80-foot fall, vandalism at Western Pa. parks top week's headlines
Two parks in the Western Pennsylvania area made the news this week, both for the wrong reasons, while endings were announced for a private school in the North Hills, double coupons at Giant Eagle and security at Pittsburgh International Airport.
Woman falls at McConnells Mill
Jocie Van Kirk, a 21-year-old Slippery Rock University psychology student, was recovering at a Pittsburgh hospital after falling 80 feet while hiking at McConnells Mill State Park on Sunday.
Van Kirk fell in the climbing area near Breakneck Bridge, where she had been before. She landed in Cheeseman Run, a tributary to Slippery Rock Creek.
“One foot slipped off some leaves, which caused me to start falling. So, you know, I was tumbling until I just stopped,” she said.
The fall fractured her spine, neck and pelvis, she said. She was flown to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh.
Vandals despoil Ohiopyle
Cleanup started Monday along the Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle’s Ferncliff Peninsula Natural Area after vandals spray-painted symbols and words on rocks across from the visitors center.
Vandals spray-painted graffiti on hundreds of feet of sandstone rock over the weekend. A park ranger discovered it shortly after opening the park gates at 7 a.m. Sunday.
Employees used a pressure washer and scrub brushes with biodegradable soap to remove the paint.
Dwindling enrollment dooms school
Vincentian Academy in McCandless will close its doors after 88 years because of declining enrollment, school officials announced.
Dana Hinton, a spokeswoman for the Western Province of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, said enrollment at the school has dipped below 200 students. Only seven students toured the school during an open house in January.
There currently are 60 seniors, 40 juniors, 30 sophomores and 30 freshman attending the school.
Giant Eagle ending double coupons
Giant Eagle will no longer double manufacturer coupons beginning Sunday.
“As customer usage of manufacturer coupons continues to decrease both in our stores and across the grocery industry, Giant Eagle has decided to discontinue the doubling of manufacturer coupons across our markets,” company spokesman Dan Donovan said in a statement.
The O’Hara-based retailer will continue to redeem the coupons for face value.
Airport security changes
Travelers flying out of Pittsburgh International Airport will soon not have to display a boarding pass to get past security, airport officials said this week.
Airport and Transportation Security Administration officials announced that Pittsburgh is among several U.S. airports set to phase out the use of boarding passes at security checkpoints this year. Instead, they are shifting to sophisticated screening machines that can verify passengers based solely on a government-issued ID card.
Boarding passes will still be required at the gate to board the plane.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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