Say So

Wednesday, February 26, 1997     Page: 2A

Editor’s note: The Times Leader has set up the SAYSO phone line 829-7252 to
accept readers’ opinions on matters that interest them. There is no charge
other than the typical one for making a phone call. Callers are asked to speak
for no more than 30 seconds.
   
The majority of people living only, and I stress, only on Social Security
are struggling. The people driving newer cars, going to the Atlantic City
casinos, and eating out, and I’m one of them, are retired people, and I stress
the word, retired. People who finally raised their family and are now living
on their retirement from their employment, plus any savings, plus Social
Security. The reason the casino buses in a majority of senior citizens is that
the people are working, the same as they did all their life. We get more than
we paid in Social Security and we should because our money was invested over
the years.
    This is the second time I’m calling about the same subject. It concerns the
Valley West students that were caught for underage drinking at Green Acres
back in November. Nothing has ever come from that from the Kingston police. Is
that possible because it was a district magistrate’s daughter involved? Was it
also possible because it was a prominent businessman from Wilkes-Barre that it
took place at their home in Green Acres? Why weren’t these students cited? The
kids at Valley West think it’s a big joke. The only ones that were punished
were the Valley West athletes that were suspended for some games. Why is this?
I’m very interested in this subject since I have children that go to Valley
West High School. Please tell me what’s going on? Why weren’t these kids cited
by the Kingston police?
   
Editor’s note: Three Kingston police officers took part in the
investigation following the underage drinking party Oct. 17. Patrolman Jeff
Coslett said that he, Detective John Blaski and Patrolman John Cheponis
interviewed 23 people during two months. Parents accompanied each teenager who
was interviewed. Coslett said no parents complained about how the
investigation has been conducted. The interviews yielded many different
accounts of who actually attended the party. The officer said five teenagers
were cited with underage drinking and one adult was arrested on a charge of
furnishing alcohol to minors. Coslett said District Justice Paul Roberts’
daughter was not involved in the incident, but Roberts recused himself from
proceedings because his daughter knows many Wyoming Valley West students.
Coslett said municipal police have no control about how the school district
disciplines its students.
   
I’m calling in regards to Councilman McCarthy of the Wilkes-Barre City
Council. He is so worried about people playing golf for free and then in the
next sentence he tells people that he gets $85 a month for transportation to
drive his car to council meetings. Eighty-five dollars, 12 times a month, is
$1,020. He could take his car and coast down to City Hall from where he lives
at. There shouldn’t be any problems.
   
I’ve been reading a lot of comments about Mayor McGroarty, about how he
lies about this and that and how he’s not doing this and not doing that, but I
think in the short time that he’s been mayor of our city he’s done more for
this city than Lee Namey has ever done in the entire term that he was mayor of
our city. Give McGroarty a chance and I think he’ll be a lot better than
people think he is at this point. Lee Namey to me really never showed much to
the city.
   
I can’t believe I read in The Times Leader the other day that the Duryea
Council voted to back Chief Ash all the way even though he has admitted his
wrongdoing in the case of Welch from the attorney general’s office. It’s like
having the Wilkes-Barre Council say that they believed that George Banks had a
good reason for killing 13 people.
   
I have a solution for the armory. If and when the 109th is decommissioned,
Congressman Kanjorski can get the armory for free, to be donated to the
Wyoming Valley people. Take the 19.2 million that they have for the armory and
use it for renovations and get Ralston Field for extra parking then Wilkes and
King’s can use the King’s football field, maybe even combine King’s and Wilkes
into one more powerful team. I think that would improve both teams as
King’s-Wilkes or whatever and the armory could be used for ice skating,
hockey, conventions, indoor soccer, etc.
   
I feel sorry for the woman who refused to take communion from another
woman. More women go to church than men. Women wash and iron altar linens.
Women belong to more church related organizations. They teach CCD classes.
Women organize and do all the work for church breakfast and suppers. Without
them the church would be in terrible trouble. Vatican Council of Bishops have
decreed to reinstate the laity to their original roles and whether it’s a man,
woman, makes no difference. Maybe the lady shouldn’t receive communion because
she’s a woman.
   
You know I’m almost appalled to drive into Wilkes-Barre anymore, all you
see is signs with this McGroarty’s name all over it. You don’t even see signs
that say “Welcome to Wilkes-Barre” but I can count a hundred signs with his
name on it. What’s this guys problem? How come his ego is so big? And it’s no
wonder that city employees morale is down so much.
   
I would like to comment on the Plymouth Police Department. Their attitude
is very unprofessional and they think they are above the law. I find it
unbelievable that as a housewife I know more about traffic laws than they do.
Bottom line, they are nasty, ignorant and very unprofessional. And I find it
very frightening that I cannot trust the very police department in the town
where I live.
   
Editor’s note: Plymouth Police Chief John Thomas said anyone who has
problems with police should contact him. “All our officers act professionally.
If they have problems with an officer, they should come and see me,” Thomas
said. The chief said people sometimes react negatively when cited with illegal
parking, but police try to work with residents in such situations.
   
I’d like to say I’m appalled by the condition of the roads in Plains
Township. I have to drive to work every morning on Second Street in Plains and
the street is totally ridiculous. All they do is dump ashes in the potholes.
The road needs to be re-paved, and it never happens. It’s been like this for
years. I wonder what Plains would do if our company decided to move elsewhere,
like many other companies are doing.
   
I’m extremely upset with the editorial cartoon of the Marine Corp pinheads.
If it wasn’t for some of those pinheads, you’d probably be saluting the
swastika every morning instead of the American flag, and it wouldn’t be
printed on the front page of your newspaper. I think you owe the Marines and
all the servicemen an apology for that one.