Archive - Jul 2012
The second day in the jury trial of Daniel Aiello, 27, of St. Marys, charged with 134 counts of felony burglary and charges related to camp burglaries that occurred across Elk, Cameron, and McKean counties between 2010 and 2011, saw testimony from investigators as well as the defendant's half-brother, who is also charged in the crimes.
Mark Paul Kimes Aiello, 20, of Kane, testified Tuesday that his half-brother Daniel Aiello burglarized over 100 camps in Elk, Cameron, and McKean counties beginning in Benezette Township in November 2010.
Many area residents own guns, and those guns have a story, whether they helped bag the biggest buck or were used by a grandfather in World War II.
St. Marys resident Anthony Wickett just scored a coup by acquiring a firearm that was used by a member of one of the most infamous gangs of the West.
Because the route of the Pittsburg, Shawmut, and Northern Railroad was "hilly and curvy," it saw its fair share of wrecks, according to local historian Ray Beimel.
While there were not a lot of "really big train wrecks in this area," there were a number of minor incidents and a wrecker known as 'the big hook' was kept in St. Marys and saw occasional use.
"A lot of times a hopper car full of coal would go down over the hill. There's a story that the Bauers tell me about how a boxcar jumped out of the train but the train didn't stop for some reason and they didn't know," Beimel said.
July 30th
Helen G. Rockwell, 81, of Lawrenceville, died Sunday, July 22, 2012. She was born Feb. 19, 1931 in Pittsburgh, daughter of the late John and Anna Gribas. On March 7, 1950, she married Richard B. Rockwell, who preceded her in death on May 2, 1990.
She is survived by a daughter, Karen (Thomas) Brown of St. Marys; a son, Richard B. Rockwell Jr. of Tarentum; five grandchildren, Erika (Brian) Farester of Homer City, Jill (Victor) Kotomski of Lawrenceville, Daniel (Lisa) Brown of Tuscon, Ariz., Michelle (Mark) Mares of Cabot, and Christopher McKain, also of Cabot.
The Main Courtroom at the Elk County Courthouse was near capacity Monday, with members of the public and witnesses arriving for the first day in the jury trial of Daniel Aiello, 27, of St. Marys, charged with over 100 counts of felony burglary in a spree that spanned 13 months and three counties.
For his alleged role in the crimes, Daniel Aiello is charged with the following: felony burglary; felony and misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking of moveable property; criminal conspiracy; and criminal mischief with damage to property through reckless, negligence, or intention.
From aircraft displays and a classic car show to an array of vendors the St. Marys Municipal Airport's annual American Spirit Aviation Festival is hoping to attract a large crowd on Saturday, Aug. 25.
"We've been struggling in the past, but we are doing a lot better. Our nose is above water and we expect it to get better. This festival is part of all that. Changing the image of the airport," said Alan McPherson, airport manager. "This has been an annual event and has been getting bigger every year. This year is more about seeing if we can make this go."
When Janet Wolfe received an email earlier this years from an acquaintance who was trying to raise funds to host an orphaned child from Eastern Europe through New Horizons For Children, Inc., she was less interested in helping them fundraise than she was in also potentially hosting one of the children during the five-week-long summer program.
Editor's note: This is the fourth and last in a series of articles celebrating the St. Marys Public Library's 100 years of service to area residents.
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Whether they are there to be educated, informed, or entertained, both former and current area residents have fond memories of the St. Marys Public Library.
Now in its 100th year serving the community, the library first opened in the town hall on July 2, 1912 as the St. Marys Free Public Library. It was established by a group called the Literary Circle who felt the town needed a library.
July 29th
The Shawmut shop building, an important site for the Pittsburg, Shawmut, and Northern Railroad, burned down in March 1941 and was replaced with a structure that also had a unique history, according to local historian Ray Beimel.
Beimel discussed the history of the Pittsburgh, Shawmut, and Northern Railroad during a recent presentation at the St. Marys Senior Center, noting that when the shop burned down in 1941, "every amateur photographer in town seems to have taken a picture of it."
The Third Annual G-Stock Music Festival will benefit the Ridgway Fire Department.
The two-day event will be held Friday, Aug. 3 and Saturday, Aug. 4 at 142 Old Red Mill Dam Rd. [Gardner's Grove], Montmorenci, Ridgway.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. and music will held from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
This year's lineup features TopGunHighFive, Boogie with Stu and Crash Factory on Friday and King Thaddeus, Six Pack and Bounty Hunter on Saturday.
