WCN

Army doctor from New Castle named one of NASA's new astronauts

WCN Staff — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON, Texas-- A New Castle man is among the group of NASA's eight new astronauts. NASA announced that 37-year old Andrew R. Morgan, a U.S. Army major from Lawrence County, is among the first new group of astronauts selected by the space agency in the last in four years.

He joins seven other new astronauts selected from more than 6,000 applicants. They start training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston in August.

NASA says the group will train for missions to an asteroid and Mars.

Morgan, a sports medicine fellowship, is a former emergency physician and flight surgeon for the Army's special operations. He is a West Point graduate with a doctorate of sports medicine. His is one of four men on the team. The other half of the team are women, making it the highest percentage of women chosen for an astronaut team in NASA history.

During the Google+ Hangout, which will include recorded video introductions from the astronaut candidates and discuss the selection and training process, NASA's social media followers may submit questions on Twitter and Google+ in advance and during the event using the hashtag #askNASA. Before the hangout begins, NASA will open a thread on its Facebook page where questions may be posted. The Hangout can be viewed live on NASA's Google+ page or on NASA Television. To join the Hangout, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/126mOLK

Authorities work to ID 2 bodies found in Grove City fire

Associated Press — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

GROVE CITY, Pa.-- Authorities were working to confirm the identities of two bodies found after a house fire in Mercer County on Monday.

Police say the names of residents and their dental records have been forwarded for forensic pathologists who are trying to identify two people found dead in the fire early Monday in Grove City.

The bodies of a man and woman were found in the home after the fire was reported about 3:15 a.m. One body was found on the first floor of the two-story wood frame house, while another was found in the basement. Authorities were still working Tuesday to determine the cause of the fire.

Grove City police and the Mercer County coroner say the identities of the victims are still pending.

Mercer Co. man guilty of third-degree in 2012 stabbing

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

SHARON, Pa. (AP)-- A 20-year-old Mercer County man has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree murder in the death of a 42-year-old woman last year.

Mercer County District Attorney Robert Kochems says he and the victim's family agreed to reduce the charge from first-degree murder because of evidence that Anthony Argenziano was under the influence of drugs when he killed Tracey Goga.

Goga was found dead in her apartment in Sharon on June 9, 2012, though police believe she was killed two days earlier.

Argenziano told police he "snapped" before killing Goga, but otherwise didn't explain why he stabbed her 30 times.

Kochems says an expert witness advised that drugs may have kept Argenziano from forming a "specific intent to kill."

He'll face up to 20 to 40 years in prison when he's sentenced Aug. 30.

Man tries to snatch Lawrence Co. boy playing on swing set

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. (AP)-- State police say an unknown man tried to abduct a 6-year-old boy who was playing on a swing set in his Lawrence County yard.

Troopers from New Castle say the incident happened Saturday evening in Perry Township, near Ellwood City.

Police say the white suspect, who appeared to be in his 30s, approached the boy, said "Hi" and tried to speak with the child.

The boy, who was instructed not to talk to strangers, became alarmed and ran away but not before the man grabbed the boy's shirt. The boy was able to break away and run inside, while police say the man ran away through some neighboring yards.

Police have yet to identify or arrest the man who has blonde hair and a skeleton tattoo.

Report faults Heinz Endowments head for gas ties

Associated Press — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

PITTSBURGH-- The head of an influential Pittsburgh-based charity is being criticized for his ties to the oil and gas industry, but some experts say the allegations are misguided.

The report from the Buffalo, N.Y.-based nonprofit the Public Accountability Initiative claims that Heinz Endowments President Robert Vagt (vaht) hasn't fully disclosed his ties to the industry.

National Wildlife Federation President Larry Schweiger says he doesn't think it's a fair criticism. Schweiger says Vagt and the Endowments have a long history of fighting for clean air and water and working with the industry is one way to solve the many problems with gas drilling.

Vagt's oil and gas industry ties are listed on his Heinz Endowments biography and on industry websites.

Vagt and the Heinz Endowments have declined to comment.

Mother of 2 passes out at wheel, faces drug charge

Associated Press and WCN Staff — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-- A woman is under arrest in Lawrence County after police say she overdosed at the wheel of a car with her two children in the back seat.

Police say Misty Blu McKim was driving through New Castle on Wednesday night with her sister and two children when she said she didn't feel well.

Police say the 29-year-old woman pulled the car over and passed out. Detectives say they found a syringe in her purse and what they suspect to be heroin in her wallet.

New Castle police charged her with drug possession and endangering the welfare of a child.

Court records didn't list a lawyer for McKim.

McKim's grandmother, Ann McKim, says she can't believe her granddaughter is back in jail and that she needs help.

Local karate school continues to pass on Sensei Morini's legacy

Josh Dunn — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-- Tradition, discipline, fitness and self-confidence are part of the culture at the New Castle Karate Academy where kids and adults learn the RAM style of karate, a Shotakon style of karate from Japan.

The RAM style was pioneered locally by the late karate master Ronald A. Morini. His RAM Karate School, also known as the New Castle Karate Academy, opened in Lawrence County in 1968. His followers say he trained nearly 4,000 students during his time as a karate master. His school is respected and considered by many to be one of the finest karate schools in the country.

Those continuing Morini's teachings stress the following:

"You must have an initial purpose or reason to learn. It could be "self-defense", "body conditioning", "mental discipline", etc. If you are SINCERE you will succeed in that initial purpose. If you go beyond sincerity and all other such words and continue to strive for perfection you will achieve greatness."

"There are three principles to Morini's RAM method for teaching karate:

The study and practice of basic fundamental technique as "building blocks" for complete Karate mastery.
The individual FREEDOM of improve, improve on, and very basic technique to one's own personality and temperament.
The all-important concept of "static" and "dynamic" internal power applied."

WCN 24/7's Josh Dunn shows us how those at the RAM Karate School continue to pass on Sensei Morini's legacy to new generations.

A light exists in spring

WCN Staff — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- Media art student Sarah O'Malley re-imagines the line where the natural world and the constructed world of people intersect. She blends typography into an art video project for his Digital Photographer/Digital Movie-making cluster at Westminster College. She created a three-minute art video project where the natural and constructed reality can sync..

The cluster required all 16 students in the class to take a concept and produce a short art video that vary in concept, design and style. Each explores unconventional uses of images to challenge the viewer's expectations and definition of art, video and photography. You can watch O'Malley's art video below. Consider it after you consult the artist's statement he has provided.

ARTISTS STATEMENT: “A Light exists in Spring” shows the contrast between what is man-made and what already exists within nature. A poem by Emily Dickinson and various shots of natural elements around the Westminster College campus were used to illustrate this idea. In each shot, a letter can be found that is then shown to be within the lines of the poem. The unstable shots and adjusting focus depicts that there is always more to the story than what initially meets the eye.

A Light exists in Spring from WCN 24/7 on VIMEO on Vimeo.

Lawrence Co. United Way Receives Grant to Alleviate Hunger

WCN Staff — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW CASTLE, Pa.-- The United Way of Lawrence County received a $2,000 grant from the Land O' Lakes Foundation to help fight hunger locally. The Land O' Lakes Foundation works to improve the quality of life in communities where Land O’Lakes, Inc has farmer and co-op members, employees, plants and facilities.

The funds will be used to expand the Summer Food Program,” United Way Executive Director Gayle Young said. “The community raised over $7000 through the Empty Bowls fundraiser to assist with this program as well.As a result, we were able to open eight new sites with the support of local churches such as First Presbyterian Church and local non-profit agencies.”

New sites include: Ben Franklin, Walker Neighborhood House, Cascade Park, New Castle Public Library, Crestview Gardens, Sankey Youth Center, Albert Gettings Annex, Neshannock Village, Bible Way Church of God In Christ, Salvation Army, Big Run, Church of Genesis, Grant Street Community Center, Highland Presbyterian Church, Croton Methodist Church, Westview Terrace, Hoyt Center for the Arts and, Villa Maria Education &' Spirituality Center.

“We are grateful to the Land O’lakes Foundation for their continued investment which supports the important work of our United Way and their partners in the fight against hunger”, Young said.

The Mid-Atlantic Grants Program as a grassroots program developed specifically for Land O’ Lakes Dairy communities in the states of Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

College to Celebrate Independence Day with Concert and Fireworks July 3

The Westminster College Communications Office — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College will host an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration with a free concert and fireworks Wednesday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Brittain Lake.

The 23rd annual concert features the River City Brass Band playing a variety of selections, with an emphasis on patriotic music. The evening will be capped by a fireworks display provided by Pyrotecnico.

The celebration is free to the public, but a free will offering will be taken.

Image by: Nico Whitehead (an AV Image of the Month winner).

Attendance in recent years has reached 10,000, so early arrival is suggested for this family-oriented event. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs for seating, as well as picnic baskets and refreshments. Food vendors will be on site.

In case of light rain, the concert will be held in Anderson Amphitheater.

Sponsors for this year's event include: Caroline Knox Memorial Trust Fund; Westminster College; Jameson Health System; Florence Ayers; Dr. James L. Gardner III; Lawrence County Commissioners; New Wilmington Borough; Wilmington Township, Lawrence County; Rotary Club of New Wilmington; Catale and Associates; Richardson Tree &' Landscape; N and N Produce; and Atty. Tom Shumaker.

Visit www.westminster.edu/july3 for more information about the concert.

College Lowers Tuition Rate for Graduate Program

The Westminster College Communications Office — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College Board of Trustees recently decided to lower the tuition rate for the Graduate Program by more than 18 percent starting in the fall 2013-2014 semester.

The tuition for a three-semester-hour course will be reduced from $1,920 (plus a $37.50 tech fee) to $1, 560 (plus a $37.50 tech fee), a savings of $360 per course.

The Graduate Program at Westminster College is designed for professionals who seek further professional development. The Master of Education degree is offered in education, and master teacher. Additionally, the Graduate Program offers courses of study that lead to certification and/or licensure as a school counselor, K-12 principal, superintendent, and reading specialist. New to the program starting in the fall semester is certification for special education and special education/reading.

Features of the program include a blended learning format where students learn in the classroom and online for all courses, an evening schedule during the school year, and an accelerated schedule during the summer. Courses are taught from experienced faculty consisting of educators, administrators, teachers, counselors and other professionals who draw from many years of experience in K-12 education.

The Westminster Graduate Program was established at the College in 1944. The program was instituted as a service to public school teachers working within a convenient distance of the College, and at the time was the only educational institution between Pittsburgh and Cleveland to offer graduate work.

The goal remains to increase the competence of local teachers and to develop those competencies appropriate for school administrators, reading specialists, and school counselors, and to prepare them to assume greater responsibility and more vigorous leadership in the educational system. More than 180 current area administrators have earned their degrees or certifications from Westminster's Graduate Program.

The program is accredited through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Bond lowered for Lawrece Co. woman in fatal crash

Associated Press — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP)-- A judge has lowered the bond for a western Pennsylvania woman charged in a crash that killed one police officer and injured another.

The New Castle News reports that during a preliminary hearing Thursday the bond for 26-year-old Kylee Gwen Barletto was lowered to $100,000 with the condition that she'll placed under house arrest if released. The case was also held for trial.

Barletto is charged with homicide by vehicle in the May 2 death of part-time officer William "Jerry" McCarthy IV.

Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa says he plans to transfer Barletto from the county jail to another facility "for her safety."

New Castle police say Barletto was driving erratically with a suspended license when she crashed into McCarthy's cruiser about 45 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

Court backs Slippery Rock professor's firing

Associated Press — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A divided state appeals court is backing the firing of a Slippery Rock University sports management professor for sexually explicit talk with students during a night of drinking in Madrid three years ago.

Commonwealth Court issued a 2-to-1 decision Friday that said an arbitrator erred last year in ruling the school acted improperly in dismissing Robert "Robin" Ammon Jr.

The majority opinion says Ammon asked the students at a Madrid bar how many sexual partners they'd had, claimed himself to have had more than 100, and said one woman would be his favorite student if she performed oral sex on him.

The opinion says when he was told later about his behavior, he was "shocked and upset" and apologized.

Messages for Ammon and his lawyer weren't returned.

I-80 eastbound restricted after Mercer Co. fuel spill

Associated Press — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

BROOKVILLE, Pa. (AP)-- A three-mile stretch of eastbound Interstate 80 in Mercer County has been partially reopened after a fuel spill caused by a crash.

State police have yet to release details of the crash which was reported shortly after 6 a.m. Monday. But PennDOT spokeswoman Deborah Casadei says the crash involved a single tractor-trailer.

The spill closed the eastbound lanes between Exit 78 at Brookville and Exit 81 at Hazen. The fuel spill occurred near the Brookville exit.

A lane restriction began allowing traffic through the area by about 11 a.m. The lanes were expected to fully reopen about noon.

Nicholson Stepping Down as Head Men's Golf Coach

The Westminster College Sports Information Office — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- Westminster College veteran coach Gene Nicholson has decided to step down as the head men's golf coach effective May 31. The search for his replacement for this part-time position will begin immediately.

Nicholson finished his 13th season at the helm of the Titan men's golf program in 2013 and was his 44th year overall as a coach at Westminster.

"This represents the end of an era in Westminster athletics," stated Westminster's Athletic Director Jim Dafler. "Although Gene retired from full-time teaching and coaching in 2007, he remained an active and dedicated staff member in the part-time position of men's golf coach."

A three-time Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Coach of the Year, Nicholson guided the Titans to three-straight league titles from 2002 through 2005. The 2004-05 season was perhaps Nicholson's best year as the Titan golf coach as Westminster captured five invitational titles, its third-straight PAC championship, and its first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships.

Nicholson, a member of the Titan Sports Hall of Fame, is best known as the former head football coach at Westminster from 1991-98. During that time, he led the Titan football program to a record of 64-25-2 (.714) in eight seasons, including posting an undefeated regular season in 1992 and capturing the school's sixth NAIA Division II national championship in 1994. Nicholson served as an assistant coach on all five of the other NAIA national championship Westminster football teams and overall coached in nine NAIA national championship games.

In addition to football and men's golf, Nicholson also served as the head coach for swimming, tennis, wrestling, and track and field during his tenure at Westminster.

"In addition to his coaching duties, Gene was always willing to pitch in wherever needed and many of us on the current staff have benefitted from his counsel and years of experience," Dafler added. "All told he gave 44 years of service to Westminster and Titan athletics, and he will be missed."