Blairsville Improvement Group at center of filings by fired police chief

Jeff Himler can be reached via e-mail or at 724-459-6100, ext. 13. The nonprofit Blairsville Improvement Group is the focus of a complaint to the Pennsylvania auditor general's office and a federal whistle-blower lawsuit filed last week by the borough's recently fired police chief, Donald R. Hess.

[RESIDENT]

This is an honest story I heard: I heard that he was fired because he messes with young girls - got caught once and Blairsville covered it up for him and then got caught with a pregnant 14 year old. I heard they would cover it up one more time, but he was not going to be Blairsville's Cheif anymore. This is what I heard - and the person I heard it from is close to heart of the Blairsville Police.

[Stop Sniffing Glue]

Yeah the chief did that at the underage drinking party that a supposed counselman and policeman had at there home. Which that should be looked into and if is true these people should be fired. You are crazy to think that Chief Hess would do that.

[the horror of it all]

Stop Sniffing Glue wrote:

Yeah the chief did that at the underage drinking party that a supposed counselman and policeman had at there home. Which that should be looked into and if is true these people should be fired. You are crazy to think that Chief Hess would do that.

but remember the policeperson and council member were "out of town" when the oarty happened, but that did not stop them from calling their attorney ASAP to cover it all up. What a shame

[Really]

Now why would they need an attorney? This town needs a good enaima. There would be brown trout smiwing right down market street. I encourage everyone that cares about Blairsville to get all there friiends involved with the next election and vote everyone out of counsel.

[Mercy]

The Officer and Council member may of been out of town, But the kids at the party were telling people the Officer supplied the alcohol for the party. Another question how come when the Gazette did the article for the Council meeting the reporter never mentioned the speech, a parent, who's child was at the Underage party gave, in refernce to her son also having drugs in his possession. The same kid with the drugs was at the time living at the Officer and Council members house as her "adopted" son. How can you enforce the rules in town when you can not even enforce the rules in your own house. Thats the type of Officer I want protecting my town. When will council and the town wise up and fire her AGAIN.

[Quesitions]

These are exactly the questions that need to be asked at the counsel meetings. Heck why wait anyone can call then when they want, they are public officals. It is everyones civic duty and responsibilty to ask questions it is the public officials responsibilty to answer those questins. Not go behind closed doors or refuse to answer because of a law suit. The way the brough is getting sued we will never get any answers. Get the word out and get as many people as you can to these meetings. They represent you, the people of Blairsville. Not the other way around. In my opinion it almost feels as if the citizens of Blairsville are being bullied by the counsel.

[I agree]

Most people in Blairsville are afraid to say anything in fear of what will happen, since the council and police pretty much have to authority to "bully" you in a legal kinda way. I have heard others say that when they brought something to the attention of the authorities, that they were then pulled over or fined for things.

Sad part is this police force is what is helping to protect our children....With all the drugs in this town, I find it hard to believe that you hardly ever hear of anyone being arrestd for supplying. Makes you wonder who the suppliers really are.

[Bully]

I think your right about the bully issue. It might be why no one shows up to these meetings. When someone does question something then people on the board treat it as if your crazy for asking or they do not comment on it or they go behind close doors and ignore it. Also if someone questions the actions of the board members it always is ignored. I agree with the other posts on here to get the people out on election day and vote for any and all write in's, anyone new for a change. Everyone, get people you know on here to get more ideals out in the openso everyone can discuss them. P.S That includes the people on the school board as well.

[Chiefs back]

Has anyone heard anymore details if counsel is going to bring back Chief Hess? We all need to call, as citizens, to each of the counsel members and tall them we want him back. Vote counsel (corruption) out and bring Chief back!

[Guts]

Mercy wrote:

The Officer and Council member may of been out of town, But the kids at the party were telling people the Officer supplied the alcohol for the party. Another question how come when the Gazette did the article for the Council meeting the reporter never mentioned the speech, a parent, who's child was at the Underage party gave, in refernce to her son also having drugs in his possession. The same kid with the drugs was at the time living at the Officer and Council members house as her "adopted" son. How can you enforce the rules in town when you can not even enforce the rules in your own house. Thats the type of Officer I want protecting my town. When will council and the town wise up and fire her AGAIN.

It took guts for her to go to that meeting and stand there before everyone and tell her story. I heard that she tried very hard to work to get her son to come back home, but it was very hard when he had complete freedom and was allowed to basically do whatever he wanted. No kid would want to return to a structured home after that. She is a good mom and the other kids in that family are all great kids. She never had any trouble with any of the other kids. What a shame that the boy had to make such poor choices. What is even more of a shame is that a police officer made it easy for him to continue with his addiction and drinking and not care about it or pretend it didnt exist

[I know what your saying]

I agree with what you are saying. That's why we need change in the Blairsville counsel and overall structure. Its been the same names and families involved with how Blairsville's been ran forever and its time to flush the toilet because it has been stinking for a long time. This counsel isn't going to admit that they went it about the wrong way if there was a valid reason at all to fire Chief Hess in the first place. The way the article reads in the July 24th edtion of the Dispatch is that Chief Hess may been getting close to finding out something that may have been going on illegally and reported it. That could be the reason for what prompted his early termination. If there was a valid reason for termination it should have been given along with the termination and released to the public. The Blairsville counsel isn't a private and exclusive club designed for previliged membership.

[Reading the article]

I can not get over the alledged comments said and actions undertaken by the chairnan and managers of Blairsville on the citizens and bussinesses they serve and represent. According to the one article a resident, which the article mentions by name, said the suit to reeinstate Chief Hess is without merit. In my opinion that is the same resident who campaigned for a current member that is on counsel and is seeking to become Blairsville's mayor in this next electon, no favoritism there or slanted views on his statement. When is this corruption going to end? When is the bullying going to stop? People get out to these meetings, get your friends and neighbors out to these meetings and ask the tough questions. Then when counsels doesn't or will not answer those questions and then retreats behind close door sessions. Remember that when you vote this fall and vote these people out and get some fresh ideals in.

[remember]

remember at election you can write in for council members

[Civic Resonsibilty]

People it is never to late to get involved. There seems to be a lot of under handed things going on in the brough, in my and others opinions. The only way to change it is to vote the current counsel members out and get new ones in. For mayor there will be a few people that you can cast your vote for. With new minds the bullying and the corruption stops. With new members there will new hirings because I think there will be some firings in order. And just maybe when you ask a question you may just get an answer, any answer, with new counsel members. Right now it seems like the former CCCP is in power in Blairsville. Come out and make changes and unglue the current counsel members from there seats and put someone in them that cares about everyone in Blairsville not just the elite few. Thank you for listening.......... commrade.

[Meeting]

Does anyone know when is the next counsel meeting. I think they are the third Tuesdays of the month. I was not sure though, I wouldn't want to miss it. I heard through the grape vine that some jobs are possibly going to be opening up soon. Always interested in possible part-time non-profit career changes. I hope there not for town bouncers or bourgh muscleman. Not interested in any of those postions. Remember the most important thing is to go to the meetings and get involved. To have something balanced there must be checks.

[bring him back]

In my opinion Chief Hess is not only a fine police officer and a credit to his profession but an upstanding individual. Blairsville's counsel, in my opinion, made a terrible decision based on the bullying of a couple of individuals that need to be remove from there positions. Just my opinion and hopefully many more.

[Hess Supporter]

He is extremely moral and follows the letter of the law. Resident, you should be sued for slander! How would you like if someone was attacking you with such vicious remarks. Chief Hess is the best thing that ever happened to Blairsville and without him John Yelenic's killer would not be in jail!

[Unreal Resident]

I agree that chief Hess is the best thing that has happen to Blairsville. In my opinion the worst thing that is affecting Blairsville is the counsel members and the people that are named in the law suit that was mentioned in the July 24th issue of the Dispatch. I agree with others that say that the bullying has to stop and the way to do it is by electing new counsel members and then firing the managers and other supervisors that want to bully to get there way instead of doing what's right for the community they serve. The way the counsel members have acted is almost criminal.

[Fred]

Where do we begin here.......

I'm at quite a few council meetings and there are between 3 and 10 people there everytime, the same people.
I guess if the people in this town really wanted to know what's going on, they would come to the meetings.
Last year the wanted less police and less enforcement, remember the petition.
This year they fire the Chief, 3 to 10 people show up.
Most of the people on this site wouldn't know the truth if it bit them in the rear end but yet you continue to post all these opinions about what you think happened and what you think is criminal.
Most don't even live in Blairsville if the postings are true.
Could any of you even begin to explain all that's happened in the last two years in Blairsville, politically, economically, future development plans, grants..........
I highly doubt it.

Maybe you should all get the facts before you start running your mouths.

Unreal Resident wrote:

I agree that chief Hess is the best thing that has happen to Blairsville. In my opinion the worst thing that is affecting Blairsville is the counsel members and the people that are named in the law suit that was mentioned in the July 24th issue of the Dispatch. I agree with others that say that the bullying has to stop and the way to do it is by electing new counsel members and then firing the managers and other supervisors that want to bully to get there way instead of doing what's right for the community they serve. The way the counsel members have acted is almost criminal.

[Barney]

Fred wrote:

Where do we begin here.......
I'm at quite a few council meetings and there are between 3 and 10 people there everytime, the same people.
I guess if the people in this town really wanted to know what's going on, they would come to the meetings.
Last year the wanted less police and less enforcement, remember the petition.
This year they fire the Chief, 3 to 10 people show up.
Most of the people on this site wouldn't know the truth if it bit them in the rear end but yet you continue to post all these opinions about what you think happened and what you think is criminal.
Most don't even live in Blairsville if the postings are true.
Could any of you even begin to explain all that's happened in the last two years in Blairsville, politically, economically, future development plans, grants..........
I highly doubt it.
Maybe you should all get the facts before you start running your mouths.
<quoted text>

I think everyone would like to hear the facts from counsel. But between the consent close door sessions and law suits pending against counsel I don't believe the Blairsville citizens can get the facts.

The newspaper articles is all the citizens of Blairsville have to go by and it doesn't paint a pretty picture of the Blairsville leadership. So lets everyone get out there and vote in the next election.

For one, maybe Blairsville can advert the law suits that are pending and second maybe we can get some real answers from the Blairsville leadership if we have new leadership.