Breaking News

Our View

Be grateful; have empathy

We ask you to consider the above headline in the face of challenge for all of us to overcome this God-awful pandemic. Those who regularly read the obituary pages of this newspaper and other newspapers plainly see that the ages of those who we are losing are younger. That can’t be argued. What’s it mean? It means taking precautions to protect your health and prevent disease should be priority number one in the New Year and certainly beyond. AND protecting others. Harping too much on this pandemic, you say? The reality is our New Year will continue with the fight — and ...

A toast ….

In preparation for a New Year, we say “Good-bye, 2021” and “Hello, 2022.” And while 2021 did bring a lot of positives, most would probably agree it was a difficult — if not excruciating — year due to the pandemic. So, we will take the glass half full approach with a bunch of toasts for you — and to you — our dear readers: A toast to the “oh-my-God” COVID-19 variant and any more variants being vanquished from our earth through a collective fight we ALL must wage. A toast to better overall health and well-being in the New Year. A toast in honor of all of the ...

Damage from tornadoes beyond belief

It’s reasonable to say that damage from this past weekend’s tornadoes in the south look like Japan after nuclear bombs were dropped there during World War II. Obliterated. That’s our description of the homes and businesses hit by what the Kentucky governor said was the state’s worst tornado outbreak in its history. In all, six states were hit and the death toll is approaching — if not already has exceeded — 100. How heartbreaking to see so many people die. They’re still looking for survivors. They’re still counting the dead. How heartbreaking to see a whole ...

Are we still vulnerable?

When the Japanese attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, history has shown that America was not prepared. Thousands died. Significant military hardware was destroyed. Oh, the U.S. was on high alert, considering what was happening in Europe and in the Pacific with repeated invasions of other countries by Germany and Japan. At the time, Germany, Japan and Italy glorified war, believing it made their people stronger and more heroic. Nearly a year before the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt made a famous “fireside chat” ...

Low-level military aircraft fly-overs pose too much risk

hile we believe our country must have the most effective and well-trained military in the world, we also believe the public should oppose the proposed “Duke MOA” that would have U.S. military aricraft flying at speeds in excess of 1,000 mph just over treetops in our beloved PA Wilds. For context,the Maryland Air National Guard (ANG) has put forth what’s called the Duke Low Military Operations Area Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) that would ultimately allow A10 bombers and F16 fighter jets to fly at supersonic speeds at low-altitude over all or significant portions of Clinton, ...

The benefits of public-private partnerships

We want to offer a big pat on the back to officials, volunteers and especially participating businesses in Bellefonte for agreeing to invest in a temporary ice-skating rink in Talleyrand Park perhaps as early as this winter. Local businessman Mark Dello Stritto told Bellefonte Borough Council recently that a non-refrigerated 40-foot by 60-foot rink would be placed in Talleyrand Park, next to the gazebo, and should last approximately five to six years. No question, it would be a draw to downtown ... as Bellefonte and other communities who have parks in their downtowns count those ...