North Hills News Record from North Hills, Pennsylvania • Page 1

Jan. 1998 NA swimmer iii fast lane Jen Siegele making name in individual medley B1 Friday Grave matter Insurance covers damage to Mount Nebo Cemetery A3 1 Shut the door on scams How to avoid losing money in home remodeling A7 North Hills WLW luoirn niiis News Record 350 At a glance Tne Associated Press Clinton strategy: Business as usual President Clinton and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Henry Shefton, attend a meetng Thursday at Ft McNair in Washington, where Clinton spoke to members of the Joint Chiefs. In light of allegations he had a 'sexual relationship with a former White House intern, the president is using a get-on-wrth- business strategy, tt seems to be working for now. B7 Cranberry Township wants to speed voting Regis Young, director of the Butler County election bureau, is working with Cranberry to avoid long lines at Cranberry West voting booths by the time of the next presidential election.

North Hills, A3 Polslon Studies question use of vomiting In the most recent issue of the Journal of Toxicology-Clinical Toxicology, researchers suggest that doctors and poison control centers should be rethinking the use of syrup of ipecac, stomach pumps, activated charcoal and laxatives as the first reaction to many poisonings. Health, B6 Coming Saturday Both sides look at teacher talks Contract negotiations between the Shaler Area School District and its teachers union have been ongoing for almost a year. The negotiators have contrasting views about the status of recent talks. Index 4 sections, 37th year Comics B5 Crossword Dear Abby A8 Health B6 Horoscopes A8 Local A2-6 24 pages No. 30 Movies A8 Nation B7 Obituaries A4 Opinion A11 Sports B1-4 State B8 Weddings World 87 For dally delivery 366-9505 in Allegheny County 772-7326 in Butler County CtattlfledS 1-800-874-9989 North" HiJls'News Record PfllNTED WITH SOYINK Suicide comes year after daughter's death By Laure Cioffi Staff writer The Pittsburgh man who shot himself Wednesday in front of employees and customers at the Wal-Mart in Cranberry did so just short of the first anniversary of his daughter's death.

Thomas D. Carr talked to several people in the store, including a cellular telephone salesman claiming that his daughter was murdered and the same people were after him. Carr's daughter, Janla Carr, 45, of Shadyside was found dead Jan. 31, Cranberry 1997, in a train tunnel near Central Catholic High School in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, said Pittsburgh Homicide Sgt. Paul Marraway.

According to Marraway, Carr contacted his office and claimed his daughter was murdered, but their investigation showed that her death was a suicide or an accident Marraway said the tunnel where her body was found is frequented by homeless and bag people. Although Janla Carr had a home, Marraway described her as eccentric. "I believe she had some psychological problems," Marraway said. "She had been in the hospital for psychological problems." There was no indication that Carr. 84, had psychological problems, according to Cranberry police CpL David Lewis.

"When talking to the family, they were shocked at the occurrence," Lewis said. He said Carr has a sister who lives out of state. Why Carr chose Wal-Mart is not clear, according to police. Nice weather makes the rounds Walt Carr of McKees Rocks waits his turn to putt Thursday afternoon on the ninth green at Green Valley Golf Course in Ohio Township. Carr and friends took advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures to play a round of golf.

Winter weather will return today and tomorrow, but temperatures will be back in the 40s beginning on Sunday. CHRISTOPHER HORNER stsffi photographer "We don't show any real connection to Butler County," Lewis said. Lewis added thai police do not know where Carr got the gun he used to shoot himself and it is not registered. According to published reports, Carr went to Butler County to find someone to talk to and said he did not trust Pittsburgh police. Carr arrived at the store about 10 a.m.

Wednesday and spent a good part of the day talking to salesman Greg Hengelsberg of Allison Park. Hengelsberg said he talked to Carr several times at his kiosk to the right of the store entrance and later in the Wal-Mart cafeteria. Carr shot himself three umes in the chest abom 4 15 p.m. in the open.area.nexi to the service desk. He died ai ri'27 m.

after being taken by medical helicopter to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, according to the Allegheny County coroner's office Prior to his death. Carr claimed he was the victim of FBI and state police conspiracies, according to HengelsberR. "It sounded i something on 'Miami Hengelsberg said Wednesday after the shooting. Spokesman William Crowley said the FBI never investigated Carr. Avonworth teacher steps down Doherty says he did not fondle boy By Kevin Carter and Courtney Cairns Staff writers An Avonworth Elementary School teacher accused of fondling a 12-year-old boy maintained his innocence Thursday, a day after submitting his resignation to district officials.

Joseph Doherty's letter of resignation dated Wednesday states the child he is accused of assaulting and the boy's mother told investigators "there was no immoral or improper touching of that student by me." "1 certainly contend that I never touched that student's buttocks or genitalia during the course of the wrestling," he said Thursday. The boy and his mother told authorities that they do not wish to file charges "because they will testify there was not any touching of the student's private parts." Doherty's letter states. The sixth-grade science teacher was suspended without pay Dec. 15. Police said Doherty was videotaped fondling a pupil two days earlier while they were alone in his classroom on a Saturday.

Assistant District Attorney Eric Fischer said he cannot discuss specifics of the case and the role witnesses involved in it will play. Avonworth solicitor William Andrews would not comment on the family's reaction when they viewed the tape. Avonworth School District Resignation letter A6 Since authorities a withheld the identity of the child, neither the child or his could be contacted to confirm Doherty's statement Doherty. 37. of Emsworth, said the videotaped incident being interpreted as a criminal act was innocent in nature.

Doherty is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 23 in Bellevue district court on one count each of indecent assault and corrupting the morals of a minor. He was arraigned on the charges Jan. 14. Without commenting specifically on Doherty's case.

Fischer said generally that, "In investigations it's not uncommon for victims to feel that they were not victimized." By submitting the letter of resignation. Doherty avoided a dismissal hearing scheduled for Thursday. He said he resigned to spare the pupil and his mother improper scrutiny and because he doubts the i a i a i of the school board. But Andrews said board members were going into the hearing with open minds. "The district went to great pains to do everything humanly pov-ible to afford this i i i a a fair hearing." Andrews said.

The nine-member board did not see the videotape or other evidence, Turn to TEACHER, A6 Enhanced 911 won't be ready until mid-August Construction delays may mean problems for Newcom, Ross By Tom Krisher and Rofayn Totnlin Staff writers Allegheny County won't be ready to bring computerized 911 service on-line until August, and that delay might cost one North HUts emergency dispatch center a lot of money. Brad Magffl, county 911 director, said construction delays at a county-leased building have pushed back the start of computerized 911 from mid-April until sometime in August Although about 75 percent of the county has basic 911, computers are not in place to make sure the calls go to the proper dispatch centers. The current system also does not Allegheny County DtoHngSil Emergency officiate say residents should dial 911 for help in Butter County and these Allegheny County municipalities: Aspinwall Blawnox, Bradford Woods, Etna, Fox Chapel, Hampton Indiana Township. Marshall. MTTfvale.

CTHara Pine Reserve Richland Shaler Sharpsburg and West Deer in other North Hills communities residents should call the proper seven- digit numbers for help display a caller's address on dispatch center computer screens. turn to 911, AS Feuding youths likely not gangs Expert says Tuesday shots probably part of neighborhood spat By Gordon Ovenshine Staff writer A feud between groups of teenagers that resulted in shots being fired in Bellevue and Ross Tuesday night was probably not indicative of gang activity, a youth expert said. More likely, the groups were trying to resolve a neighborhood spat and shots were fired to intimidate, said Michael Mmgrone, director of Frontline Youth Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based organization that helps vulnerable youths get their lives in order. In Miirgrone's view, a gang is a sizable group of people from a neighborhood who commit violent acts to further the group. "If you have two or three kids from one neighborhood, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a gang," he said.

Mingrone said he knows of North Side gangs, and that he intends to determine if Tuesday's incident could have been gang-affiliated, or what sparked the animosity Help needed Residents with information about two shootings Tuesday should call Ross police at 931-6200 Or Bellevue police 766-7400 between the teens. Because shots were fired, tension between the groups one from Bellevue and the other from Brighton Heights. North Side is likely to increase, making another altercation possible, Mingrone said Police said the Brighton Heights teens drove to Bayne Park in Bellevue at about 7:50 m. and fired shots at the group congregating there. No one was hit "If you look a i from the (Bellevue) kids' point of view, they're going to be looking for retaliation." Mingrone said.

He urged residents to be on the lookout for signs of violence and call police if they see any fighting. Bellevue Ross A second incident occurred at about p.m. along North Balph Avenue, Ross. Residents called to report that several shots were fired. Ross police found 11 shells in the area.

Ross police Lt. Greg Tenos said the groups, which he said were not gangs, have faced off before. Bellevue Police Chief Michael Bookser said police do not have information to connect the two incidents or infer that gangs are involved. His officers will be talking to people to gather evidence. Bookser said rumors of fights and gangs are nothing new.

He said he won't dismiss the incident, but he doesn't want to overreact either. "One of the things we have in society today is violence and kids who don't know what to Bookser said. "(Violence) always goes on. That's called life.".