SAXONBURG — The GFWC Saxonburg District Woman’s Club is joining the national nonprofit Wreaths Across America as an official sponsor for 2021 to place wreaths at the Saxonburg Cemetery. This is the first year that the club will participate in this national event at the cemetery.

Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks that has grown into a national movement of dedicated volunteers and communities coming together to not only remember the nation’s fallen and honor their service, but to teach the next generation about the sacrifices made.

This year, there will be more than 2,500 participating locations placing wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day — Dec. 18 — with more than two million volunteers coming together.

The goal for Saxonburg is to raise enough funds to place 300 veteran’s wreaths on the headstones of all the local heroes laid to rest there.

For more information or to sponsor a wreath, visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org or contact Melissa Somerville at msmelis949@zoominternet.net.

Bonner to serve on UPMC fetal organ review panel

State Rep. Tim Bonner, R-8th, is participating in a panel review and discussion of UPMC’s research on aborted fetal organ harvesting and genetic engineering from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 12 at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh. The panel will discuss recent revelations from UPMC about fetal experimentation, genetic engineering and transfer of harvested organs from aborted babies. UPMC receives federal and state funding for its research, but with restrictions against the sale of fetal organs and genetic engineering that mixes human and non-human DNA. Panel members include experts in law, ethics, fetal research and science. The panel discussion is a collaborative effort between the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Coalition and People Concerned for the Unborn Child.

Parker woman died in vehicle accident in Armstrong County

Alisha Lynn Diets, 34, of Parker, Armstrong County, was fatally injured Thursday in a one-vehicle accident in Perry Township. Armstrong County Coroner Brian Myers said Diets lost control of a minivan while driving south on Knox Road at 4:30 p.m., hit an embankment and was ejected from the vehicle. She was not wearing a seat belt, Myers said. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was blunt force trauma of the chest and the manner of death was accidental, he said. Toxicology test results won’t be available for several weeks. The accident remains under investigation by state police and the coroner’s office.

Health system begins department support effort

People can embrace a Butler Health System department by sending a note of thanks or providing meals to show support and express encouragement for employees.

To participate, residents should send an email to embraceBHS@butlerhealthsystem.org to send a note or poster of thanks or explain what they want to donate and when they can drop it off. BHS will reply with a confirmation.