B-- 20
E B FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2003
LOCAL
A CENTURY
OF COLORS
Workers pack
Crayola Crayons at
Binney & Smith this
week in Easton,
Northampton
County.
The company,
whose Crayola
brand is celebrating
its 100th
anniversary, is
entering a new
century with new
products designed
to appeal to
another generation
of children.
- -
Screening
firm at jail
denies role
in suicide
ByTorstenOve
Staff Writer
On Oct. 21, 1996, Charles
Fine, a heroin addict from Mononga-hela- ,
became the first inmate to kill
himself in what was then the new A-
llegheny County Jail.
He rigged a makeshift noose out of
his shoelaces and hung himself from a
bunk in his cell.
Now, seven years later, the medical
company that used to screen inmates
for suicide risk at the jail is on trial in
U.S. District Court, defending itself
against a negligence claim.
Fine's stepmother, Barbara May-fiel-
represented by local attorney Vin-
cent Coppola, says employees of
rectional Medical Services Inc. of Mis-
souri should have known Fine was go-
ing to kill himself.
The company, represented by attor-
ney Vincent DeFalice, says it did the
best it could in screening Fine and that
he is responsible for his own death.
Mayfield filed the lawsuit in 1999 in
Allegheny County Common Pleas Court
and originally named Correctional Med-
ical Services and Allegheny County as
defendants. The lawsuit was trans-
ferred to federal court, and the county
was later dismissed as a defendant.
Correctional Medical, the country's
largest health-car- e provider for jails,
pulled out of the Allegheny County Jail
in 2000, but the move had nothing to do
with the lawsuit.
Fine, who worked for a time as a
welder, was jailed on Oct. 20, 1996, pend-
ing trial for retail theft and simple as-
sault. Earlier that year he had also
been jailed on drug possession charges
and later released.
In both instances, according to the
complaint, a nurse filled out a
form used to determine if an inmate
might be a suicide risk. Coppola said his
answers to questions should have shown
the medical staff Fine was suffering from
heroin withdrawal and that he was de-
pressed and in "emotional distress."
Coppola has argued that the staff
should have realized Fine might kill
himself and placed him in the Mental
Health Unit rather than in the general
jail population. He said the staff should
also have removed his shoelaces.
DeFalice has argued that the staff
followed its standard procedure for
screening inmates and that the ques-
tionnaire itself indicates the company
did not show "reckless disregard" or
"deliberate indifference" for Fine's
safety, as the lawsuit claims.
In court filings, DeFalice said Fine
did not indicate he was a suicide risk in
answering questions and added that
Fine was solely to blame for his death.
The trial before U.S. District Judge
Robert Cindrich is expected to continue
into next week.
Torsten Ove can be reached at
or
m
tove(ipost-gazette.co-
Pittsburgh'slorScBt;
According to Surveillance Data Inc., your city has just been put on alert for respiratory ift?r.s
of cold and flu season is about to hit. Be prepared. Stock up now. And vtstt www.vicks.com
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETT-
it to federal regulations.
& STATE NEWS NORTH In 1996, Moore led the school as
it withdrew from the federal stu-
dent loan program. The college
BUTLER CITY
now has its own loan program fi-
nanced by a major bank.
Agency boosts budget During Moore's tenure, the col-
The Parking Authority voted 2-- 1 lege has consistently ranked high-
ly in polls conducted by Barron's
yesterday to give the city a one- and U.S. News and World Report
time extra payment of $100,000,
which increases the fee it will pay magazines, among others.
the city this year to $200,000.
The city had requested the au- STATE
thority double its contribution in or-
der to balance the city's 2003 bud-
get The city has laid off five work- U.S. DISTRICT COURT
ers because of the budget crunch.
MERCER COUNTY Ecstasy dealers sentenced
Two men were sentenced yes-
vma-- m a .... .a
court for their
terday in federal
College to lose president roles in a large-scal- e
Ecstasy ring.
Grove City College President Michael Maser of Altoona, one
, i .... John H. Moore, who helped to of three brothers charged in the
lead the Christian college away case, was sentenced to nine years
.'. ,A k
WWVttl '
"TV! from reliance on federal student in federal prison. One of his co-
loans, will retire June 30. conspirators, Brandon Repovz of
A search committee has been Laughlintown, got five years and
formed to replace Moore, who will three months.
be 68 when he retires, the school Maser, 33, was one of the lead-
said Wednesday. ers of an organization that distrib-
A research chemist for Procter uted some 150,000 Ecstasy tablets
& Gamble, Moore was deputy di- in Western Pennsylvania begin-
rector of the National Science ning in 2000.
Foundation under President In May of that year, Maser trav-
Ronald Reagan. eled to Amsterdam to set up a
The school has never accepted smuggling operation with Stefan
-- - '" 1 H
lV. Rick SmithAssociated Press
federal research grants and
stopped processing federal Pell
grants for poorer students after
Strieker.
All of the ring members have ei-
ther pleaded guilty or been sent to
the Supreme Court ruled in 1984 prison except for Strieker, who is
that they constituted indirect fed- awaiting extradition in
eral aid to the college, subjecting
School board might hire firm
to analyze TV coverage of district
By Carmen J. Lee
A district spokeswoman said
Education Writer
Pittsburgh school board members will decide
officials would use the analysis
Wednesday whether to hire a Bethel Park firm to of television news to develop strategies
monitor television news coverage of the district this
year.
J. Wine Associates would be paid $1,000 to review
for improving the district's image.
newscasts daily and provide city school officials with
summaries of the topic and length of each piece and
where it was aired. Transcripts and videotapes may
also be provided.
District spokeswoman Pat Crawford, who heads $100,000 without involving members of the board's
the Pittsburgh Public Schools communications and
minority faction or Superintendent John Thomp-
marketing department, said because many resi- son.
dents' impressions of the city schools are based on Matthews also contended that other organizations
television news, officials would use the analyses to in the city or state, such as the Pennsylvania School
develop strategies for improving the district's im- Boards Association, could do the same policy updat-
age. ing work for under $5,000.
Methods could include providing the news media Board President Darlene Harris countered that
with more positive story ideas or encouraging differ- Matthews and other board members knew the item
ent segments of the community, from parents to would be coming up because it was among the ser-
politicians, to visit the schools. vices included in the $800,000 board fund passed last
Board member Theresa Colaizzi asked Crawford month as part of this year's $481 million budget. The
at Wednesday night's agenda review meeting why a spending plan was approved by a now familiar 4 5--
district staff person couldn't handle the task of moni- vote.
toring television news. She also accused Matthews, Thompson and other
Crawford responded that there was no one in her board members of having a history of trying to push
department or elsewhere in the district who had the through their proposals, especially when Matthews
time to watch morning, afternoon and evening news- was part of a different board majority.
casts on all local stations every day. Matthews and Thompson, who was at a San Anto-
Board members Alex Matthews and Mark Brent-le- y nio, Texas, conference and participated in the meet-
Sr. said they liked the idea and believed it was ing by speaker phone, denied that charge.
long overdue. Both said they were never given information
about the Dallas firm and a week before the voting
Matthews later used Colaizzi's reaction to that
recommendation to complain about another propos- meeting was too late to discuss the matter for the
al the board will consider next week. It involves pay- first time. a .'.1 i 'i .' ,.v: 1
1 ill il III Immummimmma i ilnii ii uliUfiHi mill I il li
ing $150,000 to a Dallas firm, Smith-Laurin-
g
Group Wednesday's night meeting was the third to be
Inc., to review district policies and compile an updat- videotaped for broadcast. The discussion can be
ed policy manual. seen at 10 a.m. today on Channel 17, the city's cable
Matthews argued that while members of the station.
board's majority are quick to criticize
THANK YOU!
Carmen Lee can be reached at cleepost-gazette.co-
administrators for proposals that cost $1,000 or m
$6,000, they push through items that cost more than or
We extend our appreciation to the individuals, organizations and corporations
who participate in the Pittsburgh program.
City school psychologist charged Through their generosity; out Educational Services Department can provide
newspapers to area classrooms. If you would like to become an
in sexual assaults on his son sponsor, please call (412)
School
263-155- 1.
Sponsor
By Lori Shontz The victim talked with police in November, saying AUderdice High Richard & Karen Brean
Staff Writer that the abuse took place in Stettner's home from
Ben Franklin Elementary. Mary Beth, David & Matty Golub
the time he was 9 until he was 17. Stettner and
A child psychologist employed by Pittsburgh Pub- Montes divorced the following year. Carlow Campus Middle In Memory of Afvin & Margaret Weinberg Milligram
lic Schools since 1997 has been arrested and charged "We have no reason to doubt statements made by Dormont Elementary Richard Zange & Family
with sexually assaulting his adopted son for an eight-yea- r the victim," said Cmdr. Maurita Bryant, who added
period. that police had also uncovered corroborating evi- Harrison Jr. High In Memory of Craig R. Stephens
Donald Stettner, 46, of Spring Hill, was arrested dence. She would not elaborate. Hopewell Sr. High Dan & Amy D"Eramo and Family
Wednesday night at his home, two months after the Police do not have any have no evidence that chil-
Indiana Jr. High
victim, now 22, went to police and told his story. dren who came under Stettner's professional care Mary Beth, David & Matty Golub
A warrant was issued for the arrest of Rosalia were abused, but Bryant said she expects that media Jamestown Elementary Mr.&Mrs.JackRies
Montes, 47, of McKeesport, Stettner's and
ex-wi-
attention will bring to light any other incidents. Madison Elementary Gamer, Richie & Robinson Families
the biological mother of the victim, and she surren- "He's arrested for very serious charges, and we
dered to police yesterday morning. expect to have tomorrow Friday the disciplinary Neil Armstrong Elementary In Loving Memory of Jim Rohrkaste
Stettner is charged with corrupting the morals of action, whether it's suspension with pay or without Mt. Lebanon High Carmella Antonino - Sew Clean Dry Cleaners
a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, intimida- pay," said district spokeswoman Pat Crawford.
Seton LaSaile High
tion of a victim and involuntary deviant sexual inter- Crawford also assured parents that the charges .Attorney William R. Friedman
course. Montes is charged with endangering the wel- Stettner faced were a family matter. Stettner has St Elizabeth Ann Seton In Memory ofJames P Knapp Sr.
fare of a child, corruption of a minor, involuntary sex- been with the Pittsburgh Public Schools since 1997. Weil Technology Institute Gamer, Richie & Robinson Families
ual intercourse, incest and statutory rape. Stettner is being held in the Allegheny County .
According to an arrest report, Stettner forced the Jail. His bail was set at $100,000 cash. Montes is also
victim to engage in sex and threatened to hurt him if at the jail on $25,000 cash bond. M E
he told anyone. The report also states that Montes
had sex with the victim multiple times after the vic- Lori Shontz can be reached at lshontzpost-gazette.co-
tim turned 13. or
m
NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION
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Cold anlfiii lifiolifi
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fof'eekly cold and flu updates.
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