VERIFY GALTY!

Becky

Shepherds and Cottage pie are English.

Shepherds is made with mutton.

Cottage is made with beef.

A Little known fact is Haggis is English as well.

Any one connected with Talkback could you please ask them to verify me, no way a foreigner can be verified with their system

This comment in from my wonderful English friend, galty.

    Consider it done, galty!  Skillz on Talkback, please verify him!  He is the best and has been on Talkback for as long as I can remember!

    How are they “verifying” people?  Does anyone know?

    I will have to google haggis.  It’s not something gross, is it?

Please check back later today…

FORUM WARS!

     Really? I was banned? Hmmm…

Posted by “thebirdman” on the Lancaster Online Trashback forum today.

    Yes, really you were banned!  It says “banned” right next to your name.   It only took until noon!

    It is guaranteed that when a new forum starts up (or starts over, as in this case), that “The cRoW” will show up in one variation or another.  A reader sent a comment to this site about what is on this sick person’s blogspot and I did not publish it.  Sorry, I just don’t want anyone getting curious and making the mistake of going there.  You aren’t missing a thing and he will give your computer viruses and harass you.   

    So, how did LNP do with the big re-launch of their forum?  Not very well.  They kept up with them over at LancTalk.com (click here).  And those who moved to the statewide TalkPa.net forum for fluff and nonsense indicated they would not be returning.

    And they have a “Members Only” section that includes a recipe thread!  What a hoot!  Darn, I guess I’ll be getting my good eats elsewhere!

    There will be much more on all of this tomorrow.

It’s 7:00 am.  Where is Talkback?

Please check back later today.

TALK AIN’T CHEAP

    TalkBack, the online reader-comment forum, is returning to LancasterOnline.com after a four-month hiatus.
From today’s article, “LancasterOnline’s TalkBack forum to return Tuesday,” (click here).
      So LNP finally realized how much money they lost when they suddenly shut down the forum in late April!  People who love the news and forums have moved on.  Will LNP be able to recapture the posters they once had?

Please check back later today.

WE DESERVE ANSWERS!

    “Citydweller” on LancTalk.com “broke” the story about the city’s horrible new “brand” – the ugly logo (the orange “rose”) and dreadful “slogan” (“A City Authentic”) – with a poll and post on August 11 (click here).  Let me state that I was the second poster after Citydweller on the same date and made this brilliant post:

    Holy crap! That is awful!  Really awful!  OMG!

    Shelley Castetter who has a political website, LancasterExpress.com, which publishes infrequently, broke the story about the stolen, trademarked rose on the same forum.  She posted today that she would like a lawyer, because LNP did not give her any credit in this morning’s article, “’A city authentic’ logo turns out to be a trademarked classic,” (click here).

    Another poster said this in response:

    In regards to other journalistic outlets stealing your story…welcome to the real world.
    Once you break a story, it is fair use.

    Absolutely.  What’s more – you want others to write about the story so it reaches more people – the more people who know about it the better!  Isn’t that the whole point?

    Should LNP have given her or the forum a mention?  Yes, I think mentioning the forum and the fact it has been a controversy for weeks with almost everyone disapproving of the new “brand” would have added to the story. 

    Does LNP have to?  Absolutely not in this case.  They didn’t use any of her quotes and the author, Bernard Harris, called and got his own information and quotes.  And the media beat goes on.

    I have been publishing almost daily for six years and the first time this site was ever mentioned by name in LNP was several months ago  when I addressed the Pennsylvania Game Commission over the Stormy Girl situation.  That story, like this story – are the kind you want as many media outlets as possible to pick up on and cover.

    The main point now is to keep the pressure up.  Follow up on the story and continue to ask questions until somebody does something about this debacle.  This situation needs to be rectified immediately.

     For Mayor Gray and others to do this with no public input, in fact without anyone’s knowledge, and to just suddenly spring it on the public is outrageous.  We need to know who’s responsible and how much money was spent on this disaster.

    So stay after them, Shelley, and keep reporting on it.  Who knows, WGAL may pick it up and the Associated Press and who knows where it might go from there?

    If LNP hadn’t finally covered this story, everyone would be outraged by their lack of coverage.  Now they’ve begun and we have to keep the pressure on to keep this story in the news because we deserve answers and that is the only way we’re going to get them.  Keep it in the news!

A LOT OF MOXIE!

    It’s a very real possibility that they’ll be sued for copyright infringement if Dard Hunter Studios finds out about it. Then they won’t have a choice about using it. That’s a serious legal violation. I honestly can’t believe anyone in their right mind would do something like this!

Posted on the LancTalk.com forum (click here).

    Oh, I think they’ll find out about it!  This is really just unbelievable!  It’s already on YouTube – click here.

    Moxie House has a lot of ’splainin to do. And if the newspaper doesn’t touch it, then once more it will prove itself as a big ol’ advertising circular and nothing else.

Part of a comment into this site.

    Where is the Lancaster Newspaper’s coverage on this debacle? 

    I have the sense that the Lancaster PA city brand is destined to become an orphan. This is shaping up as another case study of what not to do in city branding. They seem to have broken or ignored many of the basic rules in brand planning for cities. And let’s not even start on the whole notion of “A City Authentic.”

From “Small City Branding Around the World,” (click here).

    Please check back later today for the contest winners and more!

A LOVE OF NEWS

    Today came the surprising news that John Buckwalter, chairman of the Lancaster Newspapers, died yesterday while on vacation (click here).  He looked robust and healthy in the photos and videos I saw of him in the last several years involving the convention center.  I had the impression, and I believe it’s true, that he worked at LNP every day.  I did not know that he was 79-years-old or that his entire career – 64 years - was spent at LNP.

    I understand the love of news.  I remember the very first night I worked as a stringer for the Intell.  I fell in love with newspapers and news.  Today, I would change that to just say I love the news.   

    I haven’t bought a newspaper in years.  I subscribe to LNP’s e-Editions and I enjoy seeing the placement of the articles in the paper version.  I just wonder how long they can afford to put out the “paper” version – and thus, sadly, whether there will be full e-Editions much further down the road.

    That is a story for another day.  LNP has lost another of their leaders, following the death of Caroline Nunan several weeks ago, and my condolences go out to the Buckwalter family and his LNP co-workers.  No matter how I feel about LNP, it is a sad day for those of us who love the news.

NO APOLOGY!

    Well, the commenters say I do not need to apologize to DA Craig Stedman and after some thought, I think they are correct.  I wrote the piece, “UNACCEPTABLE” that is reprinted below, before we knew about the Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse charges that were filed against Troy Stewart and Lauren Reed, who partied with Scott Mcquilkin on the night of his death.  Maybe the DA was correct in keeping those details hush until after the autopsy and the arrests. 

    But keeping a community scared and in the dark was not acceptable.  Release enough information so people feel safe in their homes, for crying out loud! 

    And while the IDSI may be the cause for his sealing the search warrant, I still believe that Heather Martin and her mother were protected by law enforcement – and the Lancaster Newspapers – who barely named Martin and certainly did not publish her connection to the most powerful person in West Cocalico Township. 

    LIP News will stay on this story.

UNACCEPTABLE!

 This comment in early this afternoon:

      Heather Martin is Norma Enck’s daughter who runs West Cocalico Twp.  Hmm is that why it was so low on details?

    Yes, Heather Martin, who leases the apartment at 200 Creamery Road where Scott McQuilkin’s body was found early Saturday afternoon, is the daughter of Norma Enck, the Manager, Secretary and Treasurer of West Cocalico Township.

    It would appear this is why Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman sealed the search documents, was very slow in releasing names and made absurd statements like this one to the Lancaster Newspapers with no further explanation:

    “Based upon the information we have at this time, Scott McQuilkin was familiar to Heather Martin, although they may not have ever met,” Stedman said.

    The East Cocalico Police who investigated the death also released no information.

    A 32-year-old man was found dead on Saturday afternoon and the word “homicide” was repeatedly used and yet the DA and the police still have not released any details, including the name of Martin’s friend who apparently came with McQuilkin to the apartment, left him there and returned to find him dead.  It is also assumed she is the one who called the police.

    The only basic pieces in this puzzle were provided by Jenni Joyce of CBS-21 (see this morning’s story immediately below).

    This is simply unacceptable.  Neighbors were concerned and scared and no information was released.  Stedman needs to provide valid reasons for sealing public documents and allowing the public to speculate and live in fear for four days. 

     He also needs to release all of the details, including the friend’s name, as soon as possible.  I don’t care who Heather Martin’s mother is and those immediately affected and those scared and touched by this death don’t either.  They want answers.  They deserve answers.  They deserved answers days ago.

    The response by law enforcement on this case is unacceptable on all levels. 

RUNNING ON EMPTY?

    The comments without names have been for the most god, but some, well, haven’t been published, But until Thursday, I’m not going to be posting posts without a name or initials.

An opening sentence from Barry Ford’s blogspot, “Columbia Talk,” (click here). 

    Barry, Barry, Barry!  You used to be the editor of the Columbia Ledger?  Who checked your copy? 

    In this one (run-on) sentence there’s a huge spelling mistake and multiple grammatical errors and your intended meaning is lost in this muck.  This is ridiculous!  Everyone makes mistakes but this is an embarrassment and sets a bad example for everyone reading your blog. 

    For God’s sake, have someone check your posts before you publish!

ACTING LIKE GOD? 

    The reporter wasn’t there to witness the events - and all he can report is what he gets told, and what he can read in the police report.
    The prosecutor needs to investigate further. The cop obviously has filed a fictitious report.

Posted on the LancTalk.com forum under the LNP article, “City man charged with assaulting police officer,” (click here and click here for the article).

    As predicted, there is no further information on this arrest in the Lancaster Newspapers today (see “LOOK FOR THE FISH!” below).  A young man who turned 18 two weeks ago is incarcerated in Lancaster County Prison and his life has changed forever.

    Police Office Todd Grager has not given a legitimate reason why Johnson allegedly pushed him and tried to punch him.  This will be interesting to follow and LIP News will do so.

Please check back later today…

WHAT’S YOUR NAME?

    that location would be the Lancaster City garage and maintenance facility.
    so he probably was a City employee.
    city worker tries to punch out township cop.
    interesting.
    what the article leaves out is as interesting as what it left in.

Posted today on the LancTalk.com forum under the LNP article, “City man charged with assaulting police officer,” (click here).

    And there is this:

    Very poorly written article.  I’m wondering if the reporter did indeed report all the facts that were later edited out.  

    For once, I am going to defend the Lancaster Newspapers.  I think this is all the information the police gave them.  There also may be more added to this story by tomorrow’s paper – and there should be.

    This is the kind of police report that absolutely should be followed up on and that is what LNP does so rarely.  Review the arrest warrant.  Drive to the garage – yes (gasp!) - drive to the garage and get more information about the incident and both parties involved.

    Call or drive – yes (gasp!) - drive to the young man’s house who was arrested and learn all that you can from anyone else living there. 

    There are always two sides to a story – and far too often - we only get the police version.  It is the job of the press to hold the police accountable and that means doing a whole lot more than publishing the police log. 

    When something smells fishy – look for the fish!

A POSTIVE DIFFERENCE?

     “Newspaper heiress.”  I used those words as a headline for Carolyn Steinman Nunan this morning.  Those words are now ironic and a piece of history.  Newspapers are dying every day – and those vast sums of money made by their owners in the 1900’s are a thing of the past in the 21st century.

    I obviously did not know Ms. Nunan and I’m sure she was an educated and charming woman.  She certainly had a tremendous amount of money – and power.  That power is reflected in Mayor Rick Gray’s highly unusual move of ordering flags at half-staff in her honor.

    On the TalkPa.net forum this question was asked:

    Is this appropriate? Is it appropriate that the flag be ordered to be lowered by a city mayor for a newspaper owner and community activist?
    I know nothing of the woman or her deeds and I mean no disrespect to her when I am asking these questions.

    To which a poster responded:

    I guess it’s appropriate when the newspaper owns the local politicians.

    Bingo.  There you have it.  The Lancaster Newspapers and the Steinman family have controlled just about everything in Lancaster County for years.

    They supported everyone who was white, conservative Republican and supporters of the status quo.  The racism in their company is deeply rooted, seemingly impenetrable and remains to this day.  The racism and inequalities in life and justice in Lancaster County can be traced directly to this newspaper company and its owners.

     Artie See sent this comment in:

    I have no doubt that Ms. Nunan did many things to support and promote the arts and humanities.  But what did she do to make a positive difference in the lives of poor and working class people, who make up the overwhelming majority of the population of Lancaster City?

    What indeed?  This is what a newspaper is supposed to do.  Very few people outside of the wealthy and privileged and arts community knew her name or felt her largesse. 

    In this waning age of newspapers, the Steinman family’s control over Lancaster County is finally fading – like the term “newspaper heir” or “heiress” – into the history books.  This can only be a good thing for Lancaster County.

WEALTH & PRIVILEGE

    Caroline Steinman Nunan, newspaper publisher, philanthropist and community leader, was a remarkable person.

    She was not exceptional because of her birthright wealth and privilege, but because she deeply cared about Lancaster County and its residents and used her status in society to promote their welfare.

From today’s New Era editorial, “Nunan’s service knew no bounds.”

    To be truthful, Ernie Schreiber should say she promoted the welfare of some and certainly not others.  Yes, she had birthright wealth and privilege, that’s for certain.  Does that justify Mayor Gray’s order that flags in the city be lowered to “half-staff” in her honor (click here)?

Please check back later today…

TOO MANY CHIEFS?

Ernie Schreiber

    Charles Raymond Shaw has been named executive editor of the Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era.
The opening sentence to today’s front page story, “Shaw is named executive editor,” (click here).

    Hmmm…he already was the editor.  There’s a reason you publish stories like this – not to mention putting it on the front page – big changes are coming.

    How much longer will they continue to have two editorial pages?  What exactly does Ernie Schreiber, the former editor of the New Era and currently listed as the online editor, do?   They lost their online presence when they took down the Trashback forum!

    How much time do you spend on Lancaster Online these days?

Please check back later today…

* I am going to leave it at this today.  I am simply astonished that LNP has been blatantly discriminating and breaking the law for years and nothing has been done about it.  Nothing!

THE ELEPHANT

 IN THE ROOM!

    For starters, the commission is able to observe patterns of inquiries and complaints. If a few entities seem to have multiple incidents and questionable practices, that can be noted by the commission. There is an opportunity to approach the potential respondent with an offer for education, training and voluntary remedial action. If offenses, real or perceived, were not intentional, the organization can take steps to modify and amend its approach to doing business in order to stay in compliance with the law. This by no means favors potential respondents; rather, it affords the opportunity for employees and others to enjoy a discrimination-free environment while saving entities the costs of litigation and possible penalties.

The Rev. Louis A. Butcher Jr. in today’s Sunday News column, “A case for the commission.”

    The biggest entity with multiple incidents and questionable practices in Lancaster County is the Lancaster Newspapers and everyone knows it.  So why hasn’t something been done?

Please check back later today…

SHUTTING DOWN JUSTICE

CNN, “Police seek tips in teacher’s 1992 slaying,” (click here).

“Thaddeus Stevens would have been ashamed of Lancaster County Commissioners Stuckey and Martin.”

Charlie Crystle, “Shutting Down Justice,” (click here) and click here for this morning’s article, “Fate of county Human Relations Commission discussed at meeting.”

    It is not known whether human imprinting can be erased and the finch can be released back to the wild, as Game Commission officials said they preferred, or whether it will remain in captivity, perhaps to be used for educational purposes.

Today’s article by Ad Crable, “Game Commission doesn’t budge on bird,” (click here).

Please check back later today.

* I’m keeping this as the lead story today.

THEY HAVE TO ANSWER!

    Protesters, who think the agency should not have taken the bird from Pati Mattrick even though it’s against the law to keep protected wildlife as pets, plan to picket outside the agency Monday morning and to speak at the meeting.

    Mattrick said Wednesday that she plans to attend and make a statement to the game commissioners.

    “I’ve resigned myself that I’ll never see Stormy again,” she said. “My goal is to see things change.

    “It was just unacceptable, and it was just unnecessary to treat me the way they did.

    “I think there should be some stipulations in the law, but I understand that would encourage people to do the same thing I did, and I understand that.

    “I don’t like the fact that they don’t seem to have to answer to anybody.”

Ad Crable in today’s article, “Cutler pushes for limits on game commission.” (click here).

PGC PROTEST!

Friends, Monday, June 28 , at 8:00 a.m. we will picket outside the PGC offices, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, as members arrive for their Board Meeting. We will then move inside to attend and speak during the public comment portion of the meeting. Please come out in support of Pati Mattrick and Stormy Girl! I realize the hour is not the most convenient, but we’ve come this far, please don’t give up! It is important we take this opportunity to tell the PGC board of directors exactly how we feel.
From the “HELP STORMY GIRL!” Facebook page (click here).
    Please join the group if you haven’t already and go to the “Events” section for more information. 

Please check back later today.

HIS CRAP DOES STINK!

    Why even give a crap about his guy. He is just another yuppie. You know the ones that have a college education and think their crap doesn’t stink.

Posted on the LancTalk.com forum under today’s article, “John Fry ‘found’ himself at F&M” (click here).

    What a hoot!  Who writes these headlines? I found myself with a website.  Who knew?

    And Fry is not your average yuppie.  I have three distinct reasons for having no respect whatsoever for Fry:

1.  His response to my family tragedy.  It is unconscionable that a private (expensive) liberal arts college continues to give an annual award named after an incest perpetrator.  Absolutely unconscionable!

2.  When his term was up on the Lancaster County Convention Center Board, Fry claimed he didn’t realize it and whined like a little boy.  It’s true.

3.  What Fry and his F&M security forces did to journalist Ron Harper, Jr.  Do you realize that in the ultimate irony, Fry banned Harper from F&M grounds while the ACLU was holding their annual, public meeting on F&M property? 

    The best of luck to Harper and his lawsuit.  This arrogant, spoiled man needs to learn an important lesson – well, several actually.  And Fry, your crap does stink to high heaven!

CRASH & BURN!

    Hey Becky… wow we really had a huge fire here this morning… About 2 miles away from my house… A Huge Brick million dollar house went up in smoke about 9:30 am… was about 27 fire trucks went past our house…. They even called out farmville…opps farmersville… fire companies… Went past tonight about 7 and it’s demolished …I think the owners live in Florida.. was a vacation house from what I’m hearing… I could hear the explosions from it here too….  Thank God no one got hurt that’s the main thing but it was sure exciting …

A comment into this site on April 9 about the fire that burned the Reinhart’s $2.4 million dollar home to the ground.

    Within one day of this post, friends found out the house was in foreclosure and the deep suspicion rose that it was arson (click here for “UNDER FIRE – 2!”).  Over two months later, the Lancaster Newspapers finally do a story about a man who is more than likely going to spend the rest of his life in jail (click here).

TAKING A STAND!

    This email in about yesterday’s post:

    Have you forgotten that Craig Stedman is the guy who railroaded Joy O’Shea?  What’s to like?

    I have not forgotten.  In fact, after I published that I might actually like/respect a Lancaster County official, I immediately drove myself to the hospital to have my head examined.

    Compared to his predecessor, Donald Totaro – now a judge, I have to say that Stedman is almost a breath of fresh air.  Stedman is willing to speak to the press.  He’s willing to express an opinion.  Totaro was a constant “no comment.” 

    His prosecution of Michael Roseboro was low key, damning and brilliant.  I obviously don’t commend him for decisions made about Joy O’Shea Woomer.  However, he did stand up to Dr. William Carter. 

    I know my saying that will anger many people.  Dr. Carter got a wrist slap for an admitted federal drug violation and death of his son and Woomer (who maintains that she is innocent and the prosecution never came close to proving she was in possession of morphine) was sentenced for years.  She has an appeal pending. 

Click here for JusticeforJoy.org.

Click here for today’s Sunday News opinion piece, “Doctor deserves apologies for abysmal treatment.”  Sorry, Dr. Price, I disagree.

P.S.  The results of the examination of my head will come tomorrow.   

CRASH & BURN!

    Gil Smart and the Sunday News finally figure out that something’s fishy in Denver (click here for “A CAR DEALER’S CRASH”).  “John Fry ‘found’ himself at F&M” (click here).  Is that a pun or what?  LOL!  Ron Harper, Jr. found Fry at F&M, too!  And I’m taking heat for yesterday’s post.

Please check back later today…

HELP STORMY GIRL!

    The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s confiscation of a house finch from an Elizabethtown woman who had saved it from certain death continues to generate protests, petitions and letters to the editor.

    Due to the volume of submissions, not all letters were printed.

    Now, many of the unpublished letters are available on LancasterOnline.com as part of a special collection.

Lancaster Online (click here).

    Thank you all that understand my pain and sorrow. Thank you for all that you are trying to do, God will bless each and everyone of you for your efforts. My eyes are still swollen from the many tears and I continue to pray that God’s will be done, not man.

Pati Mattrick posting on the “Help Stormy Girl” Facebook page (click here).

    Please join the Facebook page and keep the pressure on the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  I will republish names and phone numbers and email addresses tomorrow morning.  This ridiculous, heart-breaking situation can be reversed.

PROPS FOR PIDGEON?

    You should at least give Dave Pidgeon his props for posting in a nice manner.

A comment into this site.

    Okay, here are his props!  Under an article about Dave in this month’s Lancaster County Magazine, I begged for someone to send me a link to his story about being a house husband.  Pidgeon nicely sent this link and a link to a recipe for butterscotch-applesauce cake.  Hmmm…I just have a few comments about your story, Dave…

ONE STRANGE BIRD?

    And finally, on to what may be the strangest bird of them all: Ernie Schreiber.  Was he or was he not at Ron Harper’s press conference yesterday?  The mystery grows…

Please check back later today…

HART- NIBBRIG

COVERS HARPER!

    Ron Harper put on a 50 minute show today.  Chris Hart-Nibbrig, who was involved in the incident with F&M and Harper, covers it for NewsLanc and I am deferring to their coverage today (click here).  Jodi Wolff, who covered this for LIP News, was not familiar with Harper and his past activities (he talked about a wide range of “incidents” going back as far as 2002) and found the whole “press conference” extremely confusing.

    Harper’s presentation was on a small laptop she had trouble seeing.  He discussed previous arrests but not the very recent incident where he was charged with harassment. 

    Please note that Hart-Nibbring says in his story that it was “(covered by several media, including WGAL-TV, but not Lancaster Newspapers).”  LIP News stands by our “BREAKING NEWS” this afternoon that Ernie Schreiber, the Online Editor for the Lancaster Newspapers, did indeed attend.  Jodi spoke with him, that’s how he introduced himself to her and I emailed her a picture I have on file of Ernie and she confirmed it was him.

    Please check back tomorrow for more on Harper, the Crow, Dave Pidgeon and more…

DISCRIMINATION,

STORMY GIRL & TRASH!

     The program is designed to stop discrimination when people are looking to buy or rent a home or apartment. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 makes it illegal to discriminate against nine protected classes, including race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, familial status, sex and disability.

WGAL-TV, “Group Aims to Stop Housing Discrimination,” (click here).

    Have you read anything about these billboards in the Lancaster Newspapers?  The Civil Rights Act of 1968 also makes it illegal to discriminate in hiring.  Has anyone told LNP?

    The “HELP STORMY GIRL!” Facebook page now has 106 members (click here).  The Pennsylvania Game Commission hopes we’ve forgotten or given up.  We haven’t! 

    Yup shaved my legs bought a new thong.

Posted on the TalkPa forum by “Makita.”

    Oh, isn’t this fun!  Didn’t you do the whole thong/jello wrestling gig on the Trashback forum?  You thought it was so clever you’d do it again?  These people are “donating” to the forum so they can post items like this all day long!  When does a forum stop being a forum and just becomes trash?

Please check back later today…

COINCIDENCES?

     We are alive.  We did FINALLY get an overhaul loaded last night.  While it had nothing to do with your story, it was an interesting coincidence.  As I have stated, we all work other paying jobs and are scattered between Lancaster, Williamsport, and even one out in Cali.  All stars came into alignment yesterday but we do appreciate you noticing.

    This email in from the folks at TalkbackLancaster.com today (click here).  Hmmm…well, coincidences do happen, I suppose!  And their Facebook page says “much more coming soon……………………..”  Wow!  That’s a lot of periods.  Okay, we’ll be waiting.  Are you ever going to reveal your identities? 

    Galty, my handsome English friend sent this comment:

    Trouble is the Crow is posting on Talkback.

    That is a major problem.  The other two forums learned very quickly that he is nothing but serious trouble!  Please reconsider his posting privileges.

    There is another sign of huge trouble at the Lancaster Newspapers and is it a coincidence that it follows closely on the heels of the Trashback forum being shutdown:

    Lancaster Newspapers is creating a Customer Call Center that will combine two sales and service staffs.

    The move will result in the layoff of less than seven full- and part-time employees, a company official said.  (Click here for the full story preview.)

    I remember a Letter to the Editor at the time of the shutdown saying most newspapers are increasing their internet presence and services – not severely cutting them back!  What a stupid move by LNP and jobs are now being lost as a result.

    Was it really racism in the forum that caused them to close it with no warning?  That will come tomorrow.  And, no, I have not forgotten about Stormy Girl and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  I have also not forgotten about Lydia Colon-Torres whose body was pulled from the Susquehanna River last October and there has been nary a word about her cause of her death.  If you want to commit murder, Lancaster County is a great place to do it!

Please check back tomorrow. 

SURPRISE, SURPRISE?

    Lord have Mercy!  Who needs to see the Smart One first thing in the morning?  Smart, desperate for attention since the Trashback forum was taken down, has started a Facebook page for his dumb remarks (click here)!  Hmmm….I think I know some of his friends!

    Another surprise this morning:  TalkbackLancaster.com (click here).  I left them out of my forum wars article yesterday – but suddenly – overnight – changes, improvements and upgrades were made.  It’s about time and I will continue to visit.  The forum wars will continue.

    Have you read today’s article by Janet Kelley, “Pair admit assaulting pregnant woman,” (click here)?  Can you figure out what is going on?  Are the defense attorneys idiots or is this bad reporting by Kelley?  What was the mood in the courtroom?  Who was believable?  Is there any reason the jury will not find the pair guilty? 

Please check back later today…

CRYING WOLF!

     Romeo was the most famous wolf in Alaska, a state that has many wild canines.
The opening sentence to today’s front page story by Ad Crable, “Some suspect ex-local hunter killed beloved Alaskan wolf,” (click here).

    Have Ad and all the editors at the Intell/New Era lost their minds?  Why is this a front page story?

    Ad would do much better trying to rectify the situation his story caused by getting Pati Mattrick’s finch, Stormy Girl, taken away from her by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

    Instead, Ad, is covering the death of a wolf in Alaska!  Unbelievable!

Please check back later today…

PET FINCH DNA?

MAKE THINGS RIGHT!

    This email in:

    I had a thought regarding this finch. 
    Decades ago, a crate of pet store finches was dropped when unloading from a ship (I think), resulting in cross-breeding among these pet finches and our house finches resulting in purple finches. 
    It would be interesting to challenge the Game Commission to DNA test Stormy Girl and find out how much of her DNA is really “wild” and how much of it is PET FINCH DNA. 
    I know it may be an out there idea, but I’m game! (No pun intended!) 
  I will ANONYMOUSLY put up $100. for a DNA test. 
     (And I am serious!)

     What a hoot!  That is quite an idea!  I know who sent this email and you might be surprised that you know of them too!  They are sane and serious!

    I hope we don’t have to go to these lengths to get the Pennsylvania Game Commission to do the right and sensible thing. 

    This comment in today from my beloved grammar coach:

    Thanks for posting the e-mail addresses for the Game Commission (from the New Era editorial). I just sent e-mails to both addresses listed above. I hope Mrs. Mattrick can get Stormygirl back.

    Thank you for emailing them!  I think our plan should be that if the bird is not returned by tomorrow a.m., we email and call the Game Commission all day long.  We pay these people.  Let’s tell them the way this should be handled.

    Apparently District Attorney Craig Stedman already has.  He is quoted in Ad Crable’s story from Monday (click here) and it is reprinted below.  It is nice to see that our DA is a rational, sensible and compassionate man – at least regarding Stormy Girl!  Tomorrow, we the people, will tell the Game Commission to make this right!   And do it now!

    Last week, an angry Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman spoke with Carl Roe, the Game Commission’s executive director.

    Stedman acknowledges the DA’s office has no official jurisdiction in the incident.

    Rather, Stedman said Monday, “My perspective was I think this is wrong and is there anything we can do here.

    “I was hoping to come to some resolution that would cover everyone’s interests and resolve things more appropriately than what’s been done in this case.”

    Stedman suggested Mattrick be allowed to retain the bird on the condition she undergo all the requirements to be a licensed rehabilitator.

    Roe said he would consider the recommendation, according to Stedman.

    Roe also promised to see that Mattrick was given information of the bird’s whereabouts and possibly be able to see the bird, Stedman said.

    “I’m certainly hoping that they are wise enough to make things right in this case,” Stedman said.

    “There is room for discretion in law enforcement.”

    The Game Commission opens at 7:45 am tomorrow morning.  Here we go…