Hubbard truck accident that killed, injured pigs adds to their nightmares

Hubbard truck accident that killed, injured pigs adds to their nightmares

How sad it was to read about the truckload of innocent pigs that were in a horrible accident at Interstate 80 and state Route 62 in Hubbard last week.

Those poor, helpless creatures had to endure yet another nightmare on the way to their deaths.

How horrible it must have been for them to have been crammed in cages on top of one another and so scared ... not knowing what was happening to them.

Certainly they were terrified. Pigs are sweet, intelligent individuals, and they do not deserve the horrific lives they are forced to live, being tortured and then hauled to their death crammed in a trailer.

The driver should pay for his crime. The lives of pigs are just as important to them as our lives are to us. I hope he enjoyed cleaning up the blood, feces, and dead bodies in his truck.

Thank you Countryside Veterinary Service for your kindness to help these unlucky individuals.

I’m so sorry for each of their tortured lives and horrible deaths.

Lisa Lardas, Niles

Please, Sen. Portman, set up town hall in the Valley to face your constituents

After the third recess since the election, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, has yet to host a live town hall in the state that sent him to Washington, D.C.

Sure, he’s appeared at Republican fundraisers, hosted a less-than-democratic “telephone town hall”, and sent staffers to meet with local grass-roots groups, but he still refuses to speak with any of us in person. So if he’s not meeting with his constituents, where is Rob Portman?

Since the senator won’t speak with us directly, we have to settle for his social media posts instead.

According to Facebook, the senator has been busy accepting the Manufacturing Legislative Excellence Award in D.C., visiting the Air National Guard Base in Mansfield and meeting with administrators at drug treatment and recovery centers in Eaton and Massillon.

Good intentions aside, what do all of these events have in common? Loaded with big smiles, hearty handshakes and high praise for the senator’s legislative agenda, these scheduled, scripted photo ops are as one-sided as the cardboard cutouts that stand in his place at the countless town halls organized on his behalf across the state.

Sen. Portman, job growth, national security and the drug epidemic are concerns that we all share, so why do you avoid discussing them with us in person? Show us that we’re more than a vote by scheduling a town hall in our area soon.

We deserve to be heard, and before you ask, Facebook pokes and video chats don’t count.

Amanda Russ Daquelente, Youngstown

Regroup to bring change in 2018 midterm elections

Oh how we Baby Boomers long for days gone by. Gone are the days of sweet innocence; we are in a different world and going back is impossible.

What happened? Disrespect happened. Greed happened. Vulgarity happened. Our leaders, both civil and secular, fell to depths of evil. Power-hungry politicians and sexually starved priests preyed on hopeful adults and innocent children. What to do now? We can look the other way or we can take charge and change the status quo.

Today, the lack of human dignity has become the norm. The president of the U.S. has created a shameful precedent of ignorance. He elevates himself to a god-like entity, praises himself for being the best, the most accomplished and most glorified person to ever grace us with his presence. What a joke!

The Trump administration is a salad peppered with corruption and scandal covered with Russian dressing. Donald Trump surrounds himself with Alt-Right cronies who have his ear. Who is truly running this country? Steve Bannon? Jared Kushner? Think about it.

Jared has his hands in many pots; hopefully they won’t boil over burning his hands as well as the country. Trump has too many cooks in the wrong kitchen. Has he appointed any deputies to the State Department or to any of the 500-plus positions in the government? How is Washington able to function with so many positions not filled? Is Jared going to assume additional responsibility of filling the empty desks? Enter stage right: the American Princess Ivanka. Will she be the heroine of the story or will her vapid Ken and Barbie brothers with their wives take residence in the White House and turn it into the Trump family compound of ineptitude? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, we continue to endure being slapped in the face with indignity and indifference from our “all mighty” leader. The midterm elections are only months away. Now is the time to regroup

Trump wanted to drain the swamp, but the beasts of greed and power are still there. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to change. Now is the time to pay attention to what is happening to our freedoms. Now is the time to unite and demand change … demand justice … demand honesty ... demand integrity from our leaders.

Karen Behanna, Struthers

Trump should act to make burning US flag a crime

Now that Donald J. Trump is our country’s 45th president, I am hopeful for the change he promised the American people. I know the president’s workload is endless, but there is a wish I would love President Trump to grant me.

My wish is for the president to work to change the law and make it a crime for anyone burning the American flag punishable by law.

I feel those burning the flag are thumbing their nose at those who fought, shed their blood and did not only for love of our country, but also for the freedom Americans continue to enjoy.

I believe when “Old Glory” becomes faded and tattered it should be placed in a box and placed in the coffin of one of our country’s veterans and buried with the love, dignity, and respect our veterans and flag richly deserve.

Our flag is more than a piece of cloth. As long as that flag waves, Americans are blessed with priceless freedom. I strongly urge all Americans who love our country to participate and continue to keep making America great. It’s the best gift anyone can give themselves.

Mary Lou Jurina, Youngstown

Mohip’s city schools plan restores community pride

As a resident, citizen, voter and taxpayer in the Youngstown City School District, lifelong resident of the city of Youngstown and a graduate of the Youngstown City School District, I would like to truly applaud Mr. Krish Mohip, the chief executive officer of the city schools, and the state of Ohio on a great plan to reconfigure all Youngstown city schools. They will academically and athletically go back to community and neighborhood schools again.

I truly believe that this reconfiguration plan as well as other modifications over the next few years by Mr. Mohip, and the Ohio Department of Education will indeed bring community and neighborhood pride back. That pride has been totally lacking and is long overdue.

So as a resident I truly applaud and support the reconfiguration of the Youngstown City School District academically and athletically by Mr. Mohip and all stakeholders of Youngstown. Thank you sincerely.

Willie James Richards, Youngstown