Can it be?
Have we gone through an entire 24 hour period without federal agents raiding someone's home or business?
Have we spent a day without a case of arson?
There are two ways to look at this.
First, the federal raids show that, yes, crimes have been committed here, but the system is working. Efforts are being made to get to the truth, and the law breakers will be punished-- eventually.
Also, hats off to the investigators who are able to pinpoint a fire's origin and cause. I was at the Bingham's Restaurant fire in Susquehanna County Monday morning. There wasn't much of the building left. It was pegged as a case of arson, even before the rubble cooled.
As I write this, there are a couple questionable fires on the books. Let's hope they turn out to be accidents.
I spoke too soon. An apartment building and garage fire on Tompkins Street in Pittston has been determined to be a case of arson.
You cannot overlook the cumulative impact of our local crime spree. Thanks to the internet, the news is able to escape from our little corner of the planet. We already had a reputation for political and governmental hijinks. Thanks to more than two dozen arrests, and more coming, northeastern Pennsylvania's place in history has been cemented.
If that isn't enough, we're closing in on the title of "Deliberately Set Fire Capital of the World."
Thanks.
