Monday, December 29, 2003
Police rescue kittenstuck in a building
SALEM -- Police were called to rescue a kitten stuck in a building at Mullins Street and South Ellsworth Avenue. Police said two girls walking on South Ellsworth around 5 p.m. Saturday saw a kitten with its head caught in the building. Police found the kitten's head was wedged between a steel support and the foundation of the building. Police removed about 12 sheet metal screws to get to the area where the kitten was trapped and were able to move the support beam away from the foundation enough to free the kitten. Police gave the kitten to a humane officer. The kitten did not appear to be injured, police said.
Fire being investigated
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Firefighters are trying to find out what caused a fire this morning at 903 North Liberty Street. Fire Chief James Donston said the fire was contained in the living room, but there was smoke, heat and water damage throughout the house. Damage was estimated at $20,000. Occupants Frank Zuraski, Amy Swihart and their three children are away on vacation, Donston said. The Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal was expected back this morning to determine the cause.
Salem house fire
SALEM -- A Perry Township man escaped serious injury when firefighters woke him and helped him escape his burning home. Perry police responded with Perry firefighters to a house fire around 3:30 a.m. Saturday at 1822 South Lincoln Avenue. Police said the second floor of the two-story house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. The occupant of the home was asleep on the couch downstairs and unaware of the fire, police said. The man was treated at Salem Community Hospital. No other details were available.
LaGrotta on federal panel
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- State Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Ellwood City, D-10th, has been appointed to the Federal Communication Commission's intergovernmental advisory committee. He was nominated to serve by Pennsylvania House Minority Leader H. William DeWeese, D-50th. The committee provides ongoing advice and information to the commission on a broad range of telecommunication issues, including cable and local franchising, public rights of way and public safety communications. The committee is composed of 15 elected and appointed officials from throughout the country.
Hospital infections report
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A state hospital group wants to delay a plan scheduled to go into effect Thursday that would require hospitals to disclose how many of their patients develop infections.
"Jan. 1 is problematic," said Roger Baumgarten, a spokesman for the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, which represents more than 200 hospitals. "We're looking for a delay. Our bottom line is we support the reporting but we want it done right. If hospitals are rushed to do something, is it going to be done right?"
The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council said it has no intentions of postponing the plan it approved earlier this year.
The independent state agency has tried to collect hospital infection data since 1986 and renewed efforts after the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review highlighted the issue in an October report.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 2 million people contract hospital infections every year.
Deadly germs are often spread by nurses and doctors who do not wash their hands.
Nearly 100,000 patients are killed yearly as a result.
The council hasn't determined how it will publish the data for consumer use.