Latest news with #Erie
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Standout college tennis player, 21, collapses and dies during half marathon
A 21–year–old college tennis player died tragically during a half marathon in Pennsylvania last weekend. Toby Atwood of Armstrong County was a student–athlete at Thiel College – a private university in Greenville, Pennsylvania. While running the Presque Isle Half Marathon in Erie on Sunday, Atwood suddenly collapsed and died. The event was organized by the Erie Runners Club. After collapsing, the college senior was rushed to UPMC Hamot hospital in Erie. Atwood later died in the hospital's emergency room, and her death was determined to be 'cardiac–related,' according to Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook. Atwood was a member and co–captain of her college's women's tennis team. 'Her presence touched the lives of so many, and she will be deeply missed,' Thiel College Vice President for Student Life and Athletics Michael McKinney said in a news release. 'During this heartbreaking time, we mourn for Toby and extend our heartfelt sympathy to her family, friends, classmates, teammates, coach, instructors, and all who knew her.' Toby Atwood (pictured) - a 21–year–old college tennis player - died tragically during a half marathon in Pennsylvania last weekend Toby Atwood of Armstrong County was a student–athlete at Thiel College – a private university in Greenville, Pennsylvania Atwood later died in the hospital's emergency room, and her death was determined to be 'cardiac–related' In a Facebook post, the Erie Runners Club said it was 'saddened and distraught' about Atwood's death. 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends,' the post said. According to race officials, 1,323 people registered for the half marathon, which consists of loops around Presque Isle State Park. No other injuries were reported after Sunday's 13.1 mile race. Atwood was a business administration and accounting double major, and she maintained a 4.0 average while holding the number one position on the women's tennis team. According to her obituary, Atwood also worked as a bartender at the Wick City Saloon and served as President of Student Athletics. 'She enjoyed working out at the gym and running, she was the best candy salad maker. Toby loved Chipotle and Toby Keith,' her obituary said. 'Toby was the best daughter, sister, and friend. She had the brightest light. Toby was successful in everything she did, the world was a better place with her in it. She was beautiful, funny, smart, strong, and a beautiful human being, she will never be forgotten,' the obituary continued. 'She enjoyed working out at the gym and running, she was the best candy salad maker. Toby loved Chipotle and Toby Keith,' her obituary said Atwood was a business administration and accounting double major, and she maintained a 4.0 average while holding the number one position on the women's tennis team According to her obituary, Atwood also worked as a bartender at the Wick City Saloon and served as President of Student Athletics Atwood is not the first young and athletic person to pass away after competing in running events. In June, two 24–year–old Irish athletes – Olivia Tuohy and Ellen Cassidy – tragically died within a week of each other after competing in separate half marathons in Scotland and Ireland. Back in May, former Minnesota football player Charles Rogers died after going into cardiac arrest during the Brooklyn Half Marathon. Also in May, 28-year-old runner Jon Devereux died after collapsing during the Great Bristol Run half marathon in England.
CBS News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Beloved college student from Pittsburgh area dies after collapsing during half marathon in Erie
A Thiel College student from Armstrong County died after collapsing during the Presque Isle Half Marathon in Erie over the weekend. Toby Atwood, a student-athlete at the private college in Greenville, Pennsylvania, died on Sunday during the event put on by the Erie Runners Club, officials said on Tuesday. A cause of death was not immediately known. The Kittanning native and Armstrong Junior-Senior High School graduate was a rising senior and a member of the college's women's tennis team. "Her presence touched the lives of so many, and she will be deeply missed," Thiel College Vice President for Student Life and Athletics Michael McKinney said in a news release. "During this heartbreaking time, we mourn for Toby and extend our heartfelt sympathy to her family, friends, classmates, teammates, coach, instructors, and all who knew her." The news release said Atwood was a business administration and accounting double major, received one of Thiel's full scholarship awards and maintained a 4.0 GPA while being co-captain of the women's tennis team. Atwood, a member of the National College Honor Society, was recently inducted into Chi Eta Sigma, the honorary society for commerce, and was the president of the Zeta Tau Alpha women's fraternity, the college said. In a post on Facebook, the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity said the 21-year-old was a "light in everyone's life" who "touched the lives of so many." "There was never a dull moment with her and she was always there for the people she loved when they needed it," the national organization for the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity said in the post. "Toby truly left her mark while she was with us. She was seen as a leader, role model and mentor. She was strong, resilient, and never afraid to speak her mind. There will forever be a hole in our hearts and our chapter without her." Thiel College said counseling services are available to students and employees. Funeral services for Atwood are still being finalized.
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
One Colorado town's police try to keep up with growth as officials say fire, public works also need funding
When responding to an emergency, every moment counts, especially as Colorado's communities grow. According to the latest census report, Erie is the 15th fastest-growing town in the country, and now its emergency services are trying to keep up. Erie Police Chief Lee Mathis has worked at the department for decades. He's watched the town and department grow, but one is certainly outpacing the other. "We need more officers, obviously, and we need a bigger building -- more space to do our job. Our evidence room is nearly full. We need more parking spaces for more police cars. We need more lockers for more police officers," Mathis said. So he's asking town council not just for a bigger building, but also for a bigger team. "We are below the national average for officers per population," Mathis said. "(Erie) has grown rapidly over the last five years. I think that that's caught us a little bit by surprise." Mathis says his department is working under long-term planning goals, but there's certainly been a spike in people moving to the town. According to Census data, the population grew 9.2% between 2023 and 2024. In that same time frame, Erie police say calls for service have gone up about 20%, as two officers were added to the previous 46 on the force. All of the officers now serve close to 40,000 people, and it has impacted response times. "We've gone from a minute for a priority 1 call to three (minutes), just because of the call volume," Mathis said. "Two minutes sounds like a short period of time, but I know it's a long period of time when it's a life safety issue." Mathis explained that during the Fourth Of July holiday, officers were spread so thin that they were unable to respond to all firework calls. But Erie police aren't the only ones asking for the town council's help to keep up with growing demand. "You can't double a town and not continue to invest in our facilities," Erie Mayor Andrew Moore said. "But that's also true for public works. You think about the next snowstorm that rolls in; it's not like we can just staff the police, but forget about public works, right?" Moore explained the town is also working to assess needs for recreation and entertainment centers and other facilities that have a higher demand as population grows. And while the growth rate may change, Moore says he wants to prepare as he expects the town to keep growing for years to come. But as thousands move in and funds are limited, Erie's mayor is giving residents their own say in what council should prioritize in next year's budget. "We've got a survey that's going to every single home," Moore said. "I'm hopeful that we'll get a large participation rate to really help guide myself and council on, 'what are the priorities?'" Meanwhile, Erie police hope they're one of those priorities. "If you don't have the revenues coming in to fulfill those long-term staffing goals, sometimes you have to put those things off," Mathis said. "We have a low crime rate, and we want to keep it that way." Town leaders are expected to look at the budget next week. Some possible funding sources could include current taxes, the town's revenue fund, or possibly asking the voters if they'd like to increase the town's sales tax in the future.
CTV News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
John Oliver's Erie Moon Mammoths debut in front of a record crowd
John Oliver and Fuss E. Mammoth, the Moon Mammoth mascot, are driven onto the field before a game between the Chesapeake Oyster Catchers and the Erie Moon Mammoths at UMPC Park in Erie, Pa., on Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Joe Reedy) ERIE, Pa. — Besides being a fan, John Oliver has had a certain affinity for minor league baseball. On Saturday night, the comedian and host of HBO's 'Last Week Tonight' saw his latest crazy creation set out into the world as the Erie Moon Mammoths made their debut in front of a record crowd of 7,070 at UPMC Park. 'We're sending our furry child out into the world and you are the custodian of it. Now, please be careful with our child,' Oliver said a couple of hours before the Moon Mammoths took the field against the Chesapeake Oyster Catchers. Oliver spotlighted Minor League Baseball promotions and alternate nicknames during 'Last Week Tonight' on May 4. At the end of the segment, Oliver invited teams to send in proposals on why they should get rebranded by the show's staff. Forty-seven teams sent in pitches, including the Erie SeaWolves, the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Erie president Greg Coleman sent a list of 11 reasons why they were the perfect candidate, including: 'The SeaWolves play baseball nowhere near the sea.' 'To have so many teams expressing interest was really edifying. I think it kind of validates the fact that we thought there was something special about minor league baseball. We thought this would be a group of people that would respond to the ludicrous idea that we had,' Oliver said. Erie was announced as the winner on May 18. After six weeks of research by Oliver and his staff, the Moon Mammoths were unveiled on June 29. That included the mascot named Fuzz, a purple woolly mammoth wearing a space helmet. 'Erie did stand out to us as being, you know, uniquely eccentric. And I say that as both a compliment and an insult, which is the biggest compliment there is,' Oliver said. 'There was something about the Moon Mammoth that spoke to us for being particularly odd. It felt like it could make a baseball team's theme. You could almost see the logo in your head and it felt like something to be extra surprising.' That this came together in less than three months is a minor miracle. It usually takes 16 months for a team to have an alternate identity approved and then take the field. 'I thought we had a good chance when I sent it in. And then when we were selected it was a little surreal,' Coleman said. 'And since then working with the 'Last Week Tonight' team, they've been wonderful and detail oriented.' The Moon Mammoths name was inspired by George Moon, who found the bone of a prehistoric mammoth while scuba diving in 1991. The remains are housed at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Moon has become a regional celebrity since the rebranding was announced. He was at the game and caught the ceremonial first pitch from Oliver. 'It's fun. I'm enjoying it,' Moon said. 'From all those years ago to today, I would never have thought anything like this would've been possible. The newspaper did something on its 30th anniversary (in 2021). Other than that, I haven't heard much.' Coleman said that since the Moon Mammoths were unveiled, the team has done the equivalent of four years' of online sales in three weeks. The line of people waiting to get into the team store, which was located in left field, stretched out to near home plate in the concourse area. Karyn Drombosky and Sean Mizerski drove from Pittsburgh and were wearing homemade tusks as they waited to get into the team store. 'It's just great. We're big baseball fans. We see the Pirates all the time, and minor league games are fun. There's so much silliness,' Drombosky said. 'We watch John Oliver pretty regularly. We were like surprised but excited when we saw he picked the Erie team to take over.' In addition to throwing out the first pitch, Oliver was a batboy during one inning and led the crowd in 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' during the seventh inning stretch. The cap and jersey that Oliver wore for the first pitch are going to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Erie trailed 6-3 going into the bottom of the ninth but got within one run on Kevin McGonigle's two-run double. Chesapeake's Yaqui Rivera struck out Josue Briceño with the bases loaded to end the game. 'The atmosphere was great. Everything worked smoothly. It doesn't happen very often in minor league baseball to be able to have an event like that. It was a fun night for everyone,' Erie manager Andrew Graham said. The Moon Mammoths will be back on Aug. 19 as well as Sept. 12 and 13. Coleman said there will be at least four Moon Mammoths games next season. 'I love minor league baseball. There is a special eccentricity to it,' Oliver said. 'It felt like a nice fit with our show because minor league baseball, as you know, is willing to try anything. That was proven by the fact that over half the league was willing to sight unseen, rebrand and put their trust in the hands of a group of people who are objectively untrustworthy. That's a bad decision, and it's that kind of bad decision making that I love about minor league baseball.' ___ Joe Reedy, The Associated Press
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Oliver breaks silence on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert cancellation
John Oliver has called the cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert "terrible news for the world of comedy". Last Thursday (17.07.25), CBS pulled the plug on the 61-year-old presenter's nightly talk programme, with the final episode set to air in May, and now Oliver - who fronts Last Week Tonight With John Oliver - said it is 'incredibly sad' Colbert's show has been canned. Speaking with journalists in Erie, Pennsylvania, Oliver, 48, said: 'I love Stephen, I love his staff. I love that show. It's incredibly sad. 'I am partly excited to see what they're going to do for the next 10 months. It's terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy. 'Late-night shows mean a lot to me, not just because I work in them, but because even growing up in England, I would watch Letterman's show, which of course was Stephen's show, and think about what a glamorous world that was.' Oliver added it had 'always been one of the most fun things' to appear on The Late Show - which had previously been helmed by David Letterman from 1982 to 2015 - and said he was looking forward to seeing what would be next for Colbert. Oliver continued: 'So to have got to be on Letterman's show and Stephen's show has been always one of the most fun things, so it's very, very, very sad news. 'I look forward to seeing what he's going to do next because that man will not stop.' Oliver isn't the only late-night host to react to The Late Show's cancellation, as Jimmy Fallon - who fronts The Tonight Show - admitted he was 'just as shocked as everyone' to hear Colbert's programme had been axed. He wrote in an Instagram story: 'Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it. I really thought I'd ride this out with him for years to come. 'I'm sad that my family and friends will need a new show to watch every night at 11:30. But honestly, he's really been a gentleman and a true friend over the years, going back to The Colbert Report, and I'm sure whatever he does next will be just as brilliant.' Jimmy Kimmel took aim at CBS after the network shelved The Late Show, and posted on social media: 'Love you Stephen. F*** you and all your Sheldons CBS.'
