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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday January 18, 2006
Posted by Dennis on January 18, 2006
The EAGLE (Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement) task force arrested 9 people of possession and conspiracy to distribute powder and crack cocaine. All 9 are looking at spending the rest of their lives in prison because of amount of drugs and number of charges involved. They said they had investigated one person for 10 years. 10 years? WTF. Was that 9 years and 10 months of eating donuts and 2 months doing an actual investigation? One of those arrested might be familiar to some people in Erie. Mark Chase played basketball for Gannon about 20 years ago.
Trevor A Bird of West Springfield PA did an impression of Fred Astaire in Singin’ in the Rain (1952). The problem was he did it on busy I-90 backing up traffic for miles. Bird pulled his truck over to the side of the road, took his shirt off, got out of the cab and was running around like a nut on the interstate. Lucky for him he only got side-swiped by a side-view mirror before police arrived. The state police said he was obviously under of influence of some substance. No kidding.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Tourism Committee voted to change the start date of the school year until after Labor Day. This makes a ton of sense, especially for our area. Families still want to visit the beaches of Presque Isle State Park at that time of year but swimming is limited as there is a shortage of lifeguards because they are back in school. A vote by the full house isn’t expected anytime soon as they want to throw money at the idea by conducting studies and research.
Erie County Executive Mark DiVecchio intoduced Joseph Aguglia as the new head of the Erie County Human Relations Commission. The commission works on discrimination, prejudice and bias complaints. Former County Executive Rick Schenker closed the office in 2003 saying it was a duplication of state services. Yes, it is a duplication but one that is needed. I think without the local office people would hesitate to report a complaint or worse yet not even apply for a job at some companies which they feel might discriminate.
The Community Blood Bank experienced a sudden sharp drop in the already diminished blood supply and is asking for blood donors to come and donate as soon as they can. Several severe traumas in the past 24 hours depleted the already low blood supply. The Community Blood Bank had been struggling to prevent this shortage, which is an annual shortage for most of the country. Levels have been low since New Year’s but suddenly dropped to critical levels during the day Wednesday. There hasn’t been a local shortage since Labor Day weekend. The CBB has been working very diligently to buck this national trend of shortages over the Holidays. All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street. Community Blood Bank is open from 9 am - 6 pm Monday through Friday and until 7:30 pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9 am-12:30 pm. Photo ID required.
Everett Eighmy of Erie PA was sentenced to 15 months in jail for stealing money from the Butler Family Housing Authority from June 2003 to May 2004. Prosecutors said he embezzled $64,000 largely to buy crack cocaine.
United Refining Company announced operating results for the first fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2005. Net Income for the three months ended November 30, 2005 was $7.4 million, an increase of $1.3 million or 21.3 percent over Net Income of $6.1 million for the quarter ended November 30, 2004. Net sales for the three months ended November 30, 2005 and November 30, 2004 were $574.0 million and $426.1 million, respectively. This was an increase of $147.9 million or 34.7 percent over the previous quarter. Increases in net sales for the quarter were due primarily to increases in selling prices attributed to increased worldwide crude oil prices. The company also announced a $450 million improvement project. The project call for 500 construction workers and add 70 to 80 permanent new jobs. United operates a 65,000 bpd refinery in Warren, Pennsylvania. In addition to its wholesale markets, the Company also operates 375 Kwik Fill, Red Apple and Country Fair retail gasoline and convenience stores located primarily in western New York and western Pennsylvania.
A team of five Mercyhurst College intelligence studies students took first place in a national competition by showing the FBI ways to change the working relationships between its agents and intelligence analysts. The five students presented their recommendations to a panel of FBI judges at the FBI headquarters in Washington, DC. The winning team included Ryan Ross, a senior, junior Jacqueline McCarty, and sophomores Brittany Monteparte, Ashley Scheid and Kevin Szczepanski. As winners, the Mercyhurst team secured a $3,000 donation to the college, a plaque for each team member and a significant addition to the list of qualifications they take to any future employer.
Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra, conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright, will perform on Friday, Jan 20. This performance will be a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr and will feature the Shiloh Baptist Church Choir and evangelist DM Jamerson. The concert is free and open to the public and will begin at 7:30 pm at St Patrick Church, 130 East Fourth Street.
Edinboro University Assistant Professor of Sociology Rhonda Matthews will speak at Allegheny College on Monday, Jan. 23 at 7 pm in Quigley Auditorium. Matthews lecture — titled “The Incredible Tale of Rosa Parks” – will be a biographical, cultural and sociological look at the impact of the actions and political activism of Rosa Parks during the civil rights movement. The lecture is part of Allegheny’s Dr Martin Luther King, Jr commemoration. Matthews previously taught at the University of Oklahoma, San Francisco State University and Allegheny College before joining Edinboro University as a tenure track assistant professor.
Catcher Victor Martinez and pitchers Scott Sauerbeck and Rafael Betancourt are scheduled to be part of the Cleveland Indians Caravan that will stop in Erie on Jan 24. The Caravan is scheduled to stop at the Dr Gertrude A Barber National Institute, 136 East Ave, starting at 5 pm. There will be a trivia contest as well as stadium food and beverages. Indians players, coaches and staff will arrive at 6:30 pm to answer fans questions and present a highlight film from this past season. Hitting coach Derek Shelton and announcer Matt Underwood also are scheduled to appear. There will be an auction of Indians memorabilia and an autograph session for children. Cost is $7 and will benefit programs at the Barber National Institute. Tickets are available through Jan 24 at the Barber National Institute (Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm) or at Hector’s Cafe, West 18th and Liberty streets. Tickets also will be available at the door.
The McDowell football team will play an “exhibition” schedule in the WPIAL Quad A North. They will play all five teams in the division but the games won’t count in the actual conference standings. This makes Wally Blucas and District 10 look stupid for not allowing McDowell to join the WPIAL.
Adam Munro played for the Erie Otters from 1998-2003 and was a first round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks. Blackhawks starting goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin went down with a groin injurt recently and Munro is now the starter. Adam is 2-0-2 with a .930 save percentage and a 1.92 gaa. Great numbers.
Posted by Dennis at January 18, 2006 6:54 AM
Comments
Yes, some of us do remember Mark Chase, but not for Gannon Basketball. Actually, he seldom played, he was third string. Mark was a good friend to me and a kind person and that will be how I chose to remember him.
Steffie Cannella-Beck
Posted by: steffie at February 17, 2006 9:26 PM
Mark is someone who i've known for almost 15yrs. first and foremost he is not a drug dealer, second he's a wonderful father and one of the few people in my life who i love unconditionally,i'm there for him as he is for me,deep down he's a good person. Luv Ya. Shlept Rock
Posted by: dina at April 7, 2006 1:12 PM
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