With so much bad news in the world today, it's refreshing to receive some good news once in a while.

That happened in the Focus section of Thursday's Butler Eagle, whose lead story was about one woman's efforts to honor her great-great-great-great grandfather.

Nearly 200 years after Joseph Simmers served his country in the War of 1812 — he died in 1821 — Donna Paszek of West Deer Township has arranged for a dedication ceremony to honor her long-deceased relative. It will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 12 at Buffalo Cemetery, adjacent to Buffalo United Presbyterian Church, 678 Sarver Road, Sarver.

Paszek obtained a government headstone available for deceased veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs. When Simmers died, his family could not afford a headstone.

"When there's no tombstone, it's like they never existed," Paszek said of Simmers and others who were buried under similar circumstances.

"Honored at Last" was the headline over Thursday's story. Perhaps the dedication ceremony will help those who attend to better comprehend another aspect of the sacrifice that helped produce the United States that exists today.

With Connecticut having enacted a new budget, despite Gov. M. Jodi Rell refusing to sign it but not vetoing it, Pennsylvania has the dubious distinction of being the only state without a complete 2010 budget in place. Even at this late date, members of a Pennsylvania House-Senate conference committee only are at the point of deciding to compare plans, rather than offer substantive proposals that would break the budget logjam.Apparently there's still no date yet for the conferees to get serious about what their comparison shows.The state constitution mandates that a new budget be approved by July 1, but lawmakers and Gov. Ed Rendell have, in effect, thumbed their noses at the requirement.Even behind-the-scenes negotiations that supposedly are taking place have been unsuccessful so far.Connecticut was able to enact its two-year, $37.6 billion budget despite facing an $8.5 billion deficit. By latest estimates, Pennsylvania's deficit is $3.3 billion.Rell said she would cut $8 million of spending by way of her line-item-veto power, but that action won't affect the budget's going into effect.Meanwhile, in the Keystone State, the commonwealth entered the Labor Day weekend with only a "skeleton" budget in place to allow for the paying of state workers and to fund public safety and state parks.Connecticut chose to make tax changes, including increasing the personal income tax rate to 6.5 percent from 5 percent on couples making more than $1 million a year and single filers earning $500,000. In addition, the legislature levied a 10 percent income tax surcharge for three years on the largest companies and increased the cigarette tax to $3 a pack from $2.About the only positive thing for Pennsylvania residents emanating from their state's continuing stalemate is the fact that the budget process hasn't yet produced any tax-increase agreements, but that's no guarantee none will happen.House Minority Leader Sam Smith, R-Jefferson, seemed to hedge on the GOP's no-tax-increase stance when he proposed a plan that he said would require no major tax increase.It's widely felt that Pennsylvania's budget, whenever it is enacted, will be the product of behind-the-scenes bargaining. It's a shame lawmakers can't efficiently accomplish that basic, important legislative task out in the open for all to see.

The best news with roots in Harrisburg emanating from the state capital during the past week was the announcement that, effective Friday, the new 511 driver information system — 511PA — would be available.According to the state Department of Transportation, the 511PA system is aimed at providing travelers with information on traffic delays, as well as weather forecasts, tourism information and links to transit agencies and major airports. It is accessed by calling 511 or by visiting the service's Web site, www.511PA.com.Users are able to register through the Web site to receive personalized traveler alerts, provided through e-mail and text messaging. Beginning in November, the aim will be to also provide information on winter road conditions.Related to traffic delays, the service will note not only construction delays but also information on crashes, when such information is available."511PA offers reliable information to help travelers make smart planning decisions and minimize travel delays," said Allen Biehler, state secretary of transportation, in a news release announcing the start-up of the service.Too bad 511PA can't provide state lawmakers and Gov. Ed Rendell with a good detour route around the state budget roadblocks that are creating serious hardships for many who depend on state money to provide their services.<B><I> — J.R.K.</B></I>