[naviga:h3]Cranberry dubbed Banner Community[/naviga:h3]

Cranberry Township is raising a banner to its rafters.

On Friday, the Allegheny League of Municipalities announced Cranberry was chosen as a 2020 Banner Community. It is one of 74 communities in the region to receive the honor.

The announcement was made during a lunch event at PNC Park.

According to the league, a banner community is “a model community through a commitment to sustainable practices, including professional development, intergovernmental cooperation, sound fiscal management and proactive communications to engage community stakeholders.”

The township has earned the award every year since its inception in 2012.

“We are honored to again be chosen as a banner community,” said Dick Hadley, chairman of the township supervisors. “The criteria set forth in making that determination are the foundation of our township — fiscal responsibility, community engagement and working together to continue our success. The combination of those principles is what makes Cranberry Township a great place to live, work and play.”

[naviga:h3]Better Path plans meeting on Tuesday[/naviga:h3]

The Better Path Coalition is holding a public meeting from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Cranberry Township Municipal Building.

The coalition will project messages through a “Bat Signal” on the district office of state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, calling for the immediate removal of Metcalfe from the chairmanship of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

The action precedes a re-submission of a petition with more than 6,300 signatures to state House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-28th, and is part of an escalating campaign calling for Metcalfe's removal.

Turzai did not respond to the initial submission of a petition with 5,500 signers a month ago or an accompanying letter signed by 38 organizations.

[naviga:h3]Student earns gift card from Stand Tall[/naviga:h3]

Olivia Wetzel, a Butler High School junior, recently won a $25 Target gift card provided by Stand Tall, the positive behavior student program that operates under Butler County Against Heroin. Students who test negative on their drug screenings at Butler intermediate and high schools are entered into the gift card drawings. The gift cards are meant to reward students for their positive behavior.