Hits and Misses
Courtesy of Skyview Drive In
The Skyview Drive-In sign is among the items up for auction.
Courtesy of Joe R. Pyle Auction
Courtesy of Joe R. Pyle Auction
Dining booths are part of the Skyview Drive-In online auction.
Courtesy of Joe R. Pyle Auction
Courtesy of Joe R. Pyle Auction
A wooden refreshment sign from Skyview Drive-In is among memorabilia up for auction.
MISS: Last week, we noted that James Roman, Washington County’s register of wills, seems to have a penchant for drama, and he has not disappointed. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to his office in the county courthouse last Friday after he allegedly threatened an employee and asked if the employee wanted to fight. The employee, who asked not to be publicly identified, is apparently not the only county worker who has complained about Roman’s conduct. Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan said that some have expressed “concerns for their safety.” She also noted, however, that there is little that can be done about Roman because he is an elected official. Keep in mind that Roman also recently had to be subpoenaed by the county controller to turn over documents for an audit, the first time that has had to be done in at least 30 years. If the allegations that Roman threatened an underling are true and he worked in the private sector, there is little doubt he would be shown the door promptly. Alas, it will be up to the voters of Washington County to make that call.
MISS: A new report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has some bad news for Pennsylvania – it’s one of the leading states in the dissemination of white supremacist propaganda. According to the report, there were 413 incidents reported in Pennsylvania in 2022, with 6,751 incidents nationwide. The ADL report says there was a 38% increase from the year before across the country. The report stated, “As in previous years, extremists used fliers, posters, stickers, banners and graffiti to share their antisemitic views.” It also said, “Propaganda campaigns allow white supremacists to maximize media and online attention for their group and messaging while limiting the risk of individual exposure, negative media coverage, arrests and public backlash that often accompanies more public activities.” Remember how after the horrific Tree of Life killings almost five years ago there was a proliferation of “Stronger Than Hate” T-shirts across the region? Sadly, it seems those remain as relevant as ever.
HIT: Long before the movie industry was upended due to COVID-19, drive-in theaters were vanishing off the American landscape. They were done in by everything from the proliferation of multiplexes, home video and even the value of the land the drive-ins occupied. The Skyview Drive-In in Greene County hung on a lot longer than most of its counterparts, but it too closed in 2021. Now, patrons who frequented the drive-in and other movie buffs can bid on items from it online through Tuesday at 6 p.m. The auction includes arcade games, restaurant equipment, speakers, projectors, antique reel holders, vintage posters and the marquee sign. Bids can be placed at https://bid.joerplyeauctions.com/ui/auctions/96859. So far, more than 100 bids have been placed. Auctioneer Jordan Kiger said, “We’re expecting the list (of bidders) to continue to grow. I feel a lot of people will be participating in this auction to grab their last piece of their childhood memory.”