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Diamonds to Sister Sponsa Beltran’s legacy of concern for the disabled. A Wilkes-Barre native and College Misericordia graduate, Beltran devoted nearly 40 years to nursing and spiritually nurturing people in the West African nation of Liberia. The Catholic nun especially worked to dispel myths there about disabilities. She also founded Our Lady of Fatima Rehabilitation Center. Beltran, who died April 6, leaves behind an inspiring example of a compassion-led life and a nonprofit foundation that continues to advocate – and collect household supplies – for Liberia’s residents. For information, go to AfricanDisabilityFoundation.org.

Coal to Kingston Township’s apparent mishandling of a family’s request to keep at its house a pot-bellied pig. Is the portly pet permissible? Does it violate an animal nuisance law, a zoning law? It seems, based on the Times Leader’s account of a Thursday night meeting, this family has been caught in bureaucratic runaround and has every right to squeal.

Diamonds to Lake-Lehman students Nick Albertson and Chad Grzesnikowski. In support of a suspended teacher, the duo this week politely presented the district’s school board members with a petition containing 2,145 signatures. The high school students neither grandstanded nor griped. They simply made their point. “We did not want to create a lot of drama” Albertson told the Times Leader. “(The teacher) would not have wanted that.” Their display of character reflected well on the students – as well as on those from whom they have learned.

Coal to the perplexing and often inappropriate words of Donald Trump. The Republican presidential contender, making a campaign stop this week in Pittsburgh, baffled some listeners by asking, “How’s Joe Paterno?” Uh, still very much deceased, Donald. The Penn State football coach died in January 2012. A Trump campaign spokeswoman later sought to clarify, saying the candidate was inquiring about the status of a Paterno statue that had been removed from outside the stadium four years ago, invoking backlash from certain fans who have called for its return.

Diamonds to GAR Memorial High School’s startup speech and debate team. Only in its second year of competition, the team produced two student qualifiers – the brother-sister duo of Grant and Helen Campbell – for a national tournament to be held next month in California. To assist with the team’s costs, members plan to hold a bake sale beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at Schiel’s Family Market on Hanover Street, Wilkes-Barre.

Coal to careless tossers of cigarettes and disobeyers of burn bans. It’s wildfire season in Northeastern Pennsylvania, meaning one spark can, under certain conditions, result in catastrophe. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently issued its warning, reminding anglers and others traipsing through Penn’s Woods this weekend that the combination of dry, warm and windy weather raises the fire danger. Get wildfire prevention tips and read advisories by visiting the department’s website at dcnr.state.pa.us.

The late Sister Sponsa Beltran devoted nearly 40 years to nursing and spiritually nurturing people in the West African nation of Liberia.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Sponsa.jpg.optimal.jpgThe late Sister Sponsa Beltran devoted nearly 40 years to nursing and spiritually nurturing people in the West African nation of Liberia. Submitted photo