Anyone who thinks sobriety checkpoints aren't worth the time and effort expended have evidence from here in Butler County to reconsider that opinion.

A sobriety checkpoint June 30 on Route 228 in Adams Township provided a troubling picture of how much drunk driving is going on in this county.

During that checkpoint, nine suspected drunk drivers were arrested, and six drug-related arrests also were made as part of the operation conducted by the Butler County DUI Task Force.

In addition, police officers conducting the checkpoint issued 12 traffic citations and seven warnings. An article in the Butler Eagle also reported that three people were cited for underage drinking, one was cited for furnishing alcohol to minors, and four were cited for disorderly conduct.

The only problem regarding DUI checkpoints is that there aren't enough police officers available to conduct more of them.

They are effective, and it is possible that the June 30 checkpoint saved someone from being involved in an accident — or being victimized by a drunk driver.

Those who were arrested or cited during the checkpoint should reflect on that as they await their punishment. Meanwhile, Butler Eagle readers should continue to follow the police reports that are printed daily. Those who do are aware of how much attention is being given to the drunk-driving problem by police officers on routine patrol.

Responsible motorists who don't drink and drive should appreciate those efforts that are being put forth to keep alcohol-impaired motorists off the roadways

The observance of Independence Day was a joyous celebration for many. There were the traditional picnics and fireworks displays. For many people it was a day of leisure.But for some people it was a day of anger and anxiety because of the irresponsible behavior of others.Unfortunately, that was the case in Butler as in many other places. There were reports Tuesday that people feared for the safety of their homes and vehicles because of the careless manner in which some fireworks were being used.Independence Day is supposed to be celebrated on the basis of what that day means to this nation. It's not supposed to be a ticket to irresponsible behavior.It is to be hoped that those who celebrated in the wrong way will reflect on their behavior and commit themselves to not repeating their Independence Day 2006 behavior next year.For some that might be too much to ask, but hopefully not for most.

Some of Saxonburg's stormwater problems appear to be the fault of borough officials' lax vigilance regarding basic maintenance.In order to function properly, catch basins have to be cleaned periodically. Judging from borough officials' discussion at a meeting Wednesday, that hasn't been happening.When Councilman Rich Foust asked when all of the borough's catch basins last had been cleaned, Tom Greche, road superintendent, recalled that some were cleaned several years ago.However, he said borough workers had never gotten around to cleaning all of them.Borough residents must be wondering why their elected officials haven't been paying attention to so basic of an issue. Ensuring that community facilities are operating properly is a basic responsibility of those serving on municipal governing bodies.One observation voiced by Foust is a clear indicator of how much catch basins have been ignored. The councilman said two catch basins in the park were filled with dirt, while one on Isabella Street had a tree growing in it.Councilman Mike Lazaroff said that at least the catch basins in the areas that are routinely flooded by heavy rains should be cleaned.Judging from discussion at Wednesday's meeting, neither Lazaroff nor other council members should be content with that approach. The council should order the cleaning of all catch basins prior to winter. Even better, clean catch basins should be made an immediate priority.It's anyone's guess what lies ahead in the 2006 hurricane season.Greche said he couldn't guarantee that cleaning of the catch basins would solve the nagging flooding problems some residents have been experiencing. That's no excuse for further delays in cleaning them.Having that work completed will be a basis for pointing borough officials toward other possible solutions, if flooding problems persist.The council scheduled a meeting for 7 p.m. July 27 at the borough building to further discuss the flooding issue and decide on a course of action. The meeting might not be needed if borough officials had not ignored catch basins for so long.