Governor Wolf’s statewide disaster declaration on the heroin and opioid epidemic is an important step for Pennsylvanians as we confront the number 1 public health and public safety crisis facing our Commonwealth.

This crisis has been my top priority since I took office last January. The Office of Attorney General arrests on average more than 4 drug dealers a day. Our arrests of medical personnel and others for illegally diverting prescription drugs are up 72 percent. Our national investigation with 41 Attorneys General of the pharmaceutical industry and the opioid painkillers fueling this epidemic is ongoing and active.

But as we continue losing more Pennsylvanians to overdoses, it’s clear we must do more. Governor Wolf’s disaster declaration will enable state agencies to waive regulations, lowering barriers to treatment. It will create a coordinated response within PEMA to allow agencies to take a more unified approach to the epidemic. These steps are in addition to earlier actions by the governor in launching the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, providing funding to implement Centers of Excellence for treatment, and providing law enforcement and first responders with naloxone.

I thank Governor Wolf for his leadership and partnership as we work together every day to save Pennsylvanians’ lives.

Sincerely,

PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro

The Office of Susquehanna County District Attorney is vacant due to the passing of Robert Klein, Esquire. It is imperative that the position be filled in a timely manner with a competent Susquehanna County resident. Although William Urbanski, Esquire, the First Assistant District Attorney, has declared himself to be the Susquehanna County District Attorney, he does not meet the statutory requirements for the position.

The residents of Susquehanna County are entitled to be represented in the position of the District Attorney by an individual who fully meets all the requirements of the position. The District Attorney must be a resident of the county for one full year before taking on that important role.

It is the opinion of the Susquehanna County Bar Association that pursuant to Pennsylvania statutory law, the district attorney of the county must be a resident of the county In which he or she serves for one year prior to his or her election or appointment. Attorney Urbanski as the First Assistant District Attorney of Susquehanna County has not met this residency requirement. Therefore, the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Susquehanna County is mandated by statute to fill the vacancy of the position of District Attorney by the application of a qualified person.

Sincerely,

The Members of the Susquehanna County Bar Association

January 20, 2017 began an entirely new era in American governance, what some consider the Fascist Era in America. One year in, let's take a look at the lowlights.

The Inaugural Address could not have been more uninspiring. The new Leader painted a picture of America as a smoldering pile of rubble. Among other things, he commanded that "This American carnage stops right here and right now." Well, it didn't. In Las Vegas a new record for carnage was set. But they did nothing. All they had to offer were the usual empty "thoughts and prayers." Enough!

During the campaign, the insurgent promised to achieve item after item "on the first day", which was wildly ambitious. It took til the end of the year to get their first big legislative accomplishment-- a deficit-boosting tax cut for corporations and the rich (including the Prez), paid for with borrowed money. Everything else on the wish list remains pending.

During an astoundingly ugly campaign, we were assured that "once he's in office, he'll become Presidential". That never happened and never will. The man with his finger on his bigger button remains a petulant child, whose needy and insecure ego is constantly indulged by all around him. It reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode about the all-powerful brat. So we've replaced No Drama Obama with constant drama; the Presidency as an Unreality Show.

Really, folks, have other Presidents acted like this? Would you want his behavior to set the example for all Presidents, for all people? If not, why is this one a special case?

All the while, we're treated to constant bragging about his accomplishments, especially his having "won" the election to begin with. Bragging about the record high stock market, when it had set new records under Obama-- in fact, from the depths of the Great Recession it has gone up nearly 300%! No Republican gives Obama credit for this; were he a Republican he'd be a candidate for godhood from that alone. For the current guy to take credit for it is like running the last mile of a Marathon and pretending you ran the whole thing.

Then there's the boasting about low unemployment, when what he inherited from Obama was already under 5%. This is just a continuation of a pre-existing trend. And in fact, fewer jobs were added to the economy in 2017 than in 2016. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

In foreign policy, we've seen a de-emphasis of partnerships and treaties under the notion of "America First". This necessarily reduces America's influence in the world, and China is moving to fill the void. Uttering the magic words "Radical Islamic Terrorism" didn't make it go "poof!" after all, as so many expected. And the Commander in Chief is childishly provoking an unstable leader, which may well lead to an unnecessary and horrendous war. But crude and childish talk thrills his base. Among all the insults he spews he never has a bad thing to say about any other dictator (Putin, Erdogun, Duterte). Things that make you go, Hmmm.

In conclusion, the achievements are few, and consist mostly of mouthing off-- again, something that delights his fans. That, and rescinding as many Obama polices as possible, out of sheer pettiness and resentment that is inescapably racial in essence. I swear, if Obama had issued a proclamation honoring motherhood and apple pie, the current Administration would make a point of denouncing both.

We arrive at Year Two with widespread concerns about the Big Boss's mental health and fitness for office. The Mueller investigation continues, with a furious effort by the right-wing media to destroy it. We can look forward to possible impeachment, not only for obstruction of justice but for moneylaundering and racketeering as well. Plus criminal prosecution of several members of the inner circle, including a son and an son-in-law. So fasten your seat belt-- it's going to be a bumpy year. (And I didn't even discuss the chances of a stock market crash, like we saw late in the Reagan years, or another Great Recession, as we had under W. For those who won't learn from history, the punishment is to repeat it.)

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck, Rushville, PA.

Trump said the media depends on me: "Newspapers, television, all forms of media will tank if I'm not there because, without me, their ratings are going down the tubes." It was said in jest, but jest is truth's favorite guise.

From the moment Trump and Melanie rode down the escalator in the Trump Tower two-and-one-half years ago, he has dominated the media. His off-the-cuff announcement speech was a fair warning; this was going to be a different kind of candidate.

At first, he was not taken seriously. The Post had a front-page cartoon of him portrayed as a clown.

Then came the primaries. He didn't have a Chinaman's chance against 16 of the GOP's best. Then, like ducks in a shooting gallery, they fell one by one. Trump beat them, the odds, and the polls.

Next up was the Democrat flag bearer, Hillary Clinton. She had name recognition, the women's vote as the first female president, piles of cash, the DNC in her pocket, and plenty of experience. The polls gave her a winning lead. The networks spelled out mathematically why Hillary would soon be Madame President.

Again, the underdog came out top dog.

Trump then and now, has never failed to provide grist for newspaper articles, TV commentators and columnists, and in-depth fight coverage of the latest squabbles between supporters and condemners.

The latest headline grabber is the book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, by veteran author, Michael Wolff. The author made his name writing about the rich and famous and who could be more extravagantly so than Trump.

Wolff had access to the White House for months. In some 200 interviews with insiders, the inner circle, and Trump associates, he portrayed the White House as a "maelstrom of disorder and infighting."

Steve Bannon was always a stalwart supporter of candidate Trump and adviser and strategist for President Trump from the time he joined the White House team in January 2017 until his departure seven months later. But Bannon was not an uncritical admirer.

Wolff quotes Bannon as being unmercifully critical of Donald Trump Jr., White House adviser, Jared Kushner, and then-campaign Chairman Paul Manafort, meeting with a Russian lawyer to obtain compromising information about Hillary Clinton.

"The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower with no lawyers. Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, it's all of that," said Bannon.

This was going to be a bare-knuckle battle royal. Neither man would let his intelligence or common sense get in the way of heated emotions.

In the end, both men would prove to have feet of clay; each made regrettable mistakes.

First, Bannon.

He must have known that Wolff's interview with him was for a future book. That said, Bannon called the president's son "treasonous and unpatriotic."

Treasonous! Ridiculous, Steve. The Constitution defines treason as "giving [enemies] Aid and Comfort." To accuse Trump Jr. of this while being interviewed by Wolff is as Bannon has said of Trump's daughter, Ivanka, being "dumb as a brick."

Bannon has since verified the quote but said he didn't mean it. "The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it." Sorry, Steve.

Next, the president.

"When [Steve] was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind," said the president. Then he downplayed Bannon's role during his White House stint. "Steve only pretends to have had influence to fool a few people with no access [to me] and no clue."

The president claims that Fire And Fury is fiction and full of lies. If that were the case, he would have little to fear. Lies always fail. From them, Trump need have no fear. It is truth that must be suppressed.

The president unwisely attempted to ban the tell-all book. A letter from one of the president's lawyers demanded that Michael Wolff and the book's publisher "immediately cease and desist from any further publication, release or dissemination of the book."

Of course, book banning failed. However, it has been eminently successful in propelling the book to be a best seller.

And as always, from that ride down the escalator to this day, Donald John Trump will continue to keep the media humming, guys like me writing letters about The Donald, and people like you reading them.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins, New Milford, PA

Please allow me to express my gratitude to the Susquehanna community and our loyal donors who braved the cold and donated blood Tuesday, January 2nd at St. John's Parish hall. During the holiday season the blood supply often gets dangerously low, so donations at this time were especially needed. on January 2nd we collected 20 units of blood, exceeding our goal. Each unit of blood can save up to three lives. Thank you, Donors!

The next blood drive at St. John's is scheduled for March 7th. Appointments run 12:30 to 5:50 pm. New donors are needed, and walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-red cross (733-2767) or go to www.redcrossblood and type in St. John's.

Sincerely,

Katherine M. Shelly, Red Cross volunteer, Thompson, PA