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Letters to the Editor
Marriage not wrong
After reading the May 13 letter, "Marriage mocked" by Darren Spiker, I disagree with his opinion that gay marriage is wrong. Marriage is a ceremony for two people to show their love and commitment to one another. The gender of the people involved in the ceremony should not matter as long as their love is true. The writer stated that same-sex marriage is wrong according to God. Those who believe in God and the words of the Bible have several interpretations of it. For example, when God creates Eve out of Adam's rib, that is a creation of gender, not a creation of marriage. You also have people who believe God doesn't exist, so using it as a way to support your argument would be an illogical fallacy. Dominique Barfield Washington
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Limit appeals
It might be time to rewrite the law to protect the innocent and to make criminals accountable. For instance, there's a habitual offender in Washington County. His driver's license is suspended until 2020, yet he continues to drive. He has been convicted 10 times for driving on a suspended license, and from 1983 until 2011 he failed to respond to more than 40 violations. Get a plea deal and get off lightly. An Allegheny County woman takes a plea deal and gets a prison sentence of less than 16 years for killing an FBI agent. John Wayne Gacy spent 14 years on death row as his case wound its way through the appeals process. He was convicted in 1980 of killing 33 young men for sexual pleasure in the Chicago area. Gacy spent his time in prison - at taxpayer expense, of course - artistically painting until he was executed in 1994. How about a limit on the appeals process? One year too short, you say. How about five years? And should lawbreakers be read their rights? When was the last time you heard of criminals reading victims their rights? Lou Marra Washington
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Fix bridge on Caldwell for safety
I was wondering if the bridge on Caldwell Avenue is ever going to be repaired. The bridge has been closed because they didn't want people going through where they were cleaning up the so-called comtaminated soil.
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Wells affecting property values
First there was O-R's article of March 11, "State's gas impact fee means windfall for some." Then there was Channel 4 WTAE'S report May 5 and again on May 12 , "Couple denied mortgage because of gas drilling," about Brian and Amy Smith of Daisytown, the first example in Western Pennsylvania of things to come.
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Graveyard a tribute to veterans
There is a small cemetery steeped in history located at the intersection of Route 88 and Mingo Church Road directly above the Mingo Creek Presbyterian Church. Ten years ago, this cemetery was in deplorable condition. The access roads were totally deteriorated and areas of the cemetery were overgrown with brush and small trees.
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JP Morgan loss tiny next to government's
The stink raised on the JPMorgan Chase loss of $2 billion is curious. Where is the outrage on the loss of billions of dollars in failed government-sponsored projects and outrageous government spending?
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Society collapsing from within
As our country drowns in $16 trillion debt, our government operates without a budget, the economy stagnates and the unemployed seek safe havens for survival (applying for disability, extended unemployment benefits, welfare payments, just failing on mortgage and debt payments, etc.), headlines fill with distraction over gay marriage.
Full story >>
We shouldn't judge
In regard to Tina Mayhle's letter on same-sex marriage ("Not following leader to hell," May 15), I am also a Christian woman. I am writing because I disagree.
Full story >>
After reading the May 13 letter, "Marriage mocked" by Darren Spiker, I disagree with his opinion that gay marriage is wrong. Marriage is a ceremony for two people to show their love and commitment to one another. The gender of the people involved in the ceremony should not matter as long as their love is true. The writer stated that same-sex marriage is wrong according to God. Those who believe in God and the words of the Bible have several interpretations of it. For example, when God creates Eve out of Adam's rib, that is a creation of gender, not a creation of marriage. You also have people who believe God doesn't exist, so using it as a way to support your argument would be an illogical fallacy. Dominique Barfield Washington
Full story >>
Limit appeals
It might be time to rewrite the law to protect the innocent and to make criminals accountable. For instance, there's a habitual offender in Washington County. His driver's license is suspended until 2020, yet he continues to drive. He has been convicted 10 times for driving on a suspended license, and from 1983 until 2011 he failed to respond to more than 40 violations. Get a plea deal and get off lightly. An Allegheny County woman takes a plea deal and gets a prison sentence of less than 16 years for killing an FBI agent. John Wayne Gacy spent 14 years on death row as his case wound its way through the appeals process. He was convicted in 1980 of killing 33 young men for sexual pleasure in the Chicago area. Gacy spent his time in prison - at taxpayer expense, of course - artistically painting until he was executed in 1994. How about a limit on the appeals process? One year too short, you say. How about five years? And should lawbreakers be read their rights? When was the last time you heard of criminals reading victims their rights? Lou Marra Washington
Full story >>
Fix bridge on Caldwell for safety
I was wondering if the bridge on Caldwell Avenue is ever going to be repaired. The bridge has been closed because they didn't want people going through where they were cleaning up the so-called comtaminated soil.
Full story >>
Wells affecting property values
First there was O-R's article of March 11, "State's gas impact fee means windfall for some." Then there was Channel 4 WTAE'S report May 5 and again on May 12 , "Couple denied mortgage because of gas drilling," about Brian and Amy Smith of Daisytown, the first example in Western Pennsylvania of things to come.
Full story >>
Graveyard a tribute to veterans
There is a small cemetery steeped in history located at the intersection of Route 88 and Mingo Church Road directly above the Mingo Creek Presbyterian Church. Ten years ago, this cemetery was in deplorable condition. The access roads were totally deteriorated and areas of the cemetery were overgrown with brush and small trees.
Full story >>
JP Morgan loss tiny next to government's
The stink raised on the JPMorgan Chase loss of $2 billion is curious. Where is the outrage on the loss of billions of dollars in failed government-sponsored projects and outrageous government spending?
Full story >>
Society collapsing from within
As our country drowns in $16 trillion debt, our government operates without a budget, the economy stagnates and the unemployed seek safe havens for survival (applying for disability, extended unemployment benefits, welfare payments, just failing on mortgage and debt payments, etc.), headlines fill with distraction over gay marriage.
Full story >>
We shouldn't judge
In regard to Tina Mayhle's letter on same-sex marriage ("Not following leader to hell," May 15), I am also a Christian woman. I am writing because I disagree.
Full story >>
Times do change
The president's stance on gay marriage can be explained as a reflection of the change of values in this country. There was a time when it was acceptable for a person of Barack Obama's race to be the slave of one of 12 Christian presidents who owned them.
Full story >>
Attire reflects our attitude
The Monday Washington School Board meeting was a sad day for Washington. While the details of a dress code for school students might justifiably be debated, I naively assumed when I attended this meeting that all parents would be in favor of their children looking neat and tidy when they go to school. Apparently, most do not.
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Education key, not the clothes
I was disappointed in some of the behavior at the recent Washington School Board meeting. We were there to set examples for our children, and it all starts in the home. There was a classier way of displaying your opinion. I was embarassed for some of the speakers who were screaming, pounding fists and bashing teachers.
Full story >>
Trash despised
In regard to the article about people throwing trash on the road, I live in Monongahela on Route 481. I also pick up other people's trash that they throw on the road. Sometimes I get three garbage bags full.
Full story >>
The president's stance on gay marriage can be explained as a reflection of the change of values in this country. There was a time when it was acceptable for a person of Barack Obama's race to be the slave of one of 12 Christian presidents who owned them.
Full story >>
Attire reflects our attitude
The Monday Washington School Board meeting was a sad day for Washington. While the details of a dress code for school students might justifiably be debated, I naively assumed when I attended this meeting that all parents would be in favor of their children looking neat and tidy when they go to school. Apparently, most do not.
Full story >>
Education key, not the clothes
I was disappointed in some of the behavior at the recent Washington School Board meeting. We were there to set examples for our children, and it all starts in the home. There was a classier way of displaying your opinion. I was embarassed for some of the speakers who were screaming, pounding fists and bashing teachers.
Full story >>
Trash despised
In regard to the article about people throwing trash on the road, I live in Monongahela on Route 481. I also pick up other people's trash that they throw on the road. Sometimes I get three garbage bags full.
Full story >>
Red Barn nothing but memories
It was a disaster. Eleven years of thought, planning, work and living turned to smoke, ashes and rubble. The Red Barn is gone. Only in the eye of memory will it ever be seen again.
Full story >>
DEP failed to do job at clinic
Like many, I also am concerned about the closure of Cornerstone Care in Burgettstown due to the mysterious odors that were making employees ill, but I'm even more disturbed and infuriated at the way the closure could have possibly been prevented, and what this tells us about the failure of the Department of Environmental Protection to do its job.
Full story >>
Crashes on road no odd occurrence
In response to "Wrecks on area roads" May 15), I need to ask: What took so long for action? The residents of Muse-Bishop Road have dealt with "the mysterious road issue" for the past few years. Crash after crash has been cleaned up and sent away, after which no one so much as put up a blinking caution sign or reported the problem to the local news media. Drivers were not made aware.
Full story >>
DeWeese among his new friends
You can call Bill DeWeese anything you want, from a common criminal to a self-aggrandising fool. If you are looking for a true definition of a narcissist, than look no further than DeWeese.
Full story >>
It was a disaster. Eleven years of thought, planning, work and living turned to smoke, ashes and rubble. The Red Barn is gone. Only in the eye of memory will it ever be seen again.
Full story >>
DEP failed to do job at clinic
Like many, I also am concerned about the closure of Cornerstone Care in Burgettstown due to the mysterious odors that were making employees ill, but I'm even more disturbed and infuriated at the way the closure could have possibly been prevented, and what this tells us about the failure of the Department of Environmental Protection to do its job.
Full story >>
Crashes on road no odd occurrence
In response to "Wrecks on area roads" May 15), I need to ask: What took so long for action? The residents of Muse-Bishop Road have dealt with "the mysterious road issue" for the past few years. Crash after crash has been cleaned up and sent away, after which no one so much as put up a blinking caution sign or reported the problem to the local news media. Drivers were not made aware.
Full story >>
DeWeese among his new friends
You can call Bill DeWeese anything you want, from a common criminal to a self-aggrandising fool. If you are looking for a true definition of a narcissist, than look no further than DeWeese.
Full story >>
