Delco officials are raising a stink over big stink

A look at the week that was, the issues and people who made headlines, and a few darts and laurels for those who deserve them.

DART: To the Big Stink. Twice now in recent weeks, a nasty stench has wafted across much of the county, from Chester and Ridley all the way to Marple. So far the source has evaded county Emergency Services.

LAUREL: To county Emergency Services boss Tim Boyce. First he called in state Department of Environmental Protection teams for help. Now he’s calling for a criminal investigation. Boyce clearly believes this is being done intentionally. We back his call.

DART: To Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco. They’re the folks who are building the controversial Mariner East Pipeline through the western end of the county. About the last thing the county needed as it dealt with this mystery odor problem was a pipeline leak. But that’s what they got. This was not in the new Mariner East pipeline, but rather an old, existing petroleum line. Residents of a nearby apartment complex were told to shelter in place for awhile.

DART: The leak was not even the worst part of this episode. Boyce says that when first responders got to the scene they were greeted by an Energy Transfer-Sunoco team already working on the leak – even though Boyce said the county was never notified. ETP spokesman said local officials were notified. This is exactly the kind of thing residents and opponents of Mariner East have been complaining about for months, that the company is lax when it comes to working with local officials.

LAUREL: To the DeRosa and Eckman families. On Thursday they got justice for Deana Eckman. The 45-year-old Brookhaven woman was killed by a drunk driver back in February. They are using her death to campaign for tougher sentences for repeat DUI drives.

DART: To David Strowhouer. The Willistown man had already racked up five DUI offenses, but that did not stop him from climbing behind the wheel again while impaired. This time it head deadly consequences, snuffing out the vibrant life of Deana Eckman when his truck slammed head-on into the car she was riding in with her husband, who was seriously injured.

DART: To a flawed legal process that allowed Strowhouer to serve time on his 5th DUI offense, in Delaware County, concurrently with time for previous offenses in Chester County. That allowed him to be eligible for parole, and put him back on the street, where he would drive under the influence again, with deadly results.

LAUREL: To Delaware County Judge Mary Alice Brennan. She did not mess around with Strowhouer this time. She exceeded the recommended sentence of the District Attorney’s Office, ordering Strowhouer jailed for 25 to 51 years. It’s likely he will spend at least 25 years behind bars.

DART: It was the ruling the family of Susan Ledyard and the Academy Park community feared. The death of the beloved English teacher, whose body was found in the Brandywine River in Wilmington last summer, has been ruled a homicide. Her family is desperate for answers. Someone knows what happened to Ledyard. We hope they come forward and ease this family’s pain.

LAUREL: To Upper Darby top cop Mike Chitwood. The colorful chief is bringing his outstanding career to a close, hanging up his badge on Dec. 1. Chitwood took some heat for some of the things he said and his affinity for the cameras, but he never forgot who he was working for – the residents of Upper Darby.

DARTS: To all the ‘scumbags,’ as Chitwood always referred to the nasty suspects his department corralled, who no doubt are rejoicing that one ‘Tough Cop’ will no longer be on their trail.

LAUREL: To Monica Taylor and Nusrat Rashid. They both won key contests in the recent election. They also both are blazing new trails for women and minorities. Taylor is the first African-American elected to Delaware County Council. Rashid is the first African-American woman elected to the Delaware County bench, and the first Muslim judge elected in Pennsylvania. Trailblazers. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

DART: To Springfield Commissioner Bob Layden. A group of citizens came to the board meeting this week to castigate Layden for a post on his social media page that they called sexist and misogynist. They are asking him to step down. Layden said it was merely a joke. We don’t see the humor. The board said they will review the matter.

LAUREL: To the Chester Kiwanis Club. The social organization is marking its 100th anniversary and is making a point to once again focus its work on Chester’s strong tradition of neighborhoods and communities. It’s invaluable work.

LAUREL: To U.S. Marine Joseph Inverso, who was honored during annual Veterans Day gala at Media Theatre. We salute you as well, Marine.

LAUREL: To the hundreds who lined State Street in the county seat of Media Monday for the annual Veterans Day Parade. It’s one of the largest events in the region, and always an opportunity to offer thanks to those who donned the uniform and put their lives on the line to protect our way of life.

LAUREL: To Frank Herbus. The Fair Acres resident and World War II vet celebrated his 100th birthday on Veterans Day. He was born as the bells were ringing to mark the 1st anniversary of the armistice ending World War I. What a treasure.

LAUREL: To Haverford High School. They have snagged a special award for their work with the annual Special Olympics Fall Festival. Good for them.

LAUREL: To Bob Berger and the folks at the Ridley Athletic Club. They are developing a program to help young people deal with some of the issues and stresses they encounter each day. As the headlines seem to tell us every day, it’s a program that is direly needed.

DART: To the ugly end to the reign of John Reilly as superintendent of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility. Reilly has indicated he will not seek the position under the new oversight board ordered by Delaware County Council in the wake of an investigative report alleging Reilly used abusive language toward subordinates. Reilly has denied the charges, but has decided to retire.

LAUREL: To Matt Tyson. Once again this year, the Ridley Township man will lead a holiday toy drive for kids spending time in Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Tyson knows the feeling. He was there as a kid and knows all too well what it’s like to spend Christmas in sick bay.

LAUREL: To word that one of the worst intersections in the county is getting state funding for improvements. State Sen. Tom Killion this week announced money is coming to help fix the intersection of Routes 1and 452 in Middletown. Good news for harried commuters.

DART: To the Bye Week. Are you ready for some football, Eagles fans? Not only are you getting a Birds’ game again Sunday, you’re getting a Super Bowl rematch against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

LAUREL: To Gabe Kapler. The former Phillies manager was not unemployed long. He landed to skipper’s post with the San Francisco Giants. Why do we get the idea that Kapler is a much better fit in San Fran than he ever was in Philly?