State digest

January 9, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

State digest

OHIO

Sham auditor candidate enters guilty plea

CLEVELAND — A man has admitted dropping out of a county election campaign in Ohio after making a deal with his rival, the incumbent, who was then re-elected.

Joseph Gallucci, 42, of Independence, pleaded guilty Friday to a single count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Sentencing was set for April 13.

The Republican ran for Cuyahoga County auditor in 2006 against a person identified in federal documents only as a public official. Frank Russo, the Democrat who won re-election as auditor, has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing.

Gallucci landed a $67,849-per- year job with the auditor’s office after dropping out of the campaign.

Russo could not be reached to comment.

WEST VIRGINIA

Children’s hospital offers services in Wheeling

WHEELING — Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh will provide specialty pediatric care in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle through a new partnership with Wheeling Hospital.

The hospitals announced Friday that the Children’s Hospital Specialty Care Center will see patients in Wheeling Hospital’s Tower 1.

Staff will provide a range of outpatient services in such areas as pediatric cardiology, general and thoracic surgery, neurology and oncology.

Wheeling Hospital chief executive Ronald Violi says the venture fills a need for more specialty care, allowing families in the Ohio Valley to stay close to home without compromising on quality.

PENNSYLVANIA

Snow-shovel contest late, but not dead

ECONOMY — A county that has what it bills as a World Championship Snow Shovel Riding Contest forgot one thing when they scheduled the 45-year-old event again for this weekend.

The assistant recreation director who organized the annual event was laid off last year due to cuts in the Beaver County budget.

But now, the county commissioners say the show will go on in Economy Borough, sometime later this month or in February.

Contestants ride shovels down a hill by sitting on the scoop portion of the shovel, and holding the handle up between their legs.

Associated Press