City and region news briefs

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[September 09, 2010]

City and region news briefs

Sep 09, 2010 (Erie Times-News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- 'Something ... failed' in worker's fall from tower A worker remained hospitalized Wednesday after falling a reported 100 feet from a cellular-telephone tower Tuesday afternoon in Lawrence Park Township.

The worker, whose name has not been released, works with Sargent Electric Co., of Pittsburgh. He was changing out antennas on the tower, at 1381 Nagle Road, when the accident happened, company Safety Manager Matt Babilon said Wednesday.

The man was taken to Hamot Medical Center. He remained there Wednesday but was responsive, talking and mobile, Babilon said.

The worker had been using fall protection, "but something apparently failed," Babilon said.

Officials with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration went to the accident scene Tuesday and took the fall-protection equipment for testing, Babilon said.

Theresa Naim, OSHA's area director, said Wednesday that the agency is investigating the fall protection and the company's fall-protection program.

Venango County man hit by pickup, killed OIL CITY -- A Venango County man was killed Wednesday morning when he was struck by a vehicle while he walked along Route 8.

State police said Charles Slaven, 61, was in Cornplanter Township at about 4:30 a.m. when he was struck by a Dodge Dakota pickup truck driven by Kimberly Campbell, 50, of Pleasantville.

Venango County Coroner Chris Hile pronounced Slaven dead at the scene.

Campbell left the scene of the accident, but she was later identified, police said. She was not injured.

United Way to launch 2010 fundraising campaign The United Way of Erie County will launch its 2010 fundraising campaign with a kickoff luncheon today at the Ambassador Conference Center, 7794 Peach St.

The local nonprofit is aiming to improve on 2009's annual campaign, which struggled from a decline in donations that the agency attributed to the recession.

The United Way's 2009 fundraising campaign raised about $5.2 million, which was $500,000 less than the campaigns in 2007 and 2008. Donations to charities were down nationwide in 2009.

The agency, which has been raising money in Erie since 1914, funds 33 local nonprofit groups that serve more than 100,000 people.

West Nile spraying set for section of Harborcreek The Erie County Department of Health will spray insecticide this evening in Harborcreek Township to prevent the spread of West Nile virus.

Spraying will be done at dusk from Nagle Road west to Cumberland Road, and from Buffalo Road south to Station Road.

Batches of mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus were collected Aug. 19 and 20 in Harborcreek.

The insecticide used does not pose a danger to people, plants or animals. The county Health Department still recommends that residents keep their windows and doors closed until 30 minutes after spraying is done.

To see more of the Erie Times-News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.GoErie.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Erie Times-News, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com, or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544).

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