on these things. I judge that by your e-mails. They are almost in the same volume
as during the week when you are avoiding work. It is nice to see you are doing that on the
weekends, too.
We had an immediate answer from our first letter and comment yesterday.
"What Was I Thinking?
"I sit corrected. I must have forgot where I am when I wrote about
swift justice in the "alleged cop killer" case. I am sad to report
that, yes, I did formulate my "already guilty" opinion from information
I gathered from The Bradford Era.It almost makes me wonder whether this crime actually
happened, if not for the fact that I know some of the fallen officer's peers.
"And, silly me, I also neglected to take into consideration the
District Attorney that we are saddled with. I see her bungling this
case and the guy walking.. She may be wining and dining in Pittsburgh, on our money, and
forget to show up for court. Can you say mistrial?
"Then there is the Judge Cleland factor. I was outraged when I read,
again in The Era. of the sexual molestation case you referred to. Is it
a good ol' boy network? Does the convicted have relatives who are
friends of Cleland? This is something I had expected when I lived in
the South, not here. It is sad to see that someone busted with enough
pot to roll four joints gets more prison time than some creep who
fondles an adolescent.
"Yes, I sit corrected. I had McKean County's judicial system confused with the
real world."
That was from the writer of the original letter. But more of you had something
to say on the same subject - and our judge.
"As much as things change, the more they stay the same. Who the hell cares about
diminished mental capacity. If a child molester is too mentally challenged to understand
what jail is, then he is also too mentally challenged to understand that you do not molest
little children. What does Cleland use for brains? Thirty days! That is a joke."
and,
"Old Jocko is at it again. You said it so well when you said that he has never met
a child molester or rapist that he did not feel sorry for. Any Judge who gives a child
molester thirty days so he can find out what jail is like should be locked up with the
child molester. What is in that man's mind - and I mean the judge!"
and,
"You are right. If we had not witnessed the funeral and the memorial service, the
whole thing could have been invented by the Bradford Era. Ironically, the way they write
their stories and cover the news, is it any wonder that you would say what you did. Good
job. Keep it up. It is a shame we don't have more people like you."
and,
"First Bobby Guzan and now a child molester. There is not a doubt in my mind that
this same person, after he does his thirty day, in spite of his diminished intelligence,
will do it again. Why does Cleland do this? Why does he turn these people loose to do it
over and over again? What does it take to get it in his brain that these people are
scum."
MARCH 20, 1999
Your letters
Good day on this beautiful Saturday morning. It is 25 degrees at 7:50 A.M.
Here are some of your comments on various subjects.
"Greetings Mr. Beck: I hope everything on the hill is fine this weekend. I'm
thinking that this will be a brief writing, but one can never tell until the end, can one?
"I was wondering, as I read the latest Era story about the "accused cop
killer" Timothy Williams, who is picking up the tab for all of his
medical bills? His extended stay at Presbyterian University Hospital in
Pittsburgh had to be a costly bill, considering the surgeries, etc, that
he needed. Now, he is receiving daily medical care in the McKean County Jail, which, in my
judgement, has to be expensive. It behooves me that, if I am correct in assuming that tax
money is
used, we are paying an exorbitant sum to save this guy's life, plus
the cost we will incur to imprison him for umpteen years of appeals,
just to fry him in the end. Where did this system go awry?
"John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln on April, 4, 1965. Although he
died in a barn fire 12 days later, his co-conspirators were tried, convicted and hung on
July 7, 1865, 104 days after the assassination. Leon Czolgosz killed President William
McKinley in Buffalo on September 6, 1901, and was executed October 29, just 53 days after
the crime.
"Now, I'm all for citizen's rights and am fully aware of the recent
death sentence overturns in Illinois, due to technicalities and shoddy
police work. I believe if there is a shred of doubt about guilt, the
matter should run its full course until absolute proof is established.
However, in the Williams' case, it is 100% open and shut. We know,
without any doubt, he killed Officer Jerman. Frankly, I regret that I will be reading
about this case for a long time coming. Sometimes, I wish these were the times of Lincoln
and McKinley, when justice was swift and final. Now that I have sounded, I may better
enjoy my weekend. Good luck in the election and rest assured, that I will help you in
Bradford in any way that you may need me."
Publisher's Comment: Thank you for the history lesson. I am
inclined to agree with you regarding a speedy trial and execution; however, several
factors must be placed in the equation. First, there is the presumption of innocence. How
do you know that this man killed the police officer? Think about it. You read it in The
Bradford Era and learned about it from our local media. That in itself should have
made you leery. Second, you are assuming that the District Attorney is going to ask for
(and is competent enough to get) the death penalty. Your assumptions are misplaced because
you have not used proper inductive reasoning.
The cost of the Pittsburgh stay is not the responsibility of the county as the
accused was not charged nor was he arraigned in McKean County at the time. Once
he came here, then we took on the burden of his medical treatment and it is being paid out
of the treasury of McKean County. We will of course have the cost of a trial which will
probably include seating a jury from outside the county if any challenges are made because
of local coverage - including this one.
All things being relative, our court system consumes our entire tax revenues.
This case will no doubt run us beyond what we have anticipated. The question here is the
obvious one. Where will the extra money come from?
In cities and counties that deal with these types of cases on a regular basis,
they do not waste resources like we do on minor and insignificant crimes. They are
dispatched in a speedy and inexpensive manner. Here we look upon every
crime as a major crime and the full resources of the judicial system are expended on each
and every one. That happens for one reason and one reason only. So John Cleland can boast
of the number of people under his administration and he can fool himself into believing
that he is an important Judge. That, is a horrible waste of money and our resources.
When a child molester is given 30 days in jail so he can understand what jail
is like and five years of probation because he has a low IQ, why not just give him a bus
ticket to Los Angeles and tell him never to come back? What will the Judge say to the
parents of the next children this person molests? How will he repair the damage to the
child or children who are molested? In this county it is unfortunate that child molesters
are treated better than recreational drug users. Think on that for awhile.
And on the editorial regarding Ray McMahon Realty we had the following letters.
"I don't know about a cigar store. There is already a drug paraphernalia store in
Olean; but an adult book store would be excellent. possibility. Incorporate it and some
type of old world brothel in the old city hall. it could be called "Connies House of
Curiosities".
and;
"OECD should just buy up all of Main Street. We could change the name to Ray
McMahon Boulevard."
and;
"You are right about Ray McMahon Realty. Check out the commissions he is paid on
these transactions when he buys or sells a building. Don't try telling me that he is not
getting something out of these deals. Also, The Bradford Era should stop being
the public relations firm for OECD. The latest story sounds like it was a canned
presentation from the old Geography teacher himself."
and;
"Your satire is probably not appreciated for what it really is. You are a funny
man with the ability to tell us a story and show up what is really going on in our little
town of Dogpatch. We have all the characters and I love the way you have blended them into
the Bradford Hotel. This is an excellent series you have started. I love your treatments
of Ray, Cheri, Connie, and Peggy. When are you going to write about "DANEPHEW?"
and;
"Great job with your stories about McMahon and the Mayor. I love your references
to Cheri O'Mara without ever mentioning her name. Keep up the good work."
and;
"Ray McMahon Realty was a scream! I loved it because it was funny and it was true
- oh so true. OECD should buy all of Main Street and take it off the tax roles before it
drives everyone else out of business. You are correct in saying that government has no
business competing with private industry and that includes the Land Fill. You have not
included them in your Bradford Hotel articles and I understand why. There is no humor in
having a 15 million dollar time bomb ticking while they play their games out there. Keep
the heat on them all. Good job. You have my support in the Primary."
and;
"You need to tell the story about Cheri's toxic waste and asbestos storage
facility. Now we can understand why none of the kids stay in school. It is unhealthy and
they are being exposed to things that will probably give them cancer in later life. Who
can blame them? There was no question about who the one who puts it all away was. What a
funny thing to say! I laughed my butt off. I'll bet you made Cheri really happy. You
probably gave Peggy a few moments, too. You should have said two of them."
How's that for a Saturday morning? We will have more tomorrow.
Comment and see it on this site by e-mailing rdhedbud@penn.com.
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