Laurels & lances: Loss, objection and dropped charges

Laurel: To a bittersweet farewell. On Tuesday, the community turned out to line the roads along a a twisting path from Baldwin to McKeesport, ending at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery on Curry Hollow Road. They were there to say goodbye to McKeesport police Officer Sean Sluganski, who was killed in the line of duty Feb. 6.

It was a show of grief and loss. It was a show of appreciation for Sluganski and of support for the family.

And it was all too familiar.

Sluganski had shown the same support in January when Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire was killed.

The community will not forget Sluganski’s service or sacrifice. His family and friends won’t heal quickly or completely; the hole left by his loss will leave a scar.

But let us hope that this is the last law enforcement funeral the area experiences for a long, long time.

Lance: To no more welcomes. Everyone knows that Democrats and Republicans agree on precious little. However, a move in Armstrong County is taking that to a ridiculous display.

There has been controversy for years over a digital billboard on Route 422 in Worthington that has contained messages some found to be racist or otherwise objectionable.

On Feb. 4, a billboard went up nearby sponsored by the Armstrong County Democratic Committee. It was pulled two days later when advertising company Huntington Billboards of Greenville, Ohio, said death threats were received over the sign.

The offensive message? “You’ve got a friend in Armstrong County.”

This should not be a political issue. A message of welcome should never be met with death threats.

Laurel: To an appropriate ending. Charges have been dropped against a reporter for covering a news conference about the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment.

Evan Lambert of NewsNation was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest when he broadcast live from the event with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Feb. 8. The interaction with police and Ohio National Guard Maj. Gen. John Harris Jr. was filmed. The incident immediately prompted DeWine to say the arrest was wrong.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost dropped the charges Wednesday. It should have been done sooner, but Yost was called in to review the incident and make the call by the local prosecutor.

Lambert was doing his job, like every reporter who is covering the derailment.