Published: November 26, 2008 11:41 am            

READERS' FORUM 11/27 | Value of stream buffers can’t be denied

I was confused by the recent commentary on stream buffer legislation (Nov. 21, “Buffer wrong prescription for state’s economy, environment”). Why would we want legislators to oppose a proposal that could help prevent flooding, prevent the loss of human life, and save money?

As anyone living near a Pennsylvania waterway knows, flooding has taken its toll in more ways than one. Expenses, financial and otherwise, associated with flooding are high. Adequate stream buffers help to prevent this.

They also help to reduce human health costs by trapping pollution away from our waterways and reducing costs from land lost to unnatural erosion.

While addressing agricultural runoff into waterways is another important pollution policy, it is not an excuse to ignore the cost-saving role of stream buffers in cleaning up our water.

Buffers can also lower storm-water-management costs, protect the tourism value of our streams and rivers, and even improve property values for homeowners.

In these economic times, good buffers are a valuable asset.

We should be careful to write our environmental policies to balance maximum benefits with lowest costs to Pennsylvania families and businesses. The proposal to establish 100-foot buffers is the right size for the job.

Kyle B. Gracey

Richland Township



Agent’s slaying took my breath away

FBI Special Agent Sam Hicks, a graduate of Pitt-Johnstown, was shot to death last week while serving a warrant to a cocaine drug pusher in suburban Pittsburgh. Does this affect other readers the way it does me? Can you grasp the idea?

A special agent shot to death in cold blood over cocaine. It is so vile, so horrendous, that it took my breath away.

To think that someone protecting cocaine has taken the life of a 33-year-old man doing his job; the coldness of this act has shaken me.

We are all unsafe as long as our country allows these cocaine drug lords, dealers and buyers/users to operate so easily.

These people are lying, cheating criminals who push cocaine and make money while the rest of us work hard for a living.

Betty Sherry

St. Michael



Boy Scout food drive netted 4,600 items

I would like to thank the residents of Richland Township and Geistown Borough for the generous donations of food during our annual Good Turn Food Drive.

More than 4,600 food items were collected and donated to the Park Avenue Food Pantry.

Your generosity is greatly appreciated and will help many families in need.

Brandon H. Rager

Boy Scout Troop 100, Richland Township



In Johnstown, we take care of each other

Yes, we will sink or swim together, and I prefer swimming (regarding Andy Lasky’s Nov. 23 column).

A small story about the Johnstown area:

On the evening of Nov. 20, around 5 p.m., I was on my way to a speaking engagement at a restaurant in Windber when my car experienced engine problems.

I called an auto garage and within 10 minutes help arrived, It was suggested to me that I not drive the vehicle.

I then called the dealership where I had bought the car and arrangements were quickly made for a rental for my use.

The owner of the Windber restaurant promptly drove me to Richland to pick up the vehicle. All of this happened in 45 minutes.

Let me ask this question: Where else in this wonderful country could this happen?

This is the true Johnstown mentality.

We all need to change the way we think. This is one of the most beautiful areas of the country.

Wake up and smell the coffee. Stop listening to all of the negative media hype.

We all need to support local businesses and the local musicians. There is tremendous talent here.

I thank all of these folks for their help. And yes, thank you, Andy.

W. Jeffrey Carey

Berlin



Still waiting for ‘An American Carol’

Why have both local theaters carried the fictional movie “W,” but not the political spoof “An American Carol”?

Now that the election is over, will we get to see it?

Matt Wensel

Johnstown

        

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