Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer Clint Deniker doesn't see himself as worthy of the Carnegie Hero Award he has received for saving a life.

"I think it was just something that needed to be done," he said. "I don't deserve to be in that category or class of people."

In fact, he is deserving of the honor. If it were not for him, Thomas B. Stevenson Sr. of Grove City probably wouldn't have survived the one-car crash in Pine Township, Mercer County, on April 4 that resulted in injuries that included two broken legs.

When Deniker, who was on duty, arrived at the crash scene, Stevenson's car was resting on its roof and had caught fire near its engine. At the time, Stevenson was unconscious and upside down, restrained by his seat belt.

Had the fire continued burning, chances are that Stevenson would have suffered severe or fatal burns in the accident.

Deniker risked his own well-being and life. As the fire became hotter, he used his knife to cut Stevenson's seat belt to free him, then pulled him to safety, not knowing whether Stevenson still was alive.

Fortunately he was and since has recovered and returned to his job.

"I don't think I did anything worthy of that award, to be honest with you," Deniker said.

He said he was shocked upon learning that he had been selected for it, becoming one of just 9,243 people who have received one since the award was established in 1904.

While his modesty is laudable, the Carnegie hero fund made a good decision in honoring him.

It wouldn't be the proverbial end of the world if U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-4th, or U.S. Sen. Bob Casey were to miss casting a vote on proposed legislation, especially proposals not of much significance to their district or state.However, both lawmakers deserve praise for their commitment to being on hand anytime a vote is scheduled. Altmire was one of only two House members during the 110th session who was present for all of the 1,876 votes — the highest number of votes ever taken in any session of the Congress.Casey was one of only seven senators who cast all 657 votes in the upper chamber's 110th session."The people of Pennsylvania sent me to Washington to be their advocate and fight on their behalf to ensure that their voices are heard in the U.S. Senate," Casey said.Meanwhile, Altmire told the Butler Eagle that he takes attendance at voting sessions seriously because it is an important part of the job to which he was elected.Those are the right kind of attitudes that ought to embrace more members of the upcoming 111th Congress.Many serious, daunting issues will be before the new Congress and Obama administration, and Americans — both here in the Keystone State and other states — should watch closely that their lawmakers are in attendance to represent their best interests.While there are times when absence is tolerable, the attendance attitudes of Altmire and Casey cannot be second-guessed in terms of their value to the legislative process.

The winter edition of Partnerships, a publication of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, paints a depressing picture regarding children and families in Pennsylvania. The publication uses the word "crisis" to describe the situation.That doesn't mean some other states don't equal or surpass the Keystone State in regard to the troubling statistics in question. However, most Keystone State residents probably believe the problems here aren't really as bad and widespread as they actually are.There must be a stronger, more concerted effort by agencies and other resources in the commonwealth with the goal of significantly reducing the problem. And the problem must be kept in the forefront of public knowledge; being out of the spotlight provides a prescription for the problem to fester and grow.Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, based in Harrisburg, is a private, nonprofit corporation whose goal is to improve the health, education and well-being of Pennsylvania's children.In its article dealing with the children and families statistics, Partnerships focuses on the 2007 Pennsylvania Annual Child Abuse Report, which reveals that there were approximately 24,000 reports of suspected child abuse in Pennsylvania last year. Of the 4,149 cases that were substantiated, 46 child abuse claims resulted in death, the article said.Among the other major facts included in the article is that there currently are more than 52,000 families being served by the state's child welfare system, most as a result of a child abuse investigation.In response, Joan L. Benso, Pennsylvania Partnerships president and chief executive officer, has announced that her agency is leading a new initiative, the Porch Light Project, whose goal is to spearhead public policy reforms in the child welfare system."We believe that every child has the right to grow up in a family where his needs for safety, permanency and well-being are met," she said.Pennsylvania Partnerships merits praise for its efforts, but those responsible for the large-scale problem — the crisis — that exists, as well as the inadequacies of the current child welfare system, deserve the ire of those who believe that the Keystone State should not be home to a problem of such magnitude.