The Ward family of E. 21st Street is the family chosen for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition project that is now underway. Clara Ward runs a program for young people from her home that is need of repairs. The team building the house includes Ty Pennington, Paul DiMeo, Paige Hemmis and singer Mary J. Blige. For the first time ever for the show, “EM:HE” will have famous celebrities and extraordinary volunteers GET ON THE BUS for the weeks of house-building during the season.

Approximately 50 Gannon University student-athletes will be on hand Friday, June 26 when celebrities and volunteers begin work to demolish a local home in preparation to build a new one in its place. Student-athletes from the Gannon football, volleyball, and cheerleading squads will volunteer their time to help begin the process. In addition, the Gannon cheerleading squad will be on hand during the “Move That Bus” day, when the squad will be doing stunts and leading cheers.

If you have photos or videos of the project, please let us know and we’ll share them with every one. The work will continue for the next week and the show will air in the fall.

Local officials are expecting the state to pay $32 million of the estimated $42 million needed to renovate the Tullio Arena. The rest of the money will come from a bond issued by the Convention Center Authority and Erie County Council. County Council’s finance committee also postponed a vote on the community college budget, saying they need more information on the project.

Erie Coke, already facing $6 million in state fines, may now be subject to a federal lawsuit with the EPA. The plant faces numerous pollution violations.

U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3) will roll out her fourth piece of legislation, the Healthy Communities Act of 2009 and will announce a summer long “Congressional Hike & Bike District-Wide Tour” to promote the legislation and healthy living. The Healthy Communities Act of 2009 encourages a community approach to improving the health and well-being of an entire community. Through public-private partnerships, the Healthy Community Act, makes millions of grant dollars available for communities to set goals for attaining a healthier lifestyle.

Sad story. Sabrina Kahler disappeared in June 2002. She was 20 years old and this week, her family has begun legal proceedings to have her declared legally dead. It’s so sad that the family will never know what happened to their daughter. David Heck was the last person seen with Kahler, but he is in jail on unrelated charges and will not cooperate with police on the Kahler case. Ed Palattella of the Erie Times-News has more on this story.

An EMTA bus caught fire yesterday at E. 38th and Burton Avenue. No one was injured.

The Erie Steak N Shake location is doing just fine, but it’s over, Johnny, for the Meadville location after just 2 years. No word on what will take over the location. Both restaurants are owned by Nick Scott.

Sports

The Seawolves dropped their contest with the Altoona Curve yesterday afternoon 8-6. Erie plays in Hartford tonight through Monday.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer team will host the Richmond Kickers on Friday, June 26 at Edinboro’s Sox Harrison Stadium. The match will get underway at 8:05 p.m. The contest is part of the PA West Soccer weekend which Edinboro is hosting, and will give area soccer fans an opportunity to watch professional soccer as the two teams are part of the USL Second Division.

Mercyhurst College has finished the 2008-09 academic year ranked 24th nationally in the final standings of the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Events

Allegheny College Creek Connections offers two, one-week environmental science camp opportunities this summer! A dozen rising 10th and 11th grade students will spend a week together exploring French Creek while living at Allegheny College. Campers will get college experience… living in a residence hall, using scientific equipment, interacting with college student counselors, environmental professionals and college professors… as well as hands-on environmental science/ecology research and activities throughout the richly bio-diverse French Creek watershed. Submit your online application by visiting our website http://creekconnections.allegheny.edu/creekcamp.html. The camp fee includes your stay in the residence hall, all meals, linens (just bring your own pillow), camp t-shirt, and other supplies. Additional information, photos from prior years’ Creek Camps and a link to the camp blog can also be found on the Creek Connections website.