UPMC hospitals donate leftover study money

UPMC hospitals donateleftover study money
FARRELL, Pa. -- The emergency departments at UPMC Horizon's Farrell and Greenville hospitals have donated some money left over from an 18-month study on genetic triggers of sepsis to three hospital organizations.
The UPMC Horizon Foundation, the UPMC Horizon Greenville Auxiliary and the UPMC Horizon Shenango Valley Auxiliary will each get a share of the $5,000 not used in the study.
"We want to repay them for everything they've done for the hospital and our community," said Dr. Jeffrey Moldovan, medical director of emergency services.
The study was conducted in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh and funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. It began in June 2002 and ended last fall and involved 30 hospitals in four states. UPMC Horizon enrolled 186 patients in the study.
Sepsis is an overwhelming bodily infection in which bacteria and toxins invade the bloodstream. It affects about 450,000 Americans a year and has a 30 percent mortality rate.
Assault charge dropped
LISBON -- An assault charge against a Lisbon junior high school teacher accused of assaulting a pupil has been dropped.
Lisbon police charged David Crismon, 39, of Schneider Road, Hanoverton, last spring with the first-degree misdemeanor.
The matter was blown out of proportion, Atty. Lawrence Stacey II of Columbiana, representing Crismon, said today.
Crismon was accused in the April 2 assault of a seventh-grade boy. The matter stemmed from a confrontation after gym class in which Crismon put his hands on the boy's shoulders. The two tripped over a wrestling mat and fell, Stacey said. The boy was not seriously injured.
Icy road section closed
FREDONIA, Pa. -- Days of subfreezing weather have caused a buildup of ice on a section of Rutledge Road in Delaware Township, prompting the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to close the road from Hopper Road to East Lake Road to all but local and emergency traffic. A drainage problem is blamed for the icy buildup.
Jewelry theft reported
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A woman carrying $50,000 worth of jewelry in a bag was robbed on Pine Street. Police said the woman was walking to her car at 6:11 p.m. Thursday when a man wearing a stocking mask and a green military-style jacket grabbed her bag. She held on and was dragged for several feet before the man got away with the jewelry, police said.
The woman told police she took the jewelry from her home because she was not getting along with her husband. She had intended to take it to the bank for safekeeping, but forgot to do so, the report said.
Underage tobacco sales
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said one of their periodic checks on the illegal sale of tobacco products to people under 18 netted two citations.
Clerks at the Rite Aid Store in Sharon City Centre and the Fast Cash Convenience Mart on Budd Street are accused of selling cigarettes to a 15-year-old Greenville boy working with police and the Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Police said the juvenile asked for and was sold a pack of cigarettes at each store. The transactions were witnessed by an adult from Behavioral Health Commission. The clerks face fines between $100 and $250.
Groups join together for children's clothes drive
YOUNGSTOWN -- Local Wendy's restaurants and the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way have joined forces to collect winter clothing items for needy children in the community during February.
Beginning Monday, donations of newly purchased gloves, hats, scarves and mittens may be placed in the designated receptacles near the registers at seven Wendy's locations throughout the Valley. Donors can receive a free Super Value Menu item with any purchase.
The donated items will be distributed to needy area children by Help Hotline and Catholic Charities Regional Agency, both of which are United Way-funded agencies. "There are children in our community who are without adequate clothing for the cold winter months," said Duane Piccirilli, executive director of Help Hotline Crisis Center.
Participating Wendy's include restaurants at 4101 S. Market St., 8541 South Ave., and 433 Boardman-Poland Road, all in Boardman; 4161 Boardman-Canfield Road, Canfield; 5551 Interstate Blvd. (state Route 46), and 27 S. Raccoon Road, both in Austintown; and 4001 Belmont Ave., Liberty.