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Roses&Thorns

Roses for reports we have had throughout the summer regarding the lack of the punk factor at our city parks, especially Centennial Park. Last summer the foul language, disrespect for authority and criminal behavior kept citizens away from our parks. It was a big issue we often publicized. But the punk factor has been virtually eradicated from what we have been hearing. That is absolutely wonderful. Roses for the Salem Police. Their presence in the parks is a deterrent. The punks lost and maybe decided to move on and find another “host” sight to infect. Good riddance.

Thorns to the reality that drug freaks are now breaking into pharmacies. According to the Salem Police, some $5,000 worth of “controlled” substances were stolen from Lease Drug. The street value of the drugs will be much higher and, actually, the drugs have likely already been sold and used by some of the many addicts we have in our area. The guess here is that the thief didn’t steal all those drugs to treat a toothache or bad knee. And, c’mon now, does anybody out there think it won’t happen again given all the addicts out there and those willing to feed their addictions? Potential break-ins and theft were primary reasons why so many were against med pot cultivation being permitted in our city.

Thorns to Kyrie Irving. You have to really feel pity for a professional athlete who is “forced” to play alongside one of the five best ever players. Reaching three straight NBA finals and winning a championship ring while making millions of dollars a year on and off the court must have been sheer misery for the poor guy. Get rid of this spoiled malcontent. He is another clear example of what drives so many of us away from sports that we loved so much growing up. How can you possibly root for someone like him?

Roses for all of the good young people out there that we strive to highlight. This includes — check out today’s Neighborhood News — Andre Tonkinson from Salem High School and Savannah Ruthrauff from West Branch Middle School. With school starting soon we are encourage area teachers and administrators to make sure the accomplishments of their students are sent to us so we can spotlight their efforts. They deserve the recognition and help take our minds off all the bad stuff out there.

Roses (ongoing) for Trisha Suits. She is the courageous 30-year-old Lisbon resident who we have previously featured. Due to premature birth she was left virtually blind. Still she leads as close to a normal of a life that she can. She is a mother. She ran cross country in high school at Lisbon and later was a coach. She has been afflicted with a complex form of leukemia — essentially cancer of her blood which attacked her bone marrow. The good news is she received stem cord treatments at the Cleveland Clinic and is out of the hospital. She is in a secondary housing unit ten minutes away from the clinic. She will remain there until November. This weekend will be special: she will get visits from her son, Landon, and mom, Alice. The next time anyone reading this is having what might be regarded as a particularly “bad” day — car won’t start, golf date getting rained out, not getting a raise at work, cable TV going out; that kind of stuff — think of the spirited and determined people like Trisha Suits and what they confront and try their absolute best to overcome. You will be humbled.

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