So what does a 40-year record of supporting rescue and support operations in emergencies and disasters and bolstering law enforcement count for?
Apparently not much if the record pertains to the state police aviation unit at the Montoursville airport.
A measure to return the helicopter to the airport came eight votes short of approval in the state Legislature last week.
So while effort will continue from local lawmakers and others to get the helicopter restored, the best opportunity for that may have passed.
It will only become more and more difficult to get the helicopter back to the area in the future in our view.
The best chance is usually the first chance when it is an uphill battle.
Uphill battle?
Well, this is clearly an instance when the agenda of others has already held sway over practicality.
We are used to that in this relatively rural area of a state that has larger populations with much perceived weightier influence over most of the rest of its regions.
Imagine, in Philadelphia, an area staple with a proven track record being removed without explanation and transferred elsewhere in this case, the Hazleton area where there is no clear rationale for the move.
Imagine the political uproar.
Imagine such a thing not happening, because it wouldn't.
We can only hope that practicality will eventually win out over what can only appear like political expediency at some point in Pennsylvania's future.
