With all due respect to newly elected City Councilman Scott Wagner, we would have thought his first interview would have been granted to cub reporter Bunny the Newshound, sniffin’ out news at the local community newspaper in his old neighborhood.

Wagner, however, chose a much higher press outlet for his first interview as an elected official: the students at James Elementary School.

Wagner was interviewed last Thursday by the James Elementary sixth grade class as part of the school’s Safe Schools Initiative. Coverage will appear on the school’s website and in the school’s newspaper.

Not many candidates or politicians could boast of a more fitting or honorable first interview and this li’l news hound tips his hat to the future journalists at James Elementary for doing what some highly trained journalists can’t do — getting the interview!

Check out our YouTube Channel for the student’s video interviews during the event.

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Wreck running, as defined by city statute, is allegedly illegal in this town. Tow trucks, however, recently chased fire equipment down St. John Avenue at breakneck speeds and has this speed limit abiding canine thinking differently.

The most egregious was an Independence Tow and Recovery truck, whose driver ran a stop sign and turned in front of a moving motorcycle to be the first on site at an accident near the VFW at Ewing and Wilson.

Make no mistake, wreck runnin’ is big business and tow companies can make substantial cash, charging outrageous fees at the scene for “hook up” and “wait time.” Wait time? Really? Who called who?

The last person we want to see if we’re face down on the pavement is a tow truck driver waving his business card in our face, soliciting business.

This right-leaning, capitalist pooch is all for free-market competition, but when that competition endangers the lives and safety of motor vehicle operators who share the roadway with them, it’s time to take a look at who’s behind the system that promotes non-emergency, non-commissioned, non-trained, wreck runners jockeying with EMS personnel for first arrival status.