Lance: To an injustice served. Retired Fayette County District Judge Dwight K. Shaner, 71, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for fixing a drunken-driving case for the nephew of a former district attorney. The more serious charges, including perjury, were withdrawn. So Mr. Shaner will serve 18 months' probation plus 150 hours of community service. His egregious lapse in judgment should cost him his state pension.
Laurel: To Charles Machesky. Since 2012, the Uniontown Area school superintendent has worked without a salary and will continue to do so through April 6, 2020, under a new school board agreement. Obviously for this administrator, it's about his passion — not his pay.
On the “Watch List”: Greensburg Salem School District's 2015-16 budget. The maximum 2.06-mill tax increase allowed by the state would barely cover the district's projected shortfall. And more than half of the $1.25 million increase over last year's budget stems from rising retirement costs. Simply pumping more money into public schools, as Gov. Wolf insists, won't ease the pain of the pension punch, which must be resolved.
Laurel: To Jonathan Stokum. The quick-thinking Jeannette teen roused a family of five, then grabbed a garden hose and trained it on an early morning porch fire until firefighters arrived. His efforts likely saved the family and the house. And that earns this young man a hearty “Atta boy!”
