Westmoreland Laurels & Lances

Laurel: To George Aukerman of Greensburg and nine of his fellow churchgoers. Last Friday he donated more than half of his liver to a man he barely knew during a 14-hour surgery at UPMC Presbyterian, Oakland.

Kenny Franciscus, a Penn Hills, Allegheny County, native who spent the past 14 years as a missionary in Thailand, had been diagnosed with a disease that destroys the liver. Now living in Greensburg, he didn't have time to wait for a transplant.

Messrs. Franciscus and Aukerman connected after the pastor of their church issued a call for help. In all, 10 members of Cornerstone Ministries in Export stepped forward; the list was narrowed to three candidates, who decided among themselves that Aukerman would be the best donor.

Bravo to these generous souls who certainly are no strangers to selflessness and compassion.

Lance: To those law-flouting garbage haulers who still haven't taken the state's none-too-subtle hint. After more than 11,000 citations issued to trash haulers during Operation Clean Sweep in May, some continue to rack up infractions. Surprise inspections Monday at landfills in three counties sidelined nine garbage trucks for mechanical problems. Eight trucks were removed from service in Westmoreland County.

And still, truck inspectors are finding the same types of problems. If the state's message about safety - and the law - isn't getting through, it's time to up the ante and issue penalties that garbage haulers will respect.

Laurel: To Murrysville Council. Last week by unanimous vote council members authorized the municipality's financial director to explore options and get cost estimates to meet future equipment needs of three volunteer fire companies. (Murrysville's budget contains 0.6 mills for such purchases.)

A routine matter• Yes it is, as it should be for other municipalities that don't offer much in the way of financial support for their volunteer firefighters - let alone a long-term plan for equipment needs. That fiscal shortsightedness may well cost those communities dearly some day.

Laurel: To Pittsburgh International Airport. The facility's on-time arrival numbers could be better. But they're not bad. The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics says that during the last five months, 82.7 percent of the flights arrive on time; 17.3 percent arrived 15 minutes or longer after the scheduled arrival time. That's the sixth best in the nation and a testament to Pittsburgh International's operational efficiency.