Children to name road to jail

Because what better way to name the road to a jail than hold a contest for students? It's one of those things that sounds like a joke, but nope, it's real. And anyway, who needs traditional student contests like anti-drunk-driving posters or projects on historical Connellsville?

The winner will get a $200 gift card, but the good news is it was paid for through personal contributions and we're not dicking around as a county spending 200 bucks to name a road, most likely because no one had any worthy ideas at a commissioner's meeting.

If your kid (or you posing as a kid) wants to enter, e-mail your submission to mschroyer@fayettepa.org by 9 a.m. Friday and include the child's name, address, phone number, grade, and school. Fayette 911 will review the entries, and the winner will be chosen by the prison working group.

Facebook was so UT yesterday

I'm guessing this was a thing yesterday, because more than one person posted "so UT" statutes--and by that I mean two--and I saw a spike in hits on my "So UT" blog post. So I don't know what the deal is, but I'm stealing your Facebook proof of how UT y'all are.

Fayette County Cultural Trust receives grant

How about something good and not mock-worthy? The county's Cultural Trust has received a grant for $100,000. The money will be used to improve Connellsville.

Fayette County Cultural Trust President Michael Edwards said the grant will be used in ways to improve the appearance and the commercial heartbeat of the city. 

“This is just overwhelming,” Edwards said. The money will be used to continue beautification projects such as decorative benches, trash receptacles and hanging planters and baskets, and in other areas to boost the economic development of Connellsville. 

“It will be used to support the facade improvements and it will also be used to continue the classes that are offered to help to educate and support the local entrepreneurs.” 

Edwards was referring to classes that have been offered to local small business owners and potential business developers that focus on areas pertaining to operating their facilities. 

The classes, offered through the trust, focus on business operation and areas of finance that are helpful in their educational value and input.

Herald-Standard Poll: Nepotism

HeraldStandard.com has a new poll up!

Those who didn't vote "yes" either don't know what nepotism is or benefit from it. On second thought, the people who voted "yes" probably benefit from it, too.

Don't believe me? Go do some poking around about which school-board members are either related to each other or other district employees. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Parents sue over infant death

Uniontown Hospital strikes again?

The parents of a Fayette County baby have sued hospitals, a doctor, the Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh and the Institute for Transfusion Medicine over their 2-month-old son's death, attributed in part to a tainted blood transfusion.

While Pittsburgh hospitals and a blood bank are named, Uniontown Hospital and Dr. Febenido Pascua are named, as well. The suit includes allegations of negligence, malpractice, and wrongful death.

The baby, Xander, died after receiving a blood transfusion at Magee-Womens Hospital tainted with Cytomegalovirus, which although common and usually harmless can cause complications in newborns--especially in the case of Xander, who was born premature and weighed just over one pound. The suit states that blood should've been screened for the virus before Xander received it.

Xander's mother was rushed to Magee after first visiting Uniontown Hospital, where she had been treated three times prior in the emergency department. The suit states that she did not receive proper care or testing from Dr. Pascua while in "hypertensive crisis."

Pascua no longer works for Uniontown Hospital, although I haven't found any information as to why or where he is now. But I did find this patient medical rating that's pretty terrible.

Man Quits Job, Boss Breaks His Hands

Because, I mean, nothing says, "I value you as an employee and need your hard work" like breaking your (former) employee's hands.

When he told Neiderhiser he planned to quit when they finished the job, Neiderhiser “grabbed a pipe and came after him with it,” hitting Evangelista “in the hands and head,” the complaint said.

Witnesses corroborate the story, but Mr. Bossman says he only hit his (former) employee with his hands.  Which totally explains this:

When police arrived, one of Evangelista's hands was swollen and both were “shaking uncontrollably,” the complaint said. Evangelista told police that both hands were broken. Officers noted a bump and small cut on his left temple.

So, I guess this job is open now if anyone is looking. In fact, the boss' job might be open now, too.

Sword vs. Barbecue Brush, Victor Wins Walmart Gift Card

So, I was on my lunch break at work the other day, scrolling through Twitter like I do, when I saw something about a sword in Fayette County. Now, I assumed it was something to do with the Uniontwon Ninja, because how many people in this county are brandishing swords? Well, at least two, apparently.

A North Union man escaped serious injury Friday when a Uniontown man slashed him with a sword, state police said. [...] Workman related that he then grabbed a spatula and metal brush off his grill on the porch to defend himself. 

Can't blame the victim of the sword attack from wanting to defend himself, but I don't really think a barbecue brush is gonna cut it...yet he did win, and the sword-wielding thief was thwarted in his attempt to take a $6 Walmart gift card. I know we struggle financially here, guys, but is six bucks that crucial to you?

Is it even a question that this made the Morning Freak Show?