Cheers & Jeers
Jeers: Peter J. Daley retired from public office six years ago, yet his absence from the Mon Valley communities he represented in Harrisburg for more than 30 years will be keenly felt. Following his death last week at the age of 71, the former representative from the 49th Legislative District was remembered for his accomplishments as a lawmaker, his gregarious personality and how he helped the community through a drive-thru food distribution event twice a year at United Christian Church in Coal Center. Many younger colleagues considered Daley a friend and mentor. Former Washington County district attorney Steve Toprani said, 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 walk through the Mon Valley without seeing his footprints. He was involved in so many things. 鈥� Even though he left public office in recent years, he never lost interest in public causes. Pete was a giant in our area.鈥�
Cheers: Connellsville鈥檚 Madison Wiltrout and Brownsville鈥檚 Gionna Quarzo advanced to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Wiltrout, a graduate student at the University of North Carolina, is seeking her second first-team All-America recognition in the javelin, while Quarzo, a North Carolina State sophomore, is competing for her first honor at 10,000 meters. Both local athletes competed Thursday in the national championship at history Hayward Field in Oregon.
Cheers: You鈥檝e heard of the Running of the Bulls, right? Well, nearby Washington County is going to see 鈥淭he Running of the Wools鈥� next year. Yes, next April, downtown Washington will host sheep 鈥渞aces鈥� as a way to highlight Washington County鈥檚 heritage in wool production and sheep farming. Today at 6 p.m., the Washington Business District Authority and the Washington Historical Society will be hosting a fundraiser for it at Washington Park鈥檚 Stone Pavilion. So far, according to Clay Kilgore, executive director of the Washington Historical Society, the response has been 鈥渙verwhelming.鈥� He explained, 鈥淲e want to have fun with it. We want it to be something enjoyable. I have found if you can make something fun and pick a more lighthearted side of history, it鈥檚 easier to get across.鈥� Kilgore and the Historical Society deserve credit for their ingenuity.
Cheers: Leaders of many nations right now are dogged by low approval ratings thanks to the continuing fallout from COVID-19 and rising prices, and none more so than Boris Johnson, Britain鈥檚 prime minister. Not only is he confronting a restive and disgruntled public due to conditions in their day-to-day lives, but he is also the object of their ire due to raucous parties that were held at his residence while the rest of the country was in a hard lockdown in the depths of the pandemic. His colleagues in the Conservative Party exacted a price on Monday with a no-confidence vote that could have immediately ended his premiership. Johnson survived, but more than 40% of his colleagues voted to oust him. The conventional wisdom among observers of British politics is that his days at 10 Downing Street are numbered. What is refreshing, though, is how Johnson was held to account by members of his own party for his misdeeds. Some lawmakers on this side of the Atlantic should take note.