Senate Republicans name former Cameron County commissioner Tony Moscato to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

By KARI ANDREN, The Patriot-News State Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, named Tony Moscato as the Senate Republican appointee on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.Moscato, a four-term Cameron County commissioner and former staffer in the lieutenant governor's office, will begin his two-year term on Feb. 14.The Gaming Control Board is composed of seven members: one appointed by each legislative caucus (House and Senate Republicans and Democrats) and three appointed by the governor. The post carries a salary of $145,000. More...

GE Emporium Retirees

Several recent retirees were honored at an IUE-CWA Local 88607 meeting. Union Secretary Cathey Beldin presented them each with a watch to commemorate their years of service to Motor Coils Manufacturing.
From left to right: Secretary Beldin, Mary Catalone(26 years service), Mike Alloe (31 years service) and Linda Moore (33 years service)

Elk County's Joe Beimel Coming Back To Pirates

Reliever Beimel returns to Pirates
By Rob Biertempfel, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEWSaturday, January 29, 2011
A familiar face in a familiar place was enough to lure left-handed reliever Joe Beimel back to the Pirates.
Beimel on Friday signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. If he makes the big league club — a near certainty, given the Pirates' need for lefty bullpen help — Beimel will make $1.75 million with a chance at up to $300,000 more in incentives.
Beimel, 33, grew up in St. Mary's in Elk County, about a three-hour drive northeast of PNC Park. He was drafted by the Pirates in 1998 out of Duquesne and made his big league debut with them in 2001.
"It's nice to be coming back home," he said. "I grew up rooting for the Pirates, so if this is the year they turn it around, I want to be part of it. It would be really special for me and my family."
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Four Cited For Criminal Mischief In Potter County Incident In November

Three Emporium men and a Hummelstown womanhave been cited for Criminal Mischief in District Court 55-4-03 as a result of an investigation into an incident back in November when the back window of a Mansfield woman's car was broken out as it traveled on Rt. 6 near Rt. 449 in Ulysses Township.On November 20 at 11:00 pm, Melanie Stoudt, 24, of Mansfield, PA, was traveling east on Route 6 when unknown actors passed her vehicle. While passing, someone struck the vehicle with an unknown object, shattering the rear window.The actors then turned around and fled the scene.Troopers investigation revealed that the four persons accused, listed below, were operating and/or in the vehicle that passed and caused $200,00 damage to the back window of the Stoudt vehicle.Dustin Erskine, 22, Emporium, PAChristopher Grovanz, 31, Emporium, PAJoshua Catalone, 28, Emporium, PAJessica Kline, 22, Hummelstown, PAAll four were cited with a summary violation of Criminal Mischief in District Court 55-4-03.

Photo of the Day

The Emporium All-Stars cheer squad gave an exhibition during the Baguba match against SHeffield ...more photos at camconative.com

Major Injuries In Route 120 Crash Thursday Afternoon

Two women and a 2 year old boy were hospitalized with major injuries after their vehicles crashed Thursday afternoon at 4:15 pm on Route 120, 1/4 mile west of Beechwood Road.Dr. Saira Bano, 37, of Emporium, PA, was driving a 2004 Toyota Camry east on snow covered Route 120 when she lost control of the vehicle while rounding a right curve in the roadway. Her vehicle spun 180 degrees clockwise and into the path of a westbound 2005 Honda Element, driven by Bonnie L. Halquist, 33, of St. Marys, PA.The two vehicles collided in the westbound lane, Bano's rear end into Halquist's front end. After impact, both vehicles crossed into the eastbound lane and came to rest.Bano and Halquist both sustained major injuries, as did the 2 year old boy in Bano's vehicle. All occupants were wearing seat belts or restrained in a child seat. Dr. Saira Bano is a physician at the Emporium Health Center operated by Charles Cole Memorial Hospital.Emporium Fire Dept., Emporium and St. Marys Ambulance, and St. Marys & Emporium Fire Police assisted troopers at the scene. Traffic was backed up for a long time while fire rescue personnel extricated the victims and prepared them for transport to Elk Regional Health Center in St. Marys. The vehicles were towed from the scene.
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Cameron Co. Gets Money from Settlement

The Cameron County School District will receive more than $160,000 as a result of a bid-rigging settlement with Bank of America.

Between 1998 and 2003 Bank of American along with other financial institutions rigged bids, causing school districts and municipalities to enter into contracts that cost more or earned less than they should have in a competitive marketplace.

The St. Marys Area School District will receive more than $35,000.

http://attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=5913