The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

December 16, 2008

Senior Judge French to temporarily replace retiring Fagley

By Monica Pryts

MERCER COUNTY — A former Mercer County district judge will temporarily replace retiring District Judge William L. Fagley, Greenville.

Senior District Judge Ruth M. French, who retired in 2005 as Mercer’s district judge, will fill in for Fagley in January, court administrator Pete Morin said Tuesday.

Fagley will retire Dec. 31 after nearly 21 years on the job. His seat will be on the spring primary ballot, as well as the positions of two other district judges who have already retired this year, Lawrence T. Silvis, Pine Township, and James McMahon, Sharon.

Morin said he has to submit an application each month to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to ensure that the judges’ vacant spots are filled through the end of 2009.

Judge French can continue to fill in for Fagley for all of 2009 if she’s available, Morin said.

David L. Fish, a retired district judge from Pleasantville, is filling in for Silvis, 60, who retired Oct. 14, the judge’s office staff said. Senior District Judge Henry Russo is filling in for McMahon, 68, who retired Oct. 6.

State law requires district judges to retire at age 70. The position is a six-year term.

Mercer County’s elections office has already gotten at least six inquiries from people interested in running for the three vacant seats, said Jeff Greenburg, the county’s elections director.

“There’s a lot of interest in those seats,” he said, declining to reveal any names.

Candidates must live in the district covered by the judge’s office they’re seeking and, if elected, must take a four-week course to become certified.

Candidates can file petitions with the elections office between Feb. 17 and March 10 to get on the May 19 ballot, Greenburg said. Petition packets with detailed information about running for district judge will be available Feb. 13.

The new judges will take office in January 2010. Mercer County’s Web site at www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us has a link to information about the 2009 election. The Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania’s Web site at www.judicialconductboardofpa.org also has details that Greenburg said should be helpful for those interested in running for district judge.

Text Only
Local News
  • Store owner busted again for fake pot sales

    The owner of a Grove City store already facing charges related to the sale of synthetic marijuana has been arrested a second time for selling the drug.

    Ala H. Nassar, 27, of 125 S. Seventh St., Sharpsville, was arrested Thursday on charges of delivery, possession and possession with intent to deliver synthetic pot, criminal use of a cellular telephone and conspiracy to commit delivery.

    Abdallah H. Matariyeh, 27, of the same address, also was arrested on charges of delivery and possession with intent to deliver.

    February 10, 2012

  • Bids opened for work to widen Rt. 760

    PennDOT officials opened bids Thursday for the first two sections of a three-section widening of Route 760 in Wheatland, Farrell and Sharon.

    February 10, 2012

  • Timeline now at center of negligence lawsuit

    A jury will decide whether the normal statute of limitations applies in a lawsuit filed by a Sharon man accusing a Sewickley agency of negligence that resulted in numerous injuries to his disabled son.

    February 10, 2012

  • Social media alert first responders

    The Mercer County Fire/EMS alerts’ Facebook page is two years strong and continues to attract followers who want the latest updates on traffic accidents, fires and other emergencies.

    February 10, 2012

  • State cuts trickle down to township

    Brookfield Township “is in a world of hurt.”

    February 9, 2012

  • Toth takes $30k to settle lawsuit

    It’s typical for lawsuit settlement agreements to include a confidentiality clause that bars the parties from discussing the terms of the settlement.

    February 9, 2012

  • Taking flight

    Some kids probably daydream about sending their homework up into the atmosphere, but that really happened this week for a few classes of Jamestown Area High School students.

    February 9, 2012

  • GC man called suspect in Jan. 27 bank robbery

    A Grove City man charged with robbing a Zelienople bank Monday is a suspect in the Jan. 27 robbery of a Sandy Lake bank.

    February 8, 2012

  • Committee to focus on finances for future

    Sharon city leaders have money on their minds as they look to the future of the once-vibrant town struggling with a limited tax base and higher costs of doing business.

    February 8, 2012

  • Summer work turns into year-round part-time job

    A Sharpsville resident asked council members this week why the man hired as summer help is still on the payroll in the middle of winter.

    February 8, 2012