W-b Woman Jailed In Alleged Shouting Of Obscenities 
Debbie Thurston Was 
Previously Fined After Being 
Found Guilty Of Harassment And 
Disorderly Conduct

Abortion Protesters From Area Rallying

Friday, January 23, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 14A 





SAYSO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm calling in response to the strike notification of Wyoming Valley Health &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Care System. I say to the nurses, stick it to them nurses, I'm behind you
100 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 percent. They can afford to do all this revitalization of the hospital, but
they can't afford to pay their nurses what they deserve to be paidEditor's
note: So many of you commented on the ongoing labor dispute that we had to
choose a sampling to publish and delete others, especially after Wednesday's
settlement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm calling about the nurses ... at the Wyoming Valley Health Care System.
First of all I want to say, I'm not a nurse, I'm not related to a nurse, and I
have no family of nurses. However, recently I was rushed to the hospital in an
ambulance and I was placed in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital on the 6th floor,
6 East to be exact. I was there, my knees were taken care of very good, the
nurses were adequate with what they did, and everything they did to me and
working with me and everything, but one thing I did feel sorry for these
nurses. They were short staffed. I never got anything late, I never got my
medication late, however, I did see them working hard. I think they do deserve
a raise, and I don't think that they're asking that much, especially for the
amount of time that they're spending and the hours and the responsibility that
they have there. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What's up with the morons at the Wyoming Valley Health Care Systems
unhealthy kitchen? With the recipes they have, one serving there, you're a
candidate for a heart attack. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm calling this morning because I've been a patient at the Wilkes-Barre
General Hospital within the last few years, and I have to comment on the new
contract being offered to the nurses there. I wish they would put in a clause
within the contract, that the nurses are there to help the patients. They need
to be reminded of this. Every time someone is in need of help and assistance
while staying at this facility, should the buzzer ring for help, it should be
given with a friendly attitude and as soon as possible, not with that look of
"you're a pain in the ---." Come on, these are people that don't feel good,
that just need that little extra smile. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm from the Spring Street area in the East End, and I'm call to praise
Mayor McGroarty and his team with the cleanup yesterday. They certainly did a
beautiful job and the mayor was right on hand and everybody was busy. We call
a lot of times to condemn things in this city, so I guess we better call and
give him a word of praise. Kudos to you Mayor McGroarty, and keep up the good
work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Congratulation to Paul DeFabo, for exposing commissioner "Porky Pig" and
his accomplices for what they actually are. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'd like to say about this Mr. Nesbitt that formed the Crime Watch, I think
he should run against McGroarty for mayor, maybe then we'll get more cops on
the street like we need. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I see where Luzerne County will possibly be constructing a portable dam in
Wilkes-Barre at an estimated cost of $14 million. Well, I guess the
representative from Lackawanna County should be able to get a few dollars to
build a concrete wall in the borough of Duryea on the Lackawanna River between
the Stephenson Street Bridge and Lackawanna Avenue to protect that community
in the event of a flood. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The blacks don't just get it. They will constantly play the "blame game." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: What exactly is "it?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I live in a verbally abusive environment. My adolescent, who is 17,
threatens me often. He threatens his dad as well as sometimes his siblings.
After talking to victim's resource, I was encouraged to file a PFA. I did that
but where did it get me? I have an adolescent on juvenile probation. And, is
that working? Well, let's see. Besides getting billed for detention, court
costs and various programs expected to help, he was advised to go to
counseling. So, when the counseling was recommended as part of the probation,
no one saw that the sessions were being attended. As a parent, we have very
little rights to a child's mental states once they reach the age of 14.
Alcohol counseling was recommended. After the adolescent went to two or three
of them, the counseling sessions were abandoned altogether also, and no
probation officer even checked. If I report a violation like drinking,
threatening, etc., the adolescent stays at detention, goes before a judge,
attends a program to rehabilitate like a boot camp, and 90 days later the
adolescent is back under your roof doing more of the same. Only difference is,
you're $3,000 to $5,000 poorer. Once a child reaches the age of 16 and is able
to seek employment, a judgment should be placed on them to pay for their
probation/detention and restitution. Kids understand money and if they realize
that their screw-ups will cost them, they'll be less likely to repeat an
offense. As long as parents are acting responsibly and their child
deliberately defies them and society, the child must be made responsible and
that includes financially responsible as well. I'm a parent that just can't
seem to get any help. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There's definitely not enough Pittsburgh Steeler football coverage. All you
picked up was the basic AP articles on the game. You need to realize that
there's more bus trips that run from this area to Pittsburgh Steelers than
there are to the Philadelphia Eagles games. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: We'll take another look next season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm calling to congratulate the Coughlin cheerleaders on their hard work
and dedication in qualifying for the national cheerleading competition in
Florida next month. I'd also like to mention that the Dallas High School
cheerleaders and perhaps several other squads have also qualified for this
year's national championships. I feel that these groups still deserve some
recognition by the local media. Good luck to all the local girls in Florida
next month. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I would like to inform your SAYSO callers from Hunlock Creek that I had no
choice in my being homosexual, which they infer by stating, "If you enjoy
people of your sex, that's up to you." Trust me when I tell you, it wasn't my
choice, for if it were, I'd be straight. The pain, torment and rejection of a
prejudiced society has caused me nothing but sadness and heartache from my
childhood years right into my adult life. While growing up, I was teased,
taunted and ridiculed by the other boys for my lack of manliness and physical
ability. My father was embarrassed by me and wished I hadn't been born. My
brother-in-law was homophobic and used me as a human punching bag. Even in my
straight friendships I have been damned by my homosexuality, which has caused
me to desire them for their manliness and ruin the friendship we might have
had. Their rejection was very painful. In all honesty, do you really believe
that this is the kind of life I would have chosen for myself? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It's been quoted more often than not that the United States is the mo

Sayso 
I'm Calling In Response To The Strike Notification Of Wyoming Valley Health 
Care System. I Say To The Nurses, Stick It To Them Nurses, I'm Behind You 100 
Percent. They Can Afford To Do All This Revitalization Of The Hospital, But 
They Can't Afford To Pay Their Nurses What They Deserve To Be Paid.