MERCER Teen earns accolades for saving woman, 81

An alert newspaper carrier delivered rescuers to a customer in need.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- A 15-year-old Borough ninth-grader was honored by Mercer County commissioners Thursday for saving the life of an 81-year-old woman who was the county's first female commissioner.
Heather Hagan was delivering newspapers March 12 when she noticed several papers piled up against the door of Mrs. Josephine McCutcheon's South Street home.
She suspected something was wrong because her customer would not have gone away without stopping the newspaper.
Called 911: When Mrs. McCutcheon did not answer her door, Heather went home and tried to telephone her. Getting a busy signal, she dialed 911.
Emergency crews arrived to find Mrs. McCutcheon had collapsed from a stroke. No one is sure how long she lay there, but her son, C.H. McCutcheon of East Palestine, Ohio, said it was between three and five days.
Personal thanks: He said his mother is hospitalized in stable condition and undergoing rehabilitation. He and his sister, JoAnna Dixon of California, attended Thursday's meeting to thank Heather personally.
A representative of Congressman Phil English, R-21st, also presented Heather with a congressional citation.
"I was just happy to help someone in need, and I'm glad I could," Heather told commissioners. " I hope she gets well soon."
Mrs. McCutcheon also formerly served on Mercer Borough Council.