Erie Indemnity Company has announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year end 2008. You can read the full release here. A few highlights:

Net loss per share-diluted was $0.12 per share in the fourth quarter 2008, compared to net income per share-diluted of $0.55 per share in the fourth quarter of 2007. This was driven by net realized losses on investments of $0.41 per share, after tax, resulting primarily from the continuing turmoil in the financial markets experienced in the fourth quarter 2008.

Net operating income per share (excluding net realized gains or losses on investments and related taxes) decreased to $0.29 per share in the fourth quarter of 2008, from $0.69 per share for the same period one year ago.

Thomas Smith, who owned a Play It Again Sports store in Cranberry, Pa., is being prosecuted for setting his business on fire as well as three other adjacent businesses. Smith paid a 16 year old employee to start the fire because he wanted to stop bill collectors from calling and in order to obtain (fraudulent)claims from Erie Insurance. Now there is over 1 million in damage. Why bankruptcy wasn’t an option over arson is beyond us.

The Erie Zoning Board yesterday decided to deny Erie Renewable Energy’s zoning certificate. No word where this leaves ERE and what their next step will be. Do you think the tires-to-energy plant will ever be built?

Felix Velasquez, who is accused of being the shooter during the East High basketball game, was held over for trial yesterday. He may be tried as an adult. He is in Erie County Prison.

We blogged yesterday that 5-month-old Savonnia Davis who was flown to Pittsburgh after suffering a head injury. Sadly, Savonnia passed away yesterday. Police are investigating, though no one has been arrested as of yet.

The Erie Airport Authority has approved the deal to transfer the Erie Golf Course from the city of Erie to Millcreek Township. The course has been closed for 2 years and this transfer is part of the runway extension project, which, at this rate, should be complete by 2062, in time for interstellar flights to land in Erie.

Mercyhurst College will host the 2011 Women’s Frozen Four. This is a huge event that will come to Erie. The tournament is scheduled for March 18 and 20, 2011 and the games will be held at the Tullio Arena. This marks the first time the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four will take place in Pennsylvania. Further, it is the first time that Mercyhurst will host an NCAA Division I championship tournament and the first time that a team from College Hockey America will serve as host.

Our friend David noticed that Google Maps now features Street View for our area. Check it out here. If you find something interesting, let us know so we can share it. It looks like they’ve only hit up I-79 and 90. Let’s hope they do more soon.  You can spot a “Google car” taking these pictures when it has a tripod and camera contraption strapped to the roof.

Mike Dougherty has announced he will run for Millcreek Township Supervisor on the Republican ticket. It is expected he’ll face incumbent Larry Curtis in May. Dougherty works for Glenwood Beer. No joke to be made, that’s just cool.

Wegmans has announced they will discount many generic prescriptions, much like WalMart and Giant Eagle have been doing. The new prices go into effect Sunday, March 1, 2009. A 30-day supply of the listed drugs will now cost $4.00. A 90-day supply will cost $10. The complete list will be available on wegmans.com on Sunday, March 1st.

New movies this weekend: Jonas Brothers 3D, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Crossing Over

Sports

The Erie Otters are on the road tonight to face the London Knights. The team will be back home on Saturday to face the Ottawa 67′s. Get tickets now.

The Erie Bayhawks stretched their winning streak to 8 games with a 97-95 win over the Dakota Wizards at the Tullio Arena last night. Erik Daniels and Ivan Harris both was 24 points in a winning effort. The ‘Hawks play the Rio Grande Valley Vipers at the Lou tonight at 7:00 p.m.

The Edinboro University athletic department will host Community Day when the men’s and women’s basketball teams host Clarion on Saturday, February 28. Children will be admitted free of charge along with one accompanying adult to the twinbill. The women’s game tips off at 1 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 3 p.m.

Events

Today will be the Erie Art Museum’s Nouveau, a party series for 20-40 somethings. African safari theme features African textiles, drumming circle, tie dye workshop, donation bar…and a dose of new. Sponsored by PNC Bank, Erie Times News, Bob FM, Molly Brannigans, Bud American Ale

The NBA Development League Erie BayHawks players Erik Daniels, Jackie Manuel, Jarvis Gunter and Tejay Anderson will serve as celebrity bartenders for the 2009 Rock Band Competition, Saturday, February 28 at Sherlocks Park Place, 508 State Street, 4 PM to 10 PM. Proceeds from the event will benefit the efforts of the Read to Rebound Program.

On Saturday, February 28th from 2-4 PM, PennEnvironment and the Clean Air Council are hosting a conversation on building a green economy with Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper; Pennsylvania State Representatives Patrick Harkins and John Hornaman of Erie at Gannon University. Specifically, the Congresswoman Dahlkemper will discuss her efforts to revitalize northwestern Pennsylvania’s economy with clean energy – such as solar and wind power through the federal economic recovery package. You can RSVP here.

On Thursday, March 5 Gannon will hold an informational session to provide more details about the Gannon Stimulus Initiative. The session will begin at 7 p.m. in room 219 of the University’s Waldron Campus Center, 124 West 7th St. Representatives from the University’s offices of Admissions and Financial Aid will be on hand to meet with and answer questions of parents and students. The public is welcome. Last year, Gannon budgeted $24 million for financial aid. The Gannon Stimulus Initiative will bring that total to $26.6 million for the 2009-10 academic year after the additional funds were authorized by the Gannon University Board of Trustees.

Upcoming Erie Concerts and Shows:

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 Erie events list to see what’s coming up for the week and months ahead. If you would like your event posted here, please contact us via our online form.