Promotion

LAKE TAPPS, Wash. - Bypassed for a promotion and struggling to pay for his house, Robert Bales was eyeing a way out of his job at a Washington state military base months before he allegedly gunned down 16 civilians in an Afghan war zone, records and interviews showed as a deeper picture emerged Saturday of the Army sergeant's financial troubles and brushes with the law. While Bales, 38, sat in an isolated cell at the Fort Leavenworth, Kan., military...

The Republican majority on the East Lansdowne Borough Council elevated a borough police officer to the rank of acting sergeant at the February council meeting, despite objections by the Democrats. At Monday's council meeting, the council voted, 4-3, along party lines to promote Officer John Egan, with the understanding that while the title of sergeant confers new responsibilities, it is not accompanied by a pay increase. By a 4-3 vote, the council earlier defeated a proposal by Democratic Councilman Benjamin Gallagher to delay a decision on Egan's status until the council caucus meeting on Feb. 29. Gallagher said he had not been informed of the proposed promotion until the night of the council meeting.

The Delaware County Convention and Visitors Bureau is looking to expand on the theme it adopted last year, which touts the county as the place "Where Wyeth and Washington Meet. " The theme, adopted in April, is designed to emphasize the county's cultural and historic attractions, and the bureau has begun planning a promotional campaign targeted at persuading potential visitors from nearby areas to drive to the county. Dalia Miller, executive director of the Media-based tourist-promotion agency, said that "print advertising will offer a discount coupon book that will have a shelf life of one year.

Kimberly Fisher, the Philadelphia Orchestra violinist promoted four weeks ago to the position of associate principal second violinist, has relinquished the new spot in a dispute with orchestra management over money. "We weren't able to come to an agreement on the salary relative to the amount of time that was involved," said the violinist. "I have a lot of other commitments that I had to balance with [the new post], and it just didn't work out. " Fisher will rejoin the first violin section.

Former Eagles football operations director Tom Modrak has been promoted to assistant general manager of the Buffalo Bills. Modrak spent the last year as the Bills' football operations chief and had interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons' vacant GM job. Modrak signed what the Bills described yesterday as a multiyear agreement. The Bills finished 3-13 last season, but have made numerous moves in the offseason, including the acquisition of quarterback Drew Bledsoe. "I like where we're going," Modrak said.

Charging that New Jersey's civil service promotion system is discriminatory, 13 black Willingboro Township police officers have filed a lawsuit challenging its legality. The lawsuit culminates years of agitation by the officers and black community leaders to get minority officers promoted into supervisory jobs. Attorneys for both the officers and Willingboro Township said a ruling for the black officers could lead to a restructuring of the state civil service system, which they said hinders attempts to promote blacks.

Is the honeymoon coming to an end for the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners? For the last five weeks, the two Republicans and one Democrat who make up the board have gotten along remarkably well - unlike their predecessors. Public discussions have been friendly and productive, devoid of the bickering that marked the previous administration. But those good feelings eroded just a bit at yesterday's weekly meeting. First, Democratic Commissioner Joseph M. Hoeffel accused the Republicans of handing out a promotion as a reward for political support.

Barry Abrams, 64, a music-promotion man who helped take numerous careers to the top of the charts, died Monday at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. A Cherry Hill resident since the early 1970s, he was born and raised in Philadelphia. Mr. Abrams became known as one of the nation's leading recording-artist promotion men by getting records, often for new young artists, airtime in Philadelphia, one of the nation's most respected music markets. He worked in the industry from 1957 to 1981.

There really ought to be a law to stop politicians from pandering for votes on the taxpayers' dime. That is why State Rep. Tom Scrimenti, a Democrat from the same Erie as the governor, has proposed a law every few years that would bar pols from advertising themselves in the same commercial touting Pennsylvania. The most blatant abuse of this practice so far this election year has been by Gov. Ridge himself. Here's a wondrous sampling of what's been running in a multimillion-dollar, taxpayer-funded, radio and television ad blitz throughout the governor's first term: "This is Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

Gene Graves, a retired promotion department employee of Philadelphia Newspapers Inc., died Monday. He was 85 and lived in Gladwyne. Graves began promoting the Daily News and Inquirer in 1967, writing radio and TV commercials. He retired in 1991 at the age of 79. He was the son of prominent circus people. His father was superintendent of properties for Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus and his mother was an equestrienne. Graves graduated from high school in Milford, Conn.

ATLANTIC CITY - Maybe you've noticed the new lighting on the Boardwalk. Or the dozens of "ambassadors" along it eager to answer questions about where to dine, shop, or just have fun. Most likely, you've seen the splashy "DO AC" ads on TV and billboards, or heard them on the radio. All are part of a bigger effort, along with the Atlantic City Tourism District that was created last year by Gov. Christie and the Legislature, to boost tourism and give the Queen of Resorts a makeover.

If the 76ers were to heed the advice of their all-star point guard, they would call off the search for the team's next coach and promote from within. As the 76ers ramp up the search for their eighth coach in the last 11 seasons, Jrue Holiday, who has voiced his opinion that the Sixers should consult him during the search, cast his vote for the promotion of associate coach Michael Curry. "I've known him for the last three years," Holiday said Wednesday in a telephone interview.

The dignitaries had said their pieces by the time Joseph L. Williams, a new deputy chief in the Camden County Police Department, stepped to the lectern this month during a news conference showcasing hires on the new force. Williams, who was a sergeant with the city police, joined the county department that is to replace the city force by April 30. "This is an exciting, historic day for me, being one of the first employees starting up this new county metro division," the 20-year veteran said.

Cash payments for genoa salami, capicola ham, and provolone led to a guilty plea for tax evasion for Nicholas Papanier, 57, who has been working to turn the Primo Hoagies chain into a successful franchise business. Papanier, who owns Primo Hoagies Franchising as well as Nellie's Provisions in Gloucester City, often received cash payments from Primo franchisees when they bought deli products from him, according to documents filed in federal court in Camden on Friday. Papanier diverted $556,664 in cash to his bank accounts during 2006, 2007 and 2008, in the amounts of, in order, $56,395, $349,264, and $151,005.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority has promoted its interim head, Kelvin Jeremiah, to the new position of president and chief executive officer. An expert in compliance and investigations, Jeremiah, 40, had been acting as executive director since the abrupt resignation last June of Michael P. Kelly. With his appointment, Jeremiah will maintain his salary of $190,000. Jeremiah, who was born in Grenada and moved to Brooklyn as a boy, was recruited to PHA in 2011 by his predecessor Kelly, who had worked with him at the New York City Housing Authority.

When he left as principal of Carusi Middle School to become principal at Cherry Hill High School West, Joseph Meloche got to see students he had known as sixth graders earn their high school diplomas. "It was incredible to watch these kids grow," said Meloche, a 1989 West graduate. "And I will miss things like that. " Now in his seventh year as principal, Meloche, 41, is stepping down to become the district's director of curriculum, and the district is searching for his successor.

CELEBRITY BOXING PROMOTER Damon Feldman may be heading to a small screen near you, courtesy of a liquor magnate. Reality-TV cameras will follow Feldman as he makes his comeback in the Philly celebrity boxing arena. Feldman is the man who brought the likes of Tonya Harding , Rodney King and Michael Lohan (Lindsay's dad) into the ring to fight for celeb supremacy. Each episode of the currently untitled series will follow Feldman as he puts the fights together and feature a different celebrity boxer.

Beau Sherry is not a new coach looking to drastically change the Moorestown football program. Sherry, 32, was named Moorestown's coach by the Board of Education on Tuesday night. He hopes to build on the foundation created by former coach Russ Horton, who resigned after last season. "I look at this as a continuation," Sherry said. "It's important that the kids know what is expected of them. We might have new wrinkles here or there, but I want to continue with what Russ has done.

OSCAR PETTIGREW had a restless mind. He was always on the lookout for moneymaking schemes, some of which he'd try for a short time, then move on to the next venture. He was a store owner, street vendor, chauffeur, T-shirt designer and DJ, to name a few. He also had a heart as big as his body - 6 feet 9, 400 pounds. His generosity and concern for others knew no bounds. Oscar H. Pettigrew Jr. - who was also concerned with the safety, progress and cultural development of his community - died Feb. 18 of complications of sleep apnea.