Hoptown News

0620 Summer's here

Tomorrow marks the beginning of summer according to the calendar. It seems spring got left out this year. Only a few short weeks ago we were parading around in jackets. Not only are we seeing rapidly changing seasons, we're seeing strong storms. Some have done significant damage. Global warming is reputed to be causing some if not all of this. The Atlantic Ocean is warmer than usual so any hurricanes we get will probably be strong. Hopefully they'll go due north and leave us alone. Then, of course, there's the water park. We need hot dry weather for that. We can't have it all but maybe we'll get a break before summer's over. Just keep that carnival out of the mall parking lot.

0607 Fewer Arrests

Finally we are coming to realize that jail is not the answer for all society's woes. A person accused of a minor crime does not have to be arrested and jailed to be shown the error of their ways. I know the police consider it a valuable tool but statistics just don't support jail as the best alterntive. It will be interesting to see which misdemeanors are considered strong enough for jail. A petty theft such as shoplifting is one to watch. Say the shoplifter takes $100 worth of stuff. Citation or arrest? We'll see.