Input On Claysville Revitalization Remains Consistent

July 14, 2021 3:56 am

The Master Revitalization Steering Committee held their second input meeting on Tuesday to discuss restoration plans for Claysville. The revitalization project seeks to revive businesses and explore new economic opportunities for all nine municipalities. Although more borough residents attended the second meeting, their survey responses were in line with those from the first meeting. There are a few essential common themes shared between the first and second meeting, according to committee member Rick Newton. “Infrastructure, utilities, broadband internet access, cell phone access, sewage- all of those were common themes from last meeting that continued to this meeting”, said Newton. Popular audience topics included repairing old roads, developing new young centers, preserving lakes and trails, and removing dilapidated houses. Some people, like Morris inhabitant Dale Leech, complained about the deteriorating buildings around their property. Leech proposes that these buildings should be sold and “put back onto the taxbase for the property value” before any new houses are built from the plan. For the second meeting, there was reportedly a greater demand for retail centers to be built in areas like Taylorstown. The committee’s consultant, Herbert, Rolland, and Grubic Inc., will count all of the survey responses and officially publish their results on the committee website.

Ohio University Suspends Fraternity For Four Years

July 14, 2021 3:44 am

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A week after the state enacted an anti-hazing law in honor of an Ohio University student who died in 2018, the university suspended another fraternity for allegedly violating hazing rules. The Athens-based school sent the Beta Chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity a notice Tuesday that it will be suspended for four years. An investigation by the university revealed a pattern of student code of conduct violations. It’s not clear what prompted the investigation. The suspension follows Gov. Mike DeWine signing a bill into law that places tougher penalties for hazing at Ohio universities and colleges starting this fall.

The 2021 Emmy Nominations Are Out

July 13, 2021 12:56 pm

LOS ANGELES (AP) – “The Crown” tied with “The Mandalorian” for the most Emmy nominations Tuesday, 24 each, but the Marvel universe also got bragging rights with runner-up “WandaVision.” The nominations reinforced the rapid rise of streaming, with the top-nominated scripted shows on services that largely emerged in the past two years. In the top three categories – drama, comedy and limited series – only the NBC show “This Is Us” snagged a nomination. The nominees for best drama series are: “The Boys”; “Bridgerton”; “The Crown”; “The Handmaid’s Tale”; “Lovecraft Country”; “The Mandalorian”; “Pose”; “This Is Us.” CBS will air the Emmy Awards on Sept. 19.

Motorcyclist Injured In I-79 Crash

July 13, 2021 8:20 am

An unidentified man was injured in a motorcycle crash late Monday night in Amwell Township. Washington County 9-1-1 says it happened just before 11:30 p.m. near Exit 30, Amity/Lone Pine. A motorist came upon the motorcycle on the side of the highway and then found the operator a short distance away. The man was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. There is no word on his condition.

Emergency Crews Busy After Storm Hits

July 13, 2021 8:03 am

A powerful storm system rolled through Washington County early Tuesday morning. Emergency crews were busy dealing with fires, flooding and other issues. Fire crews were called to a house fire in the City of Washington just after the system rolled through. Fire was reported in the attic and behind the walls of a three-story, multi-family home in the 400 block of E. Maiden St. Everyone got out safely but there is no word on what sparked the fire. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers say fire fighters were also called to a lightning strike at a home in the 8-hundred block of S. Central Avenue in North Strabane. Firefighters also responded to a large shed fire behind a home along Valley View Dr. in Union Township. The heavy downpours also resulted in flooding. A portion of West Pike Street in Canonsburg flooded, as did some homes and businesses along Georgetown Rd. in Cecil Township. The storm also knocked out power to some 900 West Penn Power customers throughout Washington County.

Texas Republicans Seek To Arrest Texas Democrats

July 13, 2021 4:14 am

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas Republicans are authorizing law enforcement to find and bring back more than 50 legislators who fled to Washington “under warrant of arrest if necessary” after Democrats left the state to again block passage of sweeping new voting restrictions. Still, it was not immediately clear Tuesday whether state troopers would actually be sent to Washington, where they would have no jurisdiction to make arrests. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has already threatened Democrats with arrest once they return home, which may not be until the current 30-day session is over. The move by Republicans was expected after most Democrats in the Texas House boarded private planes Monday to deny GOP the quorum necessary to conduct business.

“Night Court” Actor Charlie Robinson Dead At 75

July 13, 2021 4:13 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Charlie Robinson, the versatile and prolific actor who was best known for his long-running role as the court clerk Mac Robinson in the sitcom “Night Court,” has died. He was 75. His manager said Robinson died Sunday at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. His many credits ranged from stage productions of “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Fences” to such films as “Secret Santa” and “Miss Lettie and Me.” On television, he also appeared in the acclaimed, but short-lived “Buffalo Bill”; “Home Improvement”; “The Game” and “Hart of Dixie” among other series. The Houston-native’s recent credits include the teleplay “Some Old Black Man” and the stage play “The Last Romance,” co-starring Michael Learned.

Wildfires Threaten Homes, Land Across 10 States

July 13, 2021 4:12 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Wildfires that have torched homes and forced thousands to evacuate are burning across 10 parched Western states, and the largest, in Oregon, is threatening California’s power supply. Nearly 60 large, active wildfires are burning from Alaska to Wyoming. California’s largest has prompted evacuations on both sides of the Nevada state line. The largest fire in the U.S. is the Bootleg Fire in Oregon. It remains out of control after burning an area nearly twice the size of Portland and disrupting power transmission lines to California. The good news is that forecasters say a heat wave over the West seems to be easing in many areas.

W.Va. Department Of Encourages Vaccinations

July 13, 2021 4:10 am

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – The West Virginia Department of Education has a new program to encourage students, teachers and staff to get their COVID-19 vaccinations. The department says the “I Got Vaxxed Competition” will award $5,000 each to a high school, a middle school and an elementary school for having the highest percentage of eligible people vaccinated. The winners will be announced the week of Oct. 3. School participation is voluntary. Students ages 12 and older and all teachers and staff are eligible for the vaccine.

Biden Says Preserving Voting Rights Is Imperative

July 13, 2021 4:08 am

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – President Joe Biden is declaring that preserving voting rights is “a test of our time” as he urges passage of federal legislation to combat efforts by Republican-led state legislatures to restrict access to ballots. Biden laid out what the White House called “the moral case” for voting rights in a speech in Philadelphia Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, Democratic Texas state legislators took dramatic action to stymie their state’s latest effort in a nationwide Republican push to tighten ballot restrictions. They took flight to Washington to keep the Texas Legislature from a quorum that would allow legislative action.  (Photo:  AP)