Police Seek Witnesses to Murder of Football Coach
Farrell – The Pennsylvania State Police is searching for witnesses to a homicide in Mercer County on Sunday morning. A youth football coach, 45-year-old Brandon Smith of West Middlesex, was shot at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday morning outside of a bar named Yank’s Place in Farrell. He died about an hour later from a wound to the chest. The shooter also shot at Brandon’s car, which was parked on Wilson Road, and hit several other vehicles. A large crowd of people was present during the time of the shooting; if anybody saw something, contact the Pennsylvania State Police in Mercer at (724)748-0044.
Brandon was a football coach for students in the Farrell area and an alumnus of the school. On behalf of the Farrell Area School District, Superintendent Dr. Laura Adams-King released the following statement:
“It is with profound regret and sorrow that the Farrell Area School District acknowledges the passing of alumnus, community member, and beloved coach, Brandon Smith. Our grief is compounded by the senseless, violent manner in which Coach Smith was snatched away from us. Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother, children, family, friends, and the students and community that he loved and served. To support us in processing and dealing with this profound loss, we have solicited the professional assistance of the Mercer County Behavioral Health CIRT for our staff and students.”
Imposter Scam on the Rise in PA
Harrisburg – Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning residents about a recent increase in Government Imposter scams, where scammers attempt to disguise themselves as sheriff’s deputies. The AG says scammers are calling PA residents from spoofed phone numbers and demanding payments for made-up traffic citations or other minor infractions and threatening arrest for non-payment. They demand payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency as a way for the mark to avoid arrest. No government agency in PA will call to demand immediate payment for fines on the phone, or ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Lightning Strikes School Employee
Waterford – A Fort LeBoeuf School District employee was hospitalized following a lightning strike during Monday morning’s thunderstorms. An employee at Robinson Elementary School, who remained unidentified, did not appear to be injured, according to EMTs who arrived on the scene at around 11:30 a.m., but was taken to an undisclosed hospital for evaluation. Fort Leboeuf School District Superintendent Rick Emerick says there was never any risk to students.
County Commissioners Tighten Belts with No State Revenue
Meadville – In light of Pennsylvania’s continued budget impasse, local county governments are feeling a major financial pinch, and some are having to take drastic measures to make ends meet. On Tuesday, Crawford County Commissioners unanimously agreed to several measures to reduce interim spending in order to ensure county services continue after the Commonwealth has failed to repay millions of dollars spent on emergency and human services covered by the state. In a memo sent to all department heads and posted to social media, the Commissioners announced an immediate hiring freeze for all open positions, that only expenses for required job travel will be reimbursed, and that any departmental purchase greater than $50 needs approval by the Board of Commissioners. The County expects to have a budget shortfall of more than $10 million if there is no state budget before the end of October.