Butler can feel a sense of pride that another of its native sons has achieved great success.

Adm. Jonathan Greenert's promotion to vice chief of Naval operations, thus becoming the second-highest-ranking officer in the Navy, testifies to the values, work ethic and commitment to success that he learned while growing up here.

He is a 1971 Butler High School graduate and attended the U.S. Naval Academy.

Meanwhile, it would be remiss to omit Greenert's wife, Darleen, from this cheer. She has received the Superior Public Service Award for the time she has dedicated to helping Navy families.

Her award was presented during the ceremony at which Jonathan Greenert turned over his U.S. Fleet Forces Command position to his successor, Adm. John Harvey Jr.

While in charge of U.S. Fleet Forces, Jonathan Greenert dealt with the day-to-day operations of the Navy. In his new position, he will be based at the Pentagon, working on military strategy.

"A lot of the foundation of success is understanding what people need," Greenert said.

His promotion is proof that he has a firm grasp of the direction the Navy needs to take in the years ahead.

If the Butler County commissioners and the union representing workers at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center really are serious about negotiating a new contract, they haven't been giving that impression over the past couple of months.There have been no negotiations for more than two months, and county solicitor Julie Graham has said negotiations probably would not resume before next month.It's puzzling why such an important matter would take a vacation. The employees covered by the negotiations have been working under the terms of their old contract that expired Nov. 30.It's true that the lack of talks might be in the best personal interest of the employees; the county desires new-contract provisions that would ease the financial burden of those workers on the county's coffers.Nevertheless, since it's in the taxpayers' best interests that any savings that are possible are achieved as quickly as possible, both sides had — and have — the obligation to agree to continuing talks.There's been no "vacation" for county residents' obligation to fund the county government. There should be no vacation for the obligation to make every effort possible to complete unfinished business.The current negotiations limbo is unacceptable.

Butler residents should be concerned anytime their tax dollars aren't put to good use.Thus, they should be concerned that city leaders aren't willing to make better repairs to certain streets — repairs that would reduce the amount of winter pothole patching that doesn't remain in place very long.Patching the same potholes several times each year is a waste of money and manpower. Why city leaders don't acknowledge that by being committed to better, longer-lasting repairs is puzzling.In the aftermath of a jeer in the July 19 edition of the Butler Eagle, the city finally attacked the neglected section of South Wagner Avenue by applying a new bituminous surface that should eliminate the need for pothole patching during the coming winter.It wasn't a big, costly project. But it will free up workers from having to address that street during the coming winter and possibly a few more winters beyond.The same kind of project could be effective on areas of Mercer, West Wayne and Broad Street, for example — streets that accommodate considerable traffic — but city leaders have continued to ignore them.Those leaders are content to argue that there is not enough money for such work, but then find themselves with no choice but to authorize the spending of more money for a repair that will be undone quickly by freeze-and-thaw conditions — and waste Streets Department workers' time in the process.Butler streets shouldn't be a hazard to vehicle tires and suspension systems, yet more than a few now are.A commitment to better repairs on the worst street sections, such as occurred on South Wagner, would conserve limited city funds over the long run."City officials aren't spending enough time riding around to determine what problems exist," the July 19 jeer pointed out.Judging from what hasn't happened since the repair of South Wagner, leaders still seem determined to keep their personal vehicles out of harm's way.