Slippery Slope

Town of Williamsport employee Bill Martin cleans the new, blue sliding board Monday at Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport. The board was installed by the Williamsport Rotary Club.

In the words of Ronald Reagan, there they go again. The Washington County Commissioners approved $5,000 to help pay the travel costs for the families of Conococheague Little League players after the kids advanced to regional play in Connecticut. This follows the decision a year ago to award $10,000 to Federal Little League families for the same purpose. (Federal advanced further in tournament play, justifying the higher amount, the commissioners said.) Indeed, this was an allocation the commissioners almost had to make -- which is precisely the reason we wish they hadn't.

Thanks so much To the editor: It is always a pleasure for me to thank you, our community, for the outpouring of support for Food Resources, Inc. (FRI) expressed at the Maryland Symphony's Family Concert on March 6. Through your generosity, FRI collected more than 800 pounds of food and $175 in contributions. We convert monetary contributions to food, through our affiliation with America's Second Harvest (a national food distributor for the hungry), at 10 cents per pound.

By GUY FLETCHER Staff Writer ANNAPOLIS - Hagerstown Mayor Steven T. Sager warned Tuesday that allowing slot machines and casinos into Maryland would be a mistake that would hurt the quality of life in the state. Sager was asked by Gov. Parris N. Glendening to speak at a rally of slot machine opponents. Many speakers wearing "No Slots, No Casinos, No Exceptions" stickers predicted casino gambling could lead to more crime but very little economic benefit for the area. "I do not believe that anyone can say, at least not without a straight face, that slots and casinos will improve the quality of life in Maryland," Glendening said.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- Patricia Michalak's chickens serve important roles in her life -- they're her pets and they provide her with the healthy food she prefers. "I believe it's important for me to have an active role in where my food comes from," Michalak told the Washington Township Supervisors on Wednesday. Michalak, of Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., spoke during the supervisors' meeting about why she feels chickens should be allowed in R1 (low-density residential) zones. She received a letter from the township dated Sept.

Bartlett concerns are security, freedom By DAN KULIN dank@herald-mail.com U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett said Thursday the efforts to protect the country from terrorists may be too much and not enough. continued Bartlett, R-Md., said he's concerned that heightened security jeopardizes our freedoms. But Bartlett, at the Hagerstown Regional Airport to thank National Guard troops in charge of security there, said that while the nation is focused on increasing security at airports, "they are only one part of our infrastructure.

Bill would stop felons' lawsuits ANNAPOLIS - After breaking into a house and robbing a family at gunpoint, an intruder trips down a flight of stairs while making his escape. The robber later is arrested and convicted, and then sues the homeowner for the injuries he suffered in the tumble down the steps. Not possible, right? It is in many states, including Maryland. "In my view, it's just ridiculous," said Del. Robert A. McKee, R-Washington. McKee has sponsored a bill in the Maryland General Assembly that would prohibit violent criminals from suing for damages they suffered while they were committing crimes.

Editor's note: The Herald-Mail invites readers to answer poll questions on www.herald-mail.com. Readers also may submit comments when voting. A sampling of edited reader comments will run on The Herald-Mail's Opinion page on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The question posted Friday was: What do you think about President Obama's decision to start pulling out troops from Afghanistan in mid-2011? Poll results: Will spur Afghan officials to step up -- 113 votes (14 percent)

Editor's note: The Herald-Mail invites readers to answer poll questions on www.herald-mail.com. Readers also may submit comments when voting. A sampling of edited reader comments will run on The Herald-Mail's Opinion page on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The question posted Friday was: What do you think about President Obama's decision to start pulling out troops from Afghanistan in mid-2011? Poll results: Will spur Afghan officials to step up -- 113 votes (14 percent)

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- Patricia Michalak's chickens serve important roles in her life -- they're her pets and they provide her with the healthy food she prefers. "I believe it's important for me to have an active role in where my food comes from," Michalak told the Washington Township Supervisors on Wednesday. Michalak, of Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., spoke during the supervisors' meeting about why she feels chickens should be allowed in R1 (low-density residential) zones. She received a letter from the township dated Sept.

In the words of Ronald Reagan, there they go again. The Washington County Commissioners approved $5,000 to help pay the travel costs for the families of Conococheague Little League players after the kids advanced to regional play in Connecticut. This follows the decision a year ago to award $10,000 to Federal Little League families for the same purpose. (Federal advanced further in tournament play, justifying the higher amount, the commissioners said.) Indeed, this was an allocation the commissioners almost had to make -- which is precisely the reason we wish they hadn't.

Torture is not the answer To the editor: The torture debate is not a dangerous path; torture itself is a dangerous path. We can't undo what we did, but we have to acknowledge it as a misstep - a misstep onto a slippery slope that leads only to fascism. Debating that misstep and chastising the ones responsible for it will hopefully ensure that the U.S. will never torture its enemies again. And that surely will increase the stature of the U.S. in the eyes of the world, not reduce it. Many conservatives - led by Fox News - have this childish idea that calling torture by a more pleasant name, like "enhanced interrogation," would make it less evil.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- The U.S. House of Representatives' decision to vote down a $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan drew mixed reaction Monday from local residents and elected officials. While some people said they were worried the economy will suffer, others said it is inappropriate to spend taxpayer money to help struggling financial corporations. "There's no way we should bail them out," said Kevin Whitfield, 62, of Hagerstown. "They were greedy, and it's their job to figure out how to get out of the mess they're in. " Early Monday afternoon, after a weekend of negotiations, the House defeated a bill that would have allowed the U.S. Treasury to spend as much as $700 billion to buy mortgages and other troubled assets held by banks and other financial institutions.

MERCERSBURG, PA. - The young man stood with a snowboard tucked under his arm and stared down the mouth of a mountain trail called Stalker. Strapping on his boots, he entered a Zen moment - quieting the noise and embracing his surroundings. Then, the adrenaline kicked in. There was work to be done. In a matter of seconds, the teenager's board was picking up speed and testing gravity as he shot off a 24-foot rail, did an aerial spin and landed at the trail's base with lethal precision.

If you are president of the United States of America, you know the bar has been set pretty low when a commentator praises your performance in the State of the Union address because you "came off as basically competent," as Tom Shales wrote this month in The Washington Post. So it is with George Bush, the Republican's Jimmy Carter. He's nice enough and he may mean well, but you also realize he's in about six miles over his head. Ideologues on the right will defend the president just because he is a Republican.

"The Wiles family would like to thank the Leitersburg Ruritan Club for the acknowledgment of our Christmas spirit, put forth in the decorating of our home. It was an honor to take first place this season. " - Hagerstown "This is the second year without Eddie and I really miss him. " "It's amazing to me that people are squawking because 30 times in three years, the president decided that there was a need to listen in on suspected terrorist phone calls.

Town of Williamsport employee Bill Martin cleans the new, blue sliding board Monday at Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport. The board was installed by the Williamsport Rotary Club.