Altmire returns from Iraq, still wants withdrawal timeline

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, returned from Iraq and a meeting with Gen. David Petraeus today with praise for the effort of the U.S. military but disappointment with the Iraqi government. "The political leadership in Iraq has not only failed to make progress in nearly every measureable way, but in many cases they have gone backward," he told reporters upon his arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport. "This is why I have never been more certain that our best strategy for success in Iraq remains imposing a timeline on American involvement to show the Iraqis, once and for all, that they must make the necessary political accommodations and not continue to depend on the American military to referee their internal disputes." Rep. Altmire, who spent 22 hours in Iraq as part of a four-member congressional delegation, said he hoped that Gen. Petraeus' Sept. 15 report on conditions there will help Congress and President Bush develop "a strategy in Iraq that is in the best interest of the American people and especially the brave men and women who are serving this country so honorably."

Westmoreland Fair Goes Hog Wild

Their hooves hit the track with lightning speed. Their eyes always stay on the prize.

These thoroughbreds jostle for position, pushing each other to get on the inside rail.
But they need no jockeys to direct them. They don't need a mechanical rabbit to lead them around.

No, these fierce competitors race because the sweet taste of victory involves a cookie at the end.

They're pigs after all. The fine swine of the Hambone Express travel across the country thrilling crowds at fairs and carnivals with their racing.

This week, their travels bring them to the Westmoreland Fair, where they and "swinemaster" Steve Boger put on three to four shows every evening. The races will continue through the end of the fair on Saturday.

Boger's Hampshire piglets run four races a show around a fenced-in oval track covered in wood chips. He travels with 16 piglets, so each only runs one race per show.

"They're Olympig athletes," Boger, 53, said with a grin. "We keep them in top form because we don't want anyone to pull a hamstring."

The puns -- and chuckles from the crowds -- extend throughout the 15-minute shows.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_523404.html

Infighting Persists on Hempfield Township Municipal Authority

Infighting on the Hempfield Township Municipal Authority continued Monday night as board member Kathy Hopkin asked the newest member, township Supervisor Bob Davidson, to resign.

Reading from a prepared statement, Hopkin said it is apparent that Davidson has no intention to work with his fellow board members, some of whom Davidson has accused of misusing authority-issued credit cards.

All four of Davidson's authority colleagues -- Hopkin, Robert T. Regola Jr., Brian Melenia and Matthew Pecarchik -- have refused supervisors' calls for them to resign because of the credit card controversy.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_522112.html

Revitalization phase 2 begins in Mount Pleasant Borough

The second phase of the Mount Pleasant Downtown Revitalization effort was kicked off Friday as officials gathered to show off what's been accomplished and explain what's next in the plan.

The first phase of the program started in 2001. The major improvement in that initial phase was the removal of utility lines and poles from the portion of Main Street from Diamond Street to College Street and putting them in the rear of the buildings. Cosmetic improvements such as street lighting and sidewalk upgrades also were completed.

The utility line relocation added much to the overall appearance of the portion of Main Street, where it was completed, said Bert Getto, assistant deputy director of the Westmoreland County Department of Planning and Development.

"It really adds to the overall physical view," Mr. Getto said.

The next phase will include Main Street from Batchelor to Kearney streets. Sidewalk upgrades will continue, as will the installation of decorative lighting. Handicapped accessible ramps and signal enhancements will be installed to promote pedestrian and vehicular safety.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/07221/808191-59.stm

Personal approach opens doors to victory, Dean says

The age of slick television commercials winning campaigns in America is on the way out, Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean said Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

The key to victory today is knocking on more doors with direct appeals -- a resurgence of old-fashioned, grass-roots politics -- Dean, a former Vermont governor and unsuccessful candidate for president in 2004, told a rally of about 300 Democratic stalwarts and union organizers at Church Brew Works in Lawrenceville.

"The fact of the matter is politics is changing dramatically, and it's changing faster than most people understand," Dean said. "The era of the one-way campaign is rapidly coming to a close -- that is, you put on a 30-second ad and it's good enough to win elections.

"That's not good enough to win elections anymore. The younger generation and now all Americans are expecting more."