It’s truly hard to imagine the Montrose borough without the presence of one of our favorite community business “inspots” - that of course being, the store Radio Shack.

Personally speaking, I can honestly testify that in spite of living close to the New York border and its many larger city options, more times than not, I opted to travel to Montrose for my electronic needs, and never regretted the distance traveled, the products purchased, or the friendly and knowledgeable customer service I received when I got there.

Craig, Jay, Family and RS Staff, Thank you for the many, many years of the “above and beyond” services you provided, for the varied and sincere kindnesses extended both professionally and personally, AND for your patience in striving to fulfill all of our ever-present, individual and urgent needs.

Best wishes to each and every one of you in all your future endeavors.  Radio Shack, will most certainly, be sorely missed.

Sincerely,

Susie Simmons

Hallstead, PA

The current occupier of the Oval Office ran a campaign right out of the Fascism playbook.  Not that he even had any playbook-- he's an instinctual Fascist who goes by his gut.  (And his gut is just not right.)  Our wise Founders installed functional safeguards against the accumulation, or abuse of power, so in order to have a formal Fascist system of government, these safeguards must be eliminated.

Newt Gingrich, another angry old right-winger, has taken the first step in that direction.  He recently declared that "The President cannot obstruct justice".  A real eyebrow-raiser, especially when you remember that obstruction of justice was one of the put-up charges he levied against President Clinton in the GOP's ill-motivated and ill-fated coup attempt against him.  (It's reminiscent of Tricky Dick saying, 'When the President does it, it's not illegal.")  Now that Gingrich has the kind of autocrat he likes, he wants to make him above the law.  This is something that a society that has freedom and limited government cannot permit.

The ultimate repository of our freedom is the people.  But if they want dictatorship, they'll get it.  There's still time to turn away from our current course, but with efforts like Gingrich's (plus the current occupier's attitude that he can't have a conflict of interest), the time is not unlimited.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

Rushville, PA

June 14. The day when---the Left's propensity for riotous “demonstrations,” hints at the president's assassination, a graphic image of a beheaded Trump, a play where a Trump look-alike is stabbed to death, cross hairs superimposed on a photo of Trump, shouting down conservative speakers, and bushwhacking Republicans at town hall meetings---all that came to a head on June 14.

James Hodgkinson, a radical Leftist, and fervent Bernie supporter came to the early morning baseball practice of a Republican vs. Democrat game for charity. Hodgkinson arrived not with bat and glove, but with rifle and pistol.

Having ascertained where the Republicans were practicing, he went on a shooting spree. Congressman Steve Scalise took a bullet from the rifle in his hip.

Within minutes two Capitol Hill police officers, David Bailey and Crystal Griner, returned fire. They distracted the shooter until more policemen arrived. Counter-fire took out the assailant.

Officer Bailey, who was wounded by shrapnel, immediately rendered aid, and cover for the stricken congressman.

Officer Griner was shot in the ankle by Hodgkinson's pistol.

Both officers showed heroic action. They put themselves in harm's way, armed with pistols against a .30 caliber rifle, a frighteningly one-sided confrontation. Their courageous actions saved many lives. Now both, particularly Griner, must pay the psychological and physical price for their valor.

Basically, a .30 caliber rifle is a shoulder-carried cannon. It is designed to take down big game at the far side of 300 yards (that's three football fields).

The bullet, the business end of a .30 caliber cartridge, weighs a hefty 0.7 ounce. Its tip is either soft or hollowed out. Upon hitting the target at a velocity of 1,700 miles per hour, the projectile creates a tunnel of pulverized flesh and bone. Its journey ends in a shower of bone and metal fragments, each one becoming a miniature bullet.

At the time of his rescue, Scalise was fully conscious and conversant. But within hours the effects of the injury and post-trauma shock took its toll. His condition deteriorated from stable to critical. Recently his status has been upgraded to “serious.”

Assuming Scalise survives, he faces immediate surgery to treat his life-threatening wound. And then the prospect of many more operations to stitch together the bone fragments and extract metal particles.

The prognosis for the congressman is permanent ambulatory impairment; his baseball days are over. Neither Scalise nor his family will ever be the same.

For Officer Griner, the outlook is not as grim. A bullet from Hodgkinson's pistol hit her ankle. It was a 9 mm. The bullet's pointed tip is designed to exit the target intact. Its weight, about 0.3 ounces, and speed of 750 miles per hour would be considerably less injurious than a .30 bullet.

Nevertheless, if the bullet hits a bone, which it probably did, more operations will be necessary to restore some mobility. Like Scalise, it is unlikely she will ever regain complete use of the joint. Also like Scalise, June 14 will forever leave a scar on her and her family.

So now what?

To read the feel-good news, the Left will take the Right's proffered hand. They have learned their lesson. From now on, gentlemanly conduct, civil discourse, and mutual respect will rule the day.

Are you kidding?

The Democrat Party is not your father's party. A significant portion of it has been radicalized; some even brutalized. One has but to look at this minority's past actions to predict its future behavior.

Here's a sample of Twitter chatter cheering the Scalise shooting:

• “Too bad he's not hurt worse.”

• “Hallelujah!!!!”

• “The chickens are coming home to roost.”

• “He should have perished for the betterment of our people. [Expletive] him.”

• “Is taking potshots at the GOP House leadership considered self-defense?”

To such, Republican Congressman Chris Collins tepid reply is, “I can only hope the Democrats [will] tone down the rhetoric.”

Get real, Rep. Collins. That's a pie-in-sky hope. It's like hoping to win the lottery.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA