The success of the 2011-12 United Way campaign should provide the spark for the agency’s fundraising campaigns going forward.

United Way employees and volunteers deserve praise for the 2011-12 effort that collected $200,000 more than the campaign’s $1.5 million goal.

Actually, United Way should annually see campaigns top the $2 million mark, even with an uncertain economy. Butler County has ample business and industrial presence and growth to support such a level of giving.

Perhaps that will be forthcoming soon.

For now, what was achieved in the latest campaign hopefully will be the right prescription for continued growth, beginning with the new campaign that will begin this fall.

It’s to be hoped that those who worked so hard on behalf of United Way in the just-completed campaign will remain committed to helping this great cause and agency — as well as United Way’s member agencies — in the years ahead.

Jeer Considering all the lawbreaking and serious questionable actions that have surfaced in Pennsylvania government over the past decade, it isn’t shocking that an agency close to the government, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, has taken a seat in the gallery of those who have been investigated or targeted for investigation.A state inspector general report has concluded that three top LCB officials have accepted gifts and favors from vendors and other businesses with an interest in liquor.The state Ethics Act bars officials from using their positions to benefit themselves or their families. Meanwhile, state liquor law makes it a felony for LCB employees and their relatives to receive gifts from vendors. Penalties include firing and possible prosecution.The three officials at the cen-ter of Inspector General Kenya Mann Faulkner’s report are LCB chief executive officer Joe Conti, board member Patrick J. Stapleton III and marketing director James Short.All are alleged to have received gifts and favors, including wine and tickets to sporting events and golf tournaments.John Contino, Ethics Commission executive director, on June 18 neither confirmed nor denied the existence of any ethics probe. But if there isn’t one, there should be.Gov. Tom Corbett has had a copy of the report since March.Pennsylvania residents who once viewed state government and most agencies tied to it with respect have once again had their faith dashed, just as it was dashed in a number of instances stemming from the Bonusgate investigation and other illegal dealings surrounding the state Legislature that have been identified.The LCB situation should be pursued to the fullest extent possible. And, if the allegations are proven, the LCB should undergo a major personnel shake-up at the top and then be subjected to ongoing close scrutiny.The disclosure of the allegations of LCB graft have again made state residents wonder whether honesty is a lost commodity in the commonwealth.

Jeer The photo in Thursday’s Butler Eagle about the city’s crackdown against a property owner for yardstick-high weeds on South Washington Street hopefully indicates that the city will no longer tolerate such conditions.Nevertheless, city officials deserve criticism for waiting so long to pursue action. The South Washington property is only one of a number of properties that have remained eyesores for the same reason in recent weeks.Similar situations in years past should have caused officials to be more aggressive this year from the get-go.If city officials want a clean, inviting city, unkempt properties cannot be tolerated.And, city workers should not be reassigned from their regular duties to perform property cleanups. The city council should approve a policy whereby lawn care companies are brought in to eliminate high grass and weeds, at owners’ expense, after owners fail to rectify such problems within a specific time period after official notice has been given.Unfortunately, the conditions pictured at the Washington Street property are not the worst that have existed in the city this year.City officials should wake up regarding a problem that has an easy solution, if those officials are committed to it.