If anyone else is tempted someday to climb a power transmission tower, they should reflect on the poor judgment and subsequent experience of two Butler men early Thursday.

Scott Tucker, 22, and Leonard Teuteberg, 23, both had to be rescued from an Allegheny Power transmission tower behind Butler Fabricating on Kittanning Street after Tucker came in contract with a power line and fell about 20 feet, from one crossbeam to another.

That touched off a two-hour rescue operation that, fortunately for both men, brought them down safely.

Teuteberg appparently wasn't injured but Tucker required hospitalization.

Actually, considering his contact with the power line, Tucker is lucky to have survived.

Authorities suspect that alcohol might have been involved. And Teuteberg wasn't wrong when he said "what we did was a stupid mistake."

Regardless, Butler police are correct in their intent to file trespass charges against the two men.

Not only did Tucker and Teuteberg endanger themselves, but they also unnecessarily put their rescuers in danger despite the rescuers' training for such operations.

The two men no doubt have learned a lesson they'll never forget. Others should take note.

There's a window of time before municipalities will be required by the Federal Highway Administration to maintain minimum reflectivity levels for all traffic signs.That requirement will start in 2012, with compliance required by January 2015 for regulatory, warning and ground-mounted signs. For overhead guide signs and street name signs, the compliance date is January 2018.But despite the time window, municipalities should start work on bringing signs into compliance now, rather than incurring a big cost close to the compliance deadlines. And, the Butler County Council of Governments deserves praise for making that possible in a cost-effective way for its 23 member municipalities.The council has bought a device that will allow its members to check their road signs on an annual basis. The $10,500 instrument, which will be kept at the Cranberry Township public works offices, will be available to be borrowed for checking signs at the municipalities' convenience.In most cases, that sign-checking process will take only a day or two, and municipalities might be able to save money by having a part-time employee do the work.With the new equipment, Butler County municipalities will be able to complete their sign management programs at their own pace and with minimal stress on their finances and other responsibilities.The council of governments merits a thumbs-up for recognizing and acting on this opportunity at this time, as well as for acquiring a $5,000 state matching grant to help in the purchase of the equipment.

It's not uncommon to read in the Butler Eagle about a person who has been arrested for his or her second, third, fourth or even fifth drunken-driving offense.That suggests that some people just don't care about how much they are putting themselves and others in danger by their irresponsible, repeat behavior.And, with a shortage of prison space, the courts sometimes have been reluctant to jail these repeat offenders, opting instead for alternatives such as house arrest, electronic monitoring or community service.But a new era in Butler County is about to dawn the opening of a new, larger prison that will allow the courts to impose the kind of punishment repeat drunken drivers deserve. That is to say, jail time that should make a stronger impression on these repeat offenders than the watered-down punishment to which they might have become accustomed.All that said, people in the county should feel encouraged by Judge Timothy McCune's stated intent that, once the new prison is open, he will impose jail time in some of the cases he currently opts for a lesser degree of punishment including in drunken-driving cases.According to the judge, in DUI cases, step-down sentences will start with a prison term followed by work release and electronic monitoring.With the possibility of a tougher stance by the courts, it must be hoped that many people who now take the risk of driving under the influence, including repeat offenders, will start to think twice about engaging in that dangerous practice.Other county judges who hear such cases should embrace the same stance that McCune has voiced.