IN BRIEF
JERMYN, Pa. - The death of a high school wrestling coach found in the woods with a plastic bag lodged in his windpipe was ruled an accident, authorities said.
An autopsy found that Randy Kordish, 36, choked on a plastic sandwich bag, Lackawanna County Coroner Joseph Brennan said Monday.
How the bag became stuck in Kordish's trachea hadn't been determined, Brennan said. He said there were no signs of a struggle at the scene in Jermyn where the coach's body was found Sunday morning.
Police said a witness had called 911 about 3:30 p.m. Friday saying he had seen Kordish leave his car on the front yard of a nearby home, behaving erratically.
Rescue teams went out Saturday and Sunday in search of Kordish, who had been wresting coach at Valley View High School since December. The body was found around 9 a.m. Sunday in woods and heavy brush. Brennan said Kordish probably had been dead since Friday.
Lawnmower racing divisions from Shadetree Speedway competed Saturday at the Washington County Fair.<B>Stock Tractor:</B> Junior Radvansky (New Kensington), Gary Beer (Creighton), Steve Feder (Butler)<B>Modified Tractor:</B> Mike Miller (Chicora), Steve Ace (Parker), Eddie Wade (Boyers)<B>Super Modified Tractor:</B> Steve Ace (Parker), Ed Deal (Eau Claire), Mike Miller (Chicora)<B>Kart:</B> Derrick Davidson (Saxonburg), Jessica Ace (Parker), Dan Bauldoff (Fenelton)<B>Quad:</B> Mike McGinnis (Parker), Brian Watterson (Butler), Rob Weckerly (Parker)
Stephanie O'Toole, 10, of Butler set a U.S. Swimming Allegheny Mountain record in the 200-meter individual medley recently at the Eastern Zone swimming championships in Buffalo, N.Y.The Center Township fifth-grader swam the event in 2 minutes, 45.6 seconds to finish second in the meet. She placed fourth in the 50-meter breaststroke in 39.93.O'Toole finished seventh in the 50 freestyle, sixth in the 100 breaststroke and 11th in the 200 freestyle, setting personal-best times in each.Patrick O'Toole, her brother, placed 17th in the 800 freestyle and set personal-bests in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 400 individual medley and 400 freestyle.
