Connellsville teachers told to pack quickly

Teachers in the Connellsville Area School District are complaining they had to quickly collect their personal items this week.

Jane Sandusky, Connellsville Area Education Association (CAEA) president and a Dunbar Borough Elementary School teacher, confirmed that she had received the directive on Wednesday morning, but some teachers had not been notified until only hours before the close of school on Thursday.

“Those teachers affected by this are upset that the district would issue this directive,” she said. “It adds more pressure to an already challenging situation.”

The Dunbar school, along with South Side and Connellsville Township elementary schools, was officially closed after students were dismissed on Thursday. The three buildings are part of a district consolidation plan approved recently by the school board.

Sandusky, who will be relocated, has taught for more than 30 years, and to pack the countless books, supplies, a table and other items would prove to be a huge undertaking, especially on such short notice, she said.

“The idea of emptying out 34 years worth of personal items and instructional items that I have personally purchased over these many years, is not feasible,” she said. “As an elementary teacher, most of what we have is personal material and I would expect it would be the same at the secondary level.”

Two killed in East Huntingdon collision

State police said the drivers of two cars were killed in a collision on Route 119, just south of Route 31, at 4:12 p.m. Thursday. Police said Joseph B. Halley, 18, of Hunker and Norman J. Peretti, 49, of Scottdale died in the accident. Police said Halley was driving north in the left lane when his car traveled about 50 feet through the grass median and entered the left southbound lane where it traveled for about 80 feet. Peretti applied the brakes for about 60 feet before the cars collided head-on, police said. After the impact, Halley’s car went about 25 feet to the north before it rolled on to its roof and then traveled another 25 feet before stopping, police said. Both southbound lanes were blocked following the accident. The Westmoreland County coroner’s office pronounced Halley dead at the scene and Peretti was pronounced dead at Frick Excela Hospital. Police ask anybody who witnessed the accident to call the barracks at 724-832-3288.

Concert series kicks off Monday

The bands are set and the food will be hot for the Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority’s annual Storey Square Summer Concert Series, which kicks off Monday.

Like last year, jazz trombonist Harold Betters, a Connellsville native, will perform at the first and events of the series.

The free concert series is held in Storey Square on Main Street in downtown Uniontown every Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 25.

People planning to attend should bring lawn chairs because seating will not provided.

Weather

The weather this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service, will be mostly sunny with highs in the lower 80s and south winds around 10 mph.

The weather tonight will be partly cloudy in the evening then mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms likely after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

There will be showers and thunderstorms Saturday with highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of rain is 70 percent.

Saturday night will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the upper 50s. West winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Artist wants Hardy’s ex-wife to pay up

A Fayette County artist wants a judge to force Debra Hardy, the ex-wife of 84 Lumber magnate Joe Hardy, to pay $75,000 for a decorative tea room mural.

Artist Carolyn Quinn, of Chalk Hill, says the 150-square-foot mural featured life-sized French dancers and ornate flowers and other details.

Quinn says she and Hardy never agreed on a price when they struck the oral agreement for her to paint the mural. Quinn is basing her price on the 1,430 hours it took to paint, plus materials and mileage to and from her business to Hardy’s mansion in Rostraver.

Debra Hardy was the second wife of Joe Hardy, the multimillionaire founder of 84 Lumber.

Patsy Hillman Park Board to meet tonight

The Patsy Hillman Park Board will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Patsy Hillman Pavilion in the park to consider the master site plan that will be used for future development at the park.
Included in all plan alternatives are public sewerage and water lines, an enviornmental education center and walking/biking trails. the alternative favored at a recent public meeting includes an 18-hole golf course, an amphitheater and additional sports fields.

Fire department cited for violations

A Fayette County volunteer fire company is facing multiple charges after allegedly violating state liquor laws last month.
According to the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement in Pittsburgh, the Luzerne Township Volunteer Fire Department was cited for operating gambling devices and serving alcoholic beverages to non-members.
Police said when agents infiltrated the fire department April 5 they discovered that in addition to non-members of the fire company being served alcohol, gambling involving broadcast horse races was being conducted.
The charges will be brought before an administrative law judge who can impose penalties ranging from $50 to $5,000 in fines as well as liquor license suspension or revocation.

Smoke causes Uniontown City Hall evacuation

Uniontown City Hall was evacuated for about 25 minutes Wednesday morning after a fire in an air conditioning unit filled the building with smoke.
About a dozen people who had been working in the building gathered outside shortly before 9 a.m. as firefighters swept through the structure.
After ensuring that the building was not on fire, firefighters set up fans to try and ventilate the thick smoke accumulating inside the structure.
See Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard for more information.

Single Lane Restrictions North and Southbound – North of Kirby Exit in Greene

UNIONTOWN (May 27) – PennDOT District 12 would like to inform motorists that a section of Interstate 79 just north of the Kirby Exit between mile markers 7 and 8 has a single lane restriction. These restrictions, which are in both the north and southbound directions, are in place due to some surface cracking as a result of longwall mining. Traffic is restricted to the right lane.

Hearing continued for Uniontown man

A preliminary hearing was continued today for a Uniontown man charged with attempted homicide and several other charges in two incidents that occurred in Uniontown last year.
Glenn Michael Shuford Jr. is charged with two counts each of criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person as well as single counts of terroristic threats and carrying a firearm without a license in two shooting incidents that occurred in July.
Shuford is also charged with simple assault, harassment and terroristic threats following an altercation with his former paramour in September.
The hearing has been rescheduled for June 24 in Uniontown.