There were three Jolly Fishermen.

      For those of us who live in Wyoming
Valley "Old Man River" is the Susquehanna.
      It's 464 miles long! But most people
remember it for how wide it was during the
Agnes Flood in 1972!
      I've always liked the idea of considering
the river as an asset (when it's not flooding
of course)!
      That's why I was pleased to see three
jolly fishermen casting their lines into the
water during my walk in West Pittston
yesterday afternoon. At least I hope they
were "jolly."
      There was a boat too. It was speeding
near the Fort Jenkins Bridge, using the
river as a sort of highway from one
fishing spot to another.
       What was especially impressive was
the fact all those lines, and hooks, and bait
or lures were being tossed into the water
in the immediate vicinity of the "Butler
Mine Tunnel!
       For those who might not remember,
that underground chamber was originally
built to drain coal mines in a 5 square mile
area.
      But back in 1979 it was also being
used to drain illegally dumped contaminants
from a truck stop three and a half miles
away. The result was an oil slick that
spread on top of the river water all the day
down stream to Danville which uses the
water for its drinking supply.
     The Tunnel became a Federal Super Fund
site and millions of dollars were spent on a
clean up project.
     I guess it must have worked because the
oil slick has been replaced by fishermen!
     I'm still not so sure I'd be willing to
consume any Walleye taken along this
particular stretch of Old Man River. But it's
really nice to see fishing , rather than oil,
nets being run through the water!
     Hope there's a tasty "catch of the day"
on their menu and that all your NEWS is good!