Cheers & Jeers
Courtesy of Autism Open
Shown here is a Project Lifesaver transmitter on the wrist of Emmett Bolin, 7, who has autism. The silver box is a Project Lifesaver personal locator system that his parents, Lyndsay and Chris Bolin of Mononagela use to keep track of his whereabouts. Washington County Sheriff蘑菇视频 Department is working to make Project Lifesaver availaible in the county.
Courtesy of Matthew Grimes
Brownsville native Andy Negra prepares to go on a Delta Airlines flight from his home in Georgia to France in early June for the 79th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Cheers: Andy Negra, a 99-year-old Brownsville native, made his first visit to France in 1944 when he landed on Utah Beach in Normandy. Along with fighting in France during his 29-month stint in the U.S. Army during World War II, Negra fought in Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg and was part of the forces that liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp. Negra was finally able to return to France in June when he traveled there through the Best Defense Foundation, which offers all-expense-paid trips to veterans so they can revisit the places where they put their lives on the line to defend democracy. Though he蘑菇视频 not far from the century-mark, Negra told the 蘑菇视频 that if other elderly veterans could make the trip, then why couldn鈥檛 he? And in keeping with the optimistic approach to life that has taken him close to 100, Negra is planning a return trip to France next year.
Jeers: Back in 1958, Johnny Cash released the song 鈥淒on鈥檛 Take Your Guns to Town.鈥� If the Man in Black were still here, he might want to amend that to, 鈥淒on鈥檛 Take your Guns to Town or to the Airport.鈥� The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported this week that 2023 could see a record-breaking number of firearms seized at security checkpoints at Pittsburgh International Airport. So far, 22 have been confiscated from carry-on baggage this year. And Pittsburgh is not alone 鈥� last year, more than 6,000 guns were seized at airports around the country. On Monday, a 9mm handgun loaded with 11 bullets was taken from a Canonsburg man at one of the airport蘑菇视频 checkpoints. Apparently the most common excuse is simple forgetfulness, but a mistake like that could be costly 鈥� fines can go as high as $15,000. The best advice, if you own a gun and want to bring it with you on your trip, is to put it in a checked bag, in a case and unloaded. That蘑菇视频 the responsible thing to do, and it will help speed you on your journey and spare you a steep fine.
Jeers: If you are decades removed from your teens or 20s, the nonstop party atmosphere on Pittsburgh蘑菇视频 South Side on a weekend night, with its traffic and commotion, can seem more than a little daunting. Lately, though, the South Side is also developing a reputation for being dangerous. This past weekend, a man was fatally shot near the bars and restaurants of the neighborhood, and it apparently was the last straw for the owners of one of them. The Carson City Saloon, a sports bar that has been on Carson Street for 17 years, is temporarily closing because of all the shootings, fights and mayhem that have unfolded around them in recent months. In a Facebook post, the proprietors said they made the decision for 鈥渢he safety of our staff and our patrons alike,鈥� and cited the 鈥渃areless activity that continues to go unchecked on Carson Street.鈥� They say the sports bar will remain shuttered 鈥渦ntil some action is taken by city leaders.鈥� Although Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and other officials have met with business owners on the South Side and have pledged to tackle violence on the South Side, more clearly needs to be done, and quickly.