Donations are being accepted for a Fayette County volunteer firefighter whose house burned down Tuesday afternoon.
Harlan Carson and his wife, Ellen, had returned home around 2 p.m. to find their house along Virgin Run Road in Perry Township engulfed in flames.
Harlan Carson helped others in his department fight the fire, but it became too much to bear, and he had to leave, Perry Township fire Chief Barry Lynch said.
The house was destroyed. The Carsons' six pets -- four dogs and two cats -- died in the fire.
Firefighters from three departments responded and battled the flames for more than an hour. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Harlan Carson has been a member of the Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department for more than 15 years. The couple have no fire insurance. They are staying with relatives.
To make a donation, call Jessica Chambers, Ellen Carson's mother, at 724-529-0625, or Beth Lynn, Ellen Carson's aunt, at 724-529-0283.
Uniontown
Demonstration
A health cooking demonstration will be held 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 4 in the produce section of Giant Eagle in Uniontown by Cathy Brady, Penn State Cooperative Extension educator; Cheryl Chiplaskey and Carol Cottom, nutrition education advisers; and Shelby Allen, 4-H school coordinator. Other health cooking demonstrations are scheduled for Feb. 18, March 4 and 18. Giant Eagle will donate food and door prizes for the demonstrations. For more information, call Cathy Brady at 724-438-0111.
Westmoreland
Vice chancellor
St. Vincent College President James F. Will has been named the school's vice chancellor.
He will serve as the college's chief executive officer and focus on institutional management, strategic planning, financial management and institutional advancement. He also will assist in the establishment of the Fred M. Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media and the development of a business and conference center at the college.
Will became the 15th president of St. Vincent College in 2000. His five-year term ends in June, and he has agreed to serve as president until a replacement is appointed.
Among his numerous awards, Will has been recognized twice by the college. He was given a Presidential Medal of Honor in 1990 and an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in 1994.
Connellsville
Tournament
Geibel Catholic High School in Connellsville will host the annual seventh- and eighth-grade forensics speech tournament. This year's competition will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, at Geibel Catholic High School.
The competition is open to any student in seventh and eighth grades attending a participating school. The purpose of the tournament is to provide an opportunity for middle school-age students to learn and practice the skills of public speaking.
The competition is influenced by the work of Edna Means (1887-1979). Means was a nationally known "characteristic" and dramatic reader. She formed a dramatic service which published adaptations from famous literary works along with her own compositions, thereby providing material suitable for school speeches, study and contest. Through this, Means became the foremost publisher and supplier of readings, orations, and monologues for schools.
The student's speeches will be judged in two categories, either humorous or dramatic. Students will be evaluated on their preparation, poise, effectiveness, posture, and five other judging criteria.
The tournament winners will be presented with either first-, second- or third-place positions during an award ceremony beginning at 11:30 a.m. Following the award ceremony, the students will be treated to lunch and a dance.
