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August 3, 2012

Midday Briefing | Man drowns in Beaver River

Anonymous Associated Press Fri Aug 03, 2012, 12:05 PM EDT

WEST PITTSBURG —

Emergency officials say a 20-year-old man has drowned in the Beaver River in western Pennsylvania while trying to swim from an island back to shore with a friend.

Crews in and around Taylor Township, about 40 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, say Ronald Poloka swam to an island in the river then began struggling while trying to swim back to shore. A friend with Poloka tried to rescue him but couldn't.

Rescue workers from the Taylor and Shenango townships, and New Castle, say they found Poloka's body about 150 yards downstream. That happened about 9 p.m. Thursday, more than three hours after Poloka went under the water.

Taylor Township Fire Chief Dave Allegro says the river's current remains strong despite lower water levels due to dry conditions.

Erie prison employee suspended over time sheets

ERIE — An Erie County Prison employee has been suspended without pay while officials investigate allegations that he doctored time sheets to receive about $4,000 for time he didn't work.

Erie County Executive Barry Grossman said he's not identifying the employee until an investigation can determine whether the employee purposely faked the time sheets or has an innocent explanation.

Grossman says the employee has denied wrongdoing, so officials don't want to release his name in case that proves to be true and the guard is reinstated.

The officer will have a union representative when he faces an administrative hearing in the next week or two.

Grossman says county finance workers have randomly checked other workers' time sheets and don't believe this is a widespread problem.

Indiana administrator is finalist to lead Temple U

PHILADELPHIA — A college administrator from Indiana is the sole finalist to be the next president of Temple University in Philadelphia.

Temple officials announced Friday that Indiana University senior vice president Neil Theobald will visit their school next week.

Theobald is also the chief financial officer at Indiana, overseeing a budget of about $3.1 billion. In addition, he is a professor of education finance on the Bloomington campus.

Temple has been led by an interim president since Ann Weaver Hart left June 30 to take the helm at the University of Arizona.

Temple trustees are scheduled to vote on Theobald's appointment on Tuesday.

The state-related institution serves about 39,000 undergraduate and graduate students.