WJPA News

Officials with the North Franklin Volunteer Fire Company are warning residents of a possible scammer. They say someone is actively soliciting donations by telephone. That’s something they don’t do to raise funds. In addition, there are also emails claiming to be registering vendors for the company’s upcoming Food Truck Festival. They urge everyone to take caution with any fundraising effort. Anyone interested in volunteering, donating, or taking part in the Food Truck Festival can visit the North Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page for more information.

NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a near-drowning in Washington County. According to WPXI-TV, troopers were called to Pine Nut Drive in Nottingham Township around 2:40 p.m. on Friday for a child who was not breathing, PSP Public Information Officer Rocco Gagliardi said. First responders arrived on scene determined that a 5-year-old boy had been submerged in an in-ground pool behind a home. Family members had pulled the boy out of the pool by the time first responders arrived, Gagliardi said. Troopers performed CPR on the boy for about 20 minutes with EMS on scene. From there, first responders began evaluating his status and where he could be transported, Gagliardi said. Ultimately, after another 40 minutes of CPR, the boy was taken by ambulance to a medical helicopter, which flew him to a Pittsburgh hospital.The boy is currently in critical condition, Gagliardi said. PSP’s investigation so far shows that the incident was accidental. It appears that the near-drowning happened during a family party with people going in and out of the pool. “It just became a real quick question of where is he at? And the location was at the bottom of the pool,” Gagliardi said. PSP continues to investigate the circumstances of the incident, including how long the child was in the water.

Officials say Lithium batteries in a maintenance room were the cause of a fire at the City Mission in downtown Washington Friday morning.  Washington County 911 says the fire was reported around 7:30 a.m.  Washington City Fire Chief Chris Richer tells WJPA News the batteries were properly mounted to a charging shelf above a chair and once they combusted the chair caught fire.  Richer says the buildings sprinkler system put the fire out and crews found minimal fire but there was heavy smoke.  The entire complex was evacuated but no injuries resulted.  The fire has been ruled accidental. City Mission President and CEO Diana Irey Vaughan says the fire was in the single men’s residence area near the cafeteria.

PennDOT’s District 12 Washington County Maintenance Update For June

Uniontown, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Washington County Maintenance Manager Brian Malik has announced a slate of work for the week of June 1. Bridge replacement work on Brush Run Road continues in Canton Township. Boom mowing will take place along Grange Road and Clover Hill Road in West Pike Run Township, as well as Clinton Frankfort Rd in Hanover Township. The detour remains from Brush Run Road to Jefferson Avenue to Scenic Drive. Crack sealing will take place throughout the County. Ditch line cleaning and repair continues along Enon Church Road in West Finley Township and State Line Road in Jefferson Township. Mowing takes place on Route 22, ramp 8046 in Hanover Township, Interstate 70 Ramp 8014 on Jefferson Avenue in the City of Washington, as well as South Bridge Road in Buffalo Township, and Rt 837 in Donora. Crews will also be rock lining in Carroll and Somerset Townships, stabilizing shoulders and repairing slides throughout the County. Crews will pick litter, replace downed signs, update existing signs, and perform other tasks throughout the County. PennDOT has a toll-free number—1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623)—for residents to report road maintenance concerns and the locations of dead deer on state highways. All maintenance activities are dependent on weather and operations. PennDOT says drivers can anticipate detours, flaggers, moving operations, and/or single-lane restrictions. And they encourage everyone to drive safely.

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — For many in Congo and elsewhere in Central and West Africa, there is no shame in craving wild meat, a key part of the culture. Even a disease as terrifying as Ebola, which is currently ravaging a remote part of eastern Congo, has failed to stem demand for wild meat emerging from the Congo Basin. The Congo Basin is an expansive forested ecosystem rich in wildlife from great apes to serpents — both of which are hunted for their meat. Although Ebola is not spread by food, cases in Africa have been associated with hunting, butchering and processing meat from infected animals.

SINGAPORE (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Pacific allies Saturday that Washington remains committed to the region while softening past comments that described China as an imminent threat. Speaking at the Shangri-La defense conference in Singapore, Hegseth said U.S. policy aims to preserve a favorable balance of power and prevent any country from dominating the Indo-Pacific. His remarks came after President Donald Trump met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing and praised prospects for U.S.-China ties. Hegseth said there is no change in U.S. policy toward Taiwan but declined to address a pending arms package. He also urged Asian allies to increase defense spending.