Hits and misses
Morgan Meer presents a ceremonial check to Meadowcroft director David Scofield.
A view of Interstate 70 work from earlier this year
Burgess
Joe Tuscano/Observer-Reporter
Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson-Morgan works to free himself of Avery Bassett of Midd-West in the 126-pound first round of the PIAA Class AA Championships in Hershey.
HIT: Getting something for nothing usually begs the question, “What’s the catch?”
In this case – the city of Washington getting a park project completed free of charge – there is none. Lane Construction Corp., contracted by the state to widen Interstate 70, needs to unload about 1 million cubic yards of dirt, a byproduct of the road work. It just so happens Washington Park could use some dirt to fill an area behind the Stone Pavilion. As an added bonus, Lane will build an access road connecting to Clare Drive on that side of the park for use as an emergency park exit.
“It’s a win-win,” said Tim Harden, assistant project manager for Lane.
It certainly is.
MISS: We reported this week that a state prison inmate’s request for documents related to his arrest and subsequent conviction has gone ignored by Washington police, despite last year’s state Office of Open Records ruling upholding the request. Robert Benney, imprisoned at the State Correctional Institution – Coal Township, is taking his case to the Washington County Court of Common Pleas in an effort to force police to provide him with documents related to the department’s forensic testing and procedures.
Whether the request is being made by a newspaper reporter or a prison inmate, public agencies are required under the state Right-to-Know Law to make records public when asked.
HIT: We can’t help but be impressed by Morgan Meer, the Mt. Lebanon High School junior who raised more than $10,000 for Meadowcroft Rockshelter – roughly $7,000 more than she anticipated.
As president of the state Children of the American Revolution, Meer was tasked with leading a fundraiser and selected the rockshelter as the recipient of her efforts. She sold T-shirt and lapel pins at speaking engagements where she talked about the rockshelter’s historical significance. Clearly, members of the organizations where she spoke were impressed and donated money to her cause. The proceeds will be used for new interpretative panels on the rockshelter’s observation platform.
MISS: A Bethel Park man who punched an Indian man in the head during an anti-Muslim rant at a restaurant at South Hills Village Mall nearly two years ago won’t spend a single day in jail for the unprovoked attack. Jeffrey Allen Burgess was sentenced to just probation and four months of house arrest for his attack on Ankur Mehta, who was using an electronic tablet and earbuds at the time and was unaware of the comments Burgess was making.
“I don’t want you sitting next to me, you people,” Bethel Park police said Burgess told the man.
Funny, but we hold Mr. Burgess in similar regard.
HIT: Congratulations are extended to Jefferson-Morgan High School wrestler Gavin Teasdale, who, for his 162-2 record and four PIAA titles, earned this year’s Observer-Reporter Sports Headliner Award, which will be presented to him later this month at the Tri-County Coaches Athletic Directors Coach of the Year Banquet. With his win last month in Hershey, Teasdale became only the 13th four-time champion in the tournament’s 81-year history and the second J-M wrestler to accomplish the feat.
We extend our best wishes to him as he embarks on his collegiate career at Penn State and pursues new goals of making the U.S. National Team, winning NCAA tournament titles and qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team.