The Tri-County Report for February 3rd, 2012...
The Hermitage Municipal Authority has refinanced two bond issues and the savings are expected to surpass the one million dollar mark. When the refinancing was first suggested, officials said they thought the savings around be around one-hundred thousand dollars however interest rates kept dropping and the board decided on Wednesday that it was time to lock in the lower rates. The bond issues are from 2003 and 2006.
One of the men accused in the fatal shooting of a popular tavern owner in Farrell is now being charged in connection with a December 28th robbery. Police say 18 year old Joshua Stewart is now accused of robbing the Wild Game Inn. The announcement comes after a pair of shoes discovered in Stewart's home match tracks found in the snow outside the business the night of the robbery. Stewart was already being held in the shooting death of William Basilone Junior.
Pennsylvania American Water Company says it has begun supplying drinking water to the borough of Evans City. The company says it invested more than 300-thousand dollars to build the infrastructure needed to supply the water, which comes for the Pennsylvania American water treatment plant in Ellwood City. The change came about after the company and Evans City reached a 25- year agreement.
State police in Butler are looking for information after a theft from a storage facility in Clearfield Township. Somebody broke into a unit containing equipment belonging to Taylor Construction. The stolen items are worth nearly five-thousand dollars. Police say the theft took place some time in late December at Affordable Self Storage on Fenelton Road. Anybody with information should contact authorities.
Only minor injuries after a head on collision in Butler County. State police say it happened on state Route 173 in Brady Township. 18 year old Brittani Genco of Freeland, Maryland was traveling west when she lost control of her sport utility vehicle. She skidded into the oncoming lane and struck another vehicle head on. Police say the other driver, 25 year old Cody Smith of Butler and his passenger, 25 year old Claressa McKnight, both suffered minor injuries.
A second day of deliberations is on the docket for the jury in the corruption trial of Greene County Representative Bill DeWeese. Jurors deliberated all day Thursday, asking the judge for information at least three times. Their request for a copy of the grand jury testimony was denied. De Weese is accused of using his state office and staff for campaigning.
An Allegheny County Judge sides with Bank of New York Mellon, putting Occupy protesters on notice. The movement that's been camped on private BNY park property since October was told it will have three days to pack up and leave. If protesters are not out by Monday, they could face eviction. Attorneys for the Occupy movement could decide to appeal the judge's decision.
Harrisburg officials are trying to stop drilling reform bills they fear would open up the area to unregulated gas development. They say the proposals would prevent municipalities from keeping gas companies from drilling wherever they want. Governor Tom Corbett urged lawmakers last week to issue rules limiting local land use regulation over drilling sites. State officials say opponents are blowing the issue out of proportion.
Washington County businessman Tim Burns is out of the race for Bob Casey's U-S Senate seat. Burns' campaign was one of the better funded in the G-O-P field, but Governor Corbett and the party endorsed former Democrat Steve Welch. Burns said getting his party's endorsement was vital to his campaign and without it, he would not run. Welch is an entrepreneur from Chester County who has supported the campaigns of President Obama and former Congressman Joe Sestak.
Harrisburg's City Council has failed in its latest bid to declare bankruptcy on behalf of the capital city. A federal judge on Wednesday denied the council's appeal of an earlier decision that found it was legally barred from filing for municipal bankruptcy and lacked the authority to do so in any case. Federal Judge Sylvia Rambo says the council was three days late filing its appeal following a bankruptcy judge's ruling in November. Harrisburg is struggling with 300-million dollars in debt tied to a trash incinerator project.
A prison sentence of 18 months to five years has been handed down for a New Castle man accused of neglecting and robbing his 91 year old grandmother. 39 year old Steven A. Campbell was sentenced in Mercer County Court. The grandmother, who is now deceased, was taken to the Shenango Valley Senior Community Center in December of 2010 where she was found to be malnourished and emaciated. Campbell was also ordered to pay 24-thousand dollars restitution.
A Lawrence County man is facing charges after being caught trying to steal scrap metal. 50 year old Randy Klink Senior of Portersville Road was charged with counts of theft and receiving stolen property. Ellwood City police say Klink was caught after the owner of the scrap metal helped police chase him down. The materials were taken from a roll-off trash container located along Circle Way. Police say Klink told them he tried to steal the metal to support his drug habit.
Another hat has been thrown in the ring in the race for the Democratic nomination for the Third Congressional District seat. 58 year old Mel Marin of Erie says he wants to challenge current Congressman Mike Kelly. Two other candidates have already declared their intentions to seek the Democratic nomination...Penn State Shenango professor Missa Eaton and Erie attorney George Schroek.
