Convicted
A Westmoreland County jury on Friday convicted an East Huntingdon man of first-degree murder for the execution-style slaying of a 19-year-old girl in a bedroom of her Hempfield home nearly two years ago.
The jury of seven women and five men deliberated almost five hours Friday and dismissed claims of self-defense and other claims that could have reduced the verdict against Leonard Marvin "Seven" Pritchett.
Jurors, who heard three days of testimony, determined Pritchett, 30, fully intended to kill Patricia Ann Collier on the morning Oct. 5, 2005 when he placed his revolver against her left temple and fired.
The verdict drew tears from Collier's family.
Pritchett sat emotionless as the verdict was announced, only later turning to his family seated in the back of the courtroom to tell them he would appeal the decision.
Pritchett faces a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He will be formally sentenced in about three months by Westmoreland County Judge John Blahovec.
The shooting occurred after a night of drug use and gun play involving Collier, Pritchett, and 33-year-old Tami Dennis, a Uniontown woman who was Pritchett's girlfriend, and who has since moved to North Carolina.
Connellsville
Registration at junior high
set for this week
Student registration at Connellsville Area Junior High West for the 2007-08 school year will be held Aug. 16 and 17. Call for an appointment at 724-628-4497.
Hours of registration are from 8 to 11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m.
No students will be registered unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. All new students must register before the first day of school.
Please bring the following information with you when registering: name, address and phone number of previous school, most recent report card, immunization record and proof of residency. Students must have the proper immunizations to be registered.
Orientation announced
at JHW
Connellsville Area Junior High West's seventh grade and new student orientation will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 20 in the school's gymnasium. Only seventh grade and new students will be able to pick up their schedules and tour the school.
Leisenring
Food bank distribution
to be held Wednesday
The Leisenring Presbyterian Church will hold its monthly food bank distribution from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Somerset
ABATE annual event
set for Sept. 9
Alliance Of Bikers Aimed Towards Education of Pennsylvania will hold its third annual Let's Roll Memorial Ride Sept. 9 to honor the heroes of Flight 93. The motorcyclists will assemble at Highland Harley Davidson, 802 North Center Ave., Somerset, at 1 p.m. The group will depart at 2 p.m. for a ride to the memorial in Shanksville.
In 2006, this ride raised $2,085, which was presented to the Flight 93 families at the site of the crash. The contribution will be used to help construct a permanent Flight 93 national memorial.
The members of ABATE organized this ride in memory of the innocent people on board Flight 93. "Let's Roll" are the last words via cell phone by Todd Beamer, one of the passengers on the flight. This is a rain or shine event. For more information, call 610-212-1820 or visit www.abatepa.org.
Uniontown
Redevelopment authority
to meet
The board of directors of the Redevelopment Authority of Uniontown will meet at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in the conference room, 65 W. Main St., Uniontown.
Fay-West
Municipal meetings
scheduled this week
Meetings scheduled for this week include:
Monday:
= Connellsville Area School Board, 8 p.m., high school cafeteria
= Mt. Pleasant Area School Board, 7:30 p.m., administration building
= Scottdale Borough Council, 6;30 p.m., borough building
Tuesday
= North Union Township Supervisors, 3:30 p.m., township building
= Connellsville City Council, 7 p.m., city hall
= Upper Tyrone Township Supervisors, 7:30 p.m., township building
Wednesday
= Laurel Highlands School Board, 7 p.m., high school
Thursday
= Frazier School Board, 7 p.m., administration building
= Southmoreland School Board, 7 p.m. , administration building
