Herald staff
Fri, May 16 2008
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Weir reinstated as jail guard after nearly 3 years
MERCER COUNTY — A Mercer County Jail guard fired in June 2005 over an incident involving contraband was reinstated Thursday after a nearly three-year long battle in the courts.
Mercer County Commissioners unanimously agreed to reinstate Walter L. Weir at his previous rate as a full-time sergeant in the jail. He will also be given back pay, though county personnel director Bill Boyle did not yet know how much that would amount to.
Weir was fired after being accused of helping to cover up an incident in which another guard brought tobacco into the jail, which was later stolen by an inmate.
A state arbiter, however, investigated the allegations and later ordered Weir to be reinstated with back pay in March 2006, triggering a series of court battles between Weir and the county.
The arbiter was overturned by visiting Senior Judge Paul H. Millin in Mercer County Pleas Court in December 2006.
Millin, in turn, was overturned by a three-judge panel in Commonwealth Court, where Senior Judge James Flaherty said Millin overstepped when he became involved in the facts of the case.
No trial date set for school board slapping case
BROOKFIELD — The case alleging Brookfield school board President Joseph Pasquerilla slapped fellow board member Dr. Ronald Brennan March 5 during a meeting was set to trial Thursday at Eastern District Court, Brookfield, prosecutor Sean O’Brien said.
Pasquerilla, 61, of 7944 W. Lincoln St., Masury, pleaded not guilty to the charge April 3 before Judge Ronald J. Rice.
A date for the trial wasn’t set, O’Brien said.
Teen pleads to lesser charge in weapon case
SHARON — A Sharon teen accused of having a knife when he was arrested last March at Sharon High School pleaded guilty Thursday to disorderly conduct.
Bobby L. Bender Jr., 19, of 432 Malleable St., Sharon, was picked up March 27 on a warrant for possession of a weapon at school, police said.
That charge was withdrawn at a preliminary hearing Thursday before District Judge James E. McMahon, Sharon, in exchange for Bender’s plea to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Police said they found a knife on Bender when he was arrested at the school March 1, 2007, in a separate case. Charges in that case were withdrawn.
Drug charges held to court
SHARON — A man facing drug charges after police arrested him on warrants is headed to common pleas court in the case.
Michael Newberry, 25, whose last known address was 531 Cedar Ave., is charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession of a small amount of marijuana and four counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.
Newberry stipulated those charges to higher court at a preliminary hearing Thursday before District Judge James E. McMahon. That means he acknowledged that if there had been a hearing enough evidence would have been presented for the judge to hold the case for trial.
Police said that when they went inside his home April 27 they smelled marijuana and he gave them permission to search, police said. Police said they found a large amount of marijuana, the ends of two marijuana cigarettes, a water pipe, plastic baggies and a scale.
Newberry’s public defender Charles Gilchrest requested Newberry’s bond be reduced from $50,000 and McMahon set it at $5,000. Newberry posted bond Thursday and was released from Mercer County Jail.
Borough appealing fire contract again
GREENVILLE — The borough of Greenville is again appealing its contract with the firefighters’ union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1976, council president Pete Longiotti said at Thursday’s work session.
The borough plans to file an appeal with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania because council disagrees with manpower issues, he said. The contract says two firefighters should be on duty at all times and fire department apparatus can’t respond to a fire call with less than two firefighters.
The borough in 2006 appealed an arbiter’s ruling on the contract and the issue went to Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas R. Dobson, who ruled in favor on certain items for both parties.
The borough appealed Dobson’s ruling in April 2007 and Commonwealth Court on April 22 ruled that Dobson’s decision stands. Borough officials have argued that the contract didn’t conform to Act 47, the state’s debt recovery plan for financially distressed communities.
Reynolds contract talks said to be progressing
REYNOLDS — Members of the Reynolds Educational Support Personnel Association and school board didn’t settle a new contract Wednesday, but are working toward reaching an agreement.
Union and board representatives negotiated for about three hours and progress was made, said Marcus D. Schlegel of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, which is working with RESPA.
Reynolds Superintendent Maddox B. Stokes, the board’s chief negotiator, said the meeting went well and there was a lot of open discussion that he hopes will lead to a settlement.
No more negotiation sessions have been scheduled, but further communication between the board and union is expected to produce a contract, Schlegel said.
The two parties have been negotiating since January 2005.
State auditor general to speak at senior event
GREENVILLE — State Auditor General Jack Wagner will speak at the Mercer County Area Agency on Aging’s Greenville Area Senior Service Center program, “Is Anybody Watching? The Commonwealth Responds” at 11 a.m. Friday at the Italian Home Club, 69 S. Race St., Greenville.
The auditor general will discuss his role in issues affecting Pennsylvania’s senior citizens and work that has been done in support of veterans groups. The event marks Older Americans Month.
Staff and local reports
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