The Center for Community Resources' success story shows what can be accomplished when the right people are in charge.

Mike Robb, CCR executive director, deserves praise for how he has guided expansion of agency services and, just as importantly, how he has managed CCR financial and human resources.

CCR coordinates human services in the county.

An article in the April 27 edition of the Butler Eagle provided a look at new and expanded CCR programs and revealed the scope of the agency's efforts. More than 6,000 people are helped by CCR programs annually.

"We're a one-stop shop," said Tom Franz, CCR's director of community outreach programs — and another pillar of the agency's success — referring to CCR's role as the bridge leading people to services that are appropriate for them.

But Robb and Franz are fortunate to have an 81-member staff dedicated to being the best that it can be. The April 27 article included a quote from Peg Weckerly, president of the agency's board of directors, stating that all members of the CCR team deserve credit for what CCR has been able to accomplish.

As the article noted, one of CCR's new initiatives is a program to help inmates with reacclimating to life "on the outside," and another new effort revolves around scheduling a job fair for veterans.

Meanwhile, CCR is expanding its behavioral health program, which already has about 400 children enrolled.

Likewise, the student assistance program, which deals with issues that include bullying and addictions, has been expanded to include elementary school children.

But those programs are just a quick snapshot of the extensive work that CCR does.

People who feel that CCR can be of help to them should not hestitate to get in touch with the agency, which is based at the HollyPointe Building near the Butler County Government Center.

"It's pretty incredible what our staff does," Robb said. And, with the agency's staff expected to increase to 87 during the 2008-09 fiscal year, and the agency's budget increasing to $4.12 million from this fiscal year's $3.96 million, CCR will have the foundation in place for continuing its successful mission.

Butler County is a better place as a result of CCR and its extensive work.

Those who use the Butler tier garage during the winter months shouldn't turn it into a litter bin.But at this time of the year it's clear that more than a few people who used the garage during the bad-weather months exercised little restraint in regard to tossing paper, food wrappers and cigarette packs anywhere but in trash receptacles.While it must be acknowledged that leaves and some debris blows into the garage during windy conditions, plenty of what now litters the garage is the result of people too lazy to make use of garbage cans.With the city short on manpower, cleaning of the garage might be a good project for a Scout troop. But even that would not be necessary if people exercised responsibility and put litter in trash cans.Spring is here and the garage, like city streets and sidewalks, should reflect that fact.

Congress is struggling to agree upon, and pass, a renewal of the farm bill. But our federal lawmakers are struggling over what level of subsidies should continue to go to millionaire farmers, even as the farm economy is stronger than it has been in decades.At a time when food prices for average Americans are going up and when farmers are seeing historically high prices for most of their commodity crops like corn and wheat, this is an appropriate time to end big subsidies to the nation's wealthiest farmers.President George W. Bush has threatened to veto any bill that does not include dramatic reductions in payments to wealthy farmers.But with agricultural interests in nearly every state, the farm lobby is powerful. And, as a result, a House-passed version of the bill would only end payments to farmers who earn $1 million a year or more.Retaining such subsidies makes no sense. The only reason the payments would continue is because of the influence of the farm lobby, specifically, those representing large, corporate farms.The American people should continue to watch developments with renewal of the farm bill. The outcome will reveal much about whether lawmakers in Congress serve the people or wealthy special interests in agribusiness.