We’d like to express out truly heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their support, kind thoughts and considerations during our time of mourning on the recent loss of our husband and father, Robert F. Reddon.

Although it will be impossible to list everyone individually as we’d like to do, we will thank the organizations starting with Barnes Kasson Hospital and staff that showed the most compassionate and profession care that literally sets the bar for every other healthcare facility.

The Hennessey Funeral Home whose caring staff helped make the impossible, possible. Saint John’s Church, staff and the Woman’s Club. Robert served the Church his entire life and that service started at St John’s so it was fitting that his service conclude there.

And what can we say about the effort and tribute shown by the Susquehanna Fire Department and surrounding Departments that “answered the call” to pay last respects to the former Chief and brother firefighter; absolutely first class, amazing and will never be forgotten.

Thank you all again, and again.

Mary Jane and the Reddon family.

To our local firefighters and those of our surrounding towns for your heroic efforts, our family, friends, school districts and the entire Susquehanna community and beyond, we would like to extend a great, big thank you for all the support from our house fire on March 27th.

Donations and support came from all over the area and beyond. The compassion, generosity, and support you have shown to our family means the world to us and we are filled with gratitude from the bottom of our hearts. We certainly have a long road ahead, but it is so comforting to know that we are not alone. We are truly humbled by it all.

What makes a house a home is the people inside. When we return, we will come back to our home with not only our family, but also the spirit of all of you who have helped us through this challenging time. We will never forget the incredible support you have all given us.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

The Paterno Family

It's a sign of some sick and unhealthy hero worship that the idolators of Donald Trump make the most ridiculous excuses for his inexcusable behavior. In an example of telling us it's raining, supporters denied that Trump is responsible for the violence that regularly occurs at his rallies. It just seems to happen.  But the question is, then why aren't these incidents happening at any other rally?

It's not difficult for an objective person to see the major contributory role that Trump is playing. He suggested it all along. But for those who worship Trump Messiah, why isn't it encouraging violence when he tells people he'll pay their legal bills when they attack (often nonviolent) protesters? And it should not be easy to explain away these ugly words:

"There are no consequences to protesting anymore. There used to be consequences. In the good old days they didn't happen because they used to treat them very, very rough. I miss the old days."

So do his idolators. And there it is: the typical Fascist yearning for the mythical past.

It seems a long time ago now, but earlier in this campaign, a homeless Mexican immigrant was beaten-- and urinated on-- by a couple of guys who invoked the name of Trump  while yelling at him to get out of their country. Trump unleashed their latent bigotry and gave them permission to act on it.  So it should come as no surprise that he did not denounce this heinous act. Instead he made excuses for them, saying they were "patriotic" and "passionate". The same way that his idolators make excuses for Trump. Well, it's not raining, no matter what anyone says.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

Rushville, PA

About 230 years ago a government was founded not, on the egalitarian principles of equality and justice as one might expect. It was inaugurated by men who had experienced the tyranny of government. This new government was to be based on what they had learned to value most: freedom.

The bedrock of this government was a contract between the people and their government; the Constitution of the United States. This document chained the federal government to eight precisely defined areas listed in the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.

Briefly, the enumerated spheres of national responsibilities are defense, protection of citizens' constitution rights, the establishment of the Supreme Court, copyright protection, coining money, postal services, a standardized system of weights and measures, and raising taxes to perform these services.

The Tenth Amendment further states, “The powers not delegated to the United States [government] by the Constitution . . . are reserved to the States.”

In the main, federal authority ventured no further than that until 1964.

The 60's were a tumultuous decade. Drugs, free sex, student disruptions, sit-ins, violent war protests, busing, and racial strife were the hallmarks of this era. MLK led massive civil rights rallies of African Americans demanding an end to segregation and pleading for social equality and justice.

President Lyndon Johnson responded to their grievances. Using his considerable power of persuasion, Johnson ushered through Congress the passage of the most radical civil rights legislation in the nation's history: the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It was a product of the time.

The Act authorized the U.S. Attorney General to institute suits against discrimination in public accommodation, public education, and prevent discrimination in federal programs. Toward this end, a Commission on Civil Rights, and a Commission of Equal Employment Opportunity was established to enforce these provisions.

Now who would disagree with those lofty goals? Well, for starters, the Constitution. Search as you will, the constitutional authority for the Act is not to be found among the eight purviews granted to the federal government. In a word, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is from stem to stern unconstitutional.

We traded our birthright of freedom for equality and justice. It was an unfortunate trade-off. As we shall see, we gained neither racial equality or justice while losing a considerable portion of our freedom.

Examine any area: lifespan, disease, marriage, education, accidents, crime, or representation in sports, music, or any occupation, and one will find either whites or blacks disproportionately represented. It is an imbalance created not of man's will but nature's dictate.

Legislating racial equality and justice is like chasing the end of a rainbow; it will forever elude our grasp. The result of this fruitless quest will see a multitude of frustrated, discontented, and angry whites and blacks.

On the other hand, what have we lost?

• Property rights. Think you can rent your home to whom you please; or if you're a businessman, do you suppose you can hire or refuse service to whomever you want? Think again. The fed has the dominant say in these matters; not the homeowner, not the business proprietor.

• Freedom of speech. But surely we have that? You're living in the past. Trespass the boundaries that the fed has imposed on what you can and cannot verbalize and you could be sued.

• Freedom of thought. If a crime is committed and the jury or the judge determines that racial animus was involved, the crime is compounded.

• Freedom of association. Yes, that's still extent, providing you include members of an ever-increasing number of minorities provided by the fed.

A keeper took pity on his charge, a lion. Poor beast. Looking at the world through bars, never feeling the grass beneath his paws, or the warmth of the sun chasing away the chill of night, or a refreshing breeze ruffling through his mane, or rain pelting his tawny coat.

Denied the rigors of hunting for his meals his muscles had grown flaccid and his demeanor listless. He was no longer the lion the keeper remembered.

So one day the keeper decided to set the lion free. He opened the cage expecting to see the lion burst forth. But no. He prodded the lion. Still no. Unfortunately, the beast had learned to prefer captivity to the freedom that he dimly remembered. Sadly the keeper shut the cage door. He would never open it again.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

In the early morning of 26 March 2016 my wife suffered a heart attack at about 01:30. I made a call through the county emergency operator (911) requesting an ambulance. Within fifteen minutes the Great Bend Ambulance arrived, followed five minutes later by the Para Medic. The team acted very professionally, getting her ready for transport and administering drugs that may have saved her life.

We arrived at Wilson Hospital, Johnson City, at about 02:40 where the ER team was prepared for her arrival and took over her care. She is now recovering at home with an excellent chance of full recovery.

We feel very fortunate to have the Great Bend Ambulance service available 24/7 in such small community and urge everyone to continue their financial support. You never know when you might need them at your house.

Sincerely,

Eugene L Henneforth

Great Bend, Pa