The trial of former Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce begins today. He is charged with fraud after claiming $440,00 from insurance companies. With the money, he purchased things like a motorcycle, a house and plastic surgery for his girlfriend. Joyce’s attorneys say that spending “his funds on items that some might consider lavish or unnecessary does not establish a motive to commit insurance fraud.”
In case you missed the news Saturday, EMTA has fired bus driver David Justka. Justka has been involved in several accidents over the past few years, one of which was fatal. Justka was previously fired by EMTA, though an arbitrator awarded him his position back.
Ed Palattella continues to do good investigative reporting. Read his story yesterday about Greg Rubino and the $30,000 payment we blogged about last week. Times-News editor Pat Howard also weighs in on Rubino.
The Oil Creek and Titusville railroad jumped off the track Saturday afternoon. Luckily, no one was injured. Local blogger Erie’s Argonaut was on the trip and has photos and reaction here.
Wineries based in Pennsylvania are permitted to operate up to five satellite stores apart from their primary location. One of the satellite locations chosen by Arrowhead Wine Cellars is located at Trax Farms which is about 15 miles south of Pittsburgh, near Finleyville, Pa. The location which opened in 2005 has been doing well and the store actually doubled in size since last year to meet demand.
PA State Senator James Rhoades died Saturday after a car crash on Friday. He represented the 29th district and was chair of the education committee.
In what can only be described as an odd pairing, the PA Fish and Boat Commission will be working more closely with the U.S. Border Patrol. Apparently illegal immigrants love to fish with seven encounters reported last year.
The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Election 2008 Bus Tour comes to Erie today in support of the AFL-CIO endorsed Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama as well as Congressional 3rd district democratic candidate Kathy Dahlkemper with a luncheon at Noon at the Avalon Hotel and Conference Center.
Rudy Giuliani will be in Erie today campaigning for Phil English.
PNC Bank will merge two east Erie branches next year. Customers who use the E. 28th and Elm location will be transferred to the Pine Ave. branch.
Gannon University’s Office of Student Living is coordinating a food drive that organizers hope will bring in thousands of pounds of non-perishable food items for Erie’s Second Harvest Food Bank and less fortunate local residents. The 32nd annual Golden Harvest Food Drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. More than 200 Gannon students are volunteering for the drive and will go door-to-door collecting food throughout Erie and Millcreek Township.
Sports
The World Series begins Wedensday at 8 p.m. on Fox, and will feature the Philadelphia Phillies against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the now 0-7 Cincinnati Bengals 38-10. They face the Super Bowl Champion Giants next week. The Cleveland Browns couldn’t get a last-second field goal and fell to the Washington Redskins 14-11.
In yesterday’s bizarre football news, three helium balloons got stuck in a power line across the street from Ralph Wilson Stadium. Those balloons were enough to knock out power to the stadium, delay the game and keep the CBS feed off the air for awhile. Locally, we got the Steelers game for a bit until the issues were worked out. The Bills beat the Chargers 23-14 and continue their best season start since 1995 with a record of 5-1.
Joey Hishon scored twice to lead the Owen Sound Attack to a 4-1 win over the Erie Otters in an Ontario Hockey League game played tonight in front of 2,667 at the Harry Lumby Bayshore Community Centre. The Otters will be on the road on Thursday to meet up with the Niagara Ice Dogs, they they’re home Friday and Saturday.
In college football Penn State beat the University of Michigan 46-17 ending their 9 game/season losing streak against Michigan. PSU is still ranked #3 nationally with a record of 8-0 for the season. Other college football scores:
#17 Pitt 42, Navy 21
Edinboro 35, Slippery Rock 14
IUP 42, Mercyhurst 10
California PA 42, Gannon 24
Denison 13, Allegheny 10
The Mercyhurst men’s golf team placed seventh in the 2008 PSAC Men’s Golf Championship held Saturday and Sunday at the Hershey Links Golf Club.
Events
The Allegheny College Humanities Lecture Series continues on Monday, Oct. 20 with a presentation by Professor of Political Science Bruce Smith titled “The Critical Election of 2008: Reagan Democrats and the Politics of Hope” at 6:30 p.m. in Room 301 of the Campus Center.
James Rohr, chief executive of PNC Financial Services Group, will be the speaker at the Eggs ‘n’ Issues breakfast held by the Manufacturer and Business Association on October 28. The meeting begins at 8 a.m.
ZooBoo 2008 began Friday, October 17th and runs nightly from 6p.m. – 9p.m., rain or shine, through Thursday, October 30th. Admission is $4.50 for adults ages 12 & over, $4.00 for children ages 2-11, and children under 2 will be admitted free. You can visit www.eriezoo.org and purchase tickets online. We will mail your tickets to you, but in order to get them by October 17th, your order must be postmarked by October 10th.
The Erie Playhouse will host a five-day, four-night stay in the Big Apple, Wednesday through Sunday, November 26-30, 2008. 40 spots are available for this holiday theatre trip. You can get more info here.
View this past Sunday’s comprehensive events list to see a list of events for the week and months ahead. If you would like your event posted here, please contact us via our online form. Tomorrow we will publish a new list of events for the week and months ahead.
