Gov. Corbett at ACF: Touring a factory with the governor

Yesterday, I got to tour the newly reopened ACF factory during Governor Tom Corbett’s visit. It was a gorgeous day outside for his speech and tour.

Some reporters don’t like the “politician tours a business/factory” stories. Me, I love them.

The tours are an interesting look into a business you might not normally get, while you get to have some interaction with some of the most influential people in the state/nation.

Everyone’s happy to be there and talk to you and get photos, so it’s a win/win for everyone.

So Here’s a pictoral journey through my ACF tour with Corbett with commentary.

 

Here’s the governor ready to go with his hard hat on.

Bonus Photos and Video: Loretta Claiborne at Milton

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to hear an amazing woman speak. It was Loretta Claiborne, a woman who overcame incredible odds to become one of the most famous and decorated Special Olympians and an advocate for others facing challenges.

If you haven’t heard about her story of growing up in the projects of York before being introduced to competitive athletics through the Special Olympics, you’re missing out. She’s a great example of a Pennsylvanian doing good.

Here’s a little bit of her story, put together for the 1996 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs:

She spoke yesterday to elementary students in Milton, and she was incredibly positive. For someone who overcame such incredible odds, she was neither downtrodden nor haughty about her life.

I was truly impressed with her. And now I’m looking for the movie – Netflix here I come!

She also brought a great message about not bullying to the students, which is an important message to tell, especially today in schools.

Here’s some bonus photos from her talk:

You Might Have Missed It: Wrestling billboard in Milton

I saw this driving to an assignment in Milton:

Note: my photo for whatever reason didn’t want to upload, so this one is from the Milton District’s newsletter. But it was indeed a very similar picture.

It’s a billboard honoring Milton’s two state medal winners, both Ryans.

Not only is the billboard cool, but I got to cover the pep rally welcoming them home from the state tournament.

I have never met such gracious and gnaw winners.

They deserve every accolade they get.

So kudos to them. And drive down Mahoning Street to check it out.

Facebook reaction to gun story

Yesterday, I talked about a tragic case involving two young children in Kentucky.

The case has created a lot of reaction from across the board, including on The Daily Item’s Facebook page. Here’s a taste of that:

The consensus seems to be that poor parental supervision may be to blame in this situation – although I would say it can be so easy to overlook something that other people think is obvious if you’re busy and frazzled, such as when trying to take care of a house and at least two young children.

And only about 5 posts blaming “the media” – that’s a win in my book.

Anyway, you can read more at dailyitem.com, but the company that made the gun isn’t commenting until a full investigation is complete.

What’s your take on situation? Do we need stricter gun laws or was this just a tragic accident?

Child’s accidental shooting puts Milton business in hot seat

In a tragic case that came out Wednesday, a young girl’s death in Kentucky is putting a local business in the hot seat.

Here’s a bit from the Associated Press:

BURKESVILLE, Ky. — In southern Kentucky, where children get their first guns even before they start first grade, Stephanie Sparks paid little attention as her 5-year-old son, Kristian, played with the rifle he was given last year. Then, as she stepped onto the front porch while cleaning the kitchen, “she heard the gun go off,” a coroner said.

In a horrific accident Tuesday that shocked a rural area far removed from the national debate over gun control, the boy had killed his 2-year-old sister, Caroline, with a single shot to the chest with a children’s rifle made by a company in Milton, Pa.

The rifle was manufactured by Keystone Sporting Arms, which sells guns specifically for children — “My first rifle” is the slogan — in colors ranging from plain brown to hot pink to orange to royal blue to multi-color swirls.

Keystone Sporting Arms has a “Kids Corner” on its website with pictures of young boys and girls at shooting ranges and on bird and deer hunts. It says the company produced 60,000 Crickett and Chipmunk rifles for kids in 2008. The smaller rifles are sold with a mount to use at a shooting range.

Keystone also makes guns for adults, but most of its products are geared toward children, including books and bright orange vests and hats.

“The goal of KSA is to instill gun safety in the minds of youth shooters and encourage them to gain the knowledge and respect that hunting and shooting activities require and deserve,” the website said.

The incident has put Keystone in the national spotlight – here’s some links to national coverage of the accident. We’ll have some local coverage on dailyitem.com coming up:

• Guns for Kids Marketing Debate Ignited by Latest Child Death
• New York Daily New Coverage including pictures of rifles
• Rifle used by Ky. boy in sister’s death made for kids

What should all this mean for the gun control debate? Is this just a freak accident or is it time for a drastic change?

Milton art show displays some great student work

The Milton district-wide art show begins tomorrow and the Daily Item got a sneak peek today at the set-up.

There’s tons of different art pieces and mediums represented at the show, which features work from kindergarteners all the way up to some very talented high school students. Some of this art is so good, I would pay for it if it was sold in stores.

The show is free and open to the public. Read more at dailyitem.com.

Here’s some of my top picks:

Masks made by 8th graders. I don’t think I could make something that good and I’m twice their age.

Bonus Photos: Milton wrestlers

Sunday, Milton High School honored its two wrestlers who competed at Hershey in the state tournament.

Ryan Solomon placed first and Ryan Preisch placed third.

The pair rode into the high school on a fire truck, then a small ceremony was held in the school’s auditorium to honor their accomplishment.

Here’s some extra photos:

Bonus photo: Chinese exchange students welcomed to Milton HS

 

 

Milton High School has really rolled out the welcome mat for a group of 10 exchange students and a teacher from China.

I got to meet them Wednesday, and it was really a lot of fun hearing first-hand about the differences between the Chinese education system and the U.S. one:

• At Heibei Middle School, the average class size is about 60 students, the teacher said.
• There’s no school dances in China. They have evening activities, but they all have an academic/cultural aspect to them, like art, music lessons or calligraphy.
• Chinese students go to school year-round

And for anyone who didn’t know that Milton was hosting the students, the high school literally had a sign posted outside:

You may have missed: The Moose Milton

I’m starting a new feature here called “You may have missed.”

I want to showcase small details of places in the Valley that, well, you may have missed.

My first entry is from the Moose building on Front Street in Milton.

I never noticed the details on the top of the building.

Here’s a photo:

Very regal looking, and adds a nice touch to the landscape.

What are your favorite little sights? Let me know!

Bonus Photos: Community Harvest

Monday, I met with a group of Americorps service members who were helping out Community Harvest, a Milton-based food program.

They served a meal and helped organize the group’s food pantry, with the goal of bringing it up to Central PA Food Bank standards so the group can become a “member organization” and purchase more and better food for less.

Here’s some photos from my trip there:

The Americorps volunteers are getting their assignments.

Organizing the pantry

Touring St Andrew’s UM Church, where CH is housed