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Harrisburg attorney Lenora Smith's message was simple when she talked Thursday night about representing someone charged with a crime.
"My job is not to get you off," she said at the third session of the "Real Talk" public seminars on drug and violence in midstate communities. "My job is making sure your rights are afforded to you."
"If they are doing their job," she said, indicating the local and federal prosecutors present, "some of us are going to jail."
Speaking to a packed house at Zion Assembly Church in Harrisburg, Smith said she has noticed that her clients are becoming younger and are facing more serious crimes.
Smith said the young people who end up in court often don't realize the financial strain they place on their parents when they need an attorney. She told the audience that where she grow up in south Philadelphia, the family motto was: "If you get into trouble and it's your fault, you're on your own."
Last night's session centered on the criminal justice system. Harrisburg police detective Levell Jenkins talked about drugs and the signs of drug use among children. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Behe discussed how federal laws can put mean serious prison time for drug dealers. He told the audience that selling or buying illegal drugs, even in small quantities of less than $20, is also a federal offense.
Drug charges can be handled federally because the drugs likely came into the United States from another country and had to cross state lines, Behe said.
Also on the panel were Terry Davis of the Dauphin County Adult and Probation and others involved in dealing with the charged and the convicted.
"The [criminal justice] system is designed to control your child if you don't," Smith said. "And they ain't going to love your child the way you do."
The session's prevailing message was: Parents need to get involved with their children's lives.
Jenkins told the crowd that parents should inspect their children's room and ask questions about their friends. Parents should also monitor the music their children are listening to as well as the video games they play.
"That's your house; see what's going on," he said. "Put your foot down. ... don't let the streets raise your kids."
The next session is 7 p.m. Thursday at the church. The fourth session's theme is called "Life's about Choices. Drugged up or Locked up."

Cats have moved into the offices once used by Amy Kaunas, Kelly Hitz, and the humane officer at the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area.

The space was needed to help accommodate animals that were moved to the society's East Shore Shelter on Grayson Road while its West Shore Shelter in Monroe Twp. is closed temporarily for renovations.

Sixty to 70 cats, 20 to 30 dogs, and 80 "critters," including mice, gerbils, rabbits, ferrets, rats, and "some really cute dwarf gerbils" were moved to the Grayson Road facility, said Kaunas, the society's executive director.

"We closed the West Shore Shelter to complete some desperately needed repairs," she said.

"As a responsible animal welfare organization, we constantly have to keep the animals' best interest in mind. Although this will create a minor inconvenience, these improvements will create a safer living environment for our residents.
"We really want to keep the west shelter open to take care of the animals from that area, but felt we had to take this step," Kaunas said.
"It is irresponsible to continue operating the shelter in the condition it is in, and I made the decision to move the adoptable animals from the west shelter to the east shelter so they have the opportunity to be visited by the public."
Chris Ryder, of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement in the state Department of Agriculture, confirmed that the closing was voluntary. The bureau is responsible for inspecting animal shelters and enforcing the state's dog laws.
"We didn't have anything to do with the closing of the West Shore Shelter," Ryder said.
The west shelter was closed March 12 and its adoptable animals are being housed at the east shore facility, Kaunas said.
The society will continue to fulfill its obligations with West Shore municipalities and will continue to accept stray animals that are in need of immediate medical attention, she said.
Renovations to the West Shore Shelter, which is more than 45 years old, include cage door replacement, floor refurbishing, and repairs to outdoor kennel runs. The kennel runs were deteriorating to the point that dogs could escape, she said.
Kaunas said the society is in the beginning stages of a capital campaign that will raise funds for capital improvements to both east and west facilities, pay off the society's mortgage, and build up an endowment fund.
"It's too early to define an actual campaign goal, but it will be well over $1 million," Kaunas said.
Hitz, the society's public relations director, said the society made room for the animals from the west shelter by using offices to create a cat room.
"Adoptions are also up, which helped us make room," she said.
"It's a little inconvenient, but Amy and I were willing to make the sacrifice of giving up our offices for the sake of the animals."
Additional space for moving the animals also was created by using the available kennels at the West Shore Shelter to house the dogs that aren't available for adoption and are participating in the society's rehabilitation program. Volunteers are training the dogs in hopes that they can eventually be adopted, Kaunas said.
"We have had several dogs that have gone through the rehabilitation and have already been adopted out," she said.

"As a responsible animal welfare organization, we constantly have to keep the animals' best interest in mind. Although this will create a minor inconvenience, these improvements will create a safer living environment for our residents.

"We really want to keep the west shelter open to take care of the animals from that area, but felt we had to take this step," Kaunas said.

"It is irresponsible to continue operating the shelter in the condition it is in, and I made the decision to move the adoptable animals from the west shelter to the east shelter so they have the opportunity to be visited by the public."

Chris Ryder, of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement in the state Department of Agriculture, confirmed that the closing was voluntary. The bureau is responsible for inspecting animal shelters and enforcing the state's dog laws.

The west shelter was closed March 12 and its adoptable animals are being housed at the east shore facility, Kaunas said.

The society will continue to fulfill its obligations with West Shore municipalities and will continue to accept stray animals that are in need of immediate medical attention, she said.

Renovations to the West Shore Shelter, which is more than 45 years old, include cage door replacement, floor refurbishing, and repairs to outdoor kennel runs. The kennel runs were deteriorating to the point that dogs could escape, she said.

Kaunas said the society is in the beginning stages of a capital campaign that will raise funds for capital improvements to both east and west facilities, pay off the society's mortgage, and build up an endowment fund.

"It's too early to define an actual campaign goal, but it will be well over $1 million," Kaunas said.

Hitz, the society's public relations director, said the society made room for the animals from the west shelter by using offices to create a cat room.

"Adoptions are also up, which helped us make room," she said.

"It's a little inconvenient, but Amy and I were willing to make the sacrifice of giving up our offices for the sake of the animals."

Additional space for moving the animals also was created by using the available kennels at the West Shore Shelter to house the dogs that aren't available for adoption and are participating in the society's rehabilitation program. Volunteers are training the dogs in hopes that they can eventually be adopted, Kaunas said.

"We have had several dogs that have gone through the rehabilitation and have already been adopted out," she said.

How to help: Financial contributions may be sent to the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area , 7790 Grayson Road, Harrisburg, Pa. 17111.

Shelter options: The Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area's West Shore Shelter is closed temporarily for renovations. Adoptions and other services are available at the society's East Shore Shelter at 7790 Grayson Road. Shelter hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday and Friday; noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The shelter is closed on Wednesday.

The West Enola Fire Company will recover the $14,000 that the treasurer is accused of stealing, Fire Chief Gary Dressler said.
"We want the public to know that we have safeguards in place to take care of our finances, and that our financial losses are fully covered by insurance," Dressler said today.
The East Pennsboro Twp. fire company's treasurer, Stacey M. Parnell, 38, was accused Wednesday of taking $13,029 in bingo proceeds and using the volunteer organization's credit card to make $1,076 in personal purchases.
Parnell was arraigned before District Judge Richard S. Dougherty on charges of failure to make required disposition of funds, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and access device fraud, according to township police. She was released on her own recognizance.
"The set back is only temporary, and it's not the end of the world. It's still business as usual, and we're still responding to calls and providing services to township residents," Dressler said.

The United Way of the Capital Region has awarded nearly $125,000 in grants to improve services for Latinos in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties.

Money for the one-time grants became available after the United Way ceased funding three programs at the Mount Pleasant Hispanic American Center totalling $91,519 because the center could not show how many people it has helped, and because of reported leadership instability and ineffectiveness in serving the Latino community.

"The grants will help organizations improve existing programs and better meet the issues facing this population," said Timothy Whelan, the agency's vice president of community impact.
The United Way received more than 30 applications seeking a total of $618,546.

Patriot-News photo by Amiran White/2005Rene Portland, coach of the Penn State Lady Lions basketball team since 1980, has resigned.

Curley spoke about Portland's resignation at a news conference this afternoon that Portland did not attend. Her resignation ended a 27-year career with the Lady Lions. The sports Web site FightOnState.com reports that "a person close to the situation" said she resigned under pressure from the university, but that claim could not be independently confirmed.

Asked what effect the discrimination lawsuit by former player Jen Harris and the university's subsequent disciplinary action against Portland had on the coach's decision, Curley had no comment. The team finished 14-15 this season and missed the NCAA tournament for a second consecutive year.

"This is obviously a difficult decision," Portland said in a statement Penn State released earlier today. "I am very appreciative of the opportunity to coach at Penn State, which has become a special place for me and my family. I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish with the Lady Lions program through the years."

Athletic director Tim Curley said in the statement that a nationwide search for a replacement would begin immediately.

Portland leaves Penn State with a 605-235 overall record at Penn State, making her one of only nine coaches to win 600 games with one college program. Portland had previously coached at St. Joseph's and Colorado and has a career record of 692-265 over a career that has spanned 31 seasons.

Then-athletic director Joe Paterno named Portland the fourth Lady Lion coach on May 20,1980, and she led the Lady Lions to 21 NCAA tournaments, including the 2000 Final Four, five Big Ten titles and two Big Ten Tournament titles in her Penn State career. But the team had losing records the last two seasons.

Portland also endured the lawsuit filed by Harris, who alleged that Portland discriminated against her on the basis of perceived sexual orientation and race. An internal investigation by the university last spring found that Portland had violated Penn State's anti-discrimination policy, but the lawsuit was settled out of court earlier this year.

Having picked the low-hanging fruit with rules changes enacted last week, a House panel charged with leading the way on institutional reforms has been given a list of new goals to shoot for, and they're significantly higher up on the tree.

House Speaker Dennis O'Brien, after meeting with the co-chairs, said in a statement today that he's asked the Commission on Legislative Reform to focus on the following seven issues: restructuring of the House Ethics Committee; development of a member "Code of Conduct"; term limits; open records; campaign finance changes; the size of the Legislature; and a policy for legislative staff bonuses.

O'Brien noted these are broader issues "that will continue the progress we have made to reform state government."

O'Brien said he had limited the list because "it's not necessary for the commission to look at every issue.

"Several significant reform bills already were introduced and referred to standing committees of the House, so progress toward reform can take place on several tracks at once," the speaker continued.

The commission's phase 2 work is expected to run from April through June.