Looking back – Jan. 5
A look at some of the headlines gracing the pages of the Observer-Reporter and Waynesburg Republican this week in Greene County history:
Nalitz sworn in as new president judge
WAYNESBURG – Judge William Nalitz became the first new president judge of Greene County Court in 23 years Monday.
During a brief ceremony at the county courthouse, the outgoing president judge, H. Terry Grimes, administered the oath of office to his successor as dozens of attorneys, county workers and well-wishers looked on.
“It is with great confidence that I relinquish the powers of president judge onto you,” Grimes said.
Grimes retired Friday after 23 years on the bench.
Even though the local court system has a new leader, not much will change in the near future because Grimes will remain working at the courthouse part time as a senior judge. He will continue to primarily preside over criminal matters, and Nalitz’s focus will remain on civil cases.
Toothman out as commissioner, in as counselor
WAYNESBURG – Farley Toothman may no longer have a seat on the Greene County Board of Commissioners, but thanks to a decision Monday by the current county leaders, the Waynesburg attorney will still play a significant role in county politics.
In their first meeting of the year, commissioners hired Toothman as the county’s chief legal councel.
David Hook used to fill that role, but he will now take a pay cut and work as a solicitor under the former commissioner. Former district attorney David Pollock also will join the county’s legal staff as another solicitor.
Commissioners said the new system will be cheaper and hold the county’s attorneys’ more accountable, over the old method of relying on only one solicitor.
Commissioner Pam Snyder, who replaced Toothman on the board, said politics played no role in her predecessor’s appointment. Instead, the hiring of Toothman was fueled by his drive and ability to handle the day-to-day administrative tasks.
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Judge rules Hatfield value for 2002-04
WAYNESBURG – Greene County Judge William Nalitz issued an order Monday establishing new taxable values for 2002 through 2004 for Allegheny Energy Supply Co.’s Hatfield Ferry Power Station.
Acting on the company’s appeal, Nalitz set the value of the 1,660-megawatt, coal-fired plant and plant property at $7,000,700 for each of the three years. The value of the plant’s adjacent landfill property, which also was under appeal, was set at $174,000.
The new values are lower than those argued by the county board of assessment appeals and the Southeastern Greene School District at hearings this summer, but higher than values argued by the company.
During the hearings, an expert for the county assessment appeals board and school district testified the value of the plant and the 146.54-acre plant site should be set at $11,567,100 and the value of the 165.7-acre landfill at $1,276,500.
The company’s expert maintained the value of the plant and plant site should be set at $5,630,000 and the value of the landfill at $154,000.
Litigation regarding the taxable value of the plant has been ongoing for several years and has twice been before Commonwealth Court.
Back to school
ROGERSVILLE – A week has passed since students in the West Greene School District stepped off their school buses and moved into the classrooms.
With the third longest strike in Pennsylvania – the strike lasted 59 days and began Sept. 27 – finally at an end, many parents were relieved. Feelings of concern and frustration were replaced by those of joy and happiness.
Even the prospect of foregoing many traditional Christmas holiday festivities failed to dampen the enthusiasm most students felt as they returned to school last Dec. 22.
Several families who had expressed concern about the fate of their children’s education during the strike in an interview with the Observer-Reporter on Nov. 11 said they were delighted and thrilled to see school begin and return to the daily routine.
Department reports on county criminal court cases
The State Department of Justice, in a report just completed, indicated Greene County ranked 43rd of all 67 counties in the number of defendants processed by the county criminal court.
But while the county ranked 43rd in the number of defendants hauled before the court, it is interesting to note that insofar as conviction of defendants is concerned, the department report showed that the county ranked 38th.
More specifically, the department report showed that of the 155 defendants “processed” during the year, 110 were convicted and sentenced – with 70 entering guilty pleas. Thirty-six defendants were found guilty by the court, and four other defendants were found guilty by jury trial.