Police have charged 31-year-old Jermaine Vaughn with beating to death a man on the morning of New Years Day. Passing motorists attempted to help 27-year-old Brent Carey of Erie who was beat unconscious at the corner of 38th and Ash, and later pronounced dead at Hamot Hospital. Vaughn apparently knew the victim but a motive is unclear.  At the scene, Vaughn admitted to having some kind of super human strength stating he couldn’t help beating Carey unconscious because he “hit[s] hard.”

Changing of the guard (sort of) for the Erie County Council has some new leadership for the new year. Ron Cleaver is the new council chairman and Kyle Foust as vice chairman. Next week city council will vote on who will become council president.  It is expected that Joe Schember will be nominated president.

Former Erie City Council member Joe Borgia died this past Tuesday at Saint Vincent Health Center at the age of 84.  You can view his obituary and funeral information here.

Natural gas consumption and prices are falling across the nation anywhere from 10-20% and Erie is no different.  National Fuel is projecting lower prices due to lower residential demand and lower costs to National Fuel.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has a funny piece on high school nicknames, and of course North East made the list (Grape Pickers).  However, we think the paper nailed one worse comparable mascot: Martha’s Vineyard (Mass.) Vineyarders.

And for some fun this Saturday, here’s an interesting photo taken by Flickr user ljsilicon and posted to the Erie, Pa. group:

Sports

Jaroslav Janus of the Erie Otters made sports news but not as an Otter. Janus is taking part in the world junior hockey championship on behalf of his native country Slovakia to beat team U.S.A. 5-3, and now moves on to a semifinal today against Team Sweden. Janus stopped 46 shots as goal keeper for Team Slovakia. No doubt he has received a lot of practice as goalie for the Otters. Congratulations Jaroslav!

The Erie Otters beat the Brampton Battalion last night at the Tullio 4-1.  Tonight they hope to continue the winning streak and will play the Kitchener Rangers at the Tullio.  OTTERS TICKETS.

Last night the Erie Bayhawks beat the Sioux Falls Skyforce 87-81 and play them again tonight in South Dakota.  The Hawks won’t be back in Erie until next Wednesday.  BAYHAWKS TICKETS.

This is the NFL wildcard weekend.  The Steelers won’t be playing until next week and the Bills and Browns are out of contention.  Here’s this weekend’s schedule:

Saturday, January 3
Atlanta at Arizona, 4:30 p.m. on NBC
Indianapolis at San Diego, 8 p.m. on NBC

Sunday, January 4
Baltimore at Miami, 1 p.m. on CBS
Philadelphia at Minnesota, 4:30 p.m. on FOX

Events

Not much going on this weekend.  The movie Defiance opens this weekend starring Daniel Craig (the new James Bond).

Tickets for Disney on Ice: Disneyland Adventures go on sale Monday. Get tickets here. The show runs February 19-22, 2009.

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.