“We want to make sure all evidence of exactly what happened here is preserved.”

[James Gratton, defense attorney for David Ludwig, quoted in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer article, “Records: 18-year-old, friend plotted armed raid.”]

Tomorrow, I’m going to address this and why there might be real concern in Lancaster County about evidence preservation and other such legal matters.

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

~ Young Gib is Toast! ~

THE MAGNITUDE OF $129 A DAY

 

 

    Young Gib, your days are numbered.  “Consider the magnitude of the decisions our constituents are asking us to make.”  That is Young Gib being quoted by WGAL and the article is here.   Apparently, Young Gib has to frequently decide when to eat at Lapp’s Family Restaurant (see yesterday’s post “Turkeys Everywhere”).  Please read this WGAL report.  Amazing!  Old Gib and Young Gib are going to be swept out!

 

Please check back this weekend for more on Young Gib, District Attorney Donald Totaro and the Lititz double homicide.

TURKEYS EVERYWHERE

I WORK SO HARD

     “According to Armstrong, he helps some constituents make trips to the Capitol building in Harrisburg, attends community events like the auction last week and regularly visits Lapp’s Family Restaurant along Lincoln Highway.  ‘It’s important to me to stay connected to the people I work so hard to serve,’ he said.”

“Cutler to face Armstrong in 100th primary,” by Dave Pidgeon, today’s Intell.

    There is simply too much meat here (refer to Lapp’s) to deal with today, so I will give Young Gib the attention he so richly deserves tomorrow or over the weekend.  Who is paying for those regular visits to Lapp’s Family Restaurant, anyway?

 

“We want to make sure all evidence of exactly what happened here is preserved.”

[James Gratton, defense attorney for David Ludwig, quoted in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer article, “Records: 18-year-old, friend plotted armed raid.”]

Tomorrow, I’m going to address this and why there might be real concern in Lancaster County about evidence preservation and other such legal matters.

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

~ Young Gib is Toast! ~

THE MAGNITUDE OF $129 A DAY

 

 

    Young Gib, your days are numbered.  “Consider the magnitude of the decisions our constituents are asking us to make.”  That is Young Gib being quoted by WGAL and the article is here.   Apparently, Young Gib has to frequently decide when to eat at Lapp’s Family Restaurant (see yesterday’s post “Turkeys Everywhere”).  Please read this WGAL report.  Amazing!  Old Gib and Young Gib are going to be swept out!

 

Please check back this weekend for more on Young Gib, District Attorney Donald Totaro and the Lititz double homicide.

TURKEYS EVERYWHERE

I WORK SO HARD

     “According to Armstrong, he helps some constituents make trips to the Capitol building in Harrisburg, attends community events like the auction last week and regularly visits Lapp’s Family Restaurant along Lincoln Highway.  ‘It’s important to me to stay connected to the people I work so hard to serve,’ he said.”

“Cutler to face Armstrong in 100th primary,” by Dave Pidgeon, today’s Intell.

    There is simply too much meat here (refer to Lapp’s) to deal with today, so I will give Young Gib the attention he so richly deserves tomorrow or over the weekend.  Who is paying for those regular visits to Lapp’s Family Restaurant, anyway?

THE DONALD AND LIGHT BULBS

    I am simply flabbergasted by a number of things today.  The first is Lancaster County District Attorney Donald Totaro.  Desperate to save his job and in the current national spotlight, the poor man can’t explain why he convened a grand jury for the second time in less than four years in Lancaster.  So a light bulb went off – he’ll use the grand jury to investigate the hiring of Gary Heinke!  This is truly, truly rich.  And he is going to personally prosecute David Ludwig.  Oh, my!  There will be much more on The Donald this weekend.

TAXIDERMY-MOUNTED OWLS

    Secondly, by crow, the crows are back!  And get this – this time they are going to use effigies to scare them away!  Yes, folks, that’s right.  I would like to suggest effigies of George Bush and Dick Cheney and possibly Mayor Smithgall.  I think that should do the trick.  In today’s New Era article, “Clouds of crows face dispersal or poison,” it says, “effigies such as taxidermy-mounted owls.”  Are these people nuts?  It’s your money folks.  And who has all of these “taxidermy-mounted owls” lying around anyway?

HE’S BACK

    And, far and away the absolute strangest event of the day is Jeff Hawkes’ column in the Intell, “I can’t place the face, but I know that voice.”  Yes, “Clyde is back.”  Why?  Maybe “Clyde” could be one of the effigies?  Or maybe Dave Hennigan or Jeff Hawkes would make a good effigy?  There is no apparent reason for this insipid column and I believe Hawkes needs to meet with Dr. Fraud as soon as possible.  I would add that there is only one interesting sentence in the entire column and that is “Clyde” asking this, “It will be interesting to see if Mayor Gray keeps Bill Heim on as police chief.”  Yes, it most certainly will.

TURKEYS

    Now, I am going to email the Manheim Township officials with my ideas on who should be used as effigies to scare the crows.  And to think, I was going to write a column today on how to deep-fry a turkey.  There’s always tomorrow…

   

 

                       

        “While perusing the stands at the Solanco Fair a couple of weeks ago, I found it humorous that one of my elected officials, State Rep. Gib Armstrong of the 100th District, had a petition at his stand against the enacted pay raise.  This struck me as humorous because Armstrong voted to suspend the house rules so that a vote on the pay raise could take place in the middle of the night.  He then voted against the pay raise, which was the right thing to do.  However, this vote strikes me as merely playing the part to look good to his constituents.  I say this because Armstrong then filled out the paperwork to begin receiving the unconstitutional, unvouchered expenses; thereby utilizing a loophole that allows him to collect the extra money immediately.”

    Yes, that’s exactly what Young Gib did and the above quote is by Daniel P. McCauley of Drumore from a Letter to the Editor of the Intell that was published on October 17, 2005.  

     According to www.pacleansweep.com, the vote was very carefully orchestrated to make sure it passed and try to protect some Representatives.  Young Gib filed for the unvouchered expenses the very next day and then, when the outcry began, said he would give them back.

    All of this brings me again to Patricia Poist’s Sunday News article, “Pa. House hopefuls begin to stir.”  Poist is their political reporter and this article was presented as a news article, not a column.  Poist is speaking of the pay raise and says, “…which incidentally Armstrong was against from the very beginning.”  She provides no proof for this statement but instead just writes it as if it is an unquestionable fact.  Then why did he apply for the raise the very next day, Patricia?  This is really disgraceful journalism.  It is also a turn-around by Young Gib that no one believes.  Gib it up, Armstrong. 

 

Coming tomorrow – a look at Young Gib and “academic freedom.”

OF TRAGEDY, NEWSPAPERS

 AND NONSENSE

TRAGEDY

    David Ludwig and Kara Borden will continue to dominate the news for days.  In this morning’s Intell article, “CAPTURED,” Lancaster County District Attorney Donald Totaro is quoted as saying, “This was a premeditated, willful and intentional act.  Whether the girl was part of it or not is still being determined.”

    Be careful, Donald.  You have a national audience watching you. Don’t bungle this one.  I predict a plea bargain for Ludwig for life in prison. 

    On the LOL Talkback board the main point of focus is home-schooling and religion.  I have an opinion on home-schooling, but I am not going to voice it (gasp!) as I readily admit it’s a topic I don’t know enough about.  I do agree with today’s Philadelphia Daily News that the two teenager’s websites provide no clues to this tragedy whatsoever.

    I stated over the weekend that I would be calling The Donald to find the status of the Renee Binkley investigation and my addition to his press release list.  In light of all that has happened, I am cutting the hardworking DA a break and will wait until next week.  I will keep you informed.

NEWSPAPERS

    This story, the election, the Cortney Fry case, the convening of a grand jury and so many other things make me long for a quality newspaper or even one that understands what news is.  So my eyes got misty when I happened on this ad on JournalismJobs.com, “The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review seeks an aggressive reporter to uncover stories that others can’t.  We’re the hungrier, more nimble and more enterprising competitor in a city where two newspapers slug it out every day.”  Wow.  Slug it out every day.  That’s the best of all possible journalism worlds.

NONSENSE

    Which sadly brings me to laughable journalism - and Patricia Poist’s Sunday News article, “Pa. House hopefuls begin to stir,” which was not posted online.  Someone is going to announce on Wednesday that they are running against young Gib Armstrong in the 100th district, but Poist, for the life of her, couldn’t find out whom.  And it was her claim months ago that Rick Gray and the Democrats had conducted a “push poll” that first made me question whether she had a brain.  “Push polls” are conducted at the very end of a campaign, however, in this article Poist wrote the following without ever even questioning it: “Stewart Nelson of Little Britain Township, a part-time employee in Rep. Armstrong’s district office, said he received a call to participate in a ‘push poll’ against Armstrong.”

     If he received a call about anything, it was probably a PA Clean Sweep call, and there will be more on that and a Poist lie about Young Gib tomorrow…

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

    David Ludwig has been captured in Indiana according to KYW Radio today at 12:45 p.m.  There was not word on Kara Borden.  I can’t think of anything except the tragedy in Lititz today.   My heart goes out to everyone involved.

    The promised story on Patricia Poist and Representative Gib Armstrong will come tomorrow. 

SHADES OF AWFUL

TO THE DOGS

    Oh, my God.  That’s about all I can say this morning.  The Sunday News is going to the dogs.  Who writes an editorial as stupid as “Shades of Gray?”  And I’m going to help this poor clown out.  Adam’s column ends as follows:  “The victory by mayor-elect Rick Gray and the four Democrat council candidates sent a message.  The question to be settled is:  What message?”

HERE’S THE MESSAGE

    Here’s the message, you moron.  People didn’t want a lying, cable-stealing, gun-selling, stupid, back-stabbing mayor any longer.  Got that?

ABUSING THE SYSTEM

    Senator Gib Armstrong is suddenly trying to improve his image as his hotel/convention center crashes and burns.  All of a sudden “Armstrong seeks millions for abuse programs.”   I have no comment except that it ain’t going to save your job, Gib.  Your sudden concern for the welfare of women is a little late.  You’re going to be swept out.

$25 MILLION

    Then there’s a long article on the LCCCA that has me shaking my head and pounding my calculator keys.  I haven’t had enough coffee, yet.  If I figure out what they’ve spent $25 million on, I’ll let you know.

BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN

    It’s going to be an epic battle between Adams and Smart to see which one is stupider and the worst writer.  Wow.  What a contest.  Adams pulls ahead this week with this comment:  “You love ‘em or hate ‘em, but both are hard to ignore.  Columns by Mr. Smart and Ms. Dowd are like the car wreck you try not to stare at, but can’t pull your eyes away from.”  Yuck.

NO PARADE

    Then there’s Smart.  No, you aren’t leading any parade, Smart.  Your butt would be bounced in any other town.  It’s writing like this that has turned thousands away from journalism as a career:  “But it’s difficult not to see the cracks in the facade of conservatism, particularly as the president’s poll numbers continue to sink like a stone and he, in turn, becomes a millstone around conservative necks.”  Yuck. 

 

I NEED TO WALK MY DOG NOW. 

OF MOLES AND MOVING FORWARD

HEART

    This is going to be brief today.  In an effort to make this site load faster, the mole now has his own “archive” page and it is here.  I apologize for the poor layout and the horrible background color.  I worked very hard to make the “old” site look good.  When I had to abandon it for this site, I didn’t have the time, energy or heart to work on the appearance.  Please be patient.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS   

    One catch-up item.  When Marv Adams was named the new editor of the Sunday News, the write-up in the paper said this, “Adams said he’ll also write a regular column to answer readers’ questions about the Sunday News, such as ‘why articles are played the way they are, why one story was covered and not another, why we sometime use unnamed sources,’ he said.  ‘We tend to make what we do too mysterious.’”

BAITED BREATH

     Well, Marv, it’s not that mysterious because you don’t do it well.  But please, I am waiting with baited breath for why you sometimes use unnamed sources.  Please tell us very soon.  And by the way, the errors in the quote above are not my typos.  It is reproduced exactly the way the story appears online.  You might want to work on your grammar and punctuation, Marv.

HEY CABLE GUY!

    Well, Slate magazine has this story on “Larry the Cable Guy.”  Hey, we have our own “Cable Guy,” Dan Messimer.  Dan, are you out there?  This guy’s trying to horn in on your popularity.  Get him, Dan.

IT MAKES ME QUAKE

    Moving forward, I would like you to go to this article one more time before LOL puts it in archives and click on the photograph to enlarge.  Several months ago I mentioned that the only time my brothers and sisters and I left our house was to go to school or Friend’s Meeting.  So please, take one more look at Lancaster Friend's Meeting House.  What kind of people attend a “church” like this?  When I was growing up, it was a collection of people/families hiding very dark secrets. The “Incest Story” and the legal work in the appeal to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the case of Holzinger v. Holzinger will be coming back to this site shortly.

$16,000 BAIL

    Also coming, what happened when my 21-year-old son went to Chestnut Hill College to celebrate the removal of his braces and never came home?

 PLEASE CHECK BACK TOMORROW

COOLEY AND THE DONALD

 

 

    What a busy and wonderful week.  And now I’m tired and cranky.  Nevin Cooley of the PSP sent out an email last evening that begins:  “Here’s the good news:  The downtown hotel and convention center project has cleared several hurdles thrown in its way by opponents of the project and has made significant progress in several other important ways.”  Mr. Cooley, you make my skin crawl.  You will be on a train out of Lancaster before this whole mess is a memory.

    Then there’s the whole Conestoga View/Heinke fiasco.  Yesterday, the lead article in the New Era was “DA launches Heinke probe.”  What a hoot.  They even ran a picture of DA Donald Totaro with the story at the top of the front page.  How long do you think this “probe” will take?  It took him a year and a grand jury to arrest Micah Stewart for the murder of Cortney Fry.  It took his detectives eight weeks to find five locations with illegal gaming machines and they still hadn’t found the distributor.  Here’s a tip, Totaro.  Save the public time and money.  Ask Rick Gray, the mayor elect.  I’ll bet he’ll know if the lies in the resume are a prosecutable offense.