North Hills News Record from North Hills, Pennsylvania • Page 9

North News Record Mark Land, Metro Editor, 1-800-874-9994 North Hills Page A7 Wednesday, Sept. 29,1993 Getting There Ben Rand Caution key during travel on highways "Be careful while traveling" has become an increasingly important mantra these days in light of the recent killings of Florida tourists. Though highway crimes generally are rare in western Pennsylvania, they do happen reason enough to keep your guard up. And now, at least one agency has something to help drivers do that Concerns over the situation in Florida and nationwide have prompted the American Automobile Association of West Virginia to issue a new brochure on traveling safety. Called "Playing it Safe," the pamphlet offers tips to travelers to improve their odds of avoiding criminals while on vacation or on the road.

"We've had a couple of calls from people wondering if they should cancel their trips or change the locations," said Valerie Peterson, an AAA public affairs representative, They're wondering what they can do to make themselves more safe." The thrust of the pamphlet, six pages in all, is to blend in with the crowd as much as possible, Peterson said. Try not to stand out," she said. Also remember that some roads in western Pennsylvania have emergency telephone service. Dialing Cellular Ml on the turnpike and on the Parkway West and Parkway East will get you the state police. The pamphlet also advises: Stay alert and tune into your surroundings.

Always watch for suspicious characters. Stand tall and walk confidently. Keep your gas tank full, safety belts snapped, doors locked and windows up. Pack a flashlight, fire extinguisher and first aid kit If your car breaks down, stay with the car until help arrives. If someone stops to help, roll the window down enough to tell them to call police.

If your car breaks down, raise the car hood or tie a white cloth to a door handle. If someone motions that your tire is flat or your car is smoking, don't stop until that person is gone. Then try to get to a service station. Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, leave quickly.

Pamphlets are available by mailing a stamped, self-addressed envelope to AAA West Virginia, Public Affairs, 5900 Baum Pittsburgh, Pa, 15206. Playing it cautious doesn't mean you should live in fear at least in western Pennsylvania, police said. "We're talking apples and oranges," state police Sgt Edward Lancaster said. "We haven't had any problems like that" 910 update With a little luck. PennDOT could finish its reconstruction of Route 910 and Mingo Road in Marshall within a month.

Workers recently poured the first levels of pavement for the new road. They stiU have more paving to do, concrete gutters to create and driveways to adjust before clearing out The problem right now: weaiher. need some dry weather and some good temperatures." spokesman Dick Skrinjar said. I "We were about five minutes ahead of schedule, but DOW we're about three minutes ahead. because of the rain." PennDOT is reducing the slope of the hill of Route 910.

widening theroad and nmKgning the intersection with Mingo Road. The ject cost about $800.000. Given early-morning temperatures around 35 to 40 degrees and rising with no rain. Skrinjar esti- mates the project could be completed by HaDoween. Bat Rand a Haas Record staff tenter teko ewers traffic md taxes.

Comments OHdcobtmnsxggestiffKSon vtleomt. Pkone: 77Z63 Fac 772IS. MaiL Hortit fTtlls Ate Record, 13? Commoxwtal Drwt, VtarmdaU, Pa. 15086- Shaler waiting game continues as contract talks at standstill By Gordon Ovenshine Staff writer SHALER: Shaler Area School District parents will be kept in suspense for at least another week while the district tries to hammer out a new contract and avoid a strike with its 354 teachers. A two-hour meeting Tuesday between the Shaler Area Education Association and the district failed to produce a settlement Ruth Duerstein, president of the education association, declined to comment on the meeting, saying no one wants to negotiate "in the papers." The next meeting with the district and the teachers is scheduled for Oct.

7. "We have reason for optimism. We're at work and we're on the job," said Duerstein, who had hoped to find out Tuesday whether the school board was serious about signing a contract. Duerstein said the union is available "anytime" to negotiate, including weekends. James Kermes, director of personnel for the Shaler Area School District and a member of the negotiating team, was not available for comment Tuesday.

Board members will not discuss the issue and refer Jean Oftltto, left, a second-grade teacher in the Fox Chapel School District, and Yvonne Savior, an eighth- grade teacher from Philadelphia, both won the state teacher of the year awards Tuesday in Harrisburg. Best in the bunch Fox Chapel second-grade teacher honored with crystal apple By Tawanda D. Williams Staff writer Jean Ditillo, a second-grade teacher at O'Hara Elementary School in the Fox Chapel Area School District, was named Pennsylvania Elementary Teacher of the Year Tuesday. "A good teacher is one who will engage, connect and respect her students," Ditillo said during the standing-room-only ceremony held at the Governor's Reception Room in Harrisburg. Helen Sobehart, assistant superintendent in the Fox Chapel Area School District, described Ditillo as a teacher who always goes the extra mile in the classroom.

"Jean really pays attention to every child in her class," she said. Ditillo was one of 10 finalists -five elementary and five secondary teachers selected in spring by the state Department of Education from 74 candidates. Panelists consisting of 13 state educators and previous award winners visited Ditillo in April to evaluate her classroom performance. Essay questions and personal interviews also were used in the selection process. During the ceremony, state Education Secretary Donald Carroll presented a crystal apple to each of the 10 finalists who were flanked by their guests.

Yvonne Savior, an eighth-grade language arts teacher in Philadelphia, was named Pennsylvania Secondary Teacher of the Year. Ditillo and Savior each received $2,500 and a crystal apple. Ditillo was accompanied by her family, former student Brad Hoover, Fox Chapel Area Superintendent Robert Myers and O'Hara Elementary School Principal' Vincent Delconte. Sandy Clements, who is a teacher in the Fox Chapel Area district, praised Ditillo for her hard work in the classroom. "As a parent who had a student in her class, she always goes above and beyond the call of duty," Clements said.

Ditillo was nominated by Delconte, who in his nomination of her said she was a committed and competent teacher. Also, he said Ditillo was highly regarded as an expert teacher. Ditillo has taught at Fox Chapel for 22 years and is the second teacher in the Fox Chapel Area School District to be named Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. Dorseyville Middle School English teacher Howard Selekman was named Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year in 1990. Because Savior scored higher than Ditillo on her evaluation, she will represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year award in Washington, D.C., next year.

Superintendent keeps kids' priorities first By Elizabeth Lee Staff writer As Dr. Kenneth Sholtz sits in his office looking out at the Central Elementary School playground, he misses his days as Hampton High School principal The daily interaction with students is gone, something his job as Hampton superintendent hardly affords, "When life gets tough as a superintendent the best relief is a field trip to an elementary school." he said. He leaves his windows open to hear elementary students play. "It's so I'm conscious of what it's aH about There's so much focus on the finance and facilities as a super- i I let the noise from children come in," he said. At the start of his seventh year as superintendent he sees himself as a mediator in a pivotal role.

Sholte's greatest chaUeiyre is finding the delicate balance between his aDegiance to two groups the staff aod students vs. the taxpayers. can't overburden the taxpayers, and we can't shortchange the professionals who have legitimate wants." Shohz said The school board's bottom line has been how much it costs, said Linda Joy. board president who was part of the team that promoted Slfohz to superintendent in 1987. 'Even though he had DO upper office experieoce.

be knew Hampton," Joy said. TV trade-off was get- Who Runs Our Schools ting out of the trenches and not working with the students, she said. Described as upbeat, outgoing, dynamic, and optimistic by people around him. Sholtz was pulled into education by his strong interest in coaching. He began his career as an educator at Fox Chapel High School, where he taught biology and coached baseball and football for seven years From there, he served as assistant principal for five years and as principal of Hampton High School for 12 years.

"I thought I was SholU said. "I was young and doing what I wanted to do. He is more experienced but SUB a little amazed to find himself as one of the veteran superintendents in the area. The primary issue Hampton will address is miilticulturaKsm and gender equity in the classroom. Sholtz said.

And success wul be measured by any impruveiDeut in rasing people's awareness, he said. A committee to study mutecuhur- alism in the school district was created this year to assess and address Hampton's needs. Minorities account for 2-3 percent of Hampton's 2.S75 students: half of those are Asian Americans. 'Maybe Hampton won't make The Shottz file Pittsburgh Job: Superintendent of Hampton since 1987 Salary. 582.000 a year under a five-year contract Education: Doctorate educational administration from trie University of Pittsburgh 1972.

master's degree in science education from the Ihrversfy of Connecticut 1964 bachelor degree IP secondary education a science from S'ope'y Rock State Co 1 'ege 1961 two daughters Jodie ar2 sex- great strides (in equality), but awareness is part of the problem." he said. The school environment is the ideal opportunity to study gender biases, because the school becomes the workplace for students, he said. Sholtz also always looks ahead. TWO of his main focuses this year are the purchase of the Middle Road School to replace the Central School and the upcoming teacher contract negotiations beginning this winter. The school's four-year contract with the Hampton Education Association expire June 30 Turn to SHOUZ A9 all questions to Kermes.

The teachers' four-year contract expired Aug. 15. State law allows the teachers to strike If no deal has been reached when school starts. Teachers, who voted overwhelmingly Sept 1 to strike if necessary, must give Shaler Area 48 hours before they decide to strike. The district did ratify contracts with its clerical union and business manager this month.

Business manager Timothy Vail received a five-year contract -Shaler's first contract for a business manger. Vail, who will received $58,600, will also get salary increases based on a scale set by the state and work evaluations. Shaler Area's clerical contract, approved Sept. 16, was for 52 employees, including special education aides. Inmate guilty of 1st murder in county jail By Ann Belser Staff writer PITTSBURGH: An Allegheny County Jury convicted a county jail inmate of first-degree murder Tuesday for the strangulation death in March of another inmate.

A second defendant was found guilty of criminal conspiracy. Shawn "Showtime" Burton, 25, of Northview Heights, is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday morning by- Allegheny County Court Judge Donna Jo McDaniel to a mandatory term of life in prison for the killing of Seth "Bear" Floyd, 25. Mehrin "Mel Mel" Goodwine, 26. of the North Side, was convicted of conspiring to kill Floyd and will be sentenced after a pre-sentence investigation is completed. Goodwine is serving a 13-year federal sentence for robbing the Parkvale Savings Bank in West View in June 1992.

"Stay strong, you all," Burton said to the members of his family after the verdict was read. Burton also was found guilty of criminal conspiracy in the case. The verdict, rendered after almost six hours of deliberations by a jury of five women and seven men, put to rest the case of the first murder in the 100-year-old Allegheny County Jail. "Personally, I believe Shawn Burton did the killing, so I'm happy." Assistant District Attorney Kim Berkeley Clark said. Burton's attorney, Charles Schwartz, speculated that the jury might have been split between the two men because there was testimony that Burton made self-incriminat- ing statements.

Both men were originally charged with criminal homicide. His other theory was that the jury believes an inmate who said he saw Burton in the cell standing over Floyd's body right after the murder. Floyd was found in his cell March 9 with a ligature made of shoe laces, a nylon cord and a bed sheet wrapped around his neck and tied to the chain of his bunk. Originally jail officials thought the death was a suicide, but the county coroner's office ruled the case a homicide. The trial was peppered with expletives from inmates who testified for the prosecution that they saw the duo in and near the cell around the time of the murder and from inmates who testified they were playing cards with the pair and that the other inmates were lying to get deals.

Clark said the murder was motivated by revenge against Floyd, who allegedly broke into the home of one of Goodwine's relatives. Floyd was awaiting trial on drug and robbery charges when he was kffled. They acted as jury and in this case, executioner," Clark said about Goodwine and Burton in her closing argument Defense attorney Mark Lancaster and Schwartz argued in their closing statements that the inmates who testified for the state had reasons to lie because their testimony could help them get better sentences. Clark said none of them got deals because of their testimony and instead claimed they would be harmed because of their testimony. Area hospital to use experimental robot By Dana DiFiHppo Staff writer SHADYSIDE: Residents with hurting hips who head to Shadyside Hospital for surgery might find themselves part of a science experiment with international implications.

The hospital announced Tuesday that it is one of five U.S. sites selected for clinical trials of the ROBODOC surgical assistant system, a computerized mechanical arm. The 250-pound robot gained fame in November, when surgeons at Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento. Calil. used it to replace a hip in a 64- year-old man.

It marked the first time a robot actively participated in surgery. Its creators. Integrated Surgical Systems Inc. of Sacramento, predict it's the wave of medicine's future. More precise than human hands.

ROBODOC leaves longer-lasting results, decreasing the necessity for "redo" surgeries, spokesman Bill Giles said. Besides hip surgeries, doctors expect the technology might be used for other joint replacement surgeries There is no doubt that the technical sophistication guarantees superior service than human capabilities." Shadyside President Henry Morrfoh said. In hip replacements, surgeons remove both the socket in the patient's hip and the bafl at the lop of the femur, or thighbone, and replace them with a metal joint Current iDethods rexjuire doctors to hammer a spike-Bee tool into the femur to insert the hip implant -fracturing bones in almost 20 percent of patients. ROBODOC instead drills the cavity into the femur after doctors posj- tioti the arm- Shadjside officials said ROBODOC will significantly decrease the mddence of fractures. Health Dr William Bargar at Sutler General Hospital in Sacramento.

Cain and his surgical team perfom me finjt huma hip replacement wrti the ROBODOC surgicai system but it won'; af fee: recovery ame The cost to develop the technology a $10 i i said Shadyside will pay S375 000 for the robot Officials stressed that hip-replacement wiE no difference in coil, but could no: specify whether would increase biHs for other patients Nationwide, about 250 000 people a year mostly elderly have their hips replaced Shadyside performs about 250 hip replacement surgeries a year. Mordoh said Mor doh estimated up to 70 patients would be part of the ROBODQC trials during the next year Other sites included in the trials Suffer General Hospital in Sacramento. Nev England Baptist Hospital in Boston. Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and the University Hospitals of Cleveland.