Opinion

Over the past six weeks, The Lancaster News has featured its highly read Cold Case series about unsolved murders in Lancaster County dating back some 40 years.

During those weeks, some faces from the past have rekindled reflections of those crime stories. Some of those I recall, like the late Harry Frazier, a gifted athlete in his day, playing youth sports in Lancaster.

On March 15, the House Budget Committee, by a 21-16, vote initiated the process that will allow the Senate to consider health-care reform under special rules that ban Senate filibusters and require a simple majority to approve the measure.

 “We’re taking the first step in the long, arduous process toward health-care reform,” said House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt, D-S.C.

What Mr. Spratt didn’t say is that, under his guidance in the Budget Committee, and his vote, taxpayer money will be used to fund abortions.

You should get the 2010 U.S. Census questionnaire in the next few days. In previous editorials, we’ve stressed the importance of responding to the census. Census results are important – very important.  

They are used to determine each state’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to redraw state and local voting districts.

More than $400 billion in federal funds is distributed annually through state, local and tribal governments to communities each year, based on population data.

It is nice to know that the city of Lancaster is now judge, jury and executioner. They have taken the word of two people and crucified Lancaster Police Officer Pat Parsons. Being the parent of a young man, who also lost his way as a teenager, I know that everything a young man says isn’t the truth. I found that out the hard way. But to take that young man’s word and his mother’s word over Officer Parsons and not have a fair and honest hearing is ludicrous.

How far have we regressed as a people? Let’s see what we have on the table: We have a known perpetrator, a known thief (even petty theft is stealing), who was in a store (where in the recent past, management had called the police to remove him for loitering.) A police officer asked him to go outside, but he refused. The officer pulled him by his hood (didn’t drag him through hot coals or cause physical injury in any way), then slapped a cigarette out of his mouth (it was illegal for him to be smoking anyway), then touched his lips.

Editor’s note: Dr. Kevin J. Nusz with The Eye & Laser Center wrote the following column because of concerns about diabetes and its impact on the vision of so many people in Lancaster County. March 23 was American Diabetes Association Alert Day. The one-day wake-up call was an effort to inform the American public about the seriousness of the disease. The annual Walk to Cure Diabetes will be held April 17 at Carowinds. Several local residents, including Jane Lucas and Emily Stacks, will participate with the Watts Up for Diabetes team.   

Located on West Dunlap Street just across from the historic Lancaster Courthouse is the Lancaster Area Literacy Cooperative. Its purpose is pretty much reflective in its name. It’s obvious when you walk into the office. Book shelves line the walls, a room is filled with computers and dedicated employees try to improve the local literacy rate.

Is there something wrong with our judicial system?

Last October, a person was stopped for speeding on Pageland Highway, charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and unlawful carrying of a pistol. The officer found marijuana, a bag of prescription pill bottles, a bag with $9,280 in cash and a gun.

Do you think this person is suffering the consequences? No, he was recommended for pre-trial intervention (PTI).

Again, I ask, is something wrong with our system?

Milbry Johnson

The dark building was filled to capacity. Loud music was in the air. Young children, teenagers and adults were all in attendance.

There was excitement, laughter, clapping, singing and one lone black light shown through the darkness. This was the scene that took place on Jan. 3, at Sand Hill Baptist Church in Kershaw.

The Sand Hill Baptist Puppet Team was presenting their black light spectacular performance. This 10-year ministry began with a small seed that God turned into a garden.