Home → Columnists ( September 9, 2026 )
New Pocono Highway Links Two Counties: The new Bear Creek Boulevard, offering a safe and direct route over the Poconos, to Stroudsburg, was formally opened Friday in the presence of many county and state highway officials. The nine and one-half miles stretch over the Wilkes-Barre Mountain has been under construction for the past three years, and cost $1,245,000. Many engineering feats were accomplished during the instruction of the road, chief among them being an elimination of the “hair pin curve,” a most dangerous spot that claimed a number of lives in recent years.
Meeting of Pomona, No. 7, at Lenox Hall: There was a large attendance of Grange members and many interesting features. A spelling contest was held, the first winner being sister May Miller, of Hop Bottom Grange. Recess for dinner and the afternoon sessions called. Memorial services were conducted in a very impressive manner by the Rising Sun Grange of Birchardville in memory of the following: E. N. Hammond, Harford; Harry Smith, Harford; C. H. Chamberlain, Harford; E. D. Senior, Gibson Star; E. I. Whitney, Gibson; Chas Potter, Gibson. A talk was given by County Superintendent of Schools, Taylor, on “Rural School Problems.” In the evening a fine program was put on by members of the Lenox Grange, consisting of recitations, music and dialogues.
Susquehanna County Agricultural Association: The 80th annual exhibition will be held at Montrose on Sept. 8, 9 & 10. The society has always been handicapped, owing to the fact that it has no race track. The grounds of the society, however, are the most beautiful of any in the world. The grounds are located in a natural park, which has been admired by visitors to the town for many years. Of late the citizens have decided to aid the society in improving the plot, which with its artistic rocks and abundant shade, makes one of the finest town parks in the state.
Elk Lake – Ruel Warner, of Essex Falls, NJ, has purchased the farm of Mrs. Chas. Stedman, at this place. Mr. Warriner is having extensive alterations made to the residence and will occupy it as a summer home. Mrs. Stedman and son, Claude, will remain on the farm. ALSO The Tyler school is closed this year and the children from that district are being taken to the Dimock school in a kid wagon.
Fair Hill, Forest Lake Twp. – Some from the Hill attended the KKK parade at Montrose, Monday evening.
West Bridgewater – Frank Tyler and family, Mr. Jefferson Green and Mrs. Harry Valentine and Mrs. Flora Wakely, of Vestal Center, attended the Green reunion at Geo. Crawford’s. Over 80 took dinner and all report a fine time.
Harford – Relatives and friends and one schoolmate, of the class of 1856 of Franklin Academy, Mr. Hosea Benson, of Jackson, gathered amid the many beautiful flowers to bid fond farewell to Mrs. R. M. Jeffers, a mother, neighbor and life-long friend. She is survived by her daughter, Miss Adelaide Jeffers, of Kingsley; one son, Henry W. Jeffers, president of the Walker-Gordon Laboratories Co., Plainsboro, NJ; also three grandchildren, Louise, Emily and Henry Jeffers, Jr.
Hallstead – Floyd Merrill, of Hallstead, for some years connected with the J. G. White Construction Co., of New York City, leaves soon for Greece. He will be a superintendent of construction work and expects to remain in that country four years.
Montrose – Lawrence Arnold, of Los Angeles, CA, is spending a number of weeks with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Arnold, arriving at his former home here on Wednesday of last week. Mr. Arnold went west eleven years ago and this is his first visit east since that time. He makes his home with W. J. Mawhiney, formerly of Montrose. On the day that he started east, he said, Dr. J. F. Butterfield, of Riverside, formerly of South Montrose, called at their home. Although the doctor is past 80 years of age, he continues in good health. Mrs. J. C. Pierson and her daughters live within a mile of them. Mr. Arnold is following his trade of painting in Los Angeles and expects to return next month.
North Jackson – Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Utter, of Starrucca, the Misses Evelyn and Florence Utter, also Mrs. H. M. Davis, attended the Walker reunion which was held on Saturday, on the old farm of the late Seth Walker, in Herrick Township.
Forest City – A strike, which was called Friday at the Richmondale Colliery, came to an end when an amicable settlement was reached between field workers of the United Mine Workers of America and the owner of the mine, a New York man, thus allowing the force of almost 200 miners to go back to their labor. The trouble started when employees complained to district leaders that the owner practiced illegal decking for cars loaded each week and did not furnish cars of a standard size. A number of employees were found not to be affiliated with the union. Several paid their dues and were placed in good standing again. The strike was called off when the owner agreed to co-operate with the union in maintaining a 100% union organization. Patrick Philbin, Harry Kearns, Garfield Lewis and John Dolan were the workers who conferred with the owner.
NOTICE. Came into the inclosure of the subscriber, some time in July last, Three Sheep & 2 Lambs. The sheep have both ears clipped. The owner is desired to prove property, pay charges and take them away. ELIHU MOTT. Middletown, Sept. 4, 1826.
NOTICE, is hereby given, to the Invincible Volunteers, Commanded by Maj. W. S. Wilber, to meet at the home of Shubel Carlisle, in Abington, on Monday, the 25th instant, at 9 o’clock am, uniformed and equipped according to law. WOODBURY S. WILBER, Major & WILLIAM HARTLEY, Adj’t. Sept. 5, 1826.
BRIDGEWATER YEOMANRY GUARDS, Are hereby commanded to meet at the house of Daniel Curtis, in Montrose, on Monday the 11th of September next, at 9 o’clock am, armed and equipped for military duty. By order of the CAPTAIN.
TOWNSHIP MEETING. The Democratic Republicans, of the Bridgewater election district, are hereby notified that a meeting will be held at the court house on Saturday, the 2nd of September next, at 4 o’clock pm, for the purpose of choosing two delegates to represent the said district, in the county convention, on Monday evening of court week. CHARLES AVERY, DANIEL LATHROP, Township Committee.
Chris was a 13-year old boy living in Pittsburgh when the police caught him unlawfully possessing a firearm. A juvenile petition was filed against him in April 2026, and he was placed in a juvenile detention facility pending resolution of the delinquency petition. On May 19, 2026, less than a month after the juvenile charges were filed, Chris entered an admission to unlawfully possessing a firearm. The matter proceeded to dispositional hearing where the juvenile judge had to decide what to do with him.
Chris presented the testimony of his parents, his probation officer, and his football coach. Chris had never been in trouble prior to this incident, and he was struggling emotionally to handle the separation from his family and friends because of his detention. Chris was only in seventh grade, attended school regularly but struggled with his grades. Before his charges were filed, his school had been working on a mental heath plan for him – but it had never materialized.
Chris received an evaluation for a mental health treatment program that could be provided in the community but was not available where he was detained. Both of his parents were very involved and had attended all court proceedings. Both parents indicated a willingness to follow through with any treatment plans that were recommended to help Chris. The probation officer testified that Chris could be released and placed on an electronic home monitor with his parents while he worked on his treatment needs.
The juvenile court, however, determined that it would not be appropriate for Christ to come home. Even though the Juvenile Act requires a juvenile court to consider the least restrictive means to rehabilitate a juvenile, the juvenile court provided the following explanation for keeping Chris in a detention facility: “There is nothing in this world that convinces me a child with a firearm is safe in the community. Nothing. And I’ve been doing this for over [twenty] years, and I haven’t seen it. I’ve seen just the opposite. I’ve seen other people get killed by mistake or on purpose as well. It’s not going to happen. It’s whatever I can do to make sure that does not happen. So, he will be placed at this particular time as well.” Chris filed an appeal seeking his release from detention and a return to his home.
In determining an appropriate disposition for a juvenile and recognizing law’s preference for the least restrictive alternative that will provide for a juvenile’s rehabilitation and the community’s safety, the continued placement or detention of a child is literally the last resort – it only occurs when no other options are feasible. In this case, the juvenile court’s probation officer testified that Chris could safely come home and be placed on the electronic monitor. There was no record presented that Chris provided an ongoing safety threat, i.e., he no longer had any firearms, his parents were actively involved, he always attended school, there were counseling services in the community set up, and they could put him on the electronic monitor at his parent’s home. The juvenile court simply refused to follow those recommendations – and directed Chris’s continued detention based upon the fear that something bad could happed if Chris returned home.
The Superior Court reversed the trial court and explained: “Although this Court appreciates the severity of the offense at issue and does not minimize the need to protect the pubic from firearms, the Juvenile Act requires that these factors be weighed alongside the delinquent child’s individualized needs. Accordingly, based on [Chris’s] needs, the nature of [his] delinquency, [his] recommended treatment, [his] supportive family and community, and the other circumstances of this case (including [Chris’s] school situation and lack of delinquency there), we find that the juvenile court abused its discretion in failing to implement the least restrictive intervention available consistent with protection of the community and in light of [Chris’s] individualized needs.”
The Juvenile Act is designed to avoid removal of children from their homes – the least restrictive path must be followed by a juvenile court even where the gravity of the offense is serious. Unless the record demonstrates that the juvenile cannot be rehabilitated at home – or there is no way to protect the community if the juvenile returns home, a juvenile court must generally return a child to the home environment with appropriate rehabilitate services and safeguards in place.
Good day Dear Hearts, I Love You. Few biblical doctrines generate as much curiosity or confusion as predestination. The very word raises questions that strike at the heart of faith. Has God already determined who will be saved? Does predestination mean some people never had a chance? These concerns are understandable, but they often arise from misconceptions rather than from what Scripture actually teaches. Predestination is a biblical term, appearing in passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29-30. Far from portraying God as arbitrary or unfair, these verses reveal a doctrine rooted in God’s love, His eternal purpose and His desire to redeem humanity through Jesus Christ.
The Bible consistently teaches that salvation begins with God, not with human effort. Paul writes that God “chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world,” Ephesians 1:4. This is not a cold decree but a loving intention that people might become “holy and blameless” and adopted into God’s family. Romans 8:29-30 adds another dimension, “Those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” The goal of predestination is not exclusion but transformation. God’s foreknowledge is not merely awareness of future events, it is relational. It means God set His love upon people long before they ever responded to Him. These passages emphasize a central biblical truth, salvation is by grace. Humanity, according to Scripture, is spiritually unable to save itself. God must take the first step. Predestination is the Bible’s way of saying that salvation is God’s work, from beginning to end.
Does Predestination mean God chooses some for Heaven and others for hell? This is the question that troubles many readers. Historically, Christians have interpreted predestination in different ways, but Scripture itself provides important boundaries. First, the Bible never portrays God as delighting in the condemnation of anyone. In fact, 2 Peter 3:9 says God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” The consistent message of Scripture is that God invites all people to believe, repent and receive eternal life. Second, predestination in the New Testament is always connected to God’s saving work, not to a decree of damnation. The emphasis is on God choosing people for salvation, for adoption, for holiness and for conformity to Christ. The Bible does not encourage speculation about who is “in” or “out.” Instead, it calls all people to respond to God’s grace. Third, human responsibility remains fully intact. The Bible presents salvation as a relationship. God calls and people respond. Predestination does not eliminate human choice, it explains why human choice is possible. God’s grace awakens the heart, opens spiritual eyes and enables faith. In this sense, predestination is not fatalism. It does not portray humans as puppets or God as indifferent. Rather, it highlights the depth of God’s mercy that He pursues people long before they pursue Him.
When understood correctly, predestination is not meant to frighten or discourage. It is meant to comfort believers and strengthen their confidence in God. 1. Predestination magnifies God’s grace. If salvation begins with God, then no one is beyond His reach. Predestination reminds us that God is the author of redemption, not human effort. 2. Predestination humbles human pride. No one can boast of earning salvation. We are saved because God loved us first. 3. Predestination gives believers confidence. If God set His love upon His people before the world began, then their present struggles cannot undo His plan. As Paul writes in Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” 4. Predestination fuels evangelism. Because God is already at work in human hearts, Christians share the gospel with hope. They trust that God is drawing people to Himself, even when circumstances seem discouraging. Predestination, then, is not a doctrine of exclusion but of assurance. It tells believers that their salvation is secure because God Himself initiated it.
The Bible presents two truths side by side; God is sovereign, and humans are responsible. Predestination affirms the first, the call to repentance affirms the second. Scripture never invites us to choose between them. Instead, it holds them together as part of a divine mystery. Paul himself acknowledges this tension. After discussing God’s eternal purpose in Romans 9-11, he concludes not with a neat formula but with worship, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Predestination is ultimately about God’s eternal plan to redeem, restore and transform people through Jesus Christ. It is not a doctrine of despair but of hope a reminder that God’s grace is deeper, stronger and more enduring than human weakness. God Bless.
Lord, we thank you for the summer you have given us as we prepare for the fall season. We pray for all in need and we pray for Naomi Ruth Getter a lifelong resident of Susquehanna and a long-time member of the Susquehanna United Methodist Church n/k/a Susquehanna Christian Community Church.