Looking back
A look at some of the headlines gracing the pages of the Observer-Reporter and Waynesburg Republican this week in Greene County history:
Lawsuit filed against
school district
PITTSBURGH – A 38-page lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, alleging Central Greene School District failed to properly evaluate and provide necessary support for two brothers with disabilities.
The suit, which was brought under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, does not name the plaintiffs, but refers to them by initials – S.G., an 11-year-old with Autism, and A.G., a 14-year-old diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
The suit contends S.G.’s May 2007 Individual Education Program was never modified and he was “unilaterally removed from his ‘inclusion’ classes without notice to (his parents) solely as a result of disability in December 2007 and in direct violation of his IEP.”
The suit also claims S.G. was placed in a more restrictive environment when removed him from his inclusion classes, “caused negative cognitive and social effects as well as mental anguish.”
The suit alleges A.G. suffered from repeated and pervasive bullying in the school, reaching the point in April 2008 that A.G. drafted a “suicide note” that referred to his intention to throw himself down a stairwell to make the pain of the bullying cease.
“The school district took no action with regard to A.G.’s victimization from bullying for a period of almost five years,” the suit said.
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Influx of flu patients hits
Greene Co. medical center
WAYNESBURG – In the last several days, Southwest Regional Medical Center has seen a dramatic increase in the number of patients coming to the emergency department with flu-like symptoms.
In light of these dramatic and sudden increases, Southwest Regional Medical Center has enacted its emergency preparedness plan and initiated its hospital flu command center.
The hospital’s emergency room saw 25 patients with flu-like symptoms Saturday; 28 on Sunday; and 35 on Monday. Prior to this past weekend, the number of patients exhibiting symptoms was in the single digits.
“We believe the current H1N1 flu pandemic warrants a swift, strategic and well-planned response as we rapidly see an increase in patients presenting with flu-like symptoms,” said Cindy Cowie, chief executive officer of Southwest Regional Medical Center. “We have made a decision to enact our emergency plan to properly treat patients in accordance with the latest (Centers for Disease Control) CDC guidelines.”
Restoration group mulls
plans for borough’s future
WAYNESBURG – Members of Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and the classy Victorian atmosphere of the historic Denny House Tuesday as they mused over the past year’s accomplishments as well as the group’s prospects.
“I just have high hopes for the future of Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful. We are making this town really special, which we all know it already is,” said John Owen, the organization’s president.
Perhaps Pat and Bob Gross’ beautifully restored Denny House on High Street could act as inspiration for Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful’s goals to beautify downtown Waynesburg.
The group’s most ambitious plan is to redo the sidewalks on an eight-block stretch on High Street and another four-block portion of Washington Street. Architect’s drawings depicting the changes were on display.
Preliminary plans call for tree-lined streets with at least four different stone types making up the walkways. The sidewalks will be mostly concrete, as they are now, but the surface will be scored to fit in with the brick edging, Belgian block paving and flagstone paving that will accent the sidewalks, especially at the street corners.
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S.E. Greene residents
to review renovation plans
MAPLETOWN – Residents of Southeastern Greene School District will get their chance Nov. 8 to review and comment on plans to renovate Mapletown Junior-Senior High School – an issue that has consumed public discussions at board meetings for months. So contentious has this subject been that last year five candidates who campaigned in opposition to the project were elected to the board.
Gary Yoskovich, chairman of the board’s building and grounds committee, said Thursday the meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the school’s gym to “talk and address the condition of the school. “We need to talk about the direction the school is going,” he said.
Realizing that this is a sensitive issue, board member Denise Clark asked the administration to make sure police are present at the meeting.
“We need to dispel rumors and tell the public what we need to do and what we can afford to do,” Yoskovich said.
The board is considering plans to update the school’s electrical and heating systems and bring the building into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act.
One option calls for repairing the 1923 section of the building at a cost estimated at $2.29 million. The other calls for building an addition to replace the 1923 section and renovating the 1962 section at an estimated cost of $7.2 million, or $5.2 million with state reimbursement.
Engineer describes
rail crash
WAYNESBURG – The engineer of a locomotive that derailed near Dilliner last week said he thought he was going to his death when he rode it over a steep embankment.
“I thought I would be crushed,” said Clark Sealy, 30, of Brownsville.
The Monongahela Railway locomotive went off the track when it struck a pair of train wheels that had been dragged onto the tracks on Route 88, apparently by someone who was attempting to steal them.
The second locomotive, which was immediately behind the one Sealy was operating, was derailed when the tracks spread, but it did not go over the hill. None of the empty coal cars the train was hauling were derailed.
Sealy had high praise for the Bobtown Volunteer Fire Company for its handling of the situation.
North Ward School
doors closed for last time
WAYNESBURG – Nostalgia was mixed with signs of relief as boys and girls walked out of the North Ward School for the last time.
Fond memories were inevitable since the school has played a major part in the town’s education program for the past 106 years.
Mixed with them, though, was the realization that the building is obsolete and has been condemned as a potential fire trap for many years.
Principal Robert Zellers said the 205 students carried their books down to South Ward. The transfer was made possible because students from the South Ward building were moved into the New Miller School established last week in the former high school building.