Sep 19, 2015 2 min read

In Greene County, change is exceedlingly slow and not easily apparent.

Upon graduating from high school, I left my permanent home in the county in search of a livelihood. Retiring 33 years ago, I returned to my Cumberland Township home. It took a few years to re-establish myself with all the old haunts.

Astonishingly, very much had remained precisely the same over the years. However, I became aware of the fact that a sly, crafty element was expanding in our community. That element is the illegal drug business.

Feeling compelled to relate these concerns to various members of our community, I was met with instantaneous, animated denials. A typical response was, “No, we don’t have any drug problems around here. Maybe in some big places like Pittsburgh, Chicago or New York. But not around here.”

A hubbub has erupted locally regarding a proposal for building a methadone clinic in an industrial/business park here in Cumberland Township. As a justification for the proposal, the county human services director reportedly processed 200 claims in July for medical assistance that were referred to clinics outside Greene County.

Would the county’s needs not be better served if the clinic were more centrally located? My suggestion is “Mount Murtha” in Franklin Township, where Walmart sits alone amid acres of undeveloped property.

Why not? Let me hear it.

Paul Lagojda

Cumberland Township