Archive - Oct 11, 2011
On Tuesday afternoon, forensic pathologist Dr. Eric Vey, M.D., of the Erie County Coroner's Office, was at the Elk County Courthouse presenting details on the cause of death of Irene Challingsworth during the homicide trial of Lawrence Earl Donachy, 36, of St. Marys. Donachy has been charged with rape, murder and other counts in the death of Challingsworth, which took place on April 6, 1999.
Elk County District Attorney Bradley Kraus and defense attorneys George Daghir and Shawn McMahon accepted Vey as an expert witness in forensic pathology as part of the trial.
During the second day of the trial of Lawrence Earl Donachy, testimony was heard from Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Jeff Lee, former St. Marys City Police Sergeant Phil Hoh and Denise Zuchowski, Donachy's former roommate. Donachy, 36, of St. Marys, is charged in the April 6, 1999 rape and murder of Irene Challingsworth, a St. Marys beautician.
ST. MARYS – In order to promote breast cancer awareness and honor those who have had the disease, Elk Regional Health Center (ERHC) produced a video featuring employees from throughout the Elk Regional Health System performing the "Pink Glove Dance." The video, which was unveiled at ERHC's "Pink Palooza" event held on Sept. 22, is eligible to win $10,000 to be used for promoting breast cancer awareness in Elk County and surrounding communities.
The former treasurer of the Ridgway Volunteer Fire Department has been charged with the misappropriation of at least $14,500 over a 21-month period.
According to the Ridgway Borough Police Department, Philip James McKay Jr., 59, of 403 W. Main St., Ridgway, was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge George King.
Ridgway Area School District superintendent Dr. Michael O'Brien responded to Gov. Tom Corbett's push for taxpayer-paid vouchers during Tuesday night's school board meeting.
"The governor is marching along with his desire for vouchers to take public money and send that to private or charter schools regardless of whether there is a religious affiliation or not and the amazing part for me is as I looked at the PSPA [Pennsylvania Schools Press Association] report; eight consecutive years now Pennsylvania public education has outperformed the predictions of the state," O'Brien said.
JOHNSONBURG – Several Johnsonburg residents attended Monday afternoon's Johnsonburg Borough Council lodging complaints against the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad for a schedule change that is disturbing nearby residents late into the night.
Concerned resident Ryan Miller of 411 Ridgway Ave. said the schedule changed at the end of April.
"They [B&P] constructed a 3/4 mile siding track at the intersection of the water plant and since the beginning of May they have switched their rail schedules and now they are switching tracks three times during the night," Miller said.
