James Kennedy’s departure from the Butler County Board of Commissioners on Friday will be a loss to the county. He has provided solid service during his 15 years of helping to shepherd the county’s growth and development.

It can be said that he played an important and positive role during what can be regarded as the county’s biggest, most-exciting era of progress.

But while county government will be losing his day-to-day talents and expertise, this county will continue to be a beneficiary of his ongoing public service. He is to become the state Secretary of Agriculture’s regional representative for Western Pennsylvania.

Despite the industrial and commercial growth that the county has experienced over the past two decades, agriculture remains one of the most important components of the county’s economy.

Not all of Kennedy’s decisions were without opposition. For example, he was on the side of a split vote that put the new county prison in downtown Butler instead of on county land near Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

But Kennedy wasn’t one to shy away from a tough or controversial vote. Other elected officials should emulate that important quality.

When Kennedy announced in August 2010 that he would not be seeking election to another term beginning in 2012, it appeared that the commissioner would be concentrating solely on his farming operation during his retirement years.

Instead, Kennedy will continue to divide his time between his farm and his new state position — a position for which he is well qualified.

Many officials heaped praise on Kennedy during Wednesday’s commissioners meeting. Perhaps one of the most notable came from Bill O’Donnell, chief county clerk, who observed that “a lot has been accomplished here.”

That was one of the marks of Kennedy’s service. Commitment to doing a good job was the other.

Whoever is elected on Nov. 8 to fill his position — county President Judge Thomas Doerr will appoint an interim commissioner — will face a big challenge striving to match Kennedy’s record of service.

Kennedy deserves an enthusiastic thank-you from all county residents and best wishes regarding his new position.

CheerMore people in Butler need to follow the lead of Negley Avenue resident Carl Schall in speaking openly about city needs. Hopefully, his suggestion about newly empty properties stemming from the city’s dilapidated-structure eradication ef-fort will receive the attention it deserves.Schall has pointed out that razing of dilapidated structures is only one part of the needed solution for a better city. The other is getting a new home built on the empty land.His experience with an adjacent, now-vacant lot is a good guide to what happens when land is allowed to remain vacant. In his case, the adjoining empty lot at 501 Virginia Ave. has become a play area and a place where people have set up tents for outdoor parties.That in itself is not necessarily bad, but the potential for damage to next-door residences and yards is a legitimate concern for Schall and others.Schall is not giving up regarding advocating for a better neighborhood and community. He is well aware of this and other problems that exist in his part of the city.Others in his neighborhood should come join his efforts, and people in other parts of the city should push for similar remedial results.As Schall points out, elimination of blight carries with it additional responsibilities. City officials should embrace his positive interest and strive to achieve the objective of improving the city.

JeerThe person or persons responsible for stealing the American Flag flying above Harmony’s borough square obviously are too immature to fully appreciate the flag’s meaning.At the same time, the thefts have revealed cowardly disrespect for this symbol of freedom for which many thousands of American servicemen and women have died over the past two centuries.If an arrest or arrests are forthcoming, the individual or individuals responsible should be shown no leniency by the courts.If those responsible are borough residents, they are too uninformed and shortsighted to realize that theirs or their parents’ tax money is being spent to rectify a problem that should not exist.The borough council has decided to buy a lockbox to prevent future flag thefts at a cost of $300. While that isn’t a big sum, the money could have been allocated for some other borough need.So could the $170 that the borough spent for a new flag in time for July 4.The latest theft of the flag occurred about two weeks ago. Council Vice President Tim Sapienza said at a council meeting Tuesday that the flag has been stolen several times this year.Obviously patriotism is lacking in some individual or individuals in or near Harmony.