If you rob a bank, you should spend some time in prison.

Whether the economy is good or bad, there always are some people experiencing tough times due to joblessness. And times are tough for many people these days.

Despite such difficulties, most people don’t resort to crime as a way to get back on their feet financially.

Matthew Chestnut, 36, of Grove City was an exception, having decided to rob banks. But he got caught, putting him at the mercy of the criminal justice system.

And mercy — undeserved mercy — he received, at least from Butler County Judge Timothy McCune, who meted out four years of probation to Chestnut, rather than the jail time he deserved, in connection with Chestnut’s Feb. 6 Citizens Bank robbery in Zelienople.

People serve jail time for much less serious offenses than a bank heist, yet McCune saw fit to dole out what amounted to a slap on the wrist. And, unfortunately, the Butler County District Attorney’s Office was party to this sentencing travesty, having agreed to the feeble punishment.

It’s to be hoped that Mercer County Court will be less forgiving when it sentences Chestnut in connection with a Jan. 27 robbery at Mercer County State Bank.

Such a robbery posed the risk of a medical problem such as a heart attack for bank tellers or others caught up in the incident. Law enforcement authorities and other responders risk being injured or killed if involved in an accident while responding to such a crime,

McCune’s sentencing decision is troubling and projects the message that such possibilities don’t matter.

Cheer While Slippery Rock In Bloom wasn’t an award recipient at the America In Bloom National Symposium and Awards in Fayetteville, Ark., earlier this month, its intent to continue its efforts next year was a welcome announcement for the community.Despite not winning an award, those involved in the Slippery Rock effort have no reason to hang their heads. Not only did they improve their community’s appearance, but their efforts merited nomination for awards in floral arrangements and bold foliage.Meanwhile, a volunteer in Slippery Rock In Bloom — Cindi Dillon — was nominated as a community champion.All in all, not bad for a first-time entry in the competition. Slippery Rock competed against three other communities in the 3,001-4,500 population category.Lakeside, Ohio, was the victorious community in that category.According to Judy Hughes, 2011-12 president of the Slippery Rock Rotary Club and member of the Slippery Rock In Bloom committee, the “In Bloom” effort is aimed at continual community improvement, and this year’s initiative planted the seed for more improvements ahead.By its participation, Slippery Rock learned that it doesn’t have to win a prize to be judged a success.

Cheer Praise is in order to the more than 130 volunteers who spent Sept. 22 cleaning a 10-mile stretch of Connoquenessing Creek in Forward and Jackson townships as well as in Zelienople and Harmony.Better yet, the Sept. 22 effort isn’t a one-time venture in ridding the waterway of years of irresponsible dumping. The volunteers, at least some of whom are members of the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance, plan to return to the waterway next year and beyond.The goal is to clean another part of the creek next year and continue until the entire 50-mile-long creek has been cleaned. In addition, maintaining the cleaned portions of the waterway will be an ongoing objective.It was through the environmental concern of Christina and Mike Handley of Freedom that the Sept. 22 effort was born. The Handleys observed the condition of the creek while kayaking in August 2011 and followed up by forming the alliance.“I’ve never seen a waterway with so many tires and so many old appliances,” Christina Handley said.Which raises the question of why there’s been so much irresponsibility by so many people over the years regarding the waterway. Additionally, why has there not been attempts by the municipalities on obtaining owner-identification information about larger items deposited in the creek, such as item serial numbers that might have been registered for warranty purposes? One of the many items found in the water was a riding lawnmower.The creek stretches from Oneida Lake in Oakland Township to the Beaver River in southern Lawrence County. It should be an environmental asset, not a watery landfill.Beyond a cleaner Connoquenessing Creek, we’ve seen what can be accomplished when just one or two people see a problem and decide to take action.Cheers to the Handleys and the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance.