NOVEMBER GREENESPEAK WILL BEGIN HITTING THE STANDS LATE AFTERNOON ON OCTOBER 30.
We have released our first-ever list of UN-endorsements. You know you can only find this type of pithy commentary on local politics in GREENESPEAK! We have decided to post that editorial (at right) since we are so close to the election. For everything else listed here, you will have to pick up the print version.
And if you can't GET ENOUGH of our two hot races for Congress and the PA House, see our CENTERFOLD for...
THE CANDIDATES IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
I promise, I did not edit these.
Plus, the UMWA is not happy about some aspects of the new Foundation Mine. See PAGE 3.
And speaking of mines, Lonnie Miller talks about his latest mine history: MARIANNA & MINE NO. 58. PAGE 2.
And we have a nice round-up of local government entitled:
NOT JUST ABOUT THE ROADS ANYMORE.
Citizens are demanding more from local officials as... THE CITY COMES TO THE COUNTRYSIDE.
And, Bowlby Library celebrates 50 YEARS IN THE MANSE.
You are invited to their Open House Dec. 4 from 1-6 p.m.
Lots of columns and other stuff,too. ENJOY.
--
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF
GREENESPEAK monthly newspaper
A member of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
Cindy Bailey, Editor/Publisher
PH: 724-344-7980
cindy@greenespeak.com
Headquartered at
99 S. Washington St.
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Maiing Address:
P. O. Box 1003
Waynesburg, PA 15370
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS
WEBSITE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.
Call Cindy today:
724-344-7980
Beginning August 7th the August GreeneSpeak will appear on newsstands - sort of like the ghost of Jacob Marley coming to haunt Greene County's various corrupt public officials who are as greedy for power and money as Mr. Scrooge himself!
Pick up your copy of GreeneSpeak and LISTEN TO THOSE CHAINS RATTLE!
We've got LOTS of fun stuff for you. Public officials everywhere will be donning their trench coats and sunglasses to pick them up to see who's getting their you-know-whats beat up today. Hurry and get yours. If you're coming to the fair tonight, stop by and get your copy, fresh off the press. We will be there in the upper 4-H building.
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GREENESPEAK ONLINE:
GREENESPEAK ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONSPRICE IS 50% OFF THE HARDCOPY PRICE FOR A FULL YEAR OF ALL GREENE COUNTY NEWS AND VIEWS. ALL THE TIME!
CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK TO GET GREENESPEAK INSTANTLY.
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POSTED NOVEMBER 20, 2008
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A new Greene Scream came in today. Enjoy!
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POSTED NOVEMBER 19, 2008
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The FLAP
WOULD SOMEBODY TELL BILL DEWEESE THAT HE WON?
Enough already!
Would someone kindly get on the phone or send an e-mail to bill@billdeweese.com and inform him that HE WON?
While you're at it, tell his diehard supporters the same thing. People are still accusing me of not supporting Bill, to which I reply: GUILTY AS CHARGED. (See The WET HEN'S UN-endorsements below).
The election is over; can we move on now?
Personally, I'm tired of hearing Bill whine about being up against "the dirtiest campagin" of his career. If I were the Hopkins Team, I'd be demanding to know exactly what he is referring to. That very calculated remark borders on slander as far as I'm concerned, and is designed, I suspect, to cast shadows on Greg, just in case this upstart should choose to give Bill another run for his (our) money.
Now I know there are zealots in every campaign and supporters, like sports fans, can get carried away at times, but Bill's much-quoted comment seems to imply that the Hopkins Team was systematically doing unfair/untrue things to our poor Dollar Bill, who was so disadvantaged. HA!
I have personally met many of the folks who were working on Greg's campaign and they are good people. It's slanderous, I tell you!
THE TAXPAYERS IN GREENE COUNTY DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT BILL MEANS BY "DIRTIEST CAMPAIGN"? HE OR ANYONE ELSE WITH REAL INFORMATION SHOULD GIVE ME A CALL AT 724-344-7980.
Perhaps Bill feels that it's "dirty" to be challenged. I am convinced that most of his supporters in Greene County feel that way.
HellOOOOOOOOO! Must I continually remind people that Greene County IS IN FACT still in America? And it's OKAY for any law abiding citizen to run for office, no matter WHO the incumbent is????
Meanwhile, maybe Bill has had his head up you-know-where trying to cover his you-know-what and doesn't realize that he is the victor, although it looks like another leg got sawed off his Hallowed Throne in the State House. Yes, he got his broken body out from under the bus, but he has been demoted to Whip, meaning he is Number 3, instead of Number 2 (no pun intended). WAH.
According to all his starry-eyed supporters (including Greene County Democratic Committee Chair--pardon the earlier error--who said Greene County won't get SQUAT without Bill), I guess this means that Greene County's coffers will now get less dough. Could someone get out a calculator and figure out the monetary difference between the Whip and the Majority Leader and I'm not talking about his personal paycheck. Then we will know exactly how much WE spent on Bill's campaign and how much money we WON'T get because that seems to be all the DeWeese supporters care about. Who cares if he has been steering the USS Corruption through the Commonwealth's polluted seas for three decades? Everybody has to pay to play, you know; sometimes with their soul....and that includes Greene County voters who refuse to see the light.
Meanwhile, SOMEONE should be listening. In the Year of the Democrats in America, Greene County voters chose McCain, Corbett, and Hopkins. The race between Murtha and Russell (a virtual unkown) was surprisingly close with Russell getting more than 47% of the vote.
Like an old song says, SOMETHIN'S HAPPENIN' HERE...
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POSTED NOVEMBER 11, 2008
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The FLAP
ASK ANY COMBAT VETERAN
If your candidates did not win the election, you may be a little disillusioned right now, which is understandable, but know that the fight for what is good and right is not over and never easily won. Ask any combat military veteran.
Throwing the towel in may look attractive in these let-down days, but your labor is not in vain. And as I always say, follow the money, particularly in regard to incumbents. Most of this is not about what is good and right or public service; it's about who pays to play and who owes who and what's-in-it-for-me.
We owe gratitude to the candidates who ran against the Big Dogs in spite of people who are outraged that anyone would challenge our hallowed public officials. PLEASE LET THE UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES KNOW THIS.
People forget that the blood of U.S. soldiers covered the shores of places like Normandy so we CAN challenge the people in office and hold their feet to the fire. DON'T STOP.
I don't understand the disconnect, really. If you are reading this and you are mad that DeWeese and Murtha were challenged by upstarts, then SHAME ON YOU. Some guy called me a couple of days ago (like five days AFTER the election) and yelled at me not not endorsing DeWeese! Huh?? DeWeese won, remember? What else does the guy want? Oh wait, I know: AN APOLOGY. Now where have I heard THAT before?
Do people have any idea what the First Amendment is about? What newspapers are about? You know, newspapers aren't required to do anything except stick to the truth. They don't HAVE to endorse anyone. Newspapers are NOT public service agencies; they are private buisnesses. THANK GOD!
If some diehard Democrats that I know had their way, no one would even be ALLOWED to run against IMPORTANT, POWERFUL, OVERBLOWN officials like Jack Murtha and Bill DeWeese! And NO NEWSPAPER would ever be allowed to criticize public officials and/or encourage their challengers. SHEESH!
DOES THIS BUG YOU AT ALL? IF SO, LET ME KNOW AT: cindy@greenespeak.com
Meanwhile, don't give up the ship, even if the USS Greene County is listing in the sea. There are still a great number of us out there with our sand pails, bailing out the water!!!
Hope you are remembering those who fought and died for our freedoms today.
Also there is a new Greene Scream related to this topic.
Enjoy!
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POSTED NOVEMBER 10, 2008
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Housekeeping stuff....
I apologize if I have removed some of your favorite content, but I noticed things were slowing down on this website and that usually means I have too much stuff on it.
The election, however fortunate or unfortunate, is over and it's time to move on to other things.
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POSTED OCTOBER 30, 2008
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THE WET HEN
[From the November print edition of GreeneSpeak]
Introducing...
THE GREENESEPAK
UN-ENDORSEMENTS
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This editorial concerns Greene County’s two hottest races which will be decided on Nov. 4th with YOUR vote. One is the battle for the 12th Congressional seat between Jack Murtha and challenger Bill Russell. The other is the contested seat for rep of the 50th District between Bill DeWeese and second-time challenger Greg Hopkins. See more about the candidates in their own words in our CENTERFOLD].
The position of this newspaper has been that we don’t endorse candidates (unless their opponent is convicted of a serious crime, of course). Newspaper endorsements are a dinosaur still hobbling along from the days when people didn’t have 24-hour access to news and commentary from all over the world.
There were no irrate blogs or cocky websites. Talk show hosts were pleasant and didn’t get into the nitty gritty too much with their guests. Public officials were respected just because they were. Think of the rampant promiscuity in the Kennedy administration while the president walked around town with his plastic trophy wife on his arm. Ignoring it was the thing to do
People were much more dependent on the daily newspaper, even as little as 20 years ago, to keep them abreast.
Well, as District 50 Candidate Greg Hopkins likes to say, it’s a New Day.
Voters don’t like being told what they should care about or who they should vote for by a group of aging, talking heads in a boardroom somewhere with bloated egos and salaries to match, stuffy types with a constant eye on their bottom line, which is bottoming out in many newsrooms even as this is being written. These old guys in their old mothball-ey suits can’t understand why newspapers are going down the, uhm, drain. But we digress...
GreeneSpeak is a nonpartisan newspaper and we are holding fast to our decision NOT to endorse candidates, despite the recent proximity to crime, bad judgement, prejudice, and poor ethics among our incumbents, Congressman Jack Murtha and state Rep. Bill DeWeese.
However, these are bizarre times calling for bizarre measures, which is why we introduce the first ever “GreeneSpeak UN-endorsements.”
First, we UN-endorse Jack Murtha because:
1. We cannot endorse his disregard for the integrity and welfare of our troops, not only in regard to his infamous poor treatment of the U.S. Marines, one of whom lives in Canonsburg and is suing Jack for slander, but also because as Defense Appropriations Chair, he has made a habit of shortchanging our troops for his politics. He offers no apology for his behavior.
2. We cannot endorse his remarks about the “racist, rednecks” who are apparently driving politics in the 12th District, according to him. It’s not just that he said these words; it’s that they came out so easily, that he seemed surprised that anyone took offense at these remarks. But remember, he’s not as young as he used to be, maybe he got mixed up, didn’t really say what he meant, which brings us to the next point...
3. We cannot endorse Jack Murtha because time marches on for all of us and at the risk of being politically incorrect, he’s just getting too old and he’s out of touch. The Good Ol’s Boys Network is no longer in vogue.
4. But the Number One reason we cannot endorse Jack Murtha is the very reason he says he’s the best candidate: his power, or least the voters’ perception of his power. He claims he has earned his coveted Top Dog position through a 34-year history as a Congressman. Which is the problem. Greene County is a stellar example of the power of Good Ol’ Boys like Jack who threaten to throw you to the proverbial dogs if you don’t pay to play. In fact, he has been dubbed the “King of Pork” for his tendency to throw money at oddball projects in his district–the pet projects of Democratic committee people (like the Foundry in Rices Landing, used once a year by people from Pittsburgh). But somebody’s paying for all that fat: YOU. How ‘bout that bailout?
Here’s an example of what certainly appears to be power abuse: Murtha’s campaign is claiming that Russell’s Hot Dog Day fundraiser for Fisher House, a military charity, was not endorsed by them and that Russell stole their logo. When GreeneSpeak asked about this, Russell’s campaign produced a letter of permission from Fisher House. Russell’s people figure Murtha exercised his considerable power over this charity to get them to pressure the Russell campaign and make him look bad. Russell’s position is no comment, as he doesn’t want to hurt the charity. Oh, and the donation amounts to $10,000 for Fisher House from the hot dogs, apparently the wrong kind of pork....
Second, we UN-endorse state Rep. Bill DeWeese because:
1. We cannot endorse the person who has been at the top while the General Assembly has been scrambling to CYA over the Legislative Pay Raise Scandal two years ago and now the Bonusgate Scandal. DeWeese’s’ righthand man, Mike Manzo, has been indicted and called a “kingpin” in this. Does Bill really expect us to believe that he did not have daily contact with Manzo and was completely in the dark here? What are we, stupid rednecks? We’ve never been called THAT before. (See #2, above). We resent Bill for corrupting his staff (or allowing them to be corrupted), many of whom are local folks.
2. We cannot endorse Bill because he never makes mistakes. Even God reconsiders his design from time to time. Recall Noah and the Flood. Bill, like Jack, never offers any apology or “oops, maybe I used poor judgement.” He has not been charged with any crime, but allow us to wax proverbial and say that it is CRIMINAL that he’s been in the driver’s seat of the legislature while the wheels have been wobbling off one by one.
3. Like our UN-endorsement of Jack Murtha, the Number One Reason we cannot endorse Bill DeWeese is his much self-touted clout. More than any other single person, we believe “Dollar Bill” DeWeese has encouraged and exploited the Good Ol’ Boy mentality which keeps community leaders, public officials, nonprofits, and even industry, under his direct control, for fear of losing jobs or grant money or legislative sway. The oppressive atmosphere perpetrated daily on Main Street, Waynesburg and in municipalities all over Greene County, has taken three decades of sowing on the part of Bill and all those he has made promises to. He’s doing too much CYA here and in Harrisburg among the folks he owes. So where does that leave the rest of us? We say, it’s time to plough under the dried up sticks and plant some new seeds.
As Murtha’s campaign says: INTEGRITY MATTERS
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[POSTED OCT. 22, 2008
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BUSY REPUBLICANS
The Greene County Republican Committee is definitely on the move these days.
Shown above right, a group of volunteers pause for a photo around the McCain "Straight Talk Express" bus which stopped by Greene County the same day McCain came to Pittsburgh.
Volunteer Republican Victory Office Manager Mary Sue Crayne said the center, located in the Waynesburg Subway Plaza, is open weekdays from 11-8.
Dozens of folks are coming in to pick up signs and buttons and shirts, Crayne said, adding that volunteers are needed on Saturdays to go door to door and also on Election Day.
For more information, contact Rich Yeager, chairman of the Greene County Republican Committee at yeagers1@windstream.net.
Also pictured above are, Bill Russell (R), top left, who is challenging Jack Murtha for Congress, and state Rep. Mike Taurzai(R-Allegheny), bottom left, who is raising money to oust our own state Rep Bill DeWeese. Both men spoke at last weekend's Republican fall dinner.
BILL RUSSELL (www.williamrussellforcongress.com)
A retired Army Lt. Colonel, Russell says Murtha's now infamous remarks about several Marines, all of whom have been cleared except one, "hurt every American serving in uniform."
Russell, who lives in Johnstown, adds, "a veteran lawmaker in touch with the military would never have made that accusation" in the first place.
He calls Murtha a "Washington insider that supports Washington's lack of values....with 30 years of pork...Pork doesn't create jobs."
Russell says he is pro-life, pro traditional marriage, pro 2nd Amendment, thinks parents should have choices regarding their children's education and that the Constitution should be protected and upheld as written.
He also opposes taxes and wants to eliminate the death tax. Earmarks should be ended, as well, he says, noting, "If it's a good enough project, let's get it out in the open and vote on it."
Additionaly, he thinks our borders should be protected from illegal immigrants.
Energy independence is crucial and not that hard, Russell said. There's enough fuel in the U.S "to produce 100 million gallons of liquid fuels annually for the next 700,000 years."
Committed to our national security, Russell says the military should "use every tool in the tool box" against terrorists over THERE to keep them from coming over HERE.
MIKE TAURZI (www.repturzai.com)
Elected state Rep. of the 28th District in 2001, Mike Taurzi says it's time to clean up the "Harrisburg cesspool."
The "big shots," he says, led by Gov. Ed "Spendell" just want to spend our money.
"We need to get rid of the big shots like DeWeesse and put in people who are repsectful of your hardearned dollars and cut taxes," he added.
"Greg Hopkins is an everyday guy," Taurzai says. "He gets it."
Taurzai thinks there is too much government intervention in Pa. "Ask DeWeese how many private jobs he got for people here...you can't grow government and the private sector at the same time."
Taurzai says he wants integrity in government and real reform. DeWeese's much-touted measure to stop voting after 11 p.m "is not real reform," he added.
"This gambling thing is nuts," Taurzai added, particularly in regard to the ill-fated Pittsbrugh area casino.
"The DeWeese/Hopkins race is the Number One targeted race," he said. "If he can get away with being re-elected, I'm not sure where Pennsylvania is going."
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On a related note, if I seem to be supporting the Republicans, please note the following:
1. While GreeneSpeak is nonpartisan, I think we need CHANGE, and of course I tend to empathazie with the underdog more than the "power players." You know, the REAL people, like most of us are!
2. I believe in voting for the candidate, not the party.
3. I also beieve that doing what you know is right should trump party loyalty EVERYTIME. (I am a registered Democrat).
4. The local Democrats never invite me to anything. Heck, the commissioners won't even send me press releases with just general information for the good of their constituents, which I believe is in violation of my First Amendment rights as a newspaper publisher. The Republicans, especially Rich Yeager, Wayne Hart, Albina Olson, and some Team Hopkins members keep me updated and always invite me to cover their events. I must say DeWeese and Murtha always invite me to their events, even though I criticize them off and on.
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[POSTED OCT. 9, 2008
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The FLAP
THE CHANGELESS
Had no idea that my comments about Our Dollar Bill would end up on the front page of today's Post-Gazette. It's okay; it's what I said: People who support Bill DeWeese will support him, no matter what, with the exception of his being convicted of a violent crime.
Bill of course, hasn't been charged with anything, but things are getting murkier all the time. Of course his former chief of staff is disgruntled, but I just don't think Manzo would get on the stand and take on Bill for no reason other than retaliation, especially if Bill is the powerhouse that he claims to be.
It's not for me to decide, but as a newspaper publisher, I AM allowed to write about it and comment on it, whether Bill's supporters like it or not. It's called Free Press and it's one of the foundation stones of America.
The first thing that goes down in an oppressive regime is the newspapers. Books are banned and burned. And then people are arrested and shot for speaking out.
Get on your knees and thank God that we're all allowed to speak out and write our opinions.
Thank God that a young fella' like Greg can get in there and give it a shot. He's made more progress than any Republican in Greene County since Ed Martin who was elected governor 50+ some years ago, I suspect.
If some of the folks in Greene County who have received state money or state jobs in the past several years had their way, NO ONE would be allowed to run against DeWeese. Ever. Now that's LOYALTY. Loyalty, however, is overrated.
I completely fail to understand why people think Bill is so personally responsible for any state money that comes to Greene County. HELLO GREENE COUNTY IS IN PENNSYLVANIA; HENCE GREENE COUNTY WILL GET WHAT IS ENTITLED TO OTHER PENNSYLVANIANS.
Our economic status has not changed in my lifetime. Nor have the major employers. Nor has the tourism industry. Nor has the population. Nor the Morrisville traffic bypass.
On the other hand, the environment is probably worse off than when Pittsburgh was under steel-mill smog. Longwall mining was in its infancy then.
I supsect there are more folks below the poverty level than ever before.
There has never been ONE NEW INDUSTRY OF ANY KIND in my lifetime. The recent gas drilling industry may be the exception, but it has little to do with Bill's political influence.
We have less police protection and more criminal issues than ever before. Every municipaity I've covered lately and many more are dealing with vandalism, dangerous truck traffic, speeding, and drugs. Citizens everywhere are asking for their own law enforcement officials.
Citizens are also asking for more oversight of local municipal governments. We have the Ehtics Commission of course, which bascially refuses to do anything unless an EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNT OF MONEY IS MISSING.
That's why you have some supervisors and council members acting cocky and insulting citizens who ask questions. That's why they're not keeping records of how much gas is being used, where the money is going, etc. That's how they vote on things without public input; how they can make a motion, have it seconded, and then not vote on it (really, this is happening). How they leave things out of the minutes if it makes them look bad. How they can put a loser back on council - without any public input - immediately after he has been voted out of office.
That's how they can stand up and read diatribes about fellow public officials, employees, even newspaper publishers, accusing these folks of slander and threats with no one moderating the meetings.
That's how they continue to ignore people with safety concerns; tree limbs ready to fall on homes; raw sewage leaking; trucks barreling through town; drag racing in the streets; dangerous dogs; slum landlords whose crumbling buildings house drug activity or other unwelcome activities.
My point is, VITURALLY NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER IN 50 YEARS HERE. How can anyone say that if Bill gets voted out of office, Greene County will go to hell?
It's already there!
I suppose it could get worse, but I think the worse that could happen is that things will continue on as the are, which is no different than at least the past 50 years. I live here because I love Greene Couty, warts and all, so I'm not saying love it or leave it, just be realistic!
And our local public officials have modeled themselves after the untouchable legislator, the King of Cocky, Our Dollar Bill, who ran unchallenged for most of the past 32 two years because no one DARED challenge him or ask any mean questions.
Well, it's a new day. Time and the courts will tell the truth regarding Bill's role in all of this, but he can never go back to the good ol' days of doing what you want when you want how you want and paying Peter to shut up Paul.
I hope you will make your voice heard on Nov. 4. Vote for the candidate of your choice and then God help you live with your decision.
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[POSTED OCT. 8, 2008
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The FLAP
Poor Dollar Bill, tossed about on the Black Sea of Politics
I'm not sure, but I think our Dollar Bill has not only been voted off the island but also is apparently being SET ADRIFT following Mike Manzo's testimony earlier today.
Manzo, his former chief of staff, says Bill knew about and even directed the bonuses for staff members who worked on his campaign when they were supposed to be doing their real jobs. (See the Post-Gazette story at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08282/918276-100.stm
Anyway, I am now awaiting some sort of statement from Bill DeWeese's office. Bill is to be holding some sort of press conference later today.
No charges yet. The Attorney General has said there will be no charges until after the election, but this development makes you wonder.
A reporter from the P-G had seen the GreeneSpeak website and loved my take on the Meet & Greet (shown at left), so she called me to see what I thought about it all. And I told her that short of murder or a heinous crime against a child, there are Diehards who will vote for Our Dollar Bill, no matter what.
The P-G reporter agrees that we might really see something happen here BEFORE the election. And lucky for GreeneSpeak readers, there is one more print edition which will be published the week before the election! Hopefully, I will have something to tell on this, one way or another.
In the meantime, anything I get will be posted RIGHT HERE.
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If you read the folowing story and think Jaden should have his dog back, send an email with CHOOSE *JADEN* in the subejct line to: humanegreene@windstream.net
I am still working on this, but am no longer forwarding e-mails to them. I figure if I keep it up much longer, the next thing they'll do is try to slap me with a harassment suit.
As I already said, I AM working to get some documents from the Humane Society. I'll keep you posted on that.
LITTLE DOG LOST
Judge upholds Humane Society's decision not to return dog to disabled preschooler
By Cindy Bailey, GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher
WAYNESBURG–Jaden Hayes is a blonde-haired boy of three who has shining dark eyes. He laughs a lot and he’s very active.
Right now this child, who suffers from erratic and severe epileptic seizures, knows only a handful of words, mostly, “Mommy,” “Daddy,” and “Puppy.” It’s this last one that causes in a lump in his mom Candy’s throat.
“Every night when he goes to bed, he says ‘puppy,’” she said as she sat in the GreeneSpeak office earlier this month, while in the midst of a court battle with the Humane Society of Greene County. The subject of the case is the little sandy-haired dog of mixed breed that once saved Jaden’s life by waking Candy from a sound sleep during one of his seizures. He was life-flighted to a nearby hospital and treated in time.
As Jaden explored the office, getting into things like most little kids, Candy described the first horrendous weeks of his life when he went from normal health to life-threatening illness within a few days.
What began as chronic diarrhea escalated to the point where the baby couldn’t keep anything down. He began having seizures and doctors told her he was experiencing “ bleeds” and blood clots in his brain. He suffered a stroke which paralyzed his left side.
Eventually he stabilized at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh where no one could really explain his condition despite a battery of tests. He began to tolerate a specialized formula and was sent home with a vague diagnosis of a “metabolic” disorder.
Meanwhile, Jaden’s father “couldn’t handle it,” Candy said and he left.
Fortunately, longtime friend Chuck Wolfe and his wife of Graysville, who already had a houseful of kids, took Candy and Jaden in, as well as her sister Dorthea Carter.
Candy Matusik admits that her situation is not your traditional 1950s style home with a husband, wife, 2.5 serene children, and a well-bred dog. Yet she is devoted to this family, who helped her and her small son when she had nowhere to go.
For all intents and purposes(not legally or biologically), she says, "Chuck is his dad.” Chuck is also dad to six of his own kids, one of who has autism, and foster dad to his half-brother, as well.
He speaks with concern about his own disabled son, as well as Jaden, who regresses every time he has a seizure. “He has to learn everything all over again,” Chuck says, which accounts for his limited vocabulary.
But he gets around remarkably well and wants to keep up with all the other kids in the house, most of whom are under the age of 10.
This is where Buffy comes in. Candy says the dog makes him want to walk even more when they put it on a leash.
Buffy was among a litter of mixed-breeds born in the spring; she is long like a “wiener” dog but sort of resembles a miniature collie otherwise.
In a household this size and with this much going on, most things are communal including the pups, but Dorthea had taken a liking to Buffy so Chuck said she could have her. Then Dorthea thought it would be nice to buy the license and tags for Buffy and present her back to the Wolfes for their toddler, Joshua.
As animals sometimes will do, Buffy somehow sensed that there was something different about Jaden, so she adopted him instead. They played together and slept together and the dog became a constant companion, something his physical therapist says was very good for him. In a letter, entered as an exhibit in court, the therapist wrote, “Jaden is very attached to this dog, and with all of his physical limitations, it is a positive relationship for him to be able to have.”
In August, Jaden went to visit his Grandma to give Candy a respite from his care. Chuck’s brother Robert Keller asked to watch Buffy during that time, since he owned one of the sibling pups, “Jack,” and thought they could play together.
According to Chuck, a disagreement arose between Robert and his wife about the dogs in the house, so after trying unsuccessfully to reach Chuck, Robert took the dogs to the Humane Society on Aug. 13.
Here the story gets complicated, (even the attorneys and judge were getting mixed up) so the events appear in a chronological list as follows:
•On Aug. 16, Mrs. Keller returned for Jack but did not pick up Buffy. The Humane Society did not request proof of ownership, only that she pay expenses for Jack’s stay.
•Meanwhile Robert had not been honest about where Buffy was, and Chuck and Candy were getting frantic.
•On Aug. 18, Dorthea, who had just moved to Waynesburg, went with a friend to the Humane Society to look at dogs and saw Buffy and told the staff it was “her dog,” but she didn’t ask for it.
•That evening she told Chuck about the dog and he left a message at the shelter which was closed.
•On Tues., Aug. 19, society director Jane Gapen said she knew Chuck had called but proceeded with plans to adopt the dog out.
•On Weds. Aug. 20 Chuck, Dorthea, and Candy went back, showed the dog license (still in Dorthea’s name), told Jaden’s story, and pleaded with them to have the dog back. They were told it had been adopted out. (It was actually at the vet’s being spayed).
•At around noon on Wednesday, Dorthea left a handwritten note for Craig Wise of the society board at his office with her concerns.
•The three returned later on Wednesday and Dorthea stayed behind while Chuck and Candy consulted attorney Mary Pruss.
•Craig went to the shelter late in the day and apparently he and Dorthea had an argument, although their testimony in court diverged. Wise, Gapen, and kennel manager Anita Jaggie all say Dorthea cried and said she was “afraid” of Chuck and that she willingly surrendered her rights to the dog. She says Wise threatened to put her in handcuffs and throw her in jail and “tricked” her into signing the paper.
•Meanwhile Humane Society solicitor Dave Pollock had been consulted by Gapen and he advised her to return the dog.
•On Thurs., Aug 21, Chuck bought his own license for Buffy and returned to the shelter with Pruss and Candy to no avail, although Gapen had agreed to see if the other adoptive family would give the dog back.
•On Monday Aug. 25, Pruss filed an emergency petition in the court and the dog was returned to the shelter. Chuck and Dorthea then filed a complaint against the shelter.
•The hearings were completed Sept. 2 and on Sept. 5, the judge ruled that the Human Society “may deliver the dog in question to a person or person of its choosing.” He based his decision on the law which says that any unlicensed dog “unclaimed after 48 hours may be humanely killed or given to a humane society...”
Pruss was disappointed with the ruling. In a legal brief she filed Sept. 4, she concluded, “The Humane Society ignored the attachment that Buffy has for Jaden and Jaden has for Buffy. It is difficult to understand the coldness of heart towards a three-year-old child while purporting to care about a puppy.”
Though somewhat distraught over the situation, Chuck says his household is grateful for the support of family and the community, as well as the Attorney Pruss and GreeneSpeak.
Candy, her eyes red from crying when she heard the judge’s decision, echoed Chuck’s comments, but she asks, “I’d like to ask Ms. Gapen what do I tell my son when I put him to bed and he’s asking for his ‘puppy’ ?”
[EDITOR’S NOTE: As we noted at left, GreeneSpeak has launched an effort to reunite Jaden and Buffy. If you would like to help, please send an e-mail with CHOOSE *JADEN* in the subject line and e-mail it to cindy@greenespeak.com and we’ll forward it to the Humane Society as they come in. Or write the same message on a slip of paper and mail it to: GreeneSpeak, P. O., Box 1003, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Or drop it in our box at the office on 99 S. Washington St. in Waynesburg.
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[CLICK ON THE ABOVE AD TO PRINT OUT AND MAIL IN FOR GREENE COUNTY'S BEST ADVERTISING DEAL!]
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[POSTED SEPTEMBER 8, 2008]
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PUBLICATION DELAYED!
For the first time in GreeneSpeak's history I made the editorial decision to hold up publication until I learn the outcome of at least one court case, maybe two.
Have you been following the Humane Society story in the O-R? Chuck Wolfe and his family contacted me before the case went to court, asking me for help, so I've been talking with himm, his attorney, Humane Society officials, their attorney and also been attending the hearings. We're supposed to learn something today, Friday, Sept. 8th.
It takes a lot of work to try and get both sides, especially when one side isn't very friendly.
Please understand that GreeneSpeak has been a supporter of the Humane Society and continues to firmly believe in their purpose and necessity in Greene County, but everyone makes mistakes...admitting them is the hard part.
As you well know, we fight for the UNDERDOG (pun intended)when we believe they are not being adequately heard, because the more traditional media tend to tell everythiing from the public officials' point of view, crowding out the voices, views, and hearts of the people!
Let's just say GREENESPEAK will cover this story LIKE
NO OTHER MEDIA. Please be patient and understanding with this harried, hassled newspaper publisher.
I am also covering the Britnee Moore preliminary hearing which was set for today. I haven't heard that it's been continued or anything. You recall that this girl was driving the car that hit and killed Hope Maley head-on in March 2007 near Spraggs. Tragic case, all around, but as I've said before if I hit someone head-on and killed them, the victim's family, as well as the citizens of the commonwealth, would deserve some answers.
PLEASE SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS TO THE GREENE SCREAM PAGE REGARDING ANY TOPIC.
I have several backed up and plan to post them later today.
Wish me luck!
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[POSTED JULY 17, 2008]
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THEATER OF THE ABSURD CONTINUES ITS AMAZING RUN
So anyway, I find it curious that GCCYS Director Lori Harbert has been transferred to that same position in Washington County even as the investigation of Baby T. is SUPPOSEDLY going on. Recall that Harbert was allegedly the person who practically yanked Baby T. from her mother's arms last fall.
I can't get any word on what's going on, if anything, regarding Baby T., and I have to tell you that I am skeptical of anything ever happening to bring justice to this toddler.
Apparently the local politicians and/or political appointees here have gotten to Mr. Richard Gold, the state deputy secretary of the DPW, who wrote me personally and guaranteed that an investigation would commence.
He came here and met with some foster/adopt/birth parents last week, but not before he rudely and unprofessionally told me to, uhm, GET OUT. All of those folks, with a couple of exceptions, asked me to be there for at least part of that meeting.
As soon as I said my name, I could see he was loaded for bear. After all, he had spent the day with the fine folks at Greene County CYS, who gave him an earful about me and the other nutcases he was about to meet with. TOO BAD SOMEONE THIS HIGH UP CAN'T THINK FOR HIMSELF. OH WELL, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? THEY TREAT BABIES LIKE CHATTEL, SO HOW TO DO THINK THEY WILL TREAT TROUBLEMAKERS??????
Really, Mr. Gold, for all his fancy pants, is not too smart. What is the first thing a political appointee like him should learn? TREAT THE PRESS WITH CARE, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A WHOLE LOT MORE INK, WHITE SPACE, AND CYBERSPACE THAN YOU.
But Mr. Gold was RUDE, UNPROFESSIONAL, and told me to get off the property. Who is he to tell me to get off pubic property? He violated my constitutional rights, plus he pissed of all the people in the meeting, most of whom had already told me their stories which have been printed in GreeneSpeak. This ain't over, believe me....
Anyway, Washington County can have the compassionate Ms. Harbert for all I care. She certainly created (or helped greatly to create) an atmosphere of intimidation here in Greene County, according to the dozens of parents I have talked with.
Fortunately, I have some contacts in Washington County who can keep me informed of her shenanigans there....
On another note, don't you just love Bill DeWeese's comment in the O-R today about Angela Bertugli who "is blessed with one of the finest families among all of my acquaintances"?????????
BILL, METHINKS THE TRUE COLORS OF YOUR PETTICOAT ARE SHOWING....
Boy, Bill sure must be SCARED TO DEATH of Pam Snyder, our fine commission chairwoman and first cousin of Angela's late father (See below for more of "Bonus Babe's" political family members). All I can say is OH MY GOD, DOES BILL THINK WE'RE IDIOTS????????????
And then there is the righteous letter to the editor from Bill Northrop, retired co-publisher of the O-R, "Finally, they got caught," who brags about his and the O-R's role in the open records laws, etc.
Mr. Northrop's family was among the founders of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association which once was located on this side of the state. The PNA, long since relocated to Harrisburg, has become a powerful lobbyist at the State Capitol. Lobbyists, as you know, schmooze with politicians in order to get their slant written into legislation.
Newspapers, as you know, need ad money and powerful friends. Large and mid-sized newspapers with bloated payrolls, like the O-R, are IN THE TOILET right now because of their greedy grab for ad revenue to OVERPAY their executives and to hire staff who DO NOTHING but kiss public officials' backsides.
Do you see a connection here as to why the mainstream media often is biased in favor of public officials as opposed to the common people?
GreeneSpeak is a member of the PNA and we largely support their efforts, but you always have to be aware of the big picture and remember that EVERYONE has an agenda....Mine is THROW THE BUMS OUT and JUSTICE FOR THE UNDERDOG!
CHECK OUT THE GREENE SCREAM PAGE FOR MORE FUN STUFF TODAY.
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[POSTED JULY 12, 2008] 2:30 p.m.
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Okay, so I just found out that Angela's brother, Chris, is on the PA Gaming Board. Type in his name and you will see he was hired as an "investigator" in 2006. But surely all these related folks getting great PA government jobs isn't political or nepotistic or anything, do you think?
Unfortunately the other newspapers out east are making fun of Ms. Bertugli's former reign as Miss Rain Day. She is being called the "Bonus Babe" etc. Too bad for innocent kids who want to wear that crown or who have worn it. Too bad for well-meaning volunteers who are trying to do put on this pageant for downtown Waynesburg, but unfortunately this year's pageant will be TAINTED with the smell of this ugly scandal.
On the other hand, we have a Bertugli as the president or co-president of the Rain Day Pageant this year and the committee has decided to snub GreeneSpeak, removing us from the media list and not participating with us this year, even though they always have and even though we always rent a booth there, and we ALWAYS cover both before and after the event with tons of photos. We HOPE it's nothing political that they refuse to send us press releases. Do YOU think it is????????
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[POSTED JULY 12, 2008]
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'UNTOUCHABLES' ARE GOIN' DOWN!
By Cindy Bailey, GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher and Greene County Pubic Official's Biggest Pain in the You-Know-What
Regarding Bonusgate, don't you just love Mike Manzo's photo on the front page of the O-R? I recall having met this cocky little smooth talker a number of times. That expression on his face today isn't remorse or agony; he's just pissed off that they actually had the gall to put him in cuffs.
That's why he worked so well in PA politics: he definitely had a bloated vision of himself as some kind of untouchable and he managed to bamboozle a lot of other people under him to believe the same thing about themselves.
It's a sad day for the state of PA, but the COMMON PEOPLE WHO PAY ALL THEIR SALARIES HAVE BEEN VINDICATED!
I don't figure too many of them will see jail time, but at least they won't be around the legislature anymore.
I loved how the O-R would not mention Angela Bertugli's name yesterday, but they were forced into it today because the Philly Inquirer plastered her face on THEIR front page.
So what does the O-R do? The QUOTE the Inquirer in a little gray box WITH NO BYLINE. Now, you couldn't expect any of Greene County's reporters to take the heat for that one, could you?
You mean they can't write their own story about a Greene County native with a Greene County political name who's grandpap Remo was longtime sheriff and only recently resigned as Rices Landing Mayor?
Not to mention that Remo Jr. and Commissioner Pam Snyder were cousins. Remo, Jr. was a longtime school board member at Jeff-Morgan and football coach at West Greene.
Now, I'm not implying that Pam or the elder Remo had anything to do with any of this, but don't you suppose that the girl thought she was untouchable since she had such an old respected NAME?
Perhaps her name will keep her out of jail???????????
OF COURSE, the O-R wouldn't want to do anything to hurt Pam Snyder's little delicate feelings. How can the O-R continue to be her personal pep squad if they are picking on her relations?
You know, she might cause them to lose some ads and we all know that the O-R, like every other bloated print newspaper in America, IS LOSING THEIR SHORTS these days.
But THE SMALL, FREE, ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS LIKE **GREENESPEAK** ARE KICKING EVERYONE ELSE'S BUTT JUST BECAUSE WE TRY LIKE HELL TO GET TO THE TRUTH (See today's first Greene Scream for more on that) and we write ALL LOCAL STORIES AND COMMENTARY.
My God, but the people in charge here sure do run the other newspapers....TOO BAD THEY CAN'T RUN GREENESPEAK, but they sure as heck are working to block my every move
You see, they can control all the people on the public payroll, even a little weenie DPW Secretary of the state CYS, BUT THEY CANNOT CONTROL THE PEOPLE.
They cannot control all the families who have come forward voluntarily to report on what happened to them in regards to GCCYS. THIS AIN'T OVER!
As I have said for months now, in my mind, I have an image of a little toddler I call "Baby T" and she represents ALL those kids who have not had a chance to become a part of a normal family or to return to their own family because some little weenie bureaucrat who has over 20 years in the offices here says "THESE KIDS ARE MINE AND YOU AREN'T GETTING THEM."
No, it's not over. NOT EVEN CLOSE!
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