WCN

Brother-in-law to trial in Mercer Co. man's murder

Associated Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

COCHRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A Franklin man has been ordered to stand trial in Mercer County in the fatal shooting of his brother-in-law, a killing the victim's widow says stemmed from a family property dispute.

That woman, Alice Dignall, is the sister of the suspect, 45-year-old Ralph Leroy Young, and was married to the victim, 58-year-old David Dignall, of Carlton.

She testified at a preliminary hearing Thursday that Young disagreed with the Dignalls and other siblings about whether to sell their mother's property to provide a nest egg for the woman.

State police in Mercer say Young shot Dignall in the back before setting Dignall's van on fire on Dec. 20 in French Creek Township, about 75 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Young's attorney says the case is circumstantial and has too many holes in it.

Track & Field: Carswell, Sutton Set School-Records in Final Qualifier

The Westminster College Sports Information Office — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Selected members of the Westminster College men's and women's track and field teams competed in the North Central College Final Qualifier Thursday and Friday. Senior Adam Carswell (Painesville, OH / Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) and junior Aaron Sutton (Warren, OH / Howland) paced the Titans as they broke school-records in the 400-meter dash and the 3,000-meter steeplechase, respectively.

Carswell broke his own record that he set twice last year as he placed third with a time of 48.84, breaking his time of 48.87. Sutton finished 22nd out of 42 runners with a time of 9:45.54, breaking an 11-year-old record held by Jacob Gleason (9:47.0).

For the women, junior Haley Gabor (New Kensington, PA / Ford City) paced three top-10 Titan finishes as she placed fourth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.42. Freshman Angela Colella (West Middlesex, PA / West Middlesex) finished eighth in the long jump with a leap of 4.76 meters. Rounding out the top-10 finishes was the 4x100 meter relay team who clocked in at 49.75 for fourth-place.

Westminster will find out who has qualified for NCAA Nationals early next week, which will begin on May 23 in Lacrosse, Wis.

Track and Field: Kalsey Qualifies for Outdoor Nationals

The Westminster College Sports Information Office — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee announced the participants in the 2013 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday. Westminster College freshman Marissa Kalsey (Waynesburg, PA / Waynesburg) qualified in the pole vault. The Championships start this Thursday at Wisconsin-LaCrosse.

Kalsey, who broke the school's indoor pole vault record with a 3.95 meters mark at Indoor Nationals where she earned the distinction of All-American, ranks fourth in the country in outdoor pole vault with a school-record mark of 3.97 meters. Kalsey set the mark at the Slippery Rock Last Chance Qualifier on May 3.

For each women's individual event contested, including the heptathlon, the top 22 declared student-athletes were accepted into the competition.

Kalsey, who will compete at 3:40 p.m. EST on Thursday, can become the first two-time All-American female Titan in school-history with an eighth-place or better finish.

Corbett seeks to clarify new academic standards

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)-- Gov. Tom Corbett is asking state education officials to clarify that a set of proposed academic achievement standards for Pennsylvania public school students are not uniform national standards.

A spokesman for Corbett's Department of Education said Tuesday that Corbett's request won't affect the substance of the proposed math and English standards called the Pennsylvania Common Core.

The State Board of Education approved them in March and approval from a government regulations board is necessary before they can take effect.

Corbett's request comes after lawmakers heard a groundswell of criticism last week over the effectiveness of the new standards and his move to tie them to course-specific student graduation tests.

The proposed standards are built partly on national uniform standards developed by non-government associations of governors and state education officials.

College Relay for Life Raised More Than $19,000

The Westminster College Communications Office and WCN Staff — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College's annual Relay for Life raised more than $19,000 at the May 4 event.

Westminster's Relay is organized each year by the Alpha Nu chapter of national fraternity Alpha Sigma Phi. There were 16 teams and 167 participants registered before the event and a number who arrived and signed up onsite.

When not walking on the track at Burry Stadium, participants could take advantage of other activities, including a corn hole tournament, a "Minute to Win it!" game, and a local band performance. Cancer survivors and those still fighting participated in the Survivor Lap, followed by the Survivor Dinner. Luminaria in honor of survivors or in memory of those lost to cancer ringed the track for the closing ceremony.

WCN reporter and Alpha Sigma Phi brother Anthony Humes shows how the day went for Relay for Life.

"The success of this year's relay was more than I even expected. The amount of money we raised truly shows how much our hard work pays off in the end. I am so happy I had the opportunity of a lifetime to lead this year's Relay for Life here at Westminster College, and would be even happier to help out those in need next year," said overall chair Vincent Vecchio. "We really could not have done this without the help of the Westminster community as well as the New Wilmington community."

Vecchio, a senior history major, is a son of Peter and Patricia Matessi of Pittsburgh, and a graduate of South Park High School.

Alpha Sigma Phi, founded at Yale University in 1845, established the Westminster chapter in 1939. The fraternity aims to be the co-curricular organization of choice for discerning undergraduate men through the provision of an enriching brotherhood experience and a full range of character and leadership development opportunities.

First Book-Westminster Raised Funds, Distributed Free Books

The Westminster College Communications Office — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – First Book-Westminster will distribute 900 new, free books to three literacy programs that serve children in need in Lawrence and Mercer counties.

Programs include Royal Family Kids Camp (RFKC), Union Elementary and Farrell Elementary. Each child will receive two new books which enables the children to start their own home libraries they can share with their siblings and families. They will also receive a bookplate on which to place their names celebrating the importance of book ownership.

“The book grant we received from First Book-Westminster will enable our program to help many young people have, not only a book, but also a library of new books to call their very own,” said Colleen Hannon, volunteer for RFKC. “The children’s faces light up when they discover they can keep these books and take them home to read over and over again with their siblings and families.”

RFKC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is the nation’s leading network of camps for abused, neglected and abandoned children. By mobilizing local churches to sponsor a one week camp for abused and neglected children, ages 7-11 in their local community, the organization gets caring adults involved in the lives of children who need them most.

Additional programs in Lawrence and Mercer counties that have received book grants from First Book include: Head Start, Walker’s Neighborhood House/Gussie M. Walker Foundation, West Middlesex Elementary School, and George Junior Republic.

First Book-Westminster is part of First Book’s national network of volunteer-led advisory boards that provide new books to children in need in communities across the country. First Book has distributed more than 80 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities.

First Book-Westminster already provided free books to 250 children who attended the Celebrity Series for Kids showing of The Velveteen Rabbit. The Westminster Drinko Center for Experiential Learning and First Book-Westminster hosted a pre-show dinner, partially funded by the Caroline Knox Foundation, for 216 children and their families from the following organizations: Bair Foundation, Cray Family Services, Crisis Shelter, Lawrence County Community Action Program, Walker House, and a group from Farrell Elementary School. The event was also partially funded by Sodexo Dining Services.

First Book-Westminster has distributed more than $10,000 worth of books since its start in 2007. Its advisory board is comprised of Westminster students, faculty, staff, and members of the New Wilmington Rotary. Funding for the books was raised in collaboration with the New Wilmington Rotary Club, Westminster’s Drinko Center for Experiential Learning, Celebrity Series, the Caroline Knox Foundation, and co-advisers Dr. Mandy Medvin, professor and chair of Westminster’s department of psychology, and Dr. Eileen Morelli, associate professor of education.

Disbarred Pa. attorney charged with theft again

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. (AP) - A disbarred Lawrence County attorney already serving seven to 14 months in jail for swindling clients is now accused of spending more than $1,100 earmarked for restitution in a criminal case.

Online court records don't list an attorney for 35-year-old Michael Frisk, of Ellwood City.

Frisk is already serving time in Lawrence County for failing to pay $225 in fines to settle a client's case and otherwise misspending other client's funds on personal items, including spa visits and sports tickets.

Now Ellwood City police say they've learned Frisk has bilked another client whose relative paid the attorney $1,143 last year. The money was supposed to pay off restitution so the client's theft arrest would be expunged. Instead, the money was never paid and the client wound up paying $4,000 in court costs and restitution.

Rescue at McConnell's Mill State Park

WCN Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

SLIPPERY ROCK TOWNSHIP, Pa.-- Lawrence County first responders rushed to McConnell's Mill State Park in Slippery Rock Township to rescue a 26-year old Ohil man who fell down a steep hillside on Monday afternoon.

Crews had to rescue the man after he fell 15 to 20 feet while taking photographs near Kildoo Falls in McConnells Mill State Park.

Assistant park manager Jake Weiland says the man left an area designated for visitors and was standing on a rock ledge when he fell into the water below on Monday afternoon.

The man has been flown to an unspecified Pittsburgh hospital for a head injury, but is expected to recover. The man was able to get up and walk around, but needed assistance in getting up from the area where he fell.

Man injured in Lawrence Co. domestic shooting dies

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

HILLSVILLE, Pa. - State police say a Lawrence County man injured in a shooting stemming from a domestic dispute has died of his injuries.

Troopers from the New Castle barracks said 50-year-old Joseph Lupo died early Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio.

Lupo had earlier been reported killed in the Sunday night gunfire in a home in Mahoning Township, but police later said he was critically injured.

Fifty-year-old Caroline Lupo was listed in serious condition after she was shot three times. Police said she called 911 to say that her husband had shot her during a domestic dispute and then turned the weapon on himself. Troopers said evidence at the scene corroborated her account, and she is reportedly recovering from her injuries.

Lawrence Co. man charged with 4th DUI after crash with police car

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

SHENANGO TOWNSHIP, Pa.-- Police say Lawrence County man charged with his fourth drunken driving offense was fleeing police when he smashed into a police cruiser belong to a township where another officer was killed in a similar crash earlier this month.

Online court records don't list an attorney for 40-year-old Eric Jones, of Scott Township, Lawrence County, who faces a preliminary hearing Thursday in the crash on Friday night.

Jones faces aggravated assault, fleeing police, and drunken driving among 21 charges.

Police say they were chasing Jones when he crashed into the cruiser from neighboring Shenango Township. Nobody was hurt.

But on May 2, Shenango Township Officer William "Jerry" McCarthy IV was killed when a driver with a suspended license was also being chased by New Castle police. That woman allegedly rammed McCarthy's cruiser.

Man faces assault charges for allegedly breaking man's jaw at frat house

WCN Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- A graduating senior from Westminster faces aggravated assault charges for allegedly breaking another man's jaw at a fraternity party in New Wilmington earlier this month.

New Wilmington police say 22-year old Matthew Vincent Wagner faces the charges after an incident at the Alpha Sigma Phi house on Waugh Avenue on May 5.

The victim tells police he had watched Wagner and another male arguing. He claims Wagner pushed the other male and appeared to be ready to punch him. The victim says he then wrapped his arms around Wagner from behind to keep him from hitting the other person. Wagner allegedly broke free from the hold and punched the victim in the face, breaking his jaw.

Police say Wagner also faces charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and harassment. He was released on $5,000 bond. Wagner’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 23.

Local woman charged with texting while driving in fatal crash with motorcycle

WCN Staff and Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-- Hickory Township police say a Lawrence County woman faces charges of texting while driving in a crash that killed a volunteer fire chief earlier this month.

Online court records don't list an attorney for 42-year-old Laura Gargiulo, of Volant, who also faces charges including homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter in the wreck that killed 68-year-old Daniel Gallatin on May 7.

Gallatin was the former chief in Scott Township.

Police obtained a search warrant for the woman's phone records and determined she had a text message open at the time of the crash in which she rear-ended Gallatin's motorcycle. He and the cycle were dragged under Gargiulo's car on Route 956 about 1:30 p.m. that day.

Gargiulo faces a preliminary hearing Thursday and her listed phone number has been disconnected.

Class of 2013 Encourged to Get a Job

WCN Staff and The Westminster College Communications Office — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Kelly Matune received her B.A. in Public Relations. She is one of several members of the Westminster Class of 2013 to secure a job well before graduation.

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- The sun shined down on the Class of 2013 at the 159th commencement at Westminster College where Distinguished Faculty Award recipient and faculty chair Dr. Terri Lenox lovingly nudged the graduates to now get a job.

More than 300 students earned diplomas during the annual Westminster College commencement ceremonies Saturday. Undergraduate degrees were conferred on 330 students with an additional 17 receiving master's degrees.

You can access the telecast of the commencement ceremonies online from the WCN Live archives by clicking here.

While waiting for the graduates to appear for the 2:30 p.m. Commencement ceremony, parents and friends were treated to music by Dr. Nancy Zipay DeSalvo, associate professor of music, at the organ and the Westminster College Faculty Brass Quintet: Robert Antonucci on tuba; Terry Gale on trumpet; Dr. R. Tad Greig on trombone; Jon Nickel `09 on trumpet; and James Scanga on horn.

Bagpiper Latta led the grand march and Zipay DeSalvo played "Pomp and Circumstance" as the graduates, faculty, trustees, and platform party entered. Dr. A. Dwight Castro, professor of classics, was the mace bearer and Dr. Gary Lilly `69, associate professor of sociology, and Dr. Pamela Richardson, associate professor of mathematics, were faculty marshals. Students were led by marshals Dorita Bolger, professor and librarian, Dr. Jamie McMinn, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Richard Sprow, professor of English

The opening declaration was made by Thomas A. Tupitza `79, chair of the Board of Trustees, and the Rev. Mohr gave the invocation. President Dorman offered greetings.

An honorary degree, doctor of business administration, honoris causa, was presented to Leonard M. Carroll, chairman of Seneca Capital Management Inc. of Sewickley, and former chairman of the Westminster Board of Trustees. Carroll served 20 years on Westminster's Board.

Westminster College has benefitted greatly from Carroll's involvement and leadership. During his term as chair of the board (2008-2012) he helped develop the vision and goals of Westminster's current $50 million comprehensive campaign Ever Higher: The Campaign for Westminster College, and has supported that effort significantly.

In addition to the role of chairman of Seneca Capital Management Inc., a venture capital firm he co-founded in 1996 focusing on the growth and development of northwest Pennsylvania businesses, he served as president and chief operating officer of Integra Financial Corporation in Pittsburgh, and served in executive positions with Pennbancorp in Titusville and First Seneca Bank of Oil City.

Carroll shared his thoughts on "Working with Westminster" with the audience.

"I have spent many years volunteering at the College. At first, I viewed my volunteering efforts as one more social obligation in a busy career. As time passed, it became more than an obligation. It became a passion. I have said and will continue to say that Westminster College is a special place and deserves to be respected, watched after and supported with our time and treasure," Carroll said. "I've never worked for any non-profit organization where so many people spend so much time and effort trying to do the right thing."

Carroll also addressed the graduating class.

"You have and will benefit greatly from your stay at the College, but the benefit you have received comes at a price. You now have a life-long duty to help keep Westminster strong and on the right track so that the next generation of students will be able to enjoy the same life changing experience you had here on campus."

Lauren Gaynord, an English major from Valencia, was the senior class speaker.

"It recently occurred to me that we all answer, Why Westminster? in our own way, but the answer comes down to the education we received and the people we met while receiving it. Some of you, I have never met on a personal level. Others have become my greatest friends, people I have happily watched change and grow as we have gone through our education together. What matters is not whether or not I know you; it is that we are all Westminster graduates, and will go on to change the world with like-minded ideals and goals. What's more, we will always remember the people who held the door for us," Gaynord said.

Gaynord continued, "Whatever you choose to do when you walk off this campus today, I am as sure as I have ever been that you will do it well. We are confident, we are young, we are all well-trained, and we are all compassionate towards one another. The reason coming to Westminster feels like coming home is obvious to me now; everyone here knows that Westminster is something special."

Distinguished Faculty Award
Lenox received the Distinguished Faculty Award. Lenox, who serves as chair of Westminster's Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, joined the faculty in 1999. She earned an undergraduate degree from Grove City College and master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

The Distinguished Faculty Award is given to the faculty member who has, over a sustained period of time, demonstrated characteristics of the most outstanding faculty - intellectual vitality, effective communication skills, the ability to motivate or inspire compassion and concern for student success, collegiality, and leadership. Nominations come from students, faculty, and alumni.

Bolger, Dr. Linda Domanski, Lilly, Dr. Gail Miller and Dr. David Twining Honored with Emerita Status
Bolger was honored with designation as professor/librarian emerita. Bolger, who has been with Westminster since 1981, earned her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and master's from Clarion University.

Domanski was honored with designation as professor of education emerita. Domanski, who has been with Westminster since 1996, earned undergraduate and master's degrees from Slippery Rock University and a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. She served as the Westminster education department chair from 2005-2010. Most recently she has taught the Legal Issues and Assessment and Instructional Strategies methods courses required for special education certification, and supervises student teachers

Lilly was honored with designation as associate professor of sociology emeritus. Lilly, who was a 1969 graduate of Westminster College, has been a member of the faculty since 1977. He earned his master's and Ph.D. from Kent State University. He was chair of PSS for 10 years, chair of the faculty for three terms, and director of institutional research since 1985. His work with students has included being adviser to a fraternity from 1981-2008, women's cross-country coach from 1989-2002, and cross-country head coach from 2002-2008. He also helped establish the women's track club and helped create and was the first faculty adviser for the Black Student Union.

Miller was honored with designation as professor of business emeritus. Miller, who has been with Westminster since 1983, earned his undergraduate degree from Otterbein College, master's from the University of Georgia and a doctorate from the University of Kentucky.

Twining was honored with designation of professor of history emeritus. Twining, who has been with Westminster since 1990, earned his undergraduate degree from the College of Wooster, master's from the University of Virginia, and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. He was one of the founders of the National History Day Program. He coordinated the First-Year Program, the History Program, and has offered summer workshops for social studies teachers. He was chosen as the Henderson Lecturer for 2010, an honor to encourage and recognize original and continuing research and scholarship among Westminster College faculty, and to afford the opportunity for faculty to share their learning with the academic community.

Alexandra Patterson, a music performance major from Saxonburg, sang the Westminster College Alma Mater to end the ceremony.

The ceremony began with baccalaureate service at 10:30 a.m. in Orr Auditorium. The Rev. Dr. John B. "Mike" Loudon `70, senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, Fla., shared "How Do You Measure Success." He was introduced by the Rev. James R. Mohr II, College chaplain.

The service included music by Westminster organist Kathryn Miller and the Rev. James Latta, bagpiper and pastor of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City; the Senior Choir under the direction of Dr. Robin Lind, associate professor of music and director of choral activities.

Guests received a welcome from Dr. Jesse Mann, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College, and closing thoughts from Westminster College President Dr. Richard Dorman. Prayers were offered by the Rev. Mohr and Father Thomas Lewandowski, of St. Camillus Church in New Castle. Senior worship participants included: Tawni Darby, who read the call to worship; Simmone Bell and Jane Larson, who read Scripture; Eric Dennis, who did a Gospel Reading; Caitlin Rozgonyi and Stephanie Gasser, who led the litany of faith; and Hannah Jaskiewicz, who lead the singing of the hymns.

Commemencement 2013 live on TV and online

WCN Staff — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- The chairs are in place on the Weisel Senior Terrace in front of Old Main at Westminster College for the graduating class of 2013. Physical Plant crews have also set up hundreds of chairs on the Quad for the large gathering of proud parents, family members and friends. It's all part of the set-up for an outdoor commencement that WCN will televise live on cable and online beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

This is the second year WCN has televised commencement on TV as well as streamed it live on the web. To watch online, log on to wcnlive.com. Cable TV viewers can watch on Comcast channel 183 in Lawrence County. Armstrong viewers can watch on digital channel 204 in Lawrence and Mercer counties. New Wilmington features WCN on Armstrong channel 72.

More than 300 students will receive degrees at Westminster's 159th commencement ceremonies. This will be the final commencement ceremony to feature Academic Dean Jesse Mann announcing the name of each graduate. Mann is stepping down from the Dean's office to return to the faculty.

Nine Westminster Cable/Titan Radio staffers will also be among the grads participating commencement. We want to congratulate Ashley Durham, Courtney Crown, Connor Kobis, Adam Carswell, Liam Halferty, Jordan Greer, James McCallion, Andrea Tice and Hannah Paczkowski.

WCN 2013 Senior Sendoff from WCN 24/7 on VIMEO on Vimeo.

To help kick off the graduation school spirit, we also offer Adam Carswell's production of the Dub-C Remix! Turn up the volume with Carswell and his crew!

DUB-C &' the BC!

See the world of Pittsburgh Pride through an extremely personal journey

WCN Staff — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

PITTSBURGH-- Were you aware that many local Democratic politicians like Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl support the gay community? Ravenstahl was among the speakers featured during Pittsburgh Pride in 2012? While the local media failed to cover the public support of local politicians, the news also offered little in-depth coverage of the festival that celebrates the gay, lesbian and transgendered community.

However, cameras were rolling during Pittsburgh Pride as this annual event featured a major parade through the city. Documentary producer Ashley Durham had her camera handy as she set out to tell a very intimate story about her personal journey to Pittsburgh Pride.

Durham, a Beaver County native and WCN staffer, admits she has spent most of her life identifying herself as a lesbian. As she got older she found it easier to accept who she was. She wanted to showcase the LGTBQ community in Pittsburgh and introduce some brave individuals who wanted to share their pride and stories.

The highlight was the 2012 PrideMarch featuring nearly 130 organizations. The March rolled down Grant Street &' the Blvd. of the Allies, on to Grant Street and then onto Fifth Avenue, and finally a right onto Liberty Avenue. Organizers claim it is a major parade that rivals Pittsburgh's Veterans Day Parade in size.

The March does draw controversy and protesters. Some of last year's protesters made for some tense moment's in Durham's documentary.

You can watch the documentary here and share it online.

Durham says she learned so much about herself and what it means to be gay today as she went “Over the Rainbow” at Pittsburgh Pride.

Over the Rainbow from WCN 24/7 on VIMEO on Vimeo.