Martin Shkreli is at one and the same time described as charismatic as well as “the most hated man in America.”
Shkreli, 34, is best known for inflating the price of the drug Daraprim by 5,000 percent — from $13.50 to nearly $750 a pill — all because he could. The drug combats infections common to AIDS and cancer patients.
On Friday, Shkreli was convicted of securities fraud in part by using the proceeds of his pharmaceutical company Retrophin to rescue that of two hedge funds, MSMB Capital and MSMB Healthcare, while keeping investors in the dark.
Shkreli was regarded as a boy genius, taking Wall Street by storm at age 16. That may be, but he’s still a spoiled brat with the manners to match.
During his five-week trial Shkreli acted in a disrespectful, petulant and childish manner. Rather than be humiliated and humbled by the experience, Shkreli posted on social media Friday night that his time behind bars likely will be “close to nil,” and that he looks forward to spending some time in “Club Fed,” where he’ll hone his tennis and basketball skills.
This is where you hope fate indeed can be tempted and that Shkreli’s insolence will be rewarded with a stiff sentence.
Which brings us to a recent article about the Wichita school district’s intention to bring back a program to combat bad behavior among students. In the last four years, the Associated Press article reported, disciplinary incidents among elementary students has increased 53 percent.
Part of the problem is a disconnect between cultures, administrators said, noting the majority of teachers are white, middle-class and female while the student makeup reflects a wide range of ethnicities, with Hispanics representing the majority.
Even so, as evidenced by Mr. Shkreli, one’s social status does not necessarily  confer good manners. And, on the flip side, to expect bad behavior solely because of the color of one’s skin is, of course, outright prejudice. A teaching staff of predominantly white females can bridge cultural differences just as effectively as anyone else. A willingness to understand where everyone is coming from and where they want to be headed can go a long ways.
Wichita’s program takes a positive approach by rewarding good behaviors, not just punishing the bad. It also reinforces a culture of respect so that students and teachers together can create an environment conducive for learning.
Education is more than just teaching the three Rs, but includes instilling life skills to help youth become successful, well-adjusted adults.
Yes, a family’s responsibility, but as we know today, it takes a village.
 
WE DON’T know what Mr. Shkreli’s upbringing was like other than he attended private schools. In one of his tweets — before Twitter banned him —Shkreli posted, “I am now a god.”
We all have a role to play in taming such egos, including proving they are counterproductive. We are put on this earth to serve, not to reign. And it’s only with a servant’s attitude that we can become effective leaders.

— Susan Lynn

Whether or not the $300,000 sequestered in Allen County’s 2018 budget will be sufficient to plan, build and outfit new ambulance stations in Humboldt and Moran, the commissioners’ zeal to do so is refreshing.
Commissioner Jerry Daniels is beating the drum loudest, proclaiming ambulance station projects should be in the works by spring.
We haven’t toured the Moran station, but having walked through Humboldt’s, it’s starkly evident new living quarters and storage area for ambulance and equipment are sorely needed. An enlarged garage for ambulances that soon will flesh out the service’s fleet is required; newer ones won’t fit in existing space.
It was equally refreshing to hear Humboldt Administrator Cole Herder affirm that he and Humboldt council members would be eager to work with the county. Moran officials no doubt will be just as supportive.
Ever since accord was reached in 2014, Iola has operated the countywide ambulance service with the county providing vehicles and $1 million a year subsidy to offset costs.
Iola provides space for ambulances in its fire station. EMS personnel also serve as firefighters. Humboldt and Moran have made stations available in their towns; neither has the financial wherewithal to build new ones.
That county commissioners are eager to front much of the upgrade of those outlying stations is not just generosity. It is only right and proper that the county absorb costs of projects that help any and all taxpayers.
Further, county coffers were swollen mightily when Enbridge laid a huge pipeline to carry crude oil from Illinois to the largest oil storage depot in the world at Cushing, Okla. Enbridge also built a huge, state-of-the-art pumping station about two miles southeast of Humboldt.
To bring those tidbits of information to a head, all of the nearly $40 million increase in Allen County’s assessed valuation generated by Enbridge lies within the service areas of ambulances operating from Humboldt and Moran.
Also, having new stations will make recruitment of personnel easier, Iola Fire Chief Tim Thyer noted.
Larger ambulances will mean better response, from ability to negotiate treacherous winter roads with four-wheel drive, to more space within the medical chamber to better accommodate newer equipment to give paramedics what they need to save lives.
Only someone given to distressing pragmatism would consider putting a price on a person’s life.
It’s heartening that our county commissioners are willing to see the best of emergency services be made available to every last person within the county.

— Bob Johnson