Westmoreland Laurels & Lances

Laurel: To police investigators who last week broke up a suspected drug ring in the Mt. Pleasant area. Arrest warrants were issued for 33 suspects who collectively face more than 200 drug charges. The arrests stem from what began in November 2001 as an investigation of burglaries and thefts. Assisting in the state police investigation were Mt. Pleasant and Connellsville police, along with the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Department. More arrests are expected.

Credit also goes to citizens who report illegal activities rather than look the other way. "We want them to know when they give us information, we don't turn a deaf ear. Sometimes it just takes time to put it together," says Mt. Pleasant Mayor Gerald Lucia.

Those charged will have their day in court. Meanwhile, a clear message has been sent to drug dealers in the Mt. Pleasant area.

Lance: To state Sen. Allen Kukovich. In reference to Gov. Ed Rendell's tax 'em-some-more budget, which would hike the state income tax 34 percent, the Manor Democrat said, "It's great to have a governor with courage."

This is courage• To continue the state's spendthrift ways, balanced on backs of taxpayers• No, sir. Real courage and political guts would be to stand firm against the special interests, and to get the commonwealth to live within its means.

Laurel: To Penn Township commissioners. They are moving to eliminate the time limit reference in an ordinance that regulates political signs. The township code stipulates that political signs cannot be erected more than 30 days before an election. Critics argued that this posed a constitutional infringement on free speech; commissioners subsequently told the township staff not to enforce the time restriction.

Better to formally amend the ordinance than to instruct township personnel to look the other way.

Lance: To Fayette County Commissioner Sean Cavanagh. He'd do better to stick to the issues than take potshots in this year's commissioners race. This week he likened the leadership style of Democratic Party boss Fred Lebder to how Saddam Hussein rules Iraq.

"People fought and died for the right for the citizens to choose who represents them -- not Fred Lebder and his hand-picked candidates. That's the kind of representation they have in Iraq, where one man calls the shots," Cavanagh said.

The comparison to a mass murderer is entirely inappropriate. Cavanagh should know better.

Congratulations: To Greensburg Councilman Roland R. "Buddy" Mertz. An emergency services veteran, having started out as a volunteer, he has been named by Gov. Ed Rendell to the post of assistant director for emergency preparedness and community liaison for the state Office of Homeland Security. He brings to the post a lifetime of hands-on experience. We wish him well in his new position.