State briefs
Death probed ERIE, Pa. (AP) – It’s been three years since Sabrina Kahler went out for a day of swimming in Erie County with a friend. She hasn’t been seen since.
Authorities said they have few clues into the disappearance of Kahler, who would have turned 23 last week. Her mother, Susan Burg, said she is desperate for some news about what happened.
Erie police Detective Sgt. Barry Snyder, the lead investigator in the case, said authorities most recently searched vacant fields in Erie after a tip. They found no indication Kahler was there.
Kahler had gone swimming on June 24, 2002, with David Heck, who was an acquaintance of hers and a friend of her boyfriend. The two went swimming in Springfield Township and they were later seen by a state police trooper at an ice cream stand.
Heck told police he dropped Kahler off at the West Erie Plaza. Police have been unable to confirm Heck’s story and said he has not been cooperating in the investigation.
Heck is in jail on unrelated charges.
Statue groomed
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) – An icon in this western Pennsylvania town is missing, but Morley’s Dog hasn’t really run away.
The canine that once stood at Main and Market streets is at Concurrent Technologies Corp. in Richland Township where he is getting a complete grooming. In fact, the oversized French bloodhound is getting an entire new tail in the process.
The dog’s current tail is made of steel and it was causing deterioration and structural problems because it was so heavy. Tom Podnar, a metal and sculpture curator from McKay Lodge Inc. in Oberlin, Ohio, is making a new tail for the dog.
The dog is a Victorian-era statue that was washed away in the 1889 Johnstown Flood. It was recovered, donated to the city and has become a beloved city icon.
“Our concern is that the dog is saved,” Assistant City Manager Curt Davis told The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown.
The dog is also getting an acid wash and will be painted. Officials hope to return the pooch to Johnstown later this year.
Deadline looms
BEAVER, Pa. (AP) – Thursday is the deadline for companies to submit proposals to manage the Beaver County Jail, but prison guard associations say privatization wouldn’t be a good thing.
Brian Dawe, executive director of the Wyoming-based Corrections USA, a nonprofit coalition representing corrections officers, said privatizing the jail would be “choice of last resort.”
Delaware County’s jail is the only privately run county jail in Pennsylvania. Beaver County officials visited that jail last year and said they want to see if a private company could operate their jail for less than the just over $6 million it currently takes to operate it.
Commissioners chairman Dan Donatella said officials are just exploring the options and haven’t yet decided on anything.
Rare gem on display
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Visitors to Carnegie Mellon University’s Posner Memorial Collection can see a rare gem this week.
The university has put on display a rare original copy of the Bill of Rights. Of the original 28 copies of the document that were sent to the states in 1792, only four are known to exist. Besides the university’s copy, the other three are held by a private collector, the American Antiquarian Society and the Library of Congress.
The document is on display to the public at CMU’s Posner Center, which houses the Posner Memorial Collection.
Gloriana St. Clair, dean of the Carnegie Mellon libraries, said the document is going on display to commemorate Independence Day.