DECEMBER 11 - DECEMBER 17, 1999
DECEMBER 17, 1999
Speaking Volumes
Good morning. It is 23.9 degrees at 5:59 A.M and there are eight more shopping days
until Christmas.
Today's Bradford Era highlights the story of what happened at yesterday's
public meeting in the Commissioners' Meeting Room.
"50 crowd commissioners' meeting" JIM BUCK/Era Reporter writes.
Then in keeping with what I accused him of doing for the past three years during an
exchange between us, (editorializing what happened rather than reporting what
happened) he proceeds to do just that.
And in keeping with my factual accusation, he also proceeded to distort and twist
facts. For example, I pointed out that we had as many as three budgets with deficits
written into them that were adopted. Mr. Buck states in his article that:
"For instance, when Stratton told someone in the audience that the
commissioners must, by law, present a balanced budget, Beck said there is no penalty for
having an imbalanced budget. Beck claimed that this board of commissioners had approved
three previous budgets in which expenses outweighed revenues.
"In fact, three of the four previous budgets passed by this board of commissioners
have been either in balance or have shown a surplus. Their only budget with an
admitted deficit was in 1996. Inexplicably, Stratton and Weaver did not correct Beck's
misstatement."
Not true and oh so typical!
The revised budget in 1996 projected a $1.2 million deficit; and, the 1997 budget
projected a $545,000 deficit. In 1996 and 1997 the cover sheet of both budgets stated that
we anticipated working our way out of the deficit by the end of 1998. It was the fact that
we refinanced the jail loan and paid ourselves back for the reassessment that we were able
to balance the budget in 1997.
Jim, who is bent on discrediting everything I say, do, and write, has lost
sight of what happened. Whether I was right or wrong in my statement in the heat of the
moment was not the issue. The fact that Stratton and Weaver did not know what we had done,
is.
They didn't know and they didn't care. They spent and spent. Now we are faced
with the results. That is the issue, not the fact that, as he reported:
"Stratton and Commissioners James Weaver and Harold Beck (dressed in a
Santa suit complete with a red coat, fake beard, and large fur-trimmed hat) spent two
hours Thursday morning answering questions about the budget."
Sure I was dressed as Santa. Did anyone wonder why? Did the press corps, which
seemed miffed at my attire, bother to ask?
Without identifying the source or the place, let me share with you an e-mail I received
this morning which was sent last night.
"Thank you so much for coming to both of my classes today.
You were so understanding with the little ones in the morning class who were timid. And
VERY tolerant with the "in your face and hopping up and down" ones in the
afternoon.
"I can't believe how they were poking and pulling on you....even your
boots!
"After you left in the afternoon, three of the boys mentioned that "Santa
was really nice ". And when our occupational therapist came, they all charged up to
her and yelled out a big announcement about you being there. Sleep well.....you made some
children very happy today."
I think that people like Jim Buck, who must really hate Santa Claus, really need to
lighten up. Being a County Commissioner has not been a bag of cherries for me and my
family. It has been more like a bag of horse manure at many times and people like Jim Buck
and their slanted and twisted reporting made it so. They got what they wanted and
seriously, I can't be happier. My life is already better and it is improving each day that
passes since the election on November 2nd.
Playing Santa is my thing. It has always been my thing. I resent being portrayed as
being in a "fake Santa suit." To those children for those few moments in the
morning and the afternoon, I WAS SANTA CLAUS ! ! !
What the hell does he care how I dress? Maybe he should look in the mirror. Maybe
the staff at The Era should, for Christmas, consider buying him a new sweater to
replace that natty old brown one he has been wearing since before the flood of 1996.
My attire at the meeting had nothing to do with the proceedings and the people who
were there would attest to that. As for producing the document that would propose a 10%
cut in County spending, I said I would put it on display next Thursday, December 23.
Nothing was said about producing it yesterday as Mr. Buck reported.
I am a public figure and I accept the consequences of being one. I always have. I
have nothing to apologize for in the way I represented the people for nearly four years. I
did not back nor do I support the largest tax increase in the history of McKean County. I
do not support an ancient way of running the business of the county. I also do not support
Mr. Stratton and Mr. Weaver in what they are doing. And until I leave office, I will speak
out regardless of how Mr. Buck twists what I am doing and regardless of how jealous he
really is.
For Christmas Jim, I wish you peace within yourself. Then and only then can you become
tolerant with people like me. Until then, you should report on the Annual Flower Show and
leave news reporting to those who understand what news is.
That speaks, as you said yesterday, "Volumes and volumes about the way (you)
are."
Comments are welcome at redhedbud@penn.com.
DECEMBER 16, 1999
ERRORS IN The Era, or is it The Error?
Good morning. It is 31.5 degrees and it is snowing in Marshburg. There are eight more
shopping days until Christmas and news is abounding, as well as The Era's usual
brand of incompetence. Doesn't anyone proof read their stuff?
How's this from yesterday's paper?
"Ray McMahon's salary as Office of Economic and Community Development
executive director is listed as $65,175. The OECD's fiscal officer makes $41,981. The
incubator manager makes $31,261. The enterprise zone coordinator makes $431,807. The
administrative assistant makes $23,919. The maintenance supervisor makes $26,220."
Wow! If the enterprise zone coordinator makes that much, how much does Ray
really make? Are all those stories really true?
Then there was the really good one!
"Count budget not final" in the Comment & opinion
unsigned editorial.
Obviously, Count was supposed to be County, but the error in The
Era was sort of an unpardonable sin, especially because the story was so well
written. I wish I could have taken credit for it. Why wouldn't someone at The Era
want to? Which leads me to the next question.
Was it plagiarism or just plain good writing?
Since news of the 43% tax hike was first published, I and a whole lot of others
have waited with baited breath for the onslaught of letters to the editor. None have
appeared. Is the reason that no one took credit for the editorial because the editorial is
a culmination of what everyone was saying?
Anyway, I did enjoy the editorial. I liked the recounting of me saying that
Stratton and Weaver were in favor of raising taxes by as much as 50%. (The
Era missed the as much as part.) What I couldn't understand was the
paragraph that followed.
"Perhaps most amazing, Beck did not defend or explain the statement in the
Mountain Laurel Review. He merely reiterated that he was against raising taxes."
What was to explain?
I told the truth and they did not. Now, five weeks after the election there is a
proposed 43% tax increase. You be the judge as to what happened. Did they talk about it
and did I hear them? Where do you think the figure of as much as 50% came from? Am
I clairvoyant? I hardly think so! I think my hearing is better than they thought it was.
That's all.
So today is the Commissioner's Meeting. I am glad that I still have a seat and I
hope the writer of the editorial comes in person so I can kiss her (God I hope it isn't
Jim Buck) right on the cheek. It will be interesting to see how they attempt to defend
this. Maybe they can blame it all on me! Isn't that the way it has worked in the past four
years?
Yes, this will be one for the books. I can hardly wait! And judging by what Jim
wrote this morning, I guess there will be some petitions against the tax increase, too. I
wonder why these people didn't take me seriously when I was saying that I was against
raising taxes? Maybe, like in other situations with other issues, because I said it, The
Era made it seem like it was wrong. Oh well!
No matter what happens, I hope Joe and Marty down there at The Era get
their acts together and start reading what they are about to print. That would be the
beginning to accurately reporting the news. And, in their case, it would only be the
beginning.
Comments are welcome at rdhedbud@penn.com.
DECEMBER 15, 1999
Being Santa
Good morning. It's raining again and it is 38.8 degrees with ten more shopping days
until Christmas. Snow is on the way and today is the last day of Antlerless Deer Season.
There were a whole lot of wet hunters at the Rainbow last night and none of them got a
deer. Oh well.
I didn't realize that by putting the picture of Santa up, I would finally begin to
get invitations. I love it! I will accommodate as many of you as I possibly can.
This started in 1989 when Sharyn and I, who had very little that year, decided to
share what we did have with our neighbors. We had hams in the freezer of the old Ranch and
she made cookies. Gateser and I made up our own brand of Christmas Cheer and the three of
us decide to go out Christmas Eve. All that was missing was Santa.
We quickly found a half baked Santa suit, borrowed it, and we were on our way. That
was the beginning.
The next year I got a real Santa suit and began to visit all the children on the
hill in Marshburg right before bed time. Those little faces are now grown up and driving
cars.
As my daughter, Kimberly, entered the social work field, there suddenly were
families that many of us have no idea are even out there. Grandparents raising three
little boys because their daughter, hooked on drugs and men, has taken off. The
twenty-six year old single mom of six, the family where the husband was hurt in an
accident and is having trouble getting his disability, and the mom who is mentally
retarded but is in there trying to do the best she can.
The hard line "let them all get a job" Republican who didn't believe in
Social Programs, suddenly warmed to these less fortunate as soon as he saw how
appreciative they truly were. And, for someone like me who isn't especially loved during
the year, how could I not drink it up at Christmas when I am in costume and my disguise?
Santa Claus is a concept. It is a myth. It really doesn't exist. That's what they
say, anyway. I don't know about the people who say that. I don't know, for real. Who are
they and how did they get to be like that?
Extending kindness to people is contagious. The more you do it, the more you want
to do it. And it only takes a little effort on your part.
I love the faces of little children when they see Santa. I love it when they come
up and hug him. (I also love it when they are afraid of him and their moms sit on his lap
with them, too!) And Santa is my reality check.
I think the year that I say I will not be Santa will be the year I will need to
really do a self examination. I don't see that in my future, but should it come, it would
certainly mean one of several things.
First, I would be physically unable to do it.
Second, I might have lost my heart. And if that was the case, I should get my act
together and find it fast.
Life is too short and too precious to keep it to yourself. It is something that is
meant to be shared with as many as you can possibly share it with. And in doing that, the
sharing, you reap rewards that you can never imagine otherwise.
I love being Santa Claus. If you need one, e-mail me and if I can, I will do it. In
the meantime, Ho! Ho! Ho!
Comments are welcome at rdhedbud@penn.com.
DECEMBER 14, 1999
"No" usually works
Good morning. With rain on the way (cold enough for snow) it is 33.8 degrees at 6 A.M.
There are eleven (11) more shopping days until Christmas. And "The
Bradford Era is (still) boring."
Jim Buck's feeble attempt to justify a 43% tax increase, for whatever reason, is as
boring as his coverage has been from day one. Going back and comparing how much spending
has increased since 1993 impresses no one. And, it does not justify what has been put on
the taxpayers.
The County is planning on spending more this year than they did last year! That is why
taxes are going up.
And, the opening line of today's article:
"McKean County's proposed budget for the year 2000 totals $22.6 million, nearly
double what the county spent seven years ago" is untrue in the representation of the
budget at that total. You see, the $3.5 million tax anticipation loan is conveniently
missing from that number when in fact, it has been present in the prior four budgets.
Think about it!
This year's budget is $26.1 million, not $22.6 million. Now how much has it
increased?
The tax anticipation loan is income and it is an expense and belongs as a line
entry on the budget. It produces income and it costs interest. With a sudden change in
interest rates, this area could easily cost more than it produces and should, for
practical reason, be included in the total. By doing that, McKean County becomes the Sixth
Class County with the highest total budget in the entire state. Why aren't we seeing
things like that in The Era?
Spending at the Court House is out of control. I have said it privately, and I have
said it publicly. Nothing with this budget changes anything. Spending will continue the
way it has. No one wants to be the first to take control. No one cares as long as
you can go to the well and get more. And we will see it again unless something changes and
we all know that won't happen.
Why? Because the budget doesn't mean anything.
Jim points out that no projection for the 1999 shortfall (deficit) has been made in
the budget. It does project a half a million or so surplus. Is that the anticipated
deficit? I think not.
McKean County by my very brief calculations will end the year $1.1 million in the
hole. That is for several reasons but mostly because of over spending. And, when and how
will the county replace the money that was transferred from the Capital Expenditure
Account that was improperly and illegally used in the General Fund to cover day to day
operations? Is that in the Transfers section of this budget?
When the bond issue was taken two years ago, part of the proceeds was earmarked for
a new Voting System in the county. Is the money, $500,000 still there for that purpose?
Jim, your writing is great. Your research leaves a whole lot to be desired. Ask
questions. Ask the right questions. Either do that or write an editorial and come out and
tell everyone how you support runaway County Spending, displacement of our Seniors when
they lose their homes because of high County taxes, and you aren't interested enough to
tell the whole story.
Saying no to spending is, for Larry and Jim, harder than it is for Bozo to say no to
his myriad of habits and problems.
Comments are welcome at rdhedbud@penn.com.
DECEMBER 13, 1999
The Bradford Era is boring
Good morning. It's 36.3 degrees outside and there are 12 shopping days until
Christmas. Today Doe Season, actually antlerless deer season, begins. All the doe we saw
during the past two weeks of buck season are now in hiding.
Many people, and I mean many, have commented to me about what a waste of time it is
to read The Bradford Era. "What else are you going to read?" I ask
them.
"There's never anything in it," they complain.
"What do you expect?" I ask. "We live where a whole lot fortunately
doesn't happen. You should be glad that there is nothing to report that would get your
interest."
"Yes," someone said, agreeing with me Saturday night. "You are
right. But did you read how Jim Buck seemed to be going out of his way to justify the 43%
tax increase in today's paper? What do you think about that?"
I just shrugged my shoulders. Really, I didn't have much to say. Jim Buck writes
the stories the way he sees them and if he agrees that the county needs to have its taxes
increased by a whopping 43%, who am I to disagree with him? It is probably keeping with
the new image The Era has adopted. Be boring, be Bradford.
Aside from my excursions to play Santa, I don't go too far from home these days. I
guess I have become boring too. Good old boring Bud. But even with me out playing Santa on
Friday, the question would not go away.
"What about the tax increase? What do you think about it?"
Time after time, I just shrugged. I didn't take part in that scheme. And it was a
scheme. I tried telling people about it. I think I reported that they were secretly
planning to raise taxes by as much as 50%. I even went as far in one of these morning
columns to explain what a 50% tax increase was, and I think I offered a plan to cut
spending by 10% and not increase taxes. Perhaps that was too radical. Perhaps it was too
honest.
I guess maybe the only thing that stings in the whole thing, maybe ever more than
having my taxes increased by 43%, was that Jim Weaver and Larry Stratton sat in a meeting
and publicly called me "a liar." They called me that even though they knew at
that very moment they were going to do exactly what they were saying they weren't.
And Larry Stratton called for me to stop printing the Mountain Laurel Review
and shut down this web site, too. I guess Larry doesn't believe in the First Amendment
when the truth comes out about him. But I guess the fact that Larry has proclaimed himself
"A Christian" in the forum at UPB before the election makes all that okay. Maybe
it does to Larry, but not to me.
What will 43% do to the people on fixed incomes? Where is Jim Buck on that? Why
isn't The Era exploring exactly what a 43% increase in County Taxes will do to
our Senior Citizens? Would a Christian place such a burden on citizens who are already
burdened by some of the highest school taxes in the state? I don't know. I am boring, just
like The Era.
But, I am not so boring to note that Jim and Larry are giving themselves a 4% pay
increase, along with all the other elected officials, in a year when you and I are paying
43% more. I guess that is the Christian thing to do - get yours at our expense.
Comments are welcome at rdhedbud@penn.com.
DECEMBER 12, 1999
The faces of Christmas
Little Sam's first visit to Santa and his first picture with Santa. Guess who Santa is!
Mattie and Sam tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Sam says: "Change me.
I'm wet!" And Mattie says: "Sitting as close as I am, I would say
something else, too."
DECEMBER 11, 1999
While I'm Away...BY Tom Clark
I usually write this column at the beginning of the week but, as you read this, I'm in
Cocoa Beach to see the launch of mission STS-103, the Space Shuttle Discovery on a Hubble
Telescope repair run.
My friend Tracy sent me an e-mail last week that was fairly
interesting. It will be the crux of today's brief column. Tracy likes to rub it in when I
have another birthday, which I did last Thursday, and this is her little way of telling me
I'm getting old.
This serves as a wonderful slap in the face for those of us who like to pretend that
we're not getting old. Just in case you weren't feeling too old today, this will certainly
change things.
Each year, the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give
the faculty a sense of the mind set of that year's incoming freshmen. Here is this year's
list:
-The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1980.
-They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan Era and probably did not know he had
ever been shot.
-They were prepubescent when the Persian Gulf War was waged.
-Black Monday 1987 is as significant to them as the Great Depression.
-There has been only one Pope.
-They were 11 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember the Cold War.
-They have never feared a nuclear war.
-They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.
-Tiananmen Square means nothing to them.
-Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
-Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.
-Atari predates them, as do vinyl albums.
-The expression "you sound like a broken record" means nothing to them.
-They have never owned a record player.
-They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong.
-They may have never heard of an 8 track.
-The Compact Disc was introduced when they were 1 year old.
-As far as they know, stamps have always cost at least 32 cents.
-They have always had an answering machine.
-Most have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they seen a black-and-white
TV.
-They have always had cable.
-There has always been VCR's, but they have no idea what BETA is.
-They cannot fathom not having a remote control.
-They were born the year that Walkmen were introduced by Sony.
-Roller-skating has always meant inline for them.
-Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show.
-They have no idea when or why Jordache jeans were cool.
-Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.
-They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.
-The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as WWI, WWII and the Civil War.
-They have no idea that Americans were ever held hostage in Iran.
-They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.
-They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.
-They never heard: "Where's the beef?"or, "I'd walk a mile for a
Camel," or "de plane, de plane!"
-They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. is.
-The Titanic was found? They thought we always knew where it was.
-Michael Jackson has always been white.
-Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama are places, not music groups.
-McDonald's never came in Styrofoam containers.
-There has always been MTV.
-They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.
Publisher's Note: Nice thought, Tom.
Comments are welcome at rdhedbud@penn.com.
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