Dave Battaglia Appointed to Member of the Sportsmen for Tom Corbett Coalition

Battaglia, of Rayburn Township, joins 10 other men and women from across the Commonwealth who will serve on the Coalition’s leadership committee. He was a featured speaker at the NRA’s national meeting in Phoenix last year.

“Tom Corbett is dedicated to supporting the Constitutional rights of Pennsylvanians and that includes an individual’s right to keep and bear arms,” Battaglia said. “Since taking office as Attorney General, Tom Corbett tripled the number of concealed carry reciprocity agreements with other states and has shown a commitment to enforcing existing gun laws.”

In making the appointments, Corbett said, “It is an honor to be joined in this race by the individuals here today, proud men and women who believe in standing up for the rights garnered them by the Constitution. I believe that local governments do not have the authority to limit an individual’s rights to lawfully possess a firearm.”

Corbett joined with many of his attorney general colleagues across the nation this year in signing an amicus brief in support of a successful challenge to Chicago’s strict hand gun ban. The U.S. Supreme Court last month struck down the Chicago law as a violation of the fundamental right under the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

Battaglia is also Armstrong County Chairman for the Pat Toomey for Senate campaign, and serves as chairman of the Win Back Congress committee for the Indiana-Armstrong Patriots Inc. He was named Armstrong County Republican of the Year for 2007.

Last Fall, Battaglia was lauded by the GOP State Committee as instrumental in the election of six out of seven pro-second amendment judges including Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie-Melvin. He also chaired the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign here.

“Pennsylvania sportsmen were fortunate to have two strong candidates to choose from in Tom Corbett and Sam Rohrer in the Republican primary,” Battaglia said. “As we go forward into the general election, there is only one clear choice for Governor and that is Tom Corbett. Tom is not merely a friend of sportsmen. He is a sportsman.”

Boy Threatens Worthington Woman With Knife

A 17-year-old juvenile male was taken into custody after threatening a Worthington woman with a knife last Thursday at 1:40 PM.

Sharon Smouse said the juvenile threatened her at 560 North Cherry Street before fleeing the scene and into numerous cornfields throughout the Worthington area. With the assistance of Pennsylvania State Police Aviation, West Deer Township Police K9, and numerous members of the Kittanning barracks of the State Police, the juvenile was located hiding in a cornfield buried underneath corn stalks and dirt. He was taken into custody and contact was made with Juvenile Probation.

Obit: Phillip A. Wheelbarger (Ford City)

Phillip A. Wheelbarger, 30, of Ford City, died Monday, July 12, 2010, at his home. He was born October 2, 1979, in Portsmouth VA, and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

 Survivors include his wife, Amanda (Boyer) Wheelbarger, three daughters, Alyssa, Alivia, and Maycee Wheelbarger, his mother and stepfather, Carol (Bowser) and Samuel Cravener, his paternal grandfather, Arnold Wheelbarger, and his maternal grandmother, Florence Grantz.

 He was preceded in death by his father, Phillip Wheelbarger Sr.; his paternal grandmother, Edna Wheelbarer, and his maternal grandfather, Roy Grantz, Sr.

 Friends will be welcomed by his family on Thursday, July 15 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., in the Welch Funeral Home, 1032 Fourth Avenue, Ford City, where funeral services will be held on Friday, July 16, at 10 a.m. Pastor Mark Wallace will officiate. Interment will be private.