Hits & misses
HIT: It is encouraging to hear that the number of people dying from drug overdoses in Greene County appears to have “stabilized” last year, but more attention needs to be given to fighting addiction. Coroner records show that 11 people died from overdoses in 2024, which is up slightly compared to 2023, when 10 suffered fatal overdoses. The outlook is promising, however, as more residents of the county are learning about services available to fight drug addiction. “The overdose task force has helped to consolidate many agencies of the county,” said Marty Yoskovich, deputy coroner and chairman of the Greene County Drug Overdose Task Force. “There are systems in place, there are contacts in place. … The word needs to get out there that there are lots of services in place if they want them.” In addition, a recovery house with 10 beds is expected to open this summer in Carmichaels.
HIT: Congratulations to several local educators who have been selected as semifinalists for the 2026 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. The annual award recognizes teachers who demonstrate dedication, innovation and impact in the classroom. Among the two dozen finalists, selected by the state Department of Education, are Stacie Doman, kindergarten teacher, and Chelsea Geist, high school zoology and environmental science teacher, Canon-McMillan School District; Kathleen Foster, world languages teacher, Bethel Park School District; Jennifer Nesser, Laurel Highlands School District; Madeline Loring, elementary math teacher, Jefferson-Morgan School District; Rebecca Showalter, elementary music teacher, Mt. Lebanon School District; and Karlie Wright, agriculture education teacher, West Greene School District. The winner will be announced in December.
MISS: It is lamentable that those whose livelihoods entail providing life-sustaining services have become the victims of more workplace violence than any other occupation, and last week’s fatal shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York validated the sobering statistic. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), violence against health-care workers occurs at a rate that is four times higher than the national average across other industries. American Nurses Association President Jennifer S. Mensik is calling for stronger mandates and enforcement to mitigate the violence. “It is a growing public health crisis that demands urgent attention,” said Mensik. UPMC President and CEO Leslie Davis said the shooting “underscores the pressing need for greater security measures in hospitals. “No health-care worker should ever fear that their workplace could become a crime scene. No family should ever face the heartbreak of losing a loved one who left for a shift and never came home.”