Community service honored

The 2007 Distinguished Service Awards were presented Wednesday night to junior winner Jennifer Sproat of NexTier Bank, second from left, and senior winner Bill Bittner of Butler, third from left, at the Atrium on Route 422. The awards, which are for community service, were presented by 2006 senior winner Tullio "Doc" Viola, left, and 2005 junior winner Lisa Guard, right.

Driver in fatal crash enters plea

--He will not contest charge in 2006 wreck

A Center Township man will not fight allegations that his driving caused the death of a 23-year-old passenger in 2006.

Looking up to Hillary

Supporters listen to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speak Wednesday outside Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va. Clinton, despite seeing her money drained and her options dwindling, has vowed to continue with her presidential bid against Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. West Virginia will have its primary Tuesday.

MESSY MEMORIAL DISPUTE

Merchant Marines' lawsuit looms

Butler County officials might only have two weeks to set up another meeting to discuss the World War II memorial in Diamond Park to avoid a lawsuit.

Prison dispute grows

--Insurer sues Butler County

Like a recurring nightmare, the new Butler County Prison continues to haunt county officials. The $40 million construction project now has become further entangled in legal woes.

S. Butler faces $1.1M budget gap

JEFFERSON TWP— The South Butler School Board next week will need to decide how to fill a $1.1 million gap between expenses and revenue for the next school year.

County plans assessment rate hike

--Officials deny tax increase

To avoid property reassessments, the Butler County commissioners plan on increasing the assessment rate from 75 percent to 100 percent of 1969 property values.

Doctor won't face trial

--DA drops charges in autistic boy's death

Prosecutors on Tuesday dropped all criminal charges against a Portersville doctor who had been blamed for the 2005 death of an autistic boy under his treatment.