Jacket columnist Kyle Edwards talks about how banning books is illogical. Read more on B2
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Borough Council focuses on construction, sewer plant By Sarah Bell
Arts & Life Editor Waynesburg Borough Mayor Blair Zimmerman decided to change the regularly scheduled order of events at the Waynesburg Borough Council meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. Before conducting the scheduled meeting, the mayor and the rest of the Council recognized senior nursing students at Waynesburg University for their heroic actions in late February. Zimmerman decided to recognize the students before the meet-
ing officially started because he did not want the students to have to sit through the hourlong meeting. “I know finals are coming up soon,” he said. After giving each of the students and Dr. Sara Clutter, associate professor of nursing at the university, certificates for their heroic actions, the students and professors left, and the regularly scheduled Waynesburg Borough Council meeting began. After approving the minutes, bills and Mayor’s report from
March, Bruce Wermlinger, borough manager, gave project updates to the Council. According to Wermlinger, workers have started construction on Huffman Street. The construction was originally planned to enhance both sides of the street, but now work will only be done on the west side of the street to save $8,000, he said. Huffman Street demolition starts today, if weather permits. Wermlinger said the project should take four to five weeks to com-
Photo by Sarah Bell
The Waynesburg Borough Council met on Monday night to discuss plans for upcoming construction projects and the local sewer treatment plant. plete. In addition, the Margaret Bell Miller School Trail Grant is currently in the design phase.
Saying farewell
The grant will provide a safe route to school for students, Wermlinger said. According to
See BOROUGH on B4
PennDOT, borough construction ahead of schedule for Spring By Kyle Edwards Region Editor
PennDOT crews were assigned to “prep forms for bridge repair on Routes 221 [Dunn Station Road] and 4021 [Deerlick Station Road], flush bridge decks of debris on various county roads, take care of major patch work and concrete repair on Route 21 [East Roy Furman Highway], conduct shoulder cutting and grading and slide repair on Route 2011 [Garards Fort Road] and major slide repair on Route 3001 [Aleppo Road],” according to the release. Peterson explained that most of these procedures are just simple repairs. PennDOT isn’t the only organization that was able to get a head start on construction.
Early spring has PennDot, Borough crews on the move With the arrival of an early spring, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spring maintenance is in full swing. PennDOT crews will be conducting and overseeing multiple projects on several of the county’s roads. Valerie Peterson, PennDOT spokeswoman, said that the weather’s cooperation has really helped to get the ball rolling as far as construction goes. According to a press release by the Greene County PennDOT office, that maintenance began with roads in the Uniontown area See CONSTRUCTION on B4 last week.
DeWeese gives farewell speech, thanks supporters By Stephanie Laing Assignments Editor Amidst controversy surrounding Pennsylvania’s former Democratic state House leader, Bill DeWeese said he is hopeful that the appeals courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will rule in his favor, once again giving him the opportunity to serve the people. “As the great world keeps spinning forward, I will continue to do all I can to project a positive, resilient and yet humble perspective to my daily chores,” said DeWeese. “To the best of my ability at the appropriate opportunity, I shall continue to be as active as possible in the civic life of my home area.” DeWeese continues to run unopposed in the primary elections for the Democratic nomination to serve another term, and if elected, he will have an opportunity to run in the November elections. However, DeWeese said he plans to resign the seat he has held since 1976 if sentenced. And in his farewell
Wermlinger, the number one priority for the borough is to identify
Photos courtesy of pahouse.com
Rep. Bill DeWeese offers some farewell remarks to his colleagues in the House of Representatives on April 4. DeWeese is scheduled to be sentenced April 24. speech on the chamber floor last Tuesday, April 3, DeWeese avoided political discussion. Instead he discussed gratitude, humility and friendship. DeWeese thanked his mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, nephew, niece and girlfriend for having a strong, durable and ultimately positive attitude through the past months. He did not stop with his immediate friends and family, but thanked all those he represented in the 50th Legislative District. “We are all endeavoring to do our best. Mistakes are made, and that is where humility
comes in,” DeWeese said in his farewell address. “I am not as humble as I want to be, but I am a lot more humble than I used to be.” DeWeese finished his speech thanking other representatives of the house – staff and members alike. “His speech was about him. It wasn’t about the constituents. I never heard an apology,” said Mark Fischer, who is seeking the GOP nomination in the primary. “I think that is bad – there should have been an apology. Whether he wants to admit guilt or not, he
should have apologized for the situation.” Fischer, who thinks the situation surrounding DeWeese is deplorable, believes DeWeese’s interests will overshadow the needs of the people he is representing. “If you look past the political theater, the bottom line is that we have no representation, and that is the responsibility of DeWeese for playing that scenario out this way,” said Fischer. If DeWeese runs through the primary, he could step down and
Bowlby Library prepares for first carnival and fair
The Eva K. Bowlby is celebrating National Library Week by offering fine free week to all Greene County residents with overdue materials. Whether you are a job seeker looking for resources to land a new job, a parent looking for free activities for children or a student searching for your next favorite book, you belong at your library. In conjunction with NLW, the Family Literacy Program at the library is hosting its first Carnival and Vendor Fair Saturday, See DEWEESE on B4 April 14, from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Registration at the event is $1 for children and $5 for adults or a group rate of $10 per family. The public is invited to attend. Adults are invited to visit a variety of vendors within the library. Representatives from Back Alley Shop, Our Glass, Sabika Jewelry, Thirty-One products, Longaberger Baskets, Greene County Soap Company, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Pampered Chef, Initials Inc., Scentsy, Nanette’s See LIBRARY on B4