Cheer

The Pennsylvania Game Commission recently removed the bald eagle from the state’s endangered and threatened species lists, capping one of the most successful species restoration programs in history.

Just 30 years ago, there were only three bald eagle nests in the entire state, the population decimated in the 1950s and ’60s by the insecticide DDT, which was banned in 1972. Acid mine drainage and deforestation wiped out much of the bald eagles’ habitat and food source.

Today, there are nearly 300 mating pairs, double the population of just seven years ago. Wildlife experts say the exponential increase in Pennsylvania’s nesting bald eagle population is part of a regional increase. Similar spurts are being reported in Chesapeake Bay and New York state populations.

The bald eagle’s recovery can be traced to the Game Commission’s eagle reintroduction program of 1983-89. With cooperation from the Canadian government, Game Commission agents completed seven missions to capture young Canadian eagles and transfer them to Pennsylvania.

Other gradual environmental improvements since then have also boosted the eagles’ comeback, including the cleanup of acid mine drainage and reforestation — eagles need good water and forests that ensure an abundance of the fish they eat.

If the population trend continues, the majestic view of soaring bald eagles will be familiar to all Pennsylvanians — as it should be.

The Game Commission’s live eagle camera is functioning again this year, but at a different nest, this time in York County. To view the live stream, visit the Game Commission’s website www.pgc.state.pa.us and follow the link to the eagle cam.

Jeer

When it comes to disciplinary actions, there appears to be a lot of grey area in the Monessen School District.

The suburban Pittsburgh district attracted national attention last week when middle school students — fifth graders — mistakenly were given a word search themed on the erotic movie “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

The movie, which opened in theaters Friday, is based on a best-selling novel about a college student and her torrid affair with a 27-year-old billionaire with a penchant for bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism.

The Monessen word puzzle included the terms “spanking,” “submissive,” “leather cuffs” and “bondage.” Other words on the list were more explicit.

“It was a huge, but unintentional, error and collected from the five students involved as soon as it was realized,” school board member Roberta Bergstedt told a Pittsburgh TV station. “Unfortunately one copy was taken by a student who then posted it on social media.”

The big questions remaining are how the mistake happened, who was responsible, and what disciplinary action will be taken.

For now, the administration must be turning 50 shades of red while pondering another question: Are you sure you’re smarter than a fifth grader?

Cheer

Breona Conerty has found a sweet way to boost sales of her Girl Scout cookies.

Breona, 10, a fourth-grader at Meridian Elementary School, began writing letters to celebrities a few weeks ago.

And she found a surprising telephone message Monday when she came home from school. Meredith Vieira, host of the NBC daytime program “The Meredith Vieira Show,” had called to place an order.

“Breona was jumping up and down,” said her mother, Melissa Conerty, “I was shocked.”

Vieira, a 14-time Emmy Award winner, bought five boxes of each cookie variety — 35 boxes in all.

Vieira later told the Butler Eagle, “I fell in love with Breona when I received her letter. She needed help selling her Girl Scout cookies, and a resourceful scout knows how to complete her task.”

Breona is a member of Troop 26388, which meets at Connoquenessing Elementary School. This is her fifth year as a Girl Scout and her fifth year working in cookie sales.

Last year she sold more than 200 boxes. She’s well on her way to eclipsing that number this year.