Judge William Cunningham has upheld his sentencing of Teri Rhodes. Rhodes pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of her newborn baby. Judge Cunningham sentenced Rhodes last fall to 9 to 18 years in prison. There will be a hearing on February 4 to determine if Rhodes can be released on bail pending her appeal. You can read Cunningham’s full decision here [PDF].  Judge Cunningham cites to several other Pennsylvania cases that have similar facts to the Rhodes case but were fully prosecuted and where the mother who murdered her child is serving a life sentence for 1st degree murder.  From the judge’s opinion:

As the Defendant was informed, the circumstances of her case are closer to murder than to manslaughter. . . . A review of the cases of Jessica Rizor, Tracy Dupre, Melisa McManus, Tina Brosius and Lori Pinkerton reveals striking similarities with the circumstances of this case. However, this does not mean the Defendant was sentenced for a crime she did not commit. It does explain why the Defendant was sentenced closer to the maximum sentence for Voluntary Manslaughter than requested by the Defendant.

Judge Cunningham more than adequately (and convincingly) explained the court’s position and rationale in this 60 page opinion that if appealed, it is unlikely to be overturned.

In a 5-2 decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in Commonwealth v. Vandivner any criminal defendant facing the death penalty can be executed even if they are border-line mentally retarded. The justices raised the bar for defendants to have the death penalty waived by requiring proof that they have an I.Q. below 70. They must also prove they had that low I.Q. before turning 18 and they are unable to function normally in society (limited adaptive behavior skills). If their elementary, middle, or high school failed to administer the I.Q. test, it will be nearly impossible for a defendant to prove the mental disability.

7 new police officers were sworn in yesterday in the city of Erie. Despite the amount of officers now being back up to 167, the city is still 13 officers from the recommended level.

Environmental Protection acting Secretary John Hanger lifted the drought watch declaration for 29 counties yesterday in western and north central Pennsylvania citing improved groundwater and streamflow levels. Raise your hand if you knew Erie County was under a drought warning in January.

Crews spent time yesterday began removing whats left of the Gudgeonville Bridge. It was destroyed by arsonists last year. Two men, Joshua Bell and Jeffrey Gleason, were charged with the arson in December.

Verizon Wireless has activated a new cell site in Erie, Pa., which will enable more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones, while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls. The new cell site in northeast Erie, located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Nagle Road, improves network capacity (the number of people who can make wireless phone calls concurrently) and coverage in both Erie and Wesleyville, as far north as Lake Erie, as far south as Cooper Road, as far east as Hannon Road and as far west as Franklin Ave. (State Highway 5). This is all fine and good, but you can have our iPhones when you pry them from our cold, dead hands.

North East’s Bella Salon and Day Spa owned by Darlene Youngs, Cheryl Phillips, and Stephanie Hamels recently was named one of the 200 fastest-growing salons in North America by Salon Today magazine. The magazine’s eleventh annual Salon Today 200 profiled the selected salons in its January 2009 issue.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton medical and pharmacy students marked the transition from classroom study to clinical education at the Harvest Centre in Lakewood Ranch by receiving their white coats on Jan. 24. The white coat ceremony is a tradition upheld by medical schools across the nation as an initiation for aspiring health care professionals to commit to the highest principles related to the practice of osteopathic medicine and pharmacy. Ninety-six LECOM School of Pharmacy Bradenton students and 148 students from the College of Osteopathic Medicine received their white coats.

Sports

The Erie Otters will be away this Thursday for a game against host Niagara IceDogs.  The Otters return to Erie on Friday to play the Oshawa Generals and Saturday against the Guelph Storm. Get your tickets here.

The Erie BayHawks are on the road until February 4th.  Tonight they play host Colorado 14ers.  Yes, the Fourteeners.  Not to be confused with the Thirteeners or the Fifteeners.

Sophomore Ryan Zapolski of the Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team has been named Atlantic Hockey Association Goaltender of the Week for the week of January 26, announced Monday afternoon by AHA league officials.

Gannon’s Joe Lindsey (Spring Valley, N.Y./Spring Valley) has been named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. He becomes the first Gannon men’s basketball player to receive the award during the program’s first season in the conference.

Events

An interview with James C. Lombardi Jr., an associate professor of physics at Allegheny College, is included in the Discovery Channel show “Cosmic Collisions: Galaxies,” which will air for the first time at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Lombardi and his students use computer simulations at Allegheny to model what happens when stars collide. The program, which was produced for the Discovery Channel by Jethro Nededog with executive producers Luke Ellis and Matt Hickey, discusses collisions between galaxies, as well as between the stars within them, and portrays the future collision of our own Milky Way galaxy with its neighbor, Andromeda.

After an unprecedented number of donors at a September blood drive at Gannon, the Gannon Community will have another opportunity to make a donation to the Community Blood Bank. Gannon and the Blood Bank will host a drive from 11 am to 5 pm on Tuesday, Jan 27 and from 9 am to 1 pm on Wednesday, Jan 28. The drive will be held in the lobby of the Hammermill Center both days. No appointment is needed; donors may walk in. Those wishing to donate should note the following: A photo ID is required at the time of donation; Donors should be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health; No tattoos or piercings from a tattoo parlor in the last 12 months. Eating a “good” meal before donating is encouraged. The Blood Bank is also offering incentives for the Gannon Community. Each day, one lucky donor will win a pair of lift tickets to Peek’n Peak, and everyone who tries to donate automatically will be entered to win a 42-inch plasma HD television through a promotion with Fox 66 and yourerie.com for National Blood Donor Month. The contest is open to all donors the month of January; however, a Gannon student won a similar contest when a television was given away last year. For more information, contact the Community Blood Bank at (814) 456-4206. All information is confidential.

Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Vika Gardner, who teaches Islamic studies at Allegheny College, will present a series of free public lectures on Islam in the coming months. All of the lectures will be held in Room 105A of the Oddfellows Building. The series will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27. “Islamic Prophets: Moses, Jesus, Muhammad” will explore Islam’s view of the earlier prophets who are important to Judaism and Christianity as well as Islam, showing how they are also revered in the Qur’an. The lecture will be followed by time for questions, as well as for more informal discussion over coffee, tea and snacks in the Oddfellows Building foyer.

Mayor Joe Sinnott will address the direction of the City of Erie, during a legislative luncheon with area business and community executives at noon Wednesday, January 28, at the Manufacturer and Business Association’s Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m. All media are invited to attend. Mayor Sinnott will highlight his administration’s accomplishments, as well as the state of the Erie economy. Following his presentation, the mayor will take part in a question-and -answer session. Cost is $30 for members; $60 for nonmembers; and includes lunch.

Upcoming Erie Concerts and Shows:

Feb. 3: Harlem Globetrotters (tickets)
Feb. 13: The Temptations, Warner Theatre (tickets)
Feb. 19: Jerry Seinfeld, Warner Theatre (tickets)
Feb. 22: Rain (Beatles Cover Band), Warner Theatre (tickets)
March 7: Motley Crue w/ Hinder, Last Vegas, Theory of a Deadman, Tullio Arena (tickets)
March 22: New Kids on the Block, Tullio Arena (tickets on sale 1/24)
March 29: Comedian Lewis Black, Warner Theatre (tickets)

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.