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Leaders statewide join Wolf to call for statewide broadband access

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Region 5 Legion playoffs: Mountain Post’s early outburst stands up vs. Bloomsburg

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; It&#8217;s so darn hot, this will be rapid-fire column on bits and pieces in the news and things that make me take note.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre City&#8217;s Mayor Tony George decided to end the controversy created by placing a brick on the Bee Hive pillar on Public Square that was purchased by a Ku Klux Klan-affiliated organization. Activist Gene Stilp tried to remove the brick &#8212; he got arrested. Free speech was throttled again. Rather than allowing the controversy to continue growing, the mayor decided to pull an Art Modell, dispatching Department of Public Works crew members in the very early morning hours to remove the pillar and, if you follow the mayor&#8217;s thinking, remove the controversy.</p><p>The Bee Hive reportedly is being stored in a secure area at the DPW garage. A couple of the bricks may have been damaged. </p><p>Maybe we should storm the DPW garage and demand to see the Bee Hive. Let&#8217;s hope that the Bee Hive is intact and will one day be returned to public display &#8212; with or without the bricks.</p><p style="text-align: center;">&#8226;</p><p>The Keystone State Games will be held in Luzerne County over the next two weekends, bringing thousands of athletes, coaches, officials, family members, friends and fans to the area. This is one outstanding event and we are fortunate to once again host the games.</p><p>Jim Costello is the executive director. His dad, the late Owen J. Costello, was the first KSG executive director and he held that position until he passed away in 2015. We have Owen and Jim to thank for this continued success and also thank you to all of the volunteers who make it happen every year.</p><p>One of those volunteers, Jack Monick, has been involved for more than 30 years with the games. Jack credited his dad and several other Luzerne County icons for instilling in him the spirit of volunteerism and community service. Monick typifies all that is good with the Keystone State Games and Wyoming Valley.</p><p>To all, I say job well done.</p><p style="text-align: center;">&#8226;</p><p>Growing up in Plymouth &#8212; I may have mentioned that before &#8212; we played baseball, basketball and football all the time. We loved being outside and we learned the games the way they were supposed to be played. We had great coaches &#8212; John &#8220;Snoggy&#8221; Mergo, George Morgqan, Joe Evan, Marv Antinnes, Joseph &#8220;Red&#8221; Jones, Bob Magalski, Alex &#8220;Reppy&#8221; Junevitz, Tony &#8220;Stush&#8221; Gayson, and more.</p><p>We followed baseball in baseball season, football in football season and basketball in basketball season. For some reason &#8212; I&#8217;m guessing money &#8212; ESPN just keeps shoving NBA basketball down our throats every single day. And they do it at the expense of under-covering the real sports stories of the day.</p><p>There are major sports events going on, such as Wimbledon tennis, the British Open, Major League Baseball pennant races, NFL football camps and signings, and more. But ESPN feels we need to know the latest about LeBron, AD, KD, Kyrie, Kawhi, and on and on. Well ESPN, we don&#8217;t.</p><p style="text-align: center;">&#8226;</p><p>It&#8217;s good to see that there are so many Americans who want to know the true story of what happened to Mary Jo Kopechne on that fateful July 18, 1969, night on Chappaquiddick. Most believe we don&#8217;t know the truth, nor will we ever, and that there was a cover-up.</p><p>Let&#8217;s hope some people come forward to clear their consciences.</p><p style="text-align: center;">&#8226;</p><p>On Thursday I attended a memorial service for Luzerne County Corrections Officer Kristopher Moules. It was the third anniversary of his death.</p><p>On July 18, 2016, Moules, 25, was tackled by inmate Timothy Darnell Gilliam Jr., 27, and the two struck an elevator door, causing it to buckle. Both men fell nearly 60 feet down the elevator shaft and were killed.</p><p>Co-workers, friends and county officials gathered in front of the county correctional facility to remember Moules and honor him for giving the ultimate sacrifice on the job.</p><p>It was a really touching ceremony.</p><p>Deputy Warden Sam Hyder, a close friend of the Moules family, offered poignant remarks. Hyder told me he didn&#8217;t know he was going to address the gathering until that morning.</p><p>&#8220;People don&#8217;t understand the job you all do behind these walls,&#8221; Hyder said. &#8220;This is a truly somber day. We all know the strain this job puts on us and our families. We all know the risk taken every day, never knowing if we will return home at the end of our shift. Today, we are reminded of that risk and what we face every day.</p><p>&#8220;There are no words to take away the pain and suffering,&#8221; Hyder said. &#8220;I wish I could find those words. Our brother went home to the Lord and I&#8217;m sure Kris is looking down on us today. We will never forget Kristopher Moules.&#8221;</p><p>As we used to say in Plymouth &#8212; Sam, ya done good.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bill O&#8217;Boyle </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Oboyle_Bill-2-1-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bill O&#8217;Boyle </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle, or email at boboyle@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Beyond the Byline: Should we storm the DPW?