Officials who helped bring about Westinghouse Electric Co.'s decision to build its new $100 million headquarters and research center in the Cranberry Woods office park deserve the plaudits of people in this area.

But also deserving of positive recognition are people who recognize the Westinghouse decision's impact on a much broader geographic region than southwestern Butler County — people who aren't content to proclaim the Westinghouse decision as just a Butler County success story.

It's much bigger than that.

For example, John Milius, chairman of the Cranberry Township supervisors — whose municipality is at the center of what Westinghouse plans to do — expressed the opinion that the entire region would benefit, not just Cranberry.

His comment no doubt acknowledges that, despite the amenities that Cranberry Woods provides, Westinghouse very well could have chosen some location outside the area or state for its new facilities. It is known that Westinghouse conducted a site review of the East Coast before opting for Cranberry.

Even officials of smaller communities, such as Jeff Smith, Harmony Borough Council president, were quick to note the broader impact.

"It's good for Harmony and the entire region," Smith said.

As people have time to reflect more on the Westinghouse decision, the full scope of having this important company on the local scene is going to become increasingly apparent.

And, having recognized the broader picture, officials must now turn their attention to ensuring that all of the pieces of this new, exciting economic puzzle fall into place correctly. That positive puzzle will include Westinghouse's magnet effect in attracting other companies here.

Senior citizens can appreciate legislation introduced in Congress by Rep. Jason Altmire, D-4th, and Rep. Steven Kagen, a Democrat from Wisconsin, that, if enacted, would eliminate the penalty tied to the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.According to Altmire, the bill seeks to give seniors more time to research the various Part D plans available to help ensure that they choose the best one for their particular cirumstances.At a meeting at the St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars on March 16, Altmire listened to the concerns of seniors who were struggling with compliance with Part D regulations.Almire, whose district includes part of Butler County, pointed out that seniors, rushing to choose plans, risk falling into a coverage gap if they select the wrong one.Under the current Part D rules, seniors who do not enroll in a plan by their deadline incur a financial penalty that, in reality, makes little sense.For seniors, the hope must be that the Altmire-Kagen legislation makes its way for a vote by the full House quickly, and that the legislation receives concurrence by the Senate and President George W. Bush.Seniors who mostly have led productive lives benefiting this nation should not be penalized in their twilight years by shortsighted bureaucratic rules encompassing complicated decisions.

If anyone deserves a jeer, it is Jeffrey Angelo Ramous, 48, of Scott Township, Allegheny County, who allegedly is the Interstate 279 rock thrower who has endangered vehicles and their occupants for the past two years.At least 12 vehicles were hit by rocks or bricks allegedly thrown by Ramous from a Norfolk Southern railroad trestle west of Pittsburgh. Two drivers were injured.Ramous should consider himself fortunate that his accuracy rate at hitting vehicles was poor; otherwise, he could be facing murder charges instead of the lesser charges of aggravated assault and propulsion of missiles.Regardless, if he is found guilty, he should be handed the maximum penalty for his offenses and be ordered to make full restitution to his victims — to hopefully serve as a deterrent to other, similar irresponsible acts by people who don't have enough positive, productive things to do in their lives.Police were able to apprehend Ramous and obtain a confession from him as a result of several leads from witnesses. Based on those leads, police decided to use night-vision goggles to stake out the trestle, and that investigation tactic proved successful.The incidents occurred in Allegheny County, but Butler County motorists can breathe a sigh of relief regarding Ramous' arrest. Many Butler County residents routinely travel the section of Interstate 279 in question and were among Ramous' potential targets.