[naviga:h3]Democrats running for seat will gather[/naviga:h3]

Three Democratic candidates for Congress from the 3rd District will participate in a public forum later this month.

The forum will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 28 at My Brother’s Place, 2058 Leesburg Grove City Road in Springfield Township, Mercer County. It will be hosted by 3rd District United, which describes itself as an informal network of grassroots groups and Democratic organizations in the 3rd District.

Participating in the forum will be:

- Chris Rieger of Cranberry Township, an attorney who runs a small law firm in Pittsburgh

- Brian Skibo of Hermitage, Mercer County, a cancer survivor and community activist

- Robert Multari of Farrell, Mercer County, a doctor.

The primary May 15 will decide who will oppose Republican Rep. Mike Kelly in November.

The event is open to the public and attendees will be able to submit questions.

[naviga:h3]Decoration sparks fire at Holly Pointe[/naviga:h3]

The holiday season officially flamed out on Monday at the Holly Pointe building on Main Street.

Butler Fire Department Capt. Jim Kaufman said a decoration attached to the building — four Christmas trees on a metal frame — caused an evacuation at 10:45 a.m. as snow fell steadily.

He said the wiring on one of the four trees shorted out and caught the tree on fire.

Employees in the building evacuated and the tree was extinguished before firefighters arrived, Kaufman said.

He said employees quickly returned to work and the building, which is the former Jaffe’s Department Store, suffered no damage.

The Holly Pointe building houses various offices and a conference center.