The Valley Independent from Monessen, Pennsylvania • Page 1

Grab among best Santonio Holmes' catch is one of the most memorable in Super Bowl history. IB INDEPENDENT An edition of the TRIBUNE-REVIEW Continuing PRIDE It is on an isolated back road, but Cheplic Packing Inc. has built a strong customer base. IC TRIBIISIA WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2009 RELEVANT, RELIABLE WWW.VALLEYINDEPENDENT.COM INSIDE TODAY Valley Business A weak economy leads many people to the funeral services business. 2C Vecchione now 100 Lena Vecchione was only 20 years old when she left her native Paganica, Italy, for the United States.

3A Big Ben gets offer A woman who has sued Ben Roethlisberger would drop her complaint if he acknowledges rape and apologizes, her attorney said. 8A SPORTS Opener Thursday The Steelers and Titans are ready to open the season. IB Standard set The Bucs have set another futility record. 2B Nadal advances If Rafael Nadal was hmiing, it didn't show. If he was vulnerable, it didn't last.

2B DEATHS Michael R. (Becky) Beckovich 92, Monongahela, formerly of Clairton and Mt. Lebanon Dolores "Babe" Spada, 77, Charleroi James Kenneth Wherry, 89, Monessen Page 4A WEATHER Tonight Mostly cloudy Tomorrow Partly sunny 69' Page 2A INDEX Celebrity Cipher 6B Classified 3-4C Comics 4B DearAbby 5B Valley Business 2C Lottery 5A News Roundups 5A Opinion 6A Sports 1-3B Television 5B Three sections, 18 Pages TOMORROW Don't miss Valley Entertainment, a regular Thursday feature in TAe Valley Independent. Trib Total Media, Inc. Fayette eyes Fridays off The union is trying to minimize the effect of the state budget impasse.

ByMARYPICKELS For The Valley Independent UNIONTOWN Fayette County employees who are members of Service Employees International Union Local 668 are expected to vote Friday on a proposal that essentially calls for shutting down county operations one Friday per pay period. "It would affect everyone across the board, from the commissioners down to the janitors every department," said Rose Cindrick, union business agent. After a meeting of union members Tuesday night, Cindrick said she intended to present the proposal to county commissioners today. "I think that would be more fair and effective for all employees," said Pam Johnston, chief steward. Last week, county commissioners Vincent Zapotosky and Vincent Vicites said they wanted nonessential employees and elected officials including themselves to take pay cuts so that funding can be diverted to human-services programs until a state budget is passed.

They met with department heads and row officers to discuss contingency plans to maintain transportation, child and mental- health programs during the budget stalemate. One contingency plan calls for most of the county's 500-plus employees to work 30 hours weekly instead of the current 37.5. Employees would be required to take two unpaid days off per biweekly pay period, but the courthouse and other county agencies would remain open five days per week. (See FRIDAYS, Page 2A) N. BeUe Vernon worker honored He fought off a large dog that was two residents and their small pets.

By JEFF PIKULSKY Writer NORTH BELLE VERNON Council recognized a borough employee Tuesday who fought off a vicious dog as it attacked and severely injured two residents and their dog. Public works employee William Campbell responded to screams from John and Kim Gido, of 500 Speer as they were being mauled the morning of Aug. 29 near their home. A large dog weighing more than 100 pounds owned by Arch Street resident Joe Naylor broke loose from its residence. Campbell was at the borough garage about a block away when a resident told him about the attack.

The animal originally went after Gido's two small dogs as he was walking them just feet from his residence, according to police Chief James Bedsworth. John Gido was bitten on his right hand while he tried to protect his dogs, Bedsworth said. Gido's wife, Kim, was bitten on her arm and back when she tried to help her husband, Bedsworth said. The Gido's white Maltese, Holly, suffered multiple puncture wounds on her back. Campbell said he had been fighting off the dog with a sledgehammer handle for just under 10 minutes when Bedsworth arrived.

The chief shot and killed the dog after it repeatedly attacked. At a meeting Tuesday, Council President Dennis Simboli presented Campbell with a plaque and thanked him for "an act of heroism." Kim Gido, who brought Holly to the council meeting wrapped in a towel, sobbed and hugged Campbell shortly after he received the award. Walking back to their house, the Gidos expressed thanks for Campbell's response. "I don't have any words to explain how grateful I am. I just thank him every time I see him," John Gido said.

Kim Gido said Campbell saved her life. "I thought we were doing to die. This dog just was not stopping," she said. "I looked at Mr. Campbell, and I'd seen fear in his eyes.

It bit me four times. I ache everywhere." Campbell said he was relieved that he was able to intervene before it was too late. "I'm just glad I was there to help them because there's no way in hell they could have done that by themselves," he said. A dog officer with the Fayette County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took the dog that attacked in for an examination. Bedsworth said the dog tested negative for rabies.

He said the attack was the third (See HONORED, Page 2A) Jim VMlay A number of Monessen School students went home yesterday to view President Baracic Obama's message to chiidren. The school district did not air the broadcast live. Waiting to leave, from left, are senior Te'Querre Turner, junior Chantal Turner, sophomore Sam Dickerson and seventh-grader Adrise Jackson. Obama speech decision irics Monessen parents Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Chelen's hard day's night started early and ended late.

By JEFF OLIVER and STACY WOLFOKD Writers MONESSEN In the end, it appears that the question of whether or not to show President Barack Obama's speech to the nation's school children resulted in a lose-lose proposition for Superintendent Dr. Cindy Chelen. Reacting to numerous calls from parents complaining they did not want their children to see the speech, Chelen opted to not show it live Tuesday and tape it for those who wanted to see it later. However, that decision did not sit well with many parents who viewed the speech as a part of history and wanted their children to see the message live. Several parents showed up at the school Tuesday morning after 11 a.m.

to take their children home to see the speech. A spokesperson yesterday said President urges liard woric The chief executive used his own life as an exanriple of how to succeed. By The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA Children from coast to coast watched on classroom TVs and computer screens Tuesday as President Barack Obama spoke to them. Others did not hear the message at all, either because their parents pulled from them from class or their schools refused to carry the speech over complaints from conservative and others, tjiat it smacked of political indoctrination. In his speech, which aired on C- SPAN and the White House Web site, Obama used examples from his own life to urge students to study hard.

He told them to stop chasing dreams of being athletes or reality TV stars. "The'truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject you study. You won't click (See WORK, Page 2A) 10 students were taken out of the school before the speech. At least one parent said she was going to bring her children back to school after the nationally- televised message by the president was over.

The president spoke in favor of education, how it can make a difference and told children to stay in school and learn. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WOES Monessen parents who pulled their children from school were disappointed with Chelen's decision. "It's history," said Marva Jackson, who took her son and grandson out of school to watch the speech live at home as a family. (See OBAMA, Page 2A) Man, 71, allegedly peddled pills on bike trail William Gilliam Foster is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison. By JEFF PIKULSKY StWriter A 71-year-old Smithton man has been accused of selling prescription drugs along the bike trail in Rostraver Township and in front of the Smithton fire hall.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by state police Cpl. Dennis Ulery, William Gilliam Foster, of 321 Riverside Drive, was arrested at 11:20 a.m. Sept. 1 along the bike trail. Ulery said he and Cpl.

Kenneth Munshower had received several reports that Foster had been selling pills near a pavilion along the trail. Police found Foster at that location in possession of $350 in cash and more than 50 Xanax, Endocet and Roxicodone pills. Some of the pills were hidden in a zipper mesh compartment of his hat, police allege. Foster also had a prescription in the name of Jeffrey Poland filled Aug. 31 for 30 mg of oxycodone pills.

Foster was charged with three felony and four misdemeanor violations of the controlled substance act. Magisterial District Judge Charles Christner, of West Newton, arraigned Foster on Friday and sent him to Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $25,000 straight cash bond. A preliminary hearing before Christner is scheduled 9 a.m. Monday..