Herald-Standard Reporter Accidentally Becomes Subject of Police Chase

This is actually a pretty entertaining and ultimately harmless story.

The super short version: a reporter was heading to interview Cyril Wecht, saw some cops behind him, didn't think they were pulling him over because he was obeying traffic laws, and they actually were because someone saw a tie that holds the reporter's bike in place, thought it was hair and he had a body in the trunk, and called the cops.

Fortunately, the reporter did not have a body in the trunk, the cops just got a little relieved chuckle, and all is right with the world. And even though it turned out to be literally nothing, it is good that someone called the cops when they thought something was awry.

Now, if that were me, I'd have been crying. In fact, I bet if I would've cried when I got my speeding ticket last fall, I wouldn't have gotten fined, even though the cop let me off really easy considering how fast I was going and what the speed limit was. But it was 40. Everyone drives maniacally fast. And I think he knew that.

The Nam on Twitter: Not All Ridiculous News Is Our News

Every so often, I toy with the idea of doing a new post series in which I highlight ridiculous news stories that sound like they could've happened in the Nam, reveal at the end whether they did or not, and embed Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me" if they did. I usually abandon the idea because as much negativity as there already is on this blog, I don't want to completely trash us, and I feel such a series might only feed into our bad reputation and stereotypes. Except it probably doesn't really matter because everyone just assumes the weird things happen here anyway.

On second thought, let's just make a Fayette County news drinking game: if you think it happened in the Nam and you're right, one drink. If you think it happened in the Nam and you're wrong, two drinks. Also, the drink must be moonshine.

The Nam in the Movies: Riddle

Riddle does sound like an interesting movie--spooky, missing kids, psychiatric hospitals. Unfortunately, those things also have become horror cliches, but at least that makes Brownsville perfect because it is desolate. Brownsville ain't acting in this movie. Apparently, it's also dirty, but that's a new, unrelated problem.

Here's to hoping we'll one day get a movie filming here that has happy things going on in the Nam.




And yes, I know I promised tales of my brother's sex class at Penn State, but I was afraid if I didn't take advantage of Tumblr posts involving Brownsville, I'd totally forget about Tumblr posts involving Brownsville.

Fayette County Among the Unhealthiest Counties in the State

Please, hide your surprise. But yes, we are one of the state's unhealthiest counties.

The report released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute evaluated Pennsylvania's 67 counties on more than two dozen factors the researchers believe influence a person's health. They include individual healthy behavior markers such as obesity and smoking, as well as social and economic factors like education, violent crime, health care access, family support, education and unemployment.

So I think we all know what's coming.

The report ranks the five unhealthiest counties as Philadelphia, Fayette, Greene, Sullivan and Forest, which fare worse than state averages in child poverty, single-parent households, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

32% of our kids live in poverty, compared to the 19% statewide average. 72% have graduated high school.

For the millionth time, Fayette County has loads of problems. Many are related and impact each other, so some get solved but most don't. Are our elected officials actually trying, or are they focusing on other things, like masking the problem with pretty trucks? Will those making a run for office, like this promising Connellsville mayoral hopeful, do what they say they're going to do?

New businesses and the arts and farmer's markets are all good things that are pushing us toward progress, but we still need to work on the bigger issues--poverty, drugs, teen pregnancy, violent crime, domestic abuse.

The good news? We don't top the STD list. The teen-pregnancy rate is pretty high, though, and tomorrow we'll talk about that using some anecdotes from my brother's college class in human sexuality, in which his Fayettenamese peers know little to nothing. Stand tall, stand proud.

Random

• Farmer's markets are coming! Click here for information if you'd like to be a vendor.
• Dress for Success is holding a workshop on mock interviews this Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. until noon at their office in the First Niagara Bldg. at 2 West Main St. in Suite 202. Any women who are job searching can sign up to reserve a spot for this workshop. Call 724-437-1341 to reserve your space.
• Uniontown's friary is closing. I know, I know--I had no idea we had a friary, either.
• The Easter Bunny will be at Colebrook Chocolate this Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 2 p.m.
• My beloved Sports Collectors Universe in the Uniontown Mall--which has the best prices on sports merchandise and random trading cards--is branching out. Nerds of the Nam, rejoice! The store is moving to a bigger store next-door on Wednesday, April 3 at 10 a.m. The new location will feature an expanded showroom and a 1,400 square foot gaming area that will be known as the "Gaming Universe" with weekly tournaments and open gaming. Word on the street is dude has the cheapest packs of Magic the Gathering cards you can find.

Brownsville's Garbage Problem

Unfortunately, not that Garbage.

I know what you're thinking--is Brownsville's problem with garbage just Brownsville itself? I kid. In all seriousness, people have noticed that Brownsville has a bit of a problem with litter everywhere. 

But Brownsville, like most of the county and especially the most recent focus, Connellsville, has bigger problems than just trash in the streets. It's a mess. I once got a little lost in the middle of Brownsville, and let me tell you, that place looks like the most run-down and abandoned of ghost towns.

As usual, the fixes--both in trash and in larger-scale problems--aren't simple. But we can start by taking personal responsibility and at least cleaning up after ourselves and not dumping tires everywhere, which is apparently a rampant problem. Let's try it, dudes.

You can also report people dumping tires to the police, but you'll need a vehicle license-plate number, and there will be a community cleanup on April 27.

Random

• Geibel keeps kicking ass. It was recently named among the top 50 Catholic schools and was just featured in the Trib, or as I like to call it, A Chronicle of Things I Wish Geibel Had/Did Before I Graduated. Mostly that nice media center, Fr. Bob, and a principal that's not Mr. Masica. Turning the heat on would've been nice, too. Meanwhile, the auction is approaching, and the cast of Les Miserables did a nice, not-disappointing job.
• Writer/cool person Rob Hensley will be coming back to visit in April, so he'll be doing a reading in the Connellsville library on April 29 starting at 6:30 p.m., including a discussion on bullying and a book signing. I will most likely be there.
• My dad was in the Post-Gazette. Now, Dad, before you get an ego boost when you read this or when one of your coworkers says, "Hey! You're on your daughter's blog!" I'm gonna tell everyone a story to keep you grounded and keep my credibility. And that is that once when I was little, I asked my dad for a bowl of Count Chocula, which he gave me with all of the marshmallows taken out of it, making that bowl of Count Chocula worthless.
• Connellsville's Lynn's is in the running in the Coors Light Bar Bracket Challenge. I was at Lynn's briefly for St. Patrick's day and do have fun there. I got a little green hat to wear. Vote for them. Also in the running is Uniontown's J. Paul's, Potter's, and Blue Moon, plus beloved Bud Murphy's.