Erie Times-News (Erie, PA) articles from June 2012

Erie Times-News (Erie, PA) archives from June 2012

EDITORIAL: GE Foundation Grant Is Smart Move
June 12, 2012... June 12--The GE Foundation has come through again for the Erie School District and, ultimately, for the benefit of our entire community. The foundation announced it has pledged $8.6 million to the school district to improve high school...

Erie Times-News, Pa., Good Morning Column
June 12, 2012... Byline: John Dudley June 12--My 14-year-old son came home from his class trip to an amusement park in Pittsburgh last week pumped up about a "ride" he had been on with a couple of his friends. In grainy footage from his iPhone, he played a...

Erie Explosion to Play Indoor Football Playoff Game Outdoors at Dollinger Field
June 12, 2012... June 12--The Erie Explosion will play an outdoor United Indoor Football League playoff game a week earlier than they had hoped. Nevertheless, the Explosion, who finished the regular season at 8-3 after a 65-64 overtime loss at the Marion Blue...

BRIEF: SeaWolves, Senators Begin Showdowns
June 12, 2012... June 12--Each team is more than 60 games into the Eastern League season and is in the upper half of the Western Division standings. However, when the Erie SeaWolves visit the Harrisburg Senators today at 7 p.m. at Metro Bank Park, it will be the...

Erie Judge Denies Appeal of Mom Convicted in Toddler's Death
June 12, 2012... Byline: Lisa Thompson June 12--An Erie County judge won't throw out the first-degree murder conviction for an Erie woman found guilty of starving to death her 14-month-old daughter. Judge Shad Connelly said the prosecution presented...

Erie Funeral Homes React to Court-Ordered Changes in State Law
June 12, 2012... Byline: Ed Palattella June 12--Peter Burton, the 44-year-old president of the Erie-based Burton Funeral Homes and Crematory, has witnessed change in the funeral industry since he started at the family business, which his...

Autopsy Scheduled on Woman Found Dead in Erie Apartment Monday
June 12, 2012... Byline: Tim Hahn June 12--Erie police said they are awaiting the results of an autopsy in their investigation into the death of a woman whose body was found in a westside apartment Monday afternoon. The 51-year-old woman, whose name has...

Erie County Loses State House Seat under New Remapping
June 12, 2012... Byline: John Guerriero June 12--A new map of Pennsylvania House districts still pushes one of Erie County's seats to Berks County and extends the reach of two other districts into Erie County. And a state Senate seat in Erie County, now...

Briefs from around the Region
June 12, 2012... June 12--Three people were safely pulled from Lake Erie after their boat overturned Monday night. The boat, believed to be a small catamaran, was reported overdue at 8:20 p.m. It had overturned in the lake somewhere between Beach 10 at...

2 from Erie Charged in Attempted Robbery in Millcreek
June 12, 2012... Byline: Tim Hahn June 12--Millcreek Township police have charged two Erie residents with attempting to rob a man with a hatchet and an imaginary gun after luring him to a township grocery store Sunday afternoon. Richard A. Ross II, 24,...

Local Autism Society Chapter to Bring Together Families, First Responders
June 12, 2012... Byline: Erica Erwin June 12--Consider a person, trapped inside a burning house, who can't communicate with the firefighters trying to rescue him. Or a medical emergency in which a person is hypersensitive to ambulance lights or sirens, or who...

Hearings Delayed for Men Accused of Erie Burglary, Escape
June 12, 2012... Byline: Tim Hahn June 12--Two men accused of stealing items from an Erie apartment building while on work release from a Millcreek Township treatment facility had their preliminary hearings postponed Monday. The hearings for Alex R....

City & Region News Briefs
June 12, 2012... June 12--Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri has taken the first step in appealing the dismissal of charges against a Lake City man whose car struck and killed a girl at a school bus stop in December. Daneri filed a "notice of appeal"...

BRIEF: Boaters Pulled from Lake Erie Unharmed after Craft Overturns
June 12, 2012... June 12--All three people pulled from Lake Erie after their boat overturned tonight refused medical treatment, an EmergyCare spokesman said. The boat, believed to be a small catamaran, was reported overdue at 8:20 p.m. and had overturned in...

BRIEF: Car Hits Boat, Pushes It into Porch of East Erie Home
June 12, 2012... June 12--Erie police tonight are looking for a hit-and-run driver who drove a car into a boat and trailer on a lawn at 753 E. Fifth St. tonight. The, car described as a Buick LeSabre, came north on Wayne Street, turned west onto East Fifth...

BRIEF: Man Charged in 2 Erie Crimes
June 12, 2012... June 12--A man wanted in a November burglary and for possessing a cell phone taken in a November robbery was brought back to Erie on Monday for arraignment on two sets of criminal charges. Francisco Santana-Lewis, 37, was returned to Erie...

BRIEF: Erie Man Charged with Assaulting Police Officer
June 12, 2012... June 12--An Erie man was jailed this morning after police said he attacked an officer who responded to a dispute outside of an East 12th Street restaurant. Frankie Gonzalez, 30, of the 900 block of East Avenue, was arraigned before Erie 6th...

BRIEF: Violent Crime in Erie Down 12 Percent in 2011
June 12, 2012... Byline: Tim Hahn June 12--The city of Erie followed a national trend in 2011 by seeing a reduction in the number of violent crimes reported to police, according to data released by the FBI. Erie's 431 incidents of reported violent crime...

BRIEF: Hospice of Crawford County Seeks Care Experiences
June 12, 2012... June 12--MEADVILLE -- Hospice of Crawford County officials want to know how the organization has helped people. They're asking for firsthand accounts that will be compiled and shared with guests and families at the organization's new Hospice...

BRIEF: PennDOT to Present Plans for Turn Lane on Upper Peach
June 12, 2012... June 12--Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials plan to add a center turn lane to Peach Street near their Erie County maintenance garage. The project, tentatively scheduled for 2014, would widen the road from about 500 feet...

BRIEF: Tuesday's Erie Region Forecast: Morning Showers and Thunderstorms
June 12, 2012... June 12--Showers and thunderstorms are likely this morning, says the National Weather Service. Today will be mostly cloudy and breezy. The high is near 78. The rain will stop by tonight. It will be partly cloudy with a low around 52. ...

BRIEF: Get Creative with Cool Summer Dips
June 12, 2012... June 12--Looking for ways to spruce up veggies and dip this summer? Look no further. Contributing writer Rhonda Schember has a few irresistible dips for both fruit and veggies that might even entice some of the pickiest eaters. Don't...

EDITORIAL: Erie City Council Picks Skills over Party
June 11, 2012... June 11--Four Democratic members of Erie City Council did a remarkable thing on Wednesday. They say they voted for Republican John F. Evans, 64, as City Council's newest member because he was best candidate for the job, regardless of his...

Erie Times-News, Pa., Kevin Cuneo Column
June 11, 2012... Byline: Kevin Cuneo June 11--John Evans, with his strong financial background, should be a solid addition to City Council, but Erie Democratic Party officials must be steaming that a Republican was selected. Mayor Joe Sinnott is a Democrat,...

Erie Times-News, Pa., Good Morning Column
June 11, 2012... Byline: Gerry Weiss June 11--Please excuse me if what you are about to read is a little cloudy, but I have a hangover this morning. A "Mad Men" hangover. If you watch the brilliant AMC drama, you know exactly what I'm talking about....

Health Briefs
June 11, 2012... June 11--Nearly one-third of college students have smoked tobacco from a hookah, according to a new study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The nationwide study of more than 100,000 students revealed 30.5 percent of them...

Lefebre Wins FLW Event
June 11, 2012... June 11--GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. -- It's been a while since Harborcreek Township's Dave Lefebre won on the FLW Tour. Since 2004, in fact. That changed Sunday when Lefebre pocketed $125,000 at the Kentucky Lake tournament. "This feels...

New Britain Rock Cats Shut out Erie SeaWolves
June 11, 2012... Byline: Mike Copper June 11--New Britain's Chris Colabello and Evan Bigley, two of the Eastern League's best run producers, added to their totals against the Erie SeaWolves Sunday. Erie, meanwhile, would take any run at this point. ...

Explosion Stumble, Lose Top Seed in Playoffs
June 11, 2012... June 11--MARION, Ohio -- So close. Despite a late-game comeback, the Erie Explosion fell to the Marion Blue Racers 65-64 in overtime at Marion Veterans Memorial Coliseum late Saturday night. The loss in the regular-season finale cost the...

BRIEF: Erie Woman Charged with Attempting to Steal Air Conditioners
June 11, 2012... June 11--An Erie woman awaits arraignment this morning on a felony retail theft charge after police accused her of attempting to steal two air conditioners from Walmart in May. Police said Michelle Black, 43, of the 1000 block of Reed...

BRIEF: Erie Judge Denies Appeal of Mom Convicted in Toddler's Death
June 11, 2012... Byline: Lisa Thompson June 11--A judge has refused to set aside the first-degree murder conviction for an Erie woman accused of starving her 14-month-old daughter to death. Erie County Judge Shad Connelly said the District Attorney's...

BRIEF: Man Faces Multiple Charges in Assault at Warren State Hospital
June 11, 2012... June 11--WARREN -- A Hermitage man is charged with assaulting two people with a heavy wooden object at the Warren State Hospital in Conewango Township early this morning. State police said Darian Johnson struck Michelle Eng and Darren...

BRIEF: Monday's Erie Region Forecast: Increasingly Cloudy
June 11, 2012... June 11--Today will become increasingly cloudy, says the National Weather Service. The high is near 82. Showers and thunderstorms are predicted after 5 p.m. Tonight's low is around 67. Showers are likely on Tuesday. It will be mostly...

Independent Voters in Erie Area Shun Partisan Politics
June 11, 2012... Byline: John Guerriero June 11--Millcreek Township residents Nancy Loker and her husband, David, watch the evening news on television. But as they watched, night after night, during the last national election cycle, they became...

Erie-Area Summer Camps Gear Up for Tech-Free Fun
June 11, 2012... Byline: Lindsey Poisson June 11--School's out for summer, but the learning won't stop. Summer camps all over the region are getting ready to welcome kids to play, explore and learn, and combat the summer-vacation brain drain. Anything...

Faith Volunteers Making Erie Habitat Houses Happen
June 11, 2012... Byline: Dana Massing June 11--Written in pencil on the bottom of a wall, the name of the wife, her husband, their church and the words "God bless" are now hidden from view. "No one will ever see it," future homeowner Michelle Barnes said....

Mercyhurst Prep Students Have Perfect Attendance
June 11, 2012... Byline: Sean McCracken June 11--Two students attended Mercyhurst Preparatory School's graduation ceremony on May 25 not only to receive their diplomas, but also to get special recognition. But chances are they would have been there either...

News Briefs from around the Region
June 11, 2012... June 11--A 53-year-old man remained hospitalized at UPMC Hamot on Sunday after a motorcycle crash Saturday in McKean Township. Randall P. Armstrong, of Peterborough, Ontario, was in stable condition, a nursing supervisor said. Armstrong...

BRIEF: What's in a Name: Budny-Hughes Pool
June 11, 2012... Byline: Lindsey Poisson June 11--The pool, at Rodger Young Park, is located at Buffalo Road (Route 20) and Downing Avenue on Erie's east side. What's the story? The last thing kids eager to swim and splash all summer long will be...

Presque Isle Beach Concerts Start Wednesday
June 11, 2012... Byline: Dana Massing June 11--Sand, the setting sun, and the sound of funk, rock and soul -- what a way to spend a Wednesday evening. The first concert in the 2012 UPMC Sunset Music Series will take place Wednesday at 6 p.m. Jimbo &...

Education Briefs
June 11, 2012... June 11--Allegheny College received a $1.5 million undergraduate science education grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The grant will be used to build a global health program. It will support the establishment of an interdisciplinary...

BRIEF: Man Remains Jailed in Attempted Burglary, Attempted Robbery in Erie
June 11, 2012... June 11--A man remains jailed today on charges in a pair of crimes that Erie police accused him of committing on East 33rd Street on Friday afternoon. Joshua M. Schneider, 26, no known address, is accused of attempting to break into a...

BRIEF: Gannon Names New Head for Erie-G.A.I.N.S
June 11, 2012... June 11--Gannon University has named a new head for its Erie-G.A.I.N.S. initiative. Erika A. Ramalho will start as the university's director of community and government relations July 1 and will oversee Erie-G.A.I.N.S., which stands for...

BRIEF: Hearings Delayed for Men Accused of Burglarizing Apartment, Escaping from Police Custody
June 11, 2012... Byline: Tim Hahn June 11--Hearings have been delayed for two men accused of stealing items from an Erie apartment while on work release from a Millcreek Township treatment facility. The hearings for 23-year-old Alex R. Wells and...

BRIEF: Register for AARP Driver-Safety Course in Millcreek
June 11, 2012... June 11--Openings are still available for the AARP driver-safety course at the Millcreek Municipal Building, 3608 W. 26th St., on Wednesday and Thursday. The courses are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days. Participants must attend both sessions...

BRIEF: Erie Funeral Homes React to Court-Ordered Changes in State Law
June 11, 2012... Byline: Ed Palattella June 11--Big changes are on the way for the funeral industry in Pennsylvania, including the 26 funeral homes in Erie County. A federal judge in Harrisburg has ordered the state to update its Funeral Directors Law,...

BRIEF: Thousands of Used Books Offered at Erie County Library Sale
June 11, 2012... June 11--More than 100 people perused the stacks at the Erie County Library's Great American Book Sale at Villa Maria Elementary School's gymnasium this morning. The sale, located at 2551 W. Eighth St., boasts over 80,000 titles. It is...

District 10 Girls Track and Field All-Star Teams
June 11, 2012... June 11--Erie Times-News District 10 Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year: Lauren Lubarski Senior, Hickory - On a state championship team like Hickory that is laced with individual PIAA champions and medalists, it's tough to...

BRIEF: Gannon Snares PSAC Women's Golf Honors
June 11, 2012... June 11--Gannon University's Saskia Merz was named freshman of the year and Jay Willow was named coach of the year on the all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference women's golf team. Gannon had a conference-best four golfers honored. Sophomores...

BRIEF: DA Seeks Reinstatement of Charges in School Bus Stop Accident
June 11, 2012... Byline: Lisa Thompson June 11--Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri has taken the first step in appealing the dismissal of charges against a Lake City man whose car struck and killed a teen at a school bus stop in December. Daneri...

BRIEF: Local Autism Society Chapter to Bring Together Families, First Responders
June 11, 2012... June 11--THE AUTISM SOCIETY -- Northwestern Pennsylvania will hold a Community Day with First Responders, a free event that brings police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel together with autistic children and their families. ...

BRIEF: Autopsy Set Tuesday on Woman Found Dead in Erie
June 11, 2012... Byline: Tim Hahn June 11--An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday morning on a woman who was found dead in a westside apartment building earlier this afternoon. The 51-year-old woman, whose name has not been released, was found in an...

BRIEF: Erie County Loses State House Seat under New Remapping
June 11, 2012... Byline: John Guerriero June 11--A new map of Pennsylvania House districts still pushes one of Erie County's seats to Berks County and extends the reach of two other districts into Erie County. And, a state Senate seat in Erie County, now...

BRIEF: Erie Man Charged with Firing Gun Inside Residence
June 11, 2012... June 11--An Erie man faces charges after city police said he fired gunshots in his westside home early Sunday morning. Matthew J. Pusa, 51, is accused of firing three gunshots from a .357 Magnum handgun inside his residence in the 600 block...

BRIEF: 2 from Erie Charged in Attempted Robbery in Millcreek
June 11, 2012... June 11--Two Erie residents remain jailed today on charges in an attempted robbery and assault Sunday afternoon outside a Millcreek Township grocery store. Richard A. Ross II, 24, and Amanda R. Jordan, 25, both of the 2100 block of South...

BRIEF: Penn State Behrend's Athletics Program Best in AMCC
June 11, 2012... June 11--Penn State Behrend has won the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference President's Cup for the 11th time in 12 years. The Lions won nine of 15 conference titles and added two second place finishes to score 111 points -- the most in...

OPINION: Pat Howard: Health-Care Deal Does Very Little for Erie Schools' Financial Outlook
June 10, 2012... Byline: Pat Howard June 10--Whenever I write about the unfolding reckoning for the cumulative weight of unsustainable compensation for government workers, I hear from people indignant that I would "blame" firefighters, police officers,...

Arts Events This Week in the Erie Region: June 10-16
June 10, 2012... June 10--Local director's film to screen at Art Museum The Erie Art Museum screens John C. Lyons' new movie "There Are No Goodbyes," Wednesday, 8 p.m., in the multipurpose room, 20 E. Fifth St. Cost: Free; suggested donation, $5 ...

Rock Cats Blank SeaWolves
June 10, 2012... June 10--The Erie SeaWolves struggled at the plate and on the mound as the New Britain Rock Cats evened the series with a 6-0 win Saturday in front of 5,023 fans at Jerry Uht Park. The win marked New Britain's first victory in Erie since...

New Gannon Football Coach Settles into Job
June 10, 2012... Byline: Duane Rankin June 10--A month after "interim" was removed from his job title, Brad Rzyczycki says he's getting into full work mode. The new Gannon football coach is gearing up for the season that starts Aug. 30 against Lake Erie...

District 10 Track and Field All-Stars
June 10, 2012... June 10--Ryan Smathers Junior, North East - Smathers has been one of the premier distance runners in the state since his freshman season. As a junior, however, he finally reached the pinnacle -- a state title. Smathers won a PIAA...

Conservation Experts Scheduled to Speak at Steelhead Meeting
June 10, 2012... June 10--Two conservation experts will speak at the Pennsylvania Steelhead Association general membership meeting Wednesday. The meeting is free and open to the public and new members as well. It will take place at 7 p.m. at American Legion...

Roof Returns to Uht Park on Visiting Team's Side
June 10, 2012... Byline: Mike Copper June 10--The high socks and infectious enthusiasm made Shawn Roof easy to spot during batting practice before Friday's game at Jerry Uht Park. The notable difference was his uniform. For the first time since 2008,...

BRIEF: Learn Finishes 11th at PBA Senior U.S. Open
June 10, 2012... June 10--LAS VEGAS -- Harborcreek native Bob Learn Jr. earned $2,200 for his 11th-place finish at the Etonic PBA Seniors U.S. Open, which concluded Friday night at the Suncoast Bowling Center. Learn, 50, a rookie on the PBA Senior Tour, has...

BRIEF: Faith Volunteers Making Erie Habitat Houses Happen
June 10, 2012... Byline: Dana Massing June 10--Without at least 400 people from area religious congregations, joy and peace wouldn't be taking shape in an Erie neighborhood. Members of several dozen churches and religious groups are constructing Greater Erie...

Upper Peach Street Sidewalk Work to Begin
June 10, 2012... Byline: Valerie Myers June 10--Sidewalks and curb ramps along upper Peach Street will become wheelchair-friendly beginning this summer. New sidewalks will be built along both sides of Peach Street from Kuntz Road in Millcreek Township...

In Erie County, Most Reassessment Reviews Led to Changes
June 10, 2012... Byline: Ed Palattella June 10--From the start of the countywide property reassessment, Erie County's assessors urged upset property owners to schedule free informal reviews. The vast majority of property owners who followed that advice...

Military Service out of Reach for Large Number of Young Adults in Erie, U.S
June 10, 2012... Byline: Gerry Weiss June 10--Military service is out of reach for a large majority of young adults in Erie and nationwide due to low graduation rates, obesity and high juvenile crime, according to a new report to be released Monday. ...

Girard Woman Who Was 9/11 First-Responder Calls Cancer Ruling 'Bittersweet Triumph'
June 10, 2012... Byline: Gerry Weiss June 10--GIRARD -- For nearly six years, Laura Grappy believed her incurable cancer was caused by the toxic dust plume she was exposed to as a 9/11 first responder. The 51-year-old Girard woman had been livid at the...

BRIEF: Erie-Area Summer Camps Gear Up for Tech-Free Fun
June 10, 2012... Byline: Lindsey Poisson June 10--School's out for summer, but the learning won't stop. Summer camps all over the region are getting ready to welcome kids to play, explore and learn, and combat the summer vacation brain drain. Anything...

BRIEF: Behrend Team Wins International Supermileage Challenge
June 10, 2012... June 10--MARSHALL, Mich. -- A superefficient, lightweight car designed and built by Penn State Behrend students won an international supermileage competition Friday. The Behrend Supermileage Squadron car placed first at the Society of...

Erie Times-News, Pa., Liz Allen Column
June 10, 2012... Byline: Liz Allen June 10--I plopped onto a sofa at Dusckas Funeral Home and realized there was an uncanny logic to my Friday afternoon itinerary. I had come to pay my respects to Denny Allen, whose father, Paul, was my grandfather's...

BRIEF: Lefebre Aims for $100,000 Fishing Payday
June 10, 2012... June 10--GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. -- Dave Lefebre is in second place in the professional division entering today's final round of the FLW Tour Kentucky Lake bass fishing tournament. Lefebre, of Harborcreek Township, caught five fish for a whopping...

BRIEF: Fire Destroys Powerboat on Conneaut Lake; No Injuries Reported
June 10, 2012... June 10--CONNEAUT LAKE -- Fire destroyed a powerboat this afternoon as it was tied to a dock on Conneaut Lake. No one was injured in the fire, which occurred around 2 p.m. at Fireman's Beach. It took firefighters from Conneaut Lake and...

BRIEF: State Police in Franklin Searching for Bumperless Vehicle
June 10, 2012... June 10--FRANKLIN -- State police are searching for a vehicle missing its front bumper after it was involved in a hit-and-run accident Saturday in central Venango County. A 17-year-old boy from Oil City was driving his 1997 Nissan Altima...

BRIEF: Venango County Man Flown to UPMC Hamot after 2-Vehicle Crash
June 10, 2012... June 10--FRANKLIN -- A northern Venango County man was transported by medical helicopter to UPMC Hamot on Saturday after a two-vehicle accident in Oil Creek Township. Gary Crawford, 69, of Pleasantville, was attempting to turn around his...

BRIEF: 1 Hospitalized after McKean Township Cycle Crash
June 10, 2012... June 10--A 53-year-old man remains hospitalized at UPMC Hamot today after a motorcycle crash Saturday in McKean Township. Randall P. Armstrong, of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, was listed in stable condition, a nursing supervisor said. ...

BRIEF: Sheriff Investigating Camper's Death in Chautauqua County
June 10, 2012... June 10--WESTFIELD, N.Y. -- The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a camper who is believed to have fallen over a cliff along Lake Erie. Sheriff's deputies were at the Brookside Beach Campground on Route 5 near...

BRIEF: Sunday's Erie Region Forecast: Sunny
June 10, 2012... June 10--Today's forecast for the Erie area is sunny, with a high temperature near 84 degrees. Tonight should be mostly clear, with a low around 66, according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland. Monday will bring a chance of...

BRIEF: New Britain Rock Cats Shut out Erie SeaWolves
June 10, 2012... Byline: Mike Copper June 10--The Erie SeaWolves have not scored in their last 19 at-bats thanks to New Britain's 6-0 victory this afternoon at Jerry Uht Park. The SeaWolves slumped to 29-32 after the Rock Cats (34-27) blanked them over...

EDITORIAL: Sexual Abuse of Youngsters Exacts Huge Cost
June 10, 2012... June 10--The Erie County Courthouse at 140 W. Sixth St. and the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte are about 200 miles apart. The Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, in turn, is approximately 200 miles from Bellefonte. But long distances...

EDITORIAL: Thumbs Up for Erie City Paving Projects
June 9, 2012... June 09--The roads well traveled: Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott, Erie City Council and the Erie Streets Department all deserve credit for moving forward with long-awaited plans to repair Erie's worst roads. Do we wish that the work could have been done...

BRIEF: Religion Briefs
June 9, 2012... June 09--Erie's Trautman to attend meeting with other bishops Erie Catholic Bishop Donald W. Trautman will be heading to Atlanta this month for the Spring General Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The nation's Catholic...

Bible School, Church Camp Season Set to Start in Erie Area
June 9, 2012... Byline: Dana Massing June 09--School has ended, summer is almost here and churches and religious groups are welcoming students for special programs. Some are called vacation Bible schools while others are considered camps. They might be...