Local briefs
Blood drives scheduled Two blood drives will be held this week in honor of 4-year-old Colby Cole, who is suffering from leukemia.
The blood drives will be held as follows:
– Noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Uniontown Firemen’s Social Hall on Dunbar Street.
– Noon to 6 p.m. Thursday at the New Salem Presbyterian Church on Mill Street in New Salem.
The last blood drive that was held in Colby Cole’s honor helped 540 people who needed blood.
Senior awards set
The second annual Connellsville Area High School Senior Awards Program will take place on Thursday, May 23, at 6 p.m., in the High School auditorium. Scholarships and other senior awards will be announced at this time. The public is welcome to attend.
Carnival announced
South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Department is holding a carnival at the playground over the Memorial Day weekend. Twelve amusement rides will be available for the enjoyment of young and old. There will be games, food and prize giveaways every night. Friday, starting at 6:30 p.m., is “Kids Night.” Saturday, starting at 6:30 p.m., a fireman’s parade will be held. On Sunday, fireworks will be displayed at dusk. Monday’s Memorial Day carnival starts at 6 p.m. featuring rides for 25 cents. Proceeds of the fair will benefit the South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Department. For more information call 724-628-5050.
Two certified
Fayette County District Justices Dwight Shaner and Wendy Dennis were again certified for service as members of Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System after successful completion recently of continuing legal education course work. Conducted by the Minor Judiciary Education Board and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), the “school” for district justices is held in Chambersburg.
The week-long instruction program is designed to ensure that district justices remain current in a variety of legal topics and management techniques required to fairly adjudicate cases and effectively run a district justice office. Included in this year’s curriculum are updates on civil and criminal law and the Motor Vehicle Code; an overview of Consumer Protection Law; and a presentation by the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Pennsylvania.
Continuing education course work is required by statute for each of the more than 500 Pennsylvania district justices, with approximately 45 district justices attending one of the 14 such classes at some time during each year.
District justices represent the “grass roots” level of Pennsylvania’s judicial system. IN counties other than Philadelphia, district justices have jurisdiction over summary, criminal and motor vehicle cases; landlord-tenant matters; and other civil actions where the amount claimed does not exceed $8,000. District justices may also accept guilty pleas in misdemeanor cases of the third-degree under certain circumstances. They also have jurisdiction to issue arrest and search warrants and to hold arraignments and preliminary hearings in criminal cases.
Established by the Constitution, the AOPC provides support to the Supreme Court in exercising its supervisory duties over each of the other state courts. The Minor Judiciary Education Board was established by legislative act to administer the continuing education program for district justices and Philadelphia bail commissioners, as well as certifying courses for district justices, bail commissioners and other minor court judges.