Intelligencer Journal Lancaster New Era - Saturday Edition

Police Plan: Experts Stay ; Officials Here Wary of Troop J Reversal

Staff Writer Top state police officials said for the first time Monday that they intend to keep all special investigative units in Lancaster as part of a massive troop realignment that would strip Troop J of its headquarters status.

Sign Language Says It All ; Owners: Insurer Holds Up Rebuilding

Staff Writer The Garden Spot Bowl sign is about all that was untouched by the fire that destroyed the Strasburg institution a year ago.

Jury Weighs Life, Death ; Considers Fate of Killer of Hip-Hop Musician

Staff Writer A Lancaster County jury has heard all the evidence, arguments and testimony regarding convicted killer Jakeem Towles.

Lgh Will Use Hershey Mds

Staff Writer Hershey Medical Center has signed a contract with Lancaster General Hospital to provide the pediatric hospital doctors who care for children at LGH.

Community Calendar ; Special Events

CONCERT: The Ephrata Cloister Chorus will present a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Bangor Episcopal Church, Churchtown. Under the direction of Daryl Hollinger, the chorus performs original music composed by former celibate members of the Cloister along with other early American music. The chorus will split into a double choir for the concert, with one choir responding to the other.

Dealing with Sexual Abuse

TO THE EDITORS: This is a reply to Shirley J Orfanella's letter of May 2.

Manor Resident to Mt: I Feel Your Pain

To the editors: My heart goes out to the residents of Manheim Township, Pleasant Valley, who are fighting sewer hookup (May 4, Intell/New Era).

Trophy-Case Costs Excessive

TO THE EDITORS: As a proud member of the class of 1941 - I started as the first sophomores to enter the new McCaskey building in Spetember 1938 - I fondly remember that there were built-in trophy cases in the main lobby. Your story May 8, about "Past Glories," shows the need for display, but the $25,000 cost seems ridiculously high.

What's to Become of Sunnyside?

TO THE EDITORS: I've recently read the article about the plans to build a new town on the Sunnyside Peninsula. Your article talks about sidewalks and common areas for people to mingle.

Gas Prices Have Risen Under Obama

TO THE EDITORS: A letter by Steve Harnish, May 4, requires a response. He states that gas prices have not doubled since President Obama took office, and that when they reached $3.18 per gallon on May 21, 2007, under the Bush administration, they were the highest gas prices in 26 years.

Gay Marriage Is Not Ok

TO THE EDITORS: Obama: gay marriage OK.

Election Not a Reflection On Race

TO THE EDITORS: In our nation's history, we have had presidents who were good, mediocre and bad.

Volunteer Enhances Site's Experience

TO THE EDITORS: I appreciated the article "History on the line," May 7. Just last week, I had driven to Bedford - my brother, who is a pastor from Jasper, Ala., had been preaching in special services at a church there for one week.

A Great Show

TO THE EDITORS: Stunning costumes, Broadway singers, creative sets, and Irving Berlin tunes! Don't miss "Annie Get Your Gun" now playing at Dutch Apple Theatre. It's a hilarious "bring you to your feet" show- stopper with a splendid cast. (The guns aren't even too loud!)

A Fee or a Fine?

It's hard to imagine Michael Jordan not playing professional basketball. Yet, if activities fees now in place in many schools had been in effect in the 1970s, it is conceivable that the man some consider to be the greatest basketball player ever, might never have played the game.

An Alternate Pa. Budget Plan

With the state taking in more tax revenue than expected, politicians on both sides of the aisle are doing what they invariably do - scramble for ways to spend this taxpayer money. A $27.7 billion spending plan for 2012-13 was approved 39-8 last week by the state Senate. Voting for the measure were 27 Republicans and 12 Democrats, about as bipartisan as it gets in Harrisburg.

Barney Ewell Pre-Olympic Medals

A proposed display of McCaskey High School sports memorabilia in a huge lobby case would feature a painting of McCaskey alumnus Barney Ewell, according to a recent story. That's appropriate because Ewell has no peer, in terms of track and field, in the history of McCaskey or Pennsylvania high school athletics.

A Missed Chance for the Local Economy

David Rusk, a Washington-based urban policy consultant and former mayor of Albuquerque, N.M., visited Lancaster about 30 times in 2009 and 2010 as an adviser to the county planning department. With an eye to boosting the county's economic competitiveness, Rusk took note of economically segregated communities, wasteful sprawl and municipalities working at cross purposes. Along with Minneapolis-based consulting firm Ameregis, he proposed an 82-page economic development plan.

Flowers, Showers

Kurjiaka 'Stock' Will Buy Books for Mtsd

Staff Writer Joe Kurjiaka's memory will live on when Manheim Township School District students begin classes in the fall at the district's newest school.