The 2016 Year In Review
A Nemacolin couple was found dead in their home at 420 March St. early morning on Feb. 11 by Cumberland Township Police. (Photo by Roberto M. Esquivel, Herald-Standard)
Martin
Preparing to turn some dirt in a ceremonial groundbreaking April 13 for the new EQT REC Center at EverGreene Technology Park are (from left) Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation board members Bret Moore and the Rev. John Dorean; Steven T. Schlotterbeck, president of EQT Corp.; Natalie Cox, EQT’s corporate director of communications; Sheilia Stewart, president of the foundation’s board; Dave Jones, the foundation’s executive director; and foundation board members Matt Blair, John Kendrella, Jay Hammers and Kirk King. (Photo by Jon Stevens)
William Campbell, an environmental consultant for Hill Top Energy Center, fielded questions from residents who attended a public meeting on April 25 on the company’s plan to build a 536-megawatt, natural gas-fired power plant on a 42-acre site in Nemacolin. Some of the questions addressed by Campbell were concerns about noise and air and water pollutants. (Photo by Jon Stevens)
John Hallas, assistant bureau director of state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, points out several concepts that were suggested by residents for the future of Ryerson Station State Park. (Photo by Steve Barrett)
Eric James Stull
PART ONE OF TWO
As another year winds down, the Greene County Messenger is taking a journey back in time to review the biggest local news stories that occurred in 2016.
Throughout the year, there was never a shortage of big news that impacted the small rural corner of the Commonwealth, and the Messenger was there to cover it all every step of the way.
Join us as we review the most memorable news stories that grabbed Greene County’s attention this past year, a comprehensive look back at what happened in our communities and neighborhoods over the past twelve months.
The 2016 Year in Review will be published in two installments. This week, we focus on the biggest news stories that occurred in the first six months of the year.
(NOTE: The following articles are presented in chronological order. They are NOT listed by order of importance or precedence.)
Nemacolin deaths believed to be murder-suicide
Evidence examined at a Nemacolin home where a husband and wife were found dead Feb. 11 led investigators to conclude the couple’s death was a murder-suicide.
Cumberland Township police Detective Tony Gismondi said on Feb. 16 he was waiting for toxicology tests and the final autopsy report on Mary Sue Drotos and Louis Drotos, both 67, who were found dead in their home at 240 March Avenue.
Gismondi said police responded to the home at 8:41 a.m. after a 911 dispatcher received a call from Louis Drotos stating “there’s been a murder” without offering any additional information.
When police arrived they found Mary “Sue” Drotos lying in bed, shot once in the head. Louis Drotos was found on the living room couch, also dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head. The detective said a handgun was discovered near Louis Drotos.
Gismondi said there was no evidence to indicate anyone else had been in the house and there were no signs a struggle had taken place.
No motive had been offered for the murder-suicide, Gismondi said.
Stay of execution issued for Jeffrey Martin
Greene County Judge Louis Dayich in February issued a stay of execution for a Fayette County man on death row for the 2006 rape and murder of a child in Dunkard Township.
Jeffrey Martin’s death warrant was signed by John Wetzel, secretary of the state Department of Corrections, on Jan. 26. A Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) appeal was filed on Jan. 19 in the rape case, and Dayich agreed to stay the execution until that appeal is resolved.
Martin, 57, formerly of New Geneva, was convicted of strangling 12-year-old Gabrielle Bechen in a remote area. She had been riding an all-terrain vehicle on a farm near her home when she encountered Martin, who was a hired hand on the farm. After Bechen was killed, Martin covered both the girl and the ATV with lime in a makeshift grave.
Had the stay of execution not been granted, the likelihood Martin would have had his sentence carried out as planned on March 16 was slim-to-none anyway, in light of Gov. Tom Wolf’s February 2015 declaration that he would issue temporary reprieves until the death penalty has been reviewed.
SCI-Greene CO’s charged in smuggling operation
Three corrections officers at the State Correctional Institution at Greene were charged in February in what one investigator referred to as a ‘Rent-a-Center’ being run by SCI-Greene security office staff early last year.
According to court records, Michael Berry, 34, of Clarksville, John C. Smith Jr., 45, of Ohio and Andrew Schneider, 34 of Grindstone were charged with multiple counts following allegations that they facilitated the “unauthorized transfer of inmate property” during their shifts.
In the affidavit filed in Magisterial District Judge Glenn Bates’ office on Feb. 26, Daniel E. Meinert, a certified fraud examiner and criminal investigator for the Office of Special Investigations and Intelligence (OSII) for the Department of Corrections, reported that “Berry would on a regular basis call inmates to SCI-Greene’s visit strip room in the evenings for ‘clandestine’ meetings.”
During the course of the investigation, OSII officials interviewed several inmates, who allegedly told investigators that “Berry would discuss with the inmates, who referred to themselves as ‘the Family,’ their ongoing smuggling operation, as well as ‘sell and exchange’ property,” according to court papers.
No charges have been filed against the various inmates.
Meinert wrote that the property primarily consisted of televisions, radios, electronic keyboards and other assorted electronics. As of Feb. 3, 2015, more than 50 items were confiscated from inmates who were not the original or rightful owners of the property; those items included 30 to 40 televisions, 10 keyboards and 20 Super III Radios — items that are valued between $7,240 and $13,750, according to the affidavit.
Meinert indicated in the affidavit that after information on the guards’ actions came to their attention, they installed covert cameras in the visit strip room, where the alleged activity took place. On two different occasions early last year, the three alleged offenders were recorded.
On one of the occasions, video footage showed Berry calling two inmates from different blocks into the room. According to the affidavit, the two inmates traded the contents of their laundry bags while “Berry sat at the desk/counter watching and allowing the inmates to pass the property.”
An official with OSII stopped one of the inmates while he was leaving the room and discovered an improvised weapon hidden in the bag.
Meinert wrote that Berry allegedly admitted to allowing the inmates to exchange the property, adding that “allowing the inmates to pass the weapon placed inmates and staff of SCI-Greene in jeopardy of death or serious bodily injury.”
The affidavit indicated that Smith admitted to taking “hot trash” items that were scheduled to be destroyed. Those are items that may have been confiscated from another inmate, or left when an inmate was released or transferred.
Berry and Schneider were charged with obstruction of administrative law/other government function, two counts of the unlawful use of a computer, tampering with records and criminal mischief. Berry was charged with an additional count of recklessly endangering another person.
Smith was charged with misapplying entrusted government property, obstruction of administrative law/other government function, unlawful use of a computer, tampering with records and criminal mischief.
Officials break ground for county recreational complex
The Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation and various sponsors, including EQT Corp., officially broke ground at a ceremony on April 13 on a new two-story, 60,000-square-foot recreational complex, which will include an indoor soccer field, basketball court, fitness center, track and multipurpose rooms.
The new recreation center is being situated on 13.3-acres at EverGreene Technology Park adjacent to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard Readiness Center. The project is being constructed by the foundation with its own funds, in addition to community and corporate sponsorships, including support from EQT Corp. as the facility’s naming sponsor.
The foundation purchased the land from Greene County Industrial Development Inc. for $500,000.
“This has been several years in the making,” said Dave Jones, the foundation’s executive director, noting the total cost of the facility is $6.5 million. Presently, $1.6 million has been pledged through community fundraising efforts, nearing a $2 million goal.
The EQT REC Center – with REC standing for Recreation, Education and Community – features a 24,000-square-foot soccer field, with artificial turf, that also can accommodate other uses; a regulation basketball court; locker rooms; a traverse climbing wall; and several community rooms for events, meetings, exercise classes or educational classes.
The second floor has a suspended walking/jogging track overlooking the soccer field; a supervised child care room where parents can leave their children while using the facilities; conference room; several game rooms and a fitness center.
Skepticism surrounds plan to build power plant in Nemacolin
No matter how rosy the proposal sounded, a handful of people who attended an informational public meeting on April 25 at the United Mine Workers Union Hall expressed skepticism about a New York company’s plan to build a 536-megawatt, natural gas-fired power plant in Nemacolin.
Hill Top Energy Center is proposing to construct and operate the plant in Cumberland Township, and the plant will generate electricity using both a combustion turbine (air and natural gas are mixed and ignited), and a heat recovery steam generator (steam produced from the recovered gas stream drives and additional turbine.)
It would be built on 42 acres, a former brownfield site was occupied by the LTV coal mine.
“This is a very early time for the project,” said William Campbell, who prepared Hill Top’s air quality plan approval application, which is currently in the technical review stage before the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The company also has applied to DEP for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for water quality management.
But when Campbell concluded his presentation on all the technical aspects of the plant, the main concerns of Linda Dulik of Cumberland Township focused on emissions and pollutants, noise generated by the plant and how the water would impact the Monongahela River.
“We have been lied to before, especially about fracking and what it has done to our water supply,” she said.
“This is clean technology,” Campbell assured her. But Dulik said she could not help being skeptical and while she admitted she was still willing to learn more about this plant, she said she will still be asking questions as the plans progress.
“I would expect nothing less,” Campbell said.
Meanwhile, the plant would use gas drawn from Marcellus shale wells in Fayette and Greene counties and provide a tax base and jobs.
Campbell said there would be approximately 250 union construction jobs created for a two-year period beginning in 2017, with 25 to 30 skilled workers to be hired for plant operations.
The company plans to begin construction early next year provided all the necessary permits are received. Construction is expected to take 30 months.
DCNR officials hold public meetings to discuss Ryerson’s future
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) held two public meetings and open house sessions on May 17 to talk to local residents and officials about the future of Ryerson Station State Park, and the message was loud and clear: The park’s future looks bright indeed.
The sessions were held at the park office and both were well attended, as dozens of concerned residents attended to hear the latest updates regarding the park.
DNCR officials have been working with Alan Johnson, Ryerson Park manager, and the Re-Vision Ryerson Station State Park Task Force to hold a series of public forums where residents were given the opportunity to begin a dialogue about plans for the park’s future.
The Task Force was formed after DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn came to Ryerson in July 2015 to announce that replacement of a dam that created Duke Lake was currently not possible because of continued ground movement and an unstable foundation.
Following the July 2015 announcement, the first public meeting was held in September 2015 at the West Greene High School in which approximately 80 people with varied interest in the park’s future attended.
During that meeting, residents had the opportunity to offer suggestions and ideas pertaining to: Pool and spray parks, stream and fishing opportunities, trails and picnic areas, camping and overnight accommodations, and programming, recreation and environmental education.
Additionally, residents were encouraged to fill out comment cards or complete an online survey.
During both sessions on May 17, DCNR officials shared updated information via a slide show presentation that focused on ideas and concepts that DCNR received through public surveys and comments that were given to, and filled out by, residents.
DCNR officials also presented a plan detailing master planning concepts, including an upgraded campground with a new shower house and full sanitary and electric hookups; the restoration of the North Fork of Dunkard Fork; a new wetlands boardwalk trail; the establishment of a high quality wetland meadow and bird watching opportunities; a new pool complex with a “Sprayground” pool, an improved day use area with a new nature-themed play area and amphitheater; an improved organized group camp; new hiking trail connections; a new paved multi-use loop trail; and viewing areas and access points.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the meetings included updated information regarding the funding streams for the park improvements. Hallas explained that capital funds totaling $49.8 million has been allocated through legislative process, namely Act 83 of 2006 and Act 85 of 2013.
Hallas said the total includes $40 million initially earmarked for the dam project but later re-purposed for park improvements, $7.8 million to dredge and $2 million for campground improvements. DCNR verified the the re-purposing of these capital funds, ensuring that the money set aside for the dam project funding would be available for Ryerson improvements, Hallas said.
Currently, approximately $38.5 million of the funding stream remains for the re-visioning of the park; Hallas added that this total does not include the $36 million settlement payout from Consol Energy Inc.; in April 2013, DCNR and Consol Energy Inc. settled a lawsuit related to the impact of long-wall mining in the area of the dam.
Some of the settlement money has been spent on legal fees, and the remainder was placed in a general fund and oil and gas lease fund; the money is being held in the general fund “as supporting the improvements to Ryerson” and ensures that the funds are available via the capital project process, Hallas said.
Although no DCNR official could specifically pinpoint when the improvement projects would begin, Hallas said the overall process will require roughly four to six phases and the project will “seriously advance” within the next 24 to 36 months, as of May.
“The process will continue to evolve,” he said. “The Task Force and DCNR will continue to come together. Throughout the ongoing process, we will continue to engage the public. But it’s a lengthy and complicated process. We can’t get all of the money in one easy swoop.”
Hallas said DCNR requested roughly $9 million for the first phase, and added that short-term projects that are expected to begin soon include campground improvements, programming, staffing, existing trail improvements, habitat and picnic/play areas.
Ten Mile Creek testing shows no excessive radiation levels
Another round of testing on water and sludge samples from along Ten Mile Creek near the Clyde Mine Treatment Facility in Greene County did not show excessive radiation levels, state Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, said on May 13.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection tested five sites in January close to the treatment plant and the results did not differ from tests on 12 sites in June 2015 that found radiation levels within federal limits.
“None of the results exceeded federal radiation thresholds or were inconsistent with conditions associated with flooded mines,” Snyder said in a statement.
An independent study by the West Virginia University Water Research Institute released in July 2015 also found that radiation levels did not exceed standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Tests on Ten Mile Creek were prompted by a DEP study in April 2014 that reflected excessive levels of radiation in water, although subsequent tests have shown otherwise.
But, the latest results did not sway Ken Dufalla, president of the Izaak Walton League’s Greene County chapter, who questioned the DEP’s methodology and the “highly suspect” results.
“Not that the people are bad. Not that the DEP is bad. Their methodology is bad science,” said Dufalla, who writes a nature column for the Greene County Messenger.
“It’s poor science being employed to do this,” he said. “Very poor science.”
Dufalla said his organization does not have the means to conduct its own tests for radiation, but it is pursuing a plan to eventually do so. “We’ll figure out somehow to get it done,” he said.
Snyder’s statement said the only samples shown to have “radiological results statistically above laboratory detection limits” were from treated sludge in January and June 2015 as determined by the DEP’s Bureau of Radiation Protection and California District Mining Office.
Greene County man indicted in child porn case
A Greene County man was indicted on June 7 by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of production, distribution, and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney David J. Hickton said.
The 41-count indictment named Eric James Stull, 48, of Clarksville as the defendant.
Stull allegedly produced 41 video and image files of the sexual exploitation of a minor from May 8, 2006, to Dec. 26, 2015, Hickton said.
He allegedly distributed a video containing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor to an undercover Pennsylvania State Police corporal on or about July 21, 2015, Hickton said.
Stull allegedly possessed images in computer graphic files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, some of whom had not yet attained 12 years of age on April 29, 2016, Hickton said.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the production of child pornography counts, a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment for distribution of child pornography, a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment for possession of child pornography, a maximum term of supervised release of life, and a fine of $10,250,000.
Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case. The Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Greene County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.
At the time of the indictment, Stull was in jail and was also awaiting trial in Greene County court on a large number of charges following two separate arrests and arraignments.
According to local court records, members of the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crimes Unit served a search warrant at Stull’s Teagarden Homes residence at 7:30 a.m. April 29 and discovered 35 videos and photographs of Stull engaging in various sexual acts with a now-12-year-old girl.
The dates on the videos depicting Stull and the girl range from the latest on April 2016 to the earliest in May 2006 when the girl was nearly two years old, according to the affidavit.
Based on the found evidence, members of the crime unit contacted state police in Waynesburg to request assistance from the criminal investigation unit; shortly thereafter, police arrived at the residence and initiated a criminal investigation, the affidavit states.
Police later interviewed the juvenile, who said Stull inappropriately touched her and made her inappropriately touch him, and Stull took photos and video of her without her clothes.
Stull was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jesse Cramer on May 16 on 35 felony counts each of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and unlawful contact with a minor, and 31 counts of corruption of a minor.
Following arraignment, Stull was placed in Washington County Prison in lieu of $250,000 straight cash bail.
During his preliminary hearing May 26 before Cramer, one count each of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of a minor was dropped; the rest of the charges were waived to court and no one had to testify at the hearing, according to court records.
Stull was transported from Washington County Prison to attend the hearing, and after the charges were waived he returned to the prison.
Prior to the May 16 charges, he was also arrested on April 29 and charged with two counts each of possession of photographs depicting children involved in sex acts, disseminating photos of children involved in sex acts, possession of child pornography, criminal use a communication facility and disseminating explicit sexual material.
During the April 29 search, police seized and examined computer evidence where files depicting child pornography were located on an external hard drive connected to a laptop computer found in Stull’s bedroom; police found more than 100 image and video files depicting children under the age of 18 engaging in prohibited sexual acts.
For those charges, Stull was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Lee Watson on April 29, and following arraignment he was placed in prison in lieu of $500,000 straight cash bail.
His preliminary hearing for the April 29 charges was held before Watson on May 5, and all charges were held for court. He was lodged in prison when he was arraigned on the May 16 charges, according to court records.