Area News Briefs

Fire damages business

BRADFORD - A downtown Bradford business was damaged by fire early Monday morning. Investigators believe an electrical malfunction ignited the blaze at the former Lee Driver School on Kendall Avenue. The building has been used by SJS Custom Wood Design for the past 17 years.

Firefighters from seven companies battled the stubborn blaze, which was fueled by stored wood and sawdust. Damage to the building was estimated at more than $75,000. The business also lost equipment that could be valued at $250,000 or more.

SJS Custom Wood Design employs six people producing furniture components for the Ethan Allen plant in Eldred and customized furniture for other clients.

Save the theater

ST. MARYS -City officials believe the historic Diamond Theater in downtown St. Marys is worth saving.

City Manager Dave Greene reported on a recent inspection of the theater during this week's City Council meeting. While the building is structurally sound, cosmetic renovations need to be made, Greene said.

The Downtown Blueprint Committee has provided $5,000 to the Marienstadt Foundation for use on the theater. An architectural firm will study the building and provide recommendations.

County fills two slots

SMETHPORT - The McKean County Commissioners recently hired Heidi Boser of Bradford as human resources representative. Boser will work with Director of Legal Affairs and Human Resources Michele Alfieri.

Also, Pa. CleanWays President Heather McKean was hired as the county's watershed specialist. McKean will remain the county's West Nile virus director while handling the new responsibilities. She'll be working with Conservation District Manager Sandra Thompson in the county's new Soil and Water Conservation Department.

Water, sewer bills rise

RIDGWAY -After lengthy deliberations, members of Ridgway Borough Council voted this week to raise water and sewer rates. Monthly bills will rise by an average of $11.25.

Council members cited the shutdown of Allegheny Color, which not only eliminated 15 jobs, but also cost the borough its largest private water customer. The higher rates will be reflected in the September bills.

New airline coming

BRADFORD -A new carrier, RegionsAir, is expected to begin servicing Bradford Regional Airport on Aug. 28. RegionsAir is working on a transition plan with the current carrier, Colgan Air Inc.

The airline will fly 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft back and forth to Cleveland. The airport's current hub city is Pittsburgh. Airport officials had lobbied unsuccessfully for Washington, D.C., as the hub city. Continental Airlines is its parent carrier.

RegionsAir will also service nearby Jamestown, N.Y., as part of its contract to provide service to Bradford.

Both candidates coming

McKEAN Co. - U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, facing a stiff challenge for his third term, will tour Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems in Bradford during a campaign swing through the region on Saturday, Aug. 12. Santorum, a Republican, will also attend a lawn party hosted by supporters in Smethport at noon. Meanwhile, State Treasurer Bob Casey, the Democratic nominee, plans appearances in Smethport on Saturday, Aug. 5, and in DuBois on Thursday, Aug.10. Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll will join Casey for the visit to the DuBois Country Club.

Free parking?

BRADFORD -Parking meters may be on their way out in downtown Bradford. City Council members are debating the issue.

Although many merchants support removing the parking meters, some Council members are opposed to the proposal, due to a decline in revenue and the possibility that some drivers -including the merchants themselves and their employees -might occupy free parking spaces for extended periods of time.

Mayor Michele Corignani believes the meters should remain in place, due largely to the anticipated income which has already been factored into the city budget.

Recycling coordinator

SMETHPORT -Mary Williams of Bradford has been hired for the new position of recycling coordinator in McKean County. Her annual salary is $30,000, much of which will be paid by the state.

Williams will be responsible for educating the public so that a larger proportion of solid waste generated in McKean County is recycled. Landfill owner Rustick LLC and two Port Allegany businesses are combining for an aggressive glass recycling program, including a pilot project in Kane.

State grants okayed

RIDGWAY -Several state grants have been approved for communities in Elk County.

Ridgway has qualified for a $60,000 grant for a riverfront development feasibility study and site plan; a $20,000 grant to fund a study of the development of potential fishing access points between Ridgway and Johnsonburg, and $75,000 for further development of the ClarionLittle Toby Rail Trail.

Benezette Township will receive $26,000 for further development of Thunder Mountain Park, a tourist attraction in the elk range.

Music festival

BRADFORD -Folk music, contra dancing and jamming with old-time instruments will be featured Aug. 11-13 during the Heart of the Alleghenies Folk Music Festival at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

Workshops include fiddle styles, hammered dulcimer, finger picking, lap dulcimer, ornamenting fiddle tunes, banjo and others. There will be instruction in Old Time Round and Square Dances, as well as foot clapping and foot percussion workshops.

County home sold

SMETHPORT -The former McKean County Home, operated in more recent years as Sena-Kean Manor, will be passed into private hands on Monday. The McKean County Board of Commissioners agreed to sell the property to McKean Care Realty, L.P., for $3 million.

Complete HealthCare Resources of Horsham is operating the skilled nursing facility under the terms of a lease and purchase option agreement. The sale includes 10.2 acres of land, where Complete HealthCare plans to build an assisted living facility. County officials plan to invest the bulk of the proceeds and use the interest for general expenses.

New football coach

KANE -Jason Barner takes over this season as the new head football coach at Kane Area High School. Barner, 34, has been an assistant coach for the past decade. He succeeds Rick Bouch.

Barner is a 1990 graduate of Sheffield High School and holds a master's degree at Gannon University. He has taught science and other courses at Kane Area High School since 1995. Barner has also been an assistant track coach for nine years and last year became an assistant coach for girls' softball.