Note: Newest reports are listed first and continue chronologically in the order they were submitted. Any ideas can be submitted to Public Information Officer Jeff Greenburg at jgreenburg@mcc.co.mercer.pa.us. 

• Three promoted to sergeant at county jail

  A trio of Mercer County Jail guards have been promoted to sergeant. The promotions, announced by Warden Jeffrey Gill, were approved at Monday's Mercer County Prison Board meeting. Those promoted included: Carol Camp, a 14-year veteran at the jail; Dan Miner, a 6-year veteran; and Neil Perample, a 2-year veteran. The effective dates of the promotions are Dec. 13, 14 and 17, respectively. 

   

• many agencies contributed to successful drill

  Recently, members of the Mercer County emergency service community gathered together to perform a multidisciplinary drill to ensure the safety of Mercer County residents and visitors. The exercise took place on  December 9, 2007, and involved a simulated multi-vehicle interstate highway accident that was created at Sunset Drag Strip in Jefferson Township. This scenario was selected due to the number of past incidents of this type in our county and the desire to strengthen the working relationships and practices between the emergency agencies historically involved. All of the Mercer County emergency service agencies that provide primary response to Interstate 79 and 80 and PA Route 60 were invited to participate. In addition, hospitals within Mercer County as well as various surrounding agencies involved with disaster services took part in the planning effort and contributed their services on the day of the exercise.

  The American Red Cross was especially active on the day of the exercise, providing canteen services to the responders at the exercise and performing a sheltering drill for victims at the Jefferson Township Municipal Building. Months of planning by the Mercer County Department of Public Safety and the members of the Mercer County Emergency Services Committee was needed to coordinate the drill. Without the involvement of all the agencies and individuals the drill would not have taken place. The responders in attendance and the organizers of the exercise considered it to be an extreme success and beneficial for all involved.

  The Mercer County Department of Public Safety and the Mercer County Emergency Services Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people and agencies for their support in making this drill possible.

  Setup/site coordination: 

  Sunset Drag Strip (Alex Theofolis, Owner) – Hosting site; Estes Express (Jack Walker) – Tractor Trailer; Sharon Auto Wrecking (Steve) – Damaged cars; Myers Towing (Shane Myers) – Tow trucks; Hermitage VFD – Smoke machine; Jefferson Township; Jefferson Township Police Department; Jefferson Township Fire Department; EMMCO West (Melissa Thompson) – Moulage; Community volunteers (victims) 

  On site participating agencies: 

  Mercer County EMA/911 – Department of Public Safety; Mercer County Transit; Pennsylvania Sate Police; PennDOT; American Red Cross; Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission; RACES; McGonigle Ambulance; Sheakleyville VFD; Sandy Lake VFD; Jackson Center VFD; Mercer East End VFD; West Middlesex VFD; Shenango Township VFD

   Off site participating agencies:

  Sharon Regional Health System; UPMC Horizon (Shenango and Greenville campuses); Life Force Ambulance; Shenango Valley Area Ambulance

   

• public can view campaign finance reports on line

  For what is believed to be the first time in Mercer County history, campaign finance reports of local political candidates and their committees, as well as those of political action committees, can be accessed electronically on the county’s Web site at www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us. Click on the Voter Registration/Election link and then on 2007 Campaign Finance Reports.

  “Campaign finance reports of state and federal candidates have been accessible electronically elsewhere for some time, so we believe it’s a valuable service to our residents to be able to provide similar information on the local candidates,” Director of Elections Jeff Greenburg said.

  The electronically-published reports are limited to candidates who ran in the most recent election and committees who attempted to influence the results of a race or ballot question in the election. All other reports that were filed are available for public inspection in the county election office in the Mercer County Courthouse. Not all candidates are required to file reports each period, but those who were and ran for office last month had their reports listed. In addition, candidates aren’t required to have committees. Those who do had both their candidate and committee reports listed.

  Sections of the report that include signatures and other personal information have been redacted from the electronic versions. That information, however, is available to the public on the hard copy of the documents in the election office. The appropriate reports for local candidates are scheduled to be published as soon as possible following the 30-day post-election filing deadline for the primary and general elections.

• annual courthouse concerts to begin 

  In an annual tradition that has been conducted for many years, students from nearly a dozen Mercer County school districts will perform Christmas concerts in the rotunda of the Mercer County Courthouse. All of the concerts, which are open to the public, are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and all feature high school students unless noted. Following is the schedule: Commodore Perry, Dec. 5; West Middlesex Oakview Middle School, Dec. 6; West Middlesex (11 a.m.) and Sharon, Dec. 10; Reynolds, Dec. 11; Sharpsville, Dec. 12; Greenville, Dec. 14; Mercer, Dec. 17; Grove City, Dec. 18; Lakeview, Dec. 19; Hickory, Dec. 20; and Farrell, Dec. 21. 

   

• Write-in decision, casting of lots set  

  There are 45 races in Mercer County in which a write-in candidate will be the winner from the Nov. 6, 2007, election. That has led to the scheduling of two events next week. The first is a meeting of the county Board of Elections to approve or disapprove any variation of a write-in vote that was cast by voters. The board is slated to meet at 8:30 a.m. Monday in the assembly room of the courthouse.

  Of the 45 races involving write-in winners, the county will have to conduct a casting of lots to break ties in 10 of them. That has been scheduled for 12 p.m. Wednesday in the assembly room. Those candidates will be notified by mail of their tie and are invited to attend the casting of lots or send a proxy. If they don't attend, the election staff will draw a ball on their behalf.

  The names of all write-in winners will be released publicly and posted on the county's Web site after Monday's meeting. We will also release at that time the list of tie races and the candidates involved. Those who win via the casting of lots will be announced Wednesday afternoon.

  The Board of Elections is also scheduled to conduct the first and second signings of the official results at 10:15 a.m. Nov. 20 and 27, respectively.

   

• some cast a smile with write-in votes, others protest

  Most voters casting write-in votes in Mercer County take their vote seriously and list a name of a legitimate contender or candidate. A few, however, still enjoy the opportunity to cast a smile with their write-in votes. Although the trend seems to show fewer voters casting throw-away or wacky votes, there are still enough to force a smile on most faces even in protest. Some old favorites this year included the following:

  ·        Mickey Mouse outpolled his cartoon colleagues with 7 votes. Donald Duck was a close second with 5. Others included Dumbo, Elmer Fudd and Homer and Marge (The Simpsons)

  ·    Jim Traficant, the former Congressman from Mahoning County , Ohio , received 2 votes, although his total is significantly fewer than in past years.

  ·    Those looking for a hero cast votes for Batman, G.I. Joe and professional wrestling champion John Cena.

  ·    Rush Limbaugh and The Boogeyman both got votes, although some on the left end of the political spectrum might argue they’re one in the same.

  ·    Some clearly expressed their opinions in their vote with John W. Crook, Lost Cause, No New Tax and Some(one) Beside Vested Interest.

  ·    One creative voter cast write-ins for Bee Nice, Kay Mart and Chuck Roast.

  ·    Jesus secured one vote.

  ·    No One, Me, Anyone But Him, Anyone Else and Anybody Else were also favorites of a few who apparently didn’t like the names on the ballot.

  ·    Numbers were clearly on the minds of a few voters who cast for 1234567, 123456, 5 and 1.

  ·    Not to leave the alphabet short were: OJ, OD, Q, CC1, AAA, NA and AAAA.

  ·    John Doe would have gotten one vote, but we weren’t able to identify him.

  ·    Someone apparently enjoyed the movie “300” and cast votes for three ancient historical figures who met at the legendary Battle of Thermopylae in the 5^th Century B.C. – King Xerxes of Persia, King Leonidas of Sparta and Arcadian leader Daxos.

  Although only write-in winners are posted on the county’s Web site, a complete compilation of write-ins is available at the election office in the courthouse.

• voter Registration deadline is oct. 9  

  The deadline to register to vote or to change your name, address or political party before the Nov. 6 election is 4:30 p.m. Oct. 9. Absentee ballot applications are now being accepted and 5 p.m. Oct. 30 is the deadline for those applications to be submitted to the county election office. Completed ballots must be received in the election office in the courthouse by 5 p.m. Nov. 2.

  Any voter unable to travel to their voting location due to health reasons or who will be absent from their municipality on Nov. 6 may vote by absentee ballot. Any voter needing assistance with their absentee ballot may call the election office at 724-662-7542 to request an assistance affidavit. Applications should be available at municipal buildings, state legislator offices, libraries, district justice offices, state liquor stores and all post offices.

  Candidates and committees required to file campaign finance reports must do so by Oct. 26 with the appropriate agency, the county election office or the Department of State. The reports must be complete through Oct. 22. Candidates and/or committees should be receiving courtesy letters as reminders in the upcoming weeks. If you have any questions or believe you've received a letter in error, please call 724-662-7542.

• 3RD MUNNELL RUN FARM DAY SET  

  The 3rd annual Munnell Run Farm Day is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 at the farm, located one mile north of Mercer on state Route 58. The goal of the family-oriented event is to acquaint the community with Munnell Run Farm, the area's rich historical and agricultural heritage, the works of local artists, the sounds of local musicians and locally-produced farm products.

  New this year is an exhibit by the Lakes Area Art Guild, a group of local artists whose works include pottery, watercolor paintings and photography. A number of handcrafters will also be on hand to demonstrate and sell items such as walking sticks, bows, baskets, chainsaw carvings, fiber arts, gourd art and many others. A quilt show is also scheduled.

  Children will have an opportunity to enjoy a farm animal petting area, horseback riding, games and prizes, a wagon ride and tour of the farm. Dennis James of DJ's Greenhouse will give a presentation about fall gardening at 1 p.m. and the Doug Butchy Big Band will perform from 2 to 4 p.m.

  Hungry? There will be plenty of food, including spit-roasted chicken by the Mercer County Youth Conservation Camp; funnel cakes by the Shenango River Watchers; ice cream, nachos and hot dogs by McCullough's Ice Cream; and popcorn and drinks by Munnell Run Farm.

  Call 724-662-2242 for more information.

• Shared kitchen incubator idea described as a 'win-win'  

  Win-win, buy local, agricultural preservation and value added are all phrases that quickly come to mind when looking at a "shared kitchen" incubator project being sought for Munnell Run Farm. A shared kitchen incubator is a commercial kitchen where farmers and entrepreneurs can develop food products, introduce them to the marketplace and grow a start-up business.

  Farmers win because they're able to obtain extra value for their raw farm products without the up-front cost of building their own facility. Consumers win by having the opportunity to buy these products that might otherwise not be available. Artisan cheese and yogurt, marinades, sauces, salsas, jams, jellies and other products would be made locally.

  As a result of the positive impact such a facility could have for those in northwestern Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, Munnell Run Farm Foundation has announced several local, state and federal agencies have teamed up to sponsor a shared kitchen information session. A meeting is set for 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sept. 14 at the Mercer County Cooperative Extension Office on U.S. Route 19 just north of Mercer. The program will feature Dr. Cameron Wold, a nationally recognized expert on establishing and operating shared kitchens.

  Following Dr. Wold's presentation, those interested in the proposed incubator can attend a meeting to establish a committee that will help guide efforts to build and operate the incubator. Supporters believe the incubator will provide an important economic boost to the region while supporting agriculture. Please RSVP by calling Jim Mondok at 724-662-2242 or e-mailing jim@munnellrunfarm.org.

• deputies commended for homicide suspect arrest assist 

  Five Mercer County sheriff's deputies have been issued commendations by the department for their efforts in helping to apprehend a murder suspect in Hermitage on Aug. 23. Benjamin Sharper, Chad Rowe, Leo Reardon, Dick Arthur and Mark Yassem were all cited for their actions that led to the arrest of  Steven Brown.

  At 11 p.m. that day, the department learned Brown might be staying at a hotel in the area. Brown had allegedly shot and killed a man in Warren, Ohio, and was considered armed and dangerous. The deputies began searching hotels in the area to see if they could locate Brown's vehicle. They eventually found it parked at the Starlite Motel on South Hermitage Road and contacted Hermitage and Pennsylvania State Police for assistance. After passing command to Hermitage Police, the deputies continued to assist the other agencies with the identification and eventual capture of Brown.

  "Myself, the department and the community appreciate the dedication of placing yourselves in harm's way to apprehend this dangerous felon to protect the citizens of Mercer County," Mercer County Chief Deputy Sheriff Gary Hartman said. 

  In a letter submitted to Sheriff Bill Romine on Aug. 27, Warren City Police Det. Justin Soroka expressed on behalf of the city police department its deepest gratitude for the deputies' assistance during the apprehension of Brown.

  "Thanks to the professionalism and expertise displayed by the deputies of your department, a violent suspect was apprehended before he could further flee the area and an innocent female was brought to safety," Soroka said.

• ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP YOUR LUNCH FOR A DAY? 

  Mercer County residents are being asked to give up their lunch for a day on June 5th in recognition of "National Hunger Awareness Day." The Community Food Warehouse is participating in the event by sponsoring the campaign "Give Up Your Lunch For The Day."

  The purpose of the effort is to shed light on individuals and families in the community who skip meals during a day because of their economic situation. The Warehouse is asking residents to sacrifice their lunch on June 5th and donate what they would have spent to the Warehouse.

  Donations by county employees can be dropped off at Bill Boyle's office on the lower level of the courthouse. Others can send their donations to the Community Food Warehouse, P.O. Box 425, Farrell, Pa., 16121, or dropped off at the Warehouse at 821 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Farrell. For more information, please call 724-981-0353.

• county residents saving with drug card 

  Mercer County residents utilizing the free National Association of Counties prescription drug discount card have been enjoying a roughly 23 percent savings off the cost of prescription medicine since Mercer County officials, in a joint effort with NACo, first offered the program locally last August. About 300 people a month are taking advantage of the card that offers savings off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs and they have combined to save an average of $6,500 a month.

  For those who are unaware of the program or didn't pick up a card when it was first introduced, the county is reminding residents they are still available. The cards can be used by all Mercer County residents, regardless of age, income or existing health care coverage. They can be used any time a prescription isn't covered by insurance. There are no restrictions and no limits on how many times the card can be used. This isn't insurance.

  A list of distribution points for the card is available on the county's Web site. Click on County Information and then Mercer County Rx. Visit caremark.com/naco to look up participating pharmacies and price estimates for prescriptions, as well as other information. Call 1-877-321-2652 or Mercer County Chief Clerk Norma Anderton at 724-662-3800, ext. 2512, for more information. 

   

• dog gone it! where's that dog again? 

  Found a lost dog and don't know who to call? Well, Mercer County Treasurer Virginia "Ginny" Richardson and Mercer County's MIS Department are introducing a new electronic service that might just be the answer to your problems in the future when someone else's Fido or Max ends up at your doorstep after deciding to take a walk on the wild side.

  The Mercer County Doggone/Lost Puppies Program is up and running at the county's Web site at www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us. There, anyone can locate the owner of a dog with just a few clicks of a computer mouse. The only information needed to find the owner is the license number from the dog tag. With that number at the county's site, an individual could find the name and telephone number of the dog owner, as well as the dog's name and breed.

  After logging onto the county's site, click to County Information and then Dog Ownership Search. At that point, a screen will appear that lists the following options: Regular License, Senior License or Lifetime License. Senior licenses will have the letter S before the number on the tag while Lifetime licenses begin with the number 43. Enter the license number in the next box and the license year in the next box for Regular and Senior licenses. All Mercer County regular and senior licenses have the year stamped on the license tag.

  Ms. Richardson's hope is this new program will help to reunite properly licensed dogs with the owners in a more timely manner.  Dogs should have a 2007 dog license. If the state dog warden canvasses the county and your dog isn't properly licensed, you will be fined. Call the treasurer's office at 724-662-4440 for more information.

   

• ACT 1 informational meeting set 

  Voters will find a question on the May 2007 primary ballot asking if they favor their school district imposing an additional earned income tax of whatever percent their district placed on the ballot. The question will also identify an estimated impact on residential property school taxes. What will the voting results mean to you, to senior citizens, to wage earners, to renters, to business owners, and to school districts? 

  The ballot question is a part of the implementation of the Taxpayer Relief Act: Act 1 of Special Session 2005-2006. An informational meeting on Act 1 will be held by Penn State Cooperative Extension of Mercer County on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 7 p.m. at the Leslie N. Firth Learning Center, Home of Mercer County Cooperative Extension, Route 19, 1.5 miles north of Mercer. The session is designed to help citizens know and understand this school tax change/taxpayer relief act in preparation for voting and anticipating changes resulting from the act.

  Dr. Tim Kelsey, Penn State professor of agricultural economics and state program leader for economic and community development will be the presenter. The session is free, open to the public and no advanced registration is required. Voters, taxpayers, property owners, and elected officials are among the target audience. The percentages of increased earned income tax for school districts represented on the Mercer County ballots range from .4% to 1% increase. The estimated property tax savings amounts noted on the ballot questions range from $149 to $340 depending on the school district.

  Please contact Janet L. McDougall, Interim Regional Director, Northwest Region Penn State Cooperative Extension, at 724-662-3141 or via e-mail at jlm14@psu.edu for information.

• Unofficial primary ballot available

  The unofficial May 15, 2007, primary ballot, including local, county and statewide candidates listed in the order they will appear on the ballot, as well as all the Act 1 and other ballot questions, is now available on the county's Web site at www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us. Link to government offices, then election-voter registration and 2007 municipal primary unofficial ballot.

   

• District judge antos court closed

  The building housing the court of Magisterial District Judge Ron Antos, 425 Idaho St. , Farrell, will be closed to the public until further notice beginning March 12 because of an ongoing problem with mold. Jeff Greenburg, Mercer County ’s public information officer, said the building will reopen as soon as possible although the time frame is uncertain. The county has been given the green light by Farrell officials to temporarily move court proceedings to the Farrell City Building. Pete Morin, the county's court administrator, said the county was very appreciative of Farrell's cooperation during this inconvenience. Anyone who is required to make court payments or fines or has court business at Judge Antos’ office should go to the Farrell City Building. Call Antos' office at 724-346-3591 for information. 

   

• chestnut street bridge demoliSHED

  the Chestnut Street Bridge in Grove City was imploded March 14. The time and date were agreed upon in a meeting including the contractor, blaster, and officials from Grove City borough, Mercer County 911, the Department of Environmental Protection and PennDOT. The contractor’s demolition plan has been reviewed and accepted by the project designer, and the contractor has begun notification of residents near the structure. 

   

• court schedule online

  Mercer County has added another feature to its government Web site in an ongoing effort   to  improve access of information for citizens. Beginning this week, the daily court schedules of Court of Common Pleas judges' Francis J. Fornelli, Thomas R. Dobson, Christopher St. John and John C. Reed are listed on the county's site at www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us. Link to "county government" and then "Court of Common Pleas Schedule." Daily schedules should be posted by the end of the previous business day. For example, Tuesday schedules should be available by late Monday afternoon.

   

• new passport requirements

  Mercer County residents should be aware new requirements for travelers under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative were recently put in place via the first of a two-phase process.  Beginning Jan. 23, 2007, all people, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda must present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner document.

  As early as Jan. 1, 2008, those same individuals traveling by land or sea, including ferries, may also be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative action permits a later deadline, federal officials are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

  The goal of the initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the U.S. for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation that will allow Homeland Security officials to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler. Please contact the Mercer County prothonotary's office at 724-662-7561 or visit travel.state.gov for fees and additional information.

  It is important to note that time frames for processing passports are slightly longer than usual. For example, routine service passports are taking up to 10 weeks to deliver when they normally take only six weeks. Expedited service is averaging 3 to 4 weeks and possibly longer when it normally takes two weeks.

   

• County upgrades Web site

  Mercer County has completed an upgrade to its Web site that enables residents to see online formally approved minutes of recent county commissioners' meetings, including how commissioners voted on each motion. This is the first time in county history that actual minutes of commissioners' meetings have been made available to the public electronically.

  "One of the biggest complaints constituents have of their government bodies is the difficulty they have accessing information," said Jeff Greenburg, the county's public information officer. "It's the commissioners' hope that this simple upgrade will serve as one small step to more openness in government on the county level."

  Residents can go to the site by accessing the county's main page at  www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us. Click on "county information" and then "public meetings." Find the meeting date and beside that date is an option to read the minutes from that meeting. Because minutes don't become official until they are formally approved at the next meeting, they won't be available for two weeks after meetings are held. Besides this news section, which is also new, county officials hope to soon add meeting agendas to the site so residents can see prior to a meeting what's going to be acted on. Those agendas will remain on the dates until being replaced by the formal minutes that include the commissioners' votes.

  The upgrades were accomplished through the cooperative efforts of the county's MIS Department, Chief Clerk Norma Anderton and Greenburg, as well as with the full support of the county commissioners Brian Beader, Olivia M. Lazor and Ken Seamans.

   

• ELECTION BOARD APPOINTMENTS MADE

  Mercer County Common Pleas President Judge Francis J. Fornelli has appointed two new members to the county's election board for the 2007 primary and general elections. Judge Thomas R. Dobson is replacing County Commissioner Brian Beader and John Logan, the county's fiscal administrator, is sitting in for Commissioner Ken Seamans.

  County commissioners normally double as election board members except in years when they are on the ballot. Beader and Seamans can't serve on the board after announcing their intentions to run for office this year. Beader is seeking another term as county commissioner while Seamans is running for Wilmington Township supervisor, a post he held before being appointed in November to finish the unexpired term of former commissioner and state Rep. Michele Brooks, R-17th District. The third election board member, Commissioner Olivia M. Lazor, isn't seeking re-election after four terms in office at the county seat and will retain her seat on the election board this year.

• Resele named "correctional officer of the year"

  Mercer County Jail guard Erin L. Resele has been named "Correctional Officer of the Year" by the county. Resele has worked at the jail for four years and said the honor was something she never expected.

  "I am given a job to do and I work hard to perform to the county's expectations," she said. "I am so honored with this award and very happy to be an employee of the Mercer County Jail. I really look forward to fulfilling my career at the jail."

  Warden Jeff Gill said Resele was very deserving of the award, which was presented to her during a ceremony at Monday's Prison Board meeting.

  "She has earned this accolade through her hard work and devotion to duty as a correctional officer," Gill said. "She has all the attributes of a good officer, intelligence, good work ethic, common sense, maturity, strong moral character and a keen perception of street sense."

  Gill said Resele has also earned the respect of her fellow guards, the administration and inmates. She previously earned a commendation for the discovery of unlawful drugs in the jail. Prison Board President James P. Epstein, the county's district attorney, added that Resele exemplifies the finest qualities found in Mercer County Jail guards.

  "She and her colleagues perform their duties in extremely difficult situations, frequently dealing with extreme provocation and facing the possibility of danger," Epstein said. "They are unarmed and outnumbered and often maintain order only through their bearing and professional presence."

  

  Mercer County Jail Guard Erin Resele accepts her award as the county's "Correctional Officer of the Year" from Lt. Paul Rea.

   

• new passport requirements; photos can be taken in office 

  Mercer County residents seeking new passports can now have their photos taken in the Mercer County prothonotary's office in the courthouse. The cost is $10 for two photos. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

  New requirements for travelers under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative were recently put in place via the first of a two-phase process.  Beginning Jan. 23, 2007, all people, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda must present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner document. As early as Jan. 1, 2008, those same individuals traveling by land or sea, including ferries, may also be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative action permits a later deadline, federal officials are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries. 

  The goal of the initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the U.S. for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation that will allow Homeland Security officials to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler. Please call 724-662-7561 or visit travel.state.gov for fees and additional information. It is important to note that time frames for processing passports are slightly longer than usual. For example, routine service passports are taking up to 10 weeks to deliver when they normally take only six weeks. Expedited service is averaging 3 to 4 weeks and possibly longer when it normally takes two weeks.

• COURTHOUSE REDEDICATED WITH PLAQUE UNVEILING 

  Nearly 100 people crowded into the main rotunda area of the Mercer County Courthouse recently for the unveiling of a plaque marking the rededication of the historic building that underwent a $13 million renovation from 2001 to 2004. Special guests included current and former county officials and judges, as well as the architects and general contractors for the project. President Judge Francis J. Fornelli introduced featured speaker John G. "Jerry" Johnson, who was chairman of the Courthouse Renovation Committee during the renovation. 

  Names on the plaque include current Commissioners Olivia M. Lazor, Brian Beader and Kenneth A. Seamans, and former Commissioners Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman and Brian W. Shipley; current Common Pleas Judges Thomas R. Dobson, Christopher St. John, John C. Reed and Fornelli, and former Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Wherry; Controller Tom Amundsen and former Controller Dennis Songer; Johnson; architect The 4M Company; and general contractor Wallace Builders.

  Also unveiled at the event were portraits of Mercer County's Common Pleas Judges from the late 1800s through today. Most are already hanging near the courtrooms on the second and third floor of the building.

  

  From left, John G. "Jerry" Johnson, President Judge Francis J. Fornelli, and Commissioners Olivia M. Lazor, Kenneth A. Seamans and Brian Beader share a smile immediately following the dedication ceremony.

• county courts ANNUAL REPORT released

  The annual report for Mercer County's courts has been released. The report, which focuses on  2006 numbers for the Common Pleas and Magisterial District courts, details case filings and dispositions, revenues and expenses, salaries and presents an overview of past activities while showing potential future trends. Among the highlights for 2006 was the January swearing in of Magisterial District Judge Ronald E. Antos. Elected in November 2005, Antos succeeded longtime Judge Henry Russo in District Court 35-2-02 in Farrell.

  This was the second year of the Common Pleas Case Management System, a computerized  criminal case information system that is now implemented in all judicial districts in Pennsylvania. The Clerk of Courts, Court Administration and other offices have all undergone updated training to make the process more efficient. The Mercer Courts will continue to work with the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to improve the process.

  With the CPCMS computer system, criminal case filings are now categorized under a different set of standards than had been utilized in past years. This made statistical comparisons difficult to reconcile. Available information shows criminal case filings were higher than in 2005. This coincides with the increase in new cases opened by the office of District Attorney. Dispositions of cases increased as well.

  Civil case filings in 2006 increased 21 percent from 2005. Cases listed as "trial ready" decreased by 14 percent, or 11 cases. Dispositions of trial ready cases surpassed filings, resulting in a decrease of pending actions. Mercer County maintains an effective system of moving cases through a timely fashion. The end of 2006 showed 14 trial ready civil cases less than 6 months old, two between 2 and 12 months old and none over a year. Criminal case filings increased by 5 percent.

  According to statistics supplied by the DUI Association of Harrisburg, 616 Court Reporting Network (CRN) tests were conducted on DUI arrest cases in Mercer County. This was an increase of 110 cases from the previous year, making DUI arrests a significant part of the criminal case load. Family Court and Orphan's Court filings showed both minor increases and decreases compared to 2005. The Domestic Relations Office set a record for child support collection with more than $15.2 million. Despite the increase, new case filings were down from 2005. The Courts also work with other offices in the collection of fines, costs and restitution. In 2006, more than $53,000 was collected in DUI school fees. That money is used to pay the cost of the school in order that it not be passed on to taxpayers.

  Mercer County Common Pleas President Judge Francis J. Fornelli noted with all the changes, now or in the future, elected members of the judiciary and appointed staff remain committed to the goal that citizens of Mercer County "receive the very best justice system we can offer."

• COURTHOUSE A can't-miss STOP ON WAY TO ALTAR

  It’s easy to understand why thoughts of a wedding ceremony naturally tend to gravitate to flowing white gowns on angelic brides and equally nattily adorned grooms. The couple is the center of attention for what is one of the most memorable moments of anyone’s lifetime. But long before the exchange of vows and the bride’s walk down the aisle a no less important event must takes place: the procurement of the documentation that allows the ceremony to legally proceed.

  Many people in Mercer County still believe in committing to one another by obtaining a license that legally seals their wedding vows. As many as 800 are distributed annually in Mercer County by Clerk of Orphans’ Court Kathy Kloos. Mrs. Kloos also serves as Clerk of Courts and Registrar, as well as overseeing the county’s cost collections department, but the solemn responsibility to assist couples preparing for marriage clearly outshines the others. Although it’s a “very small percentage” of the work that's conducted in her office, Mrs. Kloos notes its positive nature makes it the most enjoyable to perform.

  “It’s a good news thing,” she said. “And it’s a break from dealing with sometimes otherwise sad things” such as probating an estate following a family member’s death or collecting fines from a criminal defendant. “This is a fun thing,” Mrs. Kloos continued. “It’s one of the nice things when people walk in with smiles on their faces and holding hands.”

  The steps are simple and the cost minimal for couples seeking a marriage license. The office is located on the first floor of the Mercer County Courthouse. Couples may apply in any Pennsylvania county and that license to marry, which costs $45, is good anywhere in the state. The license essentially authorizes a marriage ceremony to be performed anywhere in Pennsylvania .  After applying, there is a three-day waiting period before the license is issued. Once issued, the license is valid for only 60 days. If unused before the 60-day period ends, the law requires the license to be voided.

   Both the man and woman, ages 18 and older, must be present to apply and they must furnish a photo driver’s license or original birth certificate. If a person is 16 or 17, they must have their birth certificate. A parent or legal guardian must also be present to sign a consent form. Those under the age of 16 must have their birth certificate, the consent of parent or legal guardian and a court order from a Common Pleas Court judge. Parental consents and court orders are each $5. Licenses can be mailed for an additional $2.

   

• child support collections on the rise in county

  Rand Nikoloff would be the first person to acknowledge child support collection efforts can always be improved upon. However, Mercer County's Domestic Relations department director also believes it's important to recognize successes as they come. And Mercer County has enjoyed a modicum of just that in recent years when it comes to child support collections.

  "The impression of child support is that we're ineffective and not doing anything," he said. "The reality of the numbers shows different."

  Mercer County has seen it's collection ratio in child support cases go from 74.40 percent in 2002 to 83.21 percent this year, an increase of 8.81 percent that is the third-best among all 67 counties in the state during that time span. Only Beaver (11.16 percent) and Greene (9.68 percent) counties enjoyed a bigger increase. Eliminate out-of-state collections, which are much more difficult to secure, and the county's figures are closer to 87 percent. And when you take into account that 87 percent includes people the department is always trying to catch up with because they're constantly moving or changing jobs, that number looks even more impressive.

  "We are very pleased with the improvement we've made by virtue of the approach we're taking to work cases better," Nikoloff said.

  The state has the best numbers in the country and part of that can be attributed to the fact Pennsylvania has "probably one of the most outstanding computer systems designed for child support in the country," he added. What Mercer County has done in recent years, he continued, "is embrace the use of this system to more thoroughly and actively work cases than some other jurisdictions."

  The Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement System maintains case, personal and payment information. Domestic Relations staff use PACSES to monitor support payments and enforce support orders. It can be accessed at www.childsupport.state.pa.us.

  According to numbers compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Pennsylvania officials collected 74.65 percent of all current support ordered and collected arrears in 75.21 percent of the cases in which it was owed. Only North Dakota -- 73.42 and 70.1 percent, respectively -- surpassed the 70 percent benchmark in both areas. Wisconsin hit 70.64 percent in current collections, but no other state hit 70 percent in either area. The national averages are 60.35 and 60.79 percent.

  "I hope this reflects the level of service and effort made by the child support staff across the state," Nikoloff said.

  Perhaps as impressive, the county's numbers were increasing from 2004 to 2007 by a 4.51 percent margin while 28 counties saw their collection percentages decline. At one time, Mercer County was 55th among counties in collections. It now stands 29th. Nikoloff believes it's not necessarily fair lumping all counties in one collections basket because of demographics, but when Mercer is compared to many counties in the region he said it stacks up pretty well.

  "I'm proud of that and I'm proud of what they do," he said of his staff. 

  Even with the solid improvement, Nikoloff readily admits an 83 percent success rate among its nearly 5,000 cases doesn't mean a whole lot to the 17 percent who aren't getting their money. He promises his department will continue to make every effort possible, however, to whittle the number down for those not getting money. 

  For more information or assistance, call 724-662-2404 or the statewide Child Support Helpline at 800-932-0211.