Worker

A Philadelphia city employee was charged yesterday with extortion by illegally accepting money for providing assistance in real estate matters, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Theresa Pinkett, who worked in the City Controller's Office and was a former aide to Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, is accused of illegally receiving payments totaling $5,000 and a cell phone. While working in Miller's office, Pinkett, 53, provided assistance on real estate issues to an unnamed person, gave the names of other city workers who could assist, and then contacted them, said U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan.

A construction worker smiled and gave a thumbs-up sign moments after being rescued from a 12-foot-deep trench that caved in on him and buried him at an Upper Dublin work site. "I'm fine," William Orr said as paramedics helped him onto a stretcher and wheeled him to an Upper Dublin ambulance on Tuesday afternoon. Orr, 19, of Philadelphia, had been digging in the trench on Norristown Road near Welsh Road when dirt from the sides of the trench caved in on him. Orr and other workers, employees of Horgan Brothers Inc., were digging the trench for the installation of a sanitary-sewer line needed for a housing development to be constructed nearby.

Arthur Schwartz, 81, a professor of social work who lived in Center City, died April 17 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania of complications from a blood disorder. Dr. Schwartz taught at Columbia and Rutgers Universities and the University of Hawaii. He also was a teacher for 16 years at the University of Chicago and for 15 years at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. From 1994 to 1998, he was a scholar-in-residence and professor at the Center for Social Work Education at Widener University.

Ambioris Antonio Pena-Duran thought he could overpower the young, armed suspect who came into Cesar's Grocery Store in South Camden on Saturday night. The robber entered just after 8, pointed the weapon at the woman behind the counter, and told her to open the register. Pena-Duran, a store employee, charged him from behind and tried to take the gun. It was a fatal gamble. The gunman broke away and shot Pena-Duran once in the abdomen. The 35-year-old city man charged him again and was felled by a second bullet.

On Aug. 8, 1988, the Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development started Pamela B. Brown as its newest contract auditor. She appeared to have all the qualifications. One year, two months and 26 days later, on Nov. 3, 1989, city officials learned otherwise. Two weeks later, Brown was forced to resign. Recently, she was charged with forgery and tampering with public records by the state Attorney General's Office. The problem was discovered after the city agency requested confirmation of Brown's bachelor of science degree from Clarion University.

Dorothy Mae Simmons, whose 30-year employment with the Postal Service earned her numerous citations and awards and who was a woman much admired for her stylish dress, died June 24 at age 75. "Dorothy was a very gregarious, fashionable lady who loved to shop and always dressed to impress," her family said. She was born in Philadelphia to William and Carrie Smith and married her childhood sweetheart, Norman Simmons, after high school. Dorothy was a devoted member of Zion Hill Baptist Church and later Greater Faith Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Ushers Ministry.

I'M RESPONDING to all the critics of the transit workers. Local 234 members actually deserve more than the contract the union negotiated with SEPTA. The average worker "outside" of SEPTA usually works 40 hours a week with weekends off. But in the first eight to 10 years, SEPTA transit employees have to work nights, weekends, holidays and often put in 12 or 13 hours and get paid for eight. It is dangerous putting up with the mentally disturbed addicts who nod out and sometimes die on our vehicles.

A city employee accused of collecting nearly $13,000 for overtime that he did not work has been arrested and charged with theft, receiving stolen property and tampering with public records. Frederick Leach of the 5500 block of Catharine Street could face a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison and a $30,000 fine if convicted, according to a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, who said Leach was arrested Saturday. According to an announcement issued yesterday by Sheryl Stein of the district attorney's office, Leach was employed in the laundry at the Riverview Home, 8000 State Rd., in 1984 when he began receiving overtime pay for working part-time as a driver for the city's Operation Outreach Program.

Frank L. Staub, 81, a railroad worker who lived for his evenings as a drummer and played everything from Dixieland to rock-and-roll with great zest, died Wednesday at his home in Glenside. Mr. Staub worked for the Reading Co. for 46 years, receiving several promotions before he retired in 1972 as office manager of the freight sales department. He had started at age 20 as a stenographer for Joseph A. Fisher, who later became president of the company. All the while, though, Mr. Staub's heart was in music.

A 50-year-old worker died after he fell into a sugar hopper Monday afternoon at an industrial plant in Bucks County, authorities said. Janio Salinas Valerda, of Edgewater, N.J., was pronounced dead at the CSC Sugar plant at 80 Roebling Road in Falls Township, said Joseph Campbell, the Bucks County coroner. The sugar hopper was not functioning correctly, and Valerda apparently was trying to unclog it with a large pole from a catwalk when he fell in, Campbell said. Police said he was missing for about an hour before CSC staff discovered him. "We're assuming that it was some kind of accident," said Lt. Henry Ward of the Falls Township police.