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Erie PA News and Events for Saturday December 23, 2006

Judge Michael Della Vecchia of the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court issued a 4 month temporary injunction on the Allegheny County smoking ban that was to take effect on January 2. Judge Della Vecchia said the delay would give state legislators time to pass a law that more clearly defines whether local bodies may pass their own smoking bans or if state law comes first. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company paid the legal fees for the restaurant owners in Allegheny County that filed the lawsuit and said they would do the same elsewhere. Erie County Council passed a county wide smoking ban in restaurants and bars, but not clubs, at their last meeting.

Thanks God for the internal combustion engine because the mayor, the mayors staff and Erie City Council would be causing traffic tie ups all over town as they always seem to place the cart before the horse. Chris “Red” Hughes mentioned on his sports talk show that deed restrictions prohibited the use of Erie Golf Course for anything other than a golf course of park. Well, the Erie newspaper had someone check and that indeed is the case. (Times-News story.) Having someone with the city checking on this before they put the course up for sale would have taken walking across the street and checking on it.

The county released the names of the five finalists to take over the Distrcit 1 seat on Erie County Council left vacant by the resignation of Joy Greco. They are Charles Augustine, Barbara Hauck, Dallas Rearic Jr, Darby Patton Scalise and David Skellie. Council will appoint one of them next Friday.

Troop E in Erie of the Pennsylvania State Police gained 3 people fresh out of the State Police Academy in Hershey. They are Curtis A Guntrum of Chicora in Armstrong County, Jacob A Jesse of Punxsutawney in Jefferson County and Joseph B Streyle of Ambridge of Beaver County.

There is an opening for a Border Patrol Agent in Erie. To learn more and apply online go to the US Customs and Border Protection site.

“Reel It In”, the new fishing guide developed by the Pennsylvania Great Lakes Region (PGLR) invites fishing enthusiasts to visit one of the Commonwealth’s hottest fishing areas. The updated guide provides a complete overview of fishing in Crawford, Erie, Mercer and Venango counties. Highlights of the full-color 18-page “Reel It In” guide include: Fishing map of locations of all lakes and rivers, Editorial information on seasonal fishing peaks and Northwest waters chart with lake acreage, stream miles, fish species and regulations.

The 24th edition of the McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held in Erie on Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13, 2007 at Gannon University’s Hammermill Center. This year’s event features nationally renowned programs from California and Ohio, featuring rosters replete with top-ranked players.
The field is highlighted by the appearance of two of the most renowned players in Classic history. Delvon Roe, a 6’7” wing player for St. Edward of Lakewood, Ohio, is currently ranked as the Number 2 player in the junior class by PrepStars Recruiter’s Handbook, and is regarded as one of the best players in the nation regardless of class. Dallas Lauderdale of nearby Solon, Ohio, also is slated to perform, and the 6’10” explosive athlete is on everyone’s list of top centers in the nation.
Also entering the field for Classic 2007 is vaunted Westchester High of Los Angeles, California. The Comets, competing in their third McDonald’s Classic, are annually one of the nation’s top interscholastic programs.
The Classic will tip-off on Friday, January 12, with a first round, 7:00 PM match-up between Westchester and St. Edward. The 8:30 PM nightcap will feature Solon High and the host team Cathedral Prep.
St Edward is making their second appearance in the Classic, having won the title back in 1997. Head Coach Eric Flannery has been guiding the Eagles for eleven seasons and boasts of a 177-60 record including seven District titles, four regional crowns, and one state championship. His top players include current professionals Sam Clancy (USC), Jawad Williams (North Carolina), Steve Logan (Cincinnati), and Steve LePore (Wake Forest).
Also coming from neighboring Ohio is Solon High, featuring 6’10” All-American Dallas Lauderdale, who will play next season for Ohio State. The Comets are coached by highly-successful mentor Todd VanReeth, who in an 18-year career has compiled a 302-120 record, including a 92-29 record with Solon. His squads at Solon have won four league titles in the last six seasons, and have twice been a regional finalist.
The other visiting squad always brings impressive credentials and high aspirations for national championship recognition. Westchester High was California’s AAAA State Champions in 2005 and will feature 6’7 Dane Suttle, the reigning Los Angeles player of the year and junior Oscar Bellfield, who has been offered a scholarship by USC. The Comets are hoping their third trip to Erie ends with their second Classic crown.
Making a return to the Classic for the 24th consecutive year will be the Cathedral Prep Ramblers who are under the direction of head coach Brian Flanagan, who has gone 48-11 in his two seasons on the bench.
In his first season in 2004-‘05, he led the Ramblers to the Final Four in Pennsylvania with a banner record of 26-5, the fourth highest win total in school history. The Ramblers return just one starter from a year ago in junior Mark Blazek, but also have three seniors who saw regular minutes in guards Josh Licata and Ryan Heidt, along with center Jeff Wisinski.
General admission tickets cost $7 per night in advance for adults and $5 in advance for students, and went on sale to the general public on November 29th, 2006. Any remaining reserved tickets will also be on sale beginning on Wednesday, November 29th at the Cathedral Prep athletic office. General Admission tickets will be available on the same date at the Erie Sport Store, the Avalon Hotel, Dee’s News, and select McDonald’s Restaurants while they last. No phone orders will be accepted, and no tickets can be held. Another sell-out crowd is expected, so fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early.

Martin Luther King III, oldest son of Martin Luther King, Jr and Coretta Scott King, will speak at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, as part of the college’s 2007 King holiday celebration. King’s address, “My Father’s Dream, My Mission,” is part of Penn State Behrend’s annual Speaker Series and will be held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, January 18, in the Reed Union Building’s McGarvey Commons. Admission is free and open to the public, and King will take questions from the audience following his talk.

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at December 23, 2006 7:17 AM

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Posted by: rich at December 24, 2006 10:16 AM

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