Butler Fire Chief Larry Christy was right in acting without delay Wednesday to have a fire-ravaged East Fulton Street house razed. It would be uplifting if other aspects of city government operations could be handled as efficiently in situations where remedial action is deemed necessary.

The chief called Mayor Maggie Stock less than two hours after firefighters were called to the burning home, which sat on a hillside between Oak and North Monroe streets. Christy asked the mayor to declare a site-specific emergency, which gave the chief legal power to do what was necessary to remove the structure.

The remains of the house, which prior to the fire had been vacant but might have been used by a squatter or trespasser, were endangering nearby homes that had escaped destruction during the height of the blaze. The remnants of the house posed a health and safety hazard that the chief recognized as demanding expeditious action.

By 9 a.m. Wednesday, what remained of the house after the flames were extinguished rested in the home's foundation, awaiting removal by the contractor who had been hired by the city to tear down the remains.

Expenses incurred as a result of the city's quick action won't be the city's permanent responsibility. If the property's owner, William Pratt of Rockford, Ill., doesn't pay for the work, a municipal lien will be placed on the property, requiring that the city be reimbursed if and when Pratt sells the property.

For now, though, a dangerous blight has been removed and city officials need not waste weeks or months contemplating what to do.

Christy demonstrated the only right way for responding to such a situation.

The critics of singer Madonna's adoption of an African boy should heed her advice and "focus on the real problems" facing the world, not the circumstances and details surrounding the adoption.If she is able and willing to bring about a better life for the boy — and she is — it's really no one else's business, and the critics and everyone else should be willing to accept what is taking place and wish her well.Madonna was right in telling "Today" that the media storm surrounding the adoption reflects the inability to focus on the world's real problems and the desire to have distractions and "to be consumed with people's personal lives and gossip."Some critics have said it would have been better for the 13-month-old boy in question if Madonna had helped his impoverished father to care for him at home in Malawi rather than bringing the boy to live with her and her family in London.The boy's father said that he feared criticism of the adoption would prompt the singer to drop her efforts, and he urged her not to do so.The boy's mother died shortly after childbirth.Madonna said her desire to adopt the boy was because she "wants to be part of the solution."Unfortunately, her critics choose to be part of what's wrong with the world today.The critics should re-examine how they choose to spend their time.

The Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau is right in not stubbornly locking itself in to previous decisions when it is determined that revamping those decisions might better serve the agency and those whose interests it represents.The bureau's general membership is expected to amend a recent bylaw change Nov. 16 dealing with the makeup of the agency's board of directors. Additionally, the upcoming action is expected to change how the board of directors is selected.And, the 200-member bureau has said it would be open to future changes as the agency acquires more members.That is the kind of open-minded attitude that should be in place for the years ahead as new growth and opportunities continue to present themselves.It was in September that the organization approved a bylaw change reducing the bureau board to nine members from 13 members. The proposed change would create a board that represents 11 different tourism industries in the county.Under the previous bylaw calling for a 13-member board, the board consisted of two representatives from five geographic regions in the county and three at-large members. Under the new proposal, the 11 different tourism industries would nominate two people for service on the agency board. The general membership then would select one member from each group to serve on the board.People in the county are continuing to grasp a better understanding of the tourism potential that exists here. By becoming a more effective, productive tourism agency more in tune with members' needs, the bureau will expand that understanding even further.