The "Cliffhanger Column" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Opened the Sunday newspaper and found the "Perspective Section," then grabbed my oatmeal and sat down in my lounge chair for some entertaining reading.  This section of the Sunday News gives the opinions of the left, right and middle of our society as well as the people of Lancaster, PA.  Most of the people of Lancaster County lean towards the right and are in favor of having to present an ID when voting as well as redistricting the state so the big areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which are Democratic, don't always determine the vote.  Anyway, on page 3 of the section was an article by Marv Adams who is the print editor of Lancaster Newspapers.  He was kind of apologizing for the big mix up from Saturday a week ago when an article about Governor Tom Corbett's plan to fund education and handle the state's pension problem was printed on page B1 and told readers to see the rest of the story on page B2.  I remember reading the story and telling Carol that I couldn't find the rest of the story anywhere in the entire Sunday News, and it wasn't for lack of trying. After searching, she also agreed with me that it wasn't there.  Now most times it wouldn't matter to me, but this time it was some big news that could affect whether we go on any more vacations or not.  The story went like this ..... Corbett told the paper he and his budget secretary were considering revisions to the pension formulas that could significantly alter the retirement benefits of current state (see B2)  Wow, see B2.  I turned the page as quick as I could and .... nothing.  Should I call the paper?  I just assumed they would reprint the article in tomorrow's paper, which they did.  And luckily for me the end of the story read .... workers and school employees.  Corbett said he did not envision reductions in retirees' benefits, or to the pension benefits active employees already accrued.  Whew!!  The apology today was in response to the mistake and the many calls they received, perhaps from school teachers and state and county workers.  One of the callers said, "I wish I could believe him (Corbett)."  Another caller, the wife of a retired state worker said that if the governor is looking to cut pensions and benefits, start with legislators.  Other callers said they were worried about everyone's taxes going up to pay the pensions.  One woman thought it was her age that kept her from finding B2.  Another thought her eyesight was going bad.  All in all, it shows you that some people, including me, READ the paper thoroughly and hate it when something isn't finished!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.