News Briefs From Around The Area

Arson in St. Marys

ST. MARYS - Investigators have determined that the fire that heavily damaged a commercial building on State Street in St. Marys last month was intentionally set. The incident remains under investigation by the Ridgwaybased Pa. State Police, St. Marys City Police and the Crystal Fire Department.

The blaze was discovered shortly after 10:00 at the building that housed J&T Performance and Machining, as well as several classic vehicles, parts and accessories. The building is owned by Joseph Chicola of St. Marys. Principals of J&T are Karen and Michael Smail, both of Wilcox. Damage was in excess of $100,000.

Yard sale mania COUDERSPORT - Bargainhunters will be scurrying around Coudersport today (Saturday) during the annual Townwide Yard Sales, a project of the Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce.

Starting at 9:00 and continuing into the afternoon hours, dozens of yards, porches and garages will be turned into one-day flea markets.

To help shoppers map out their itinerary, a Townwide Yard Sales map is available at the counter of Jubilee Foods in downtown Coudersport.

School superintendent

BROOKVILLE - The Brookville Area Board of Education has hired Clarion- Limestone Elementary School Principal John Johnson as the district's new superintendent.

Johnson, a former junior high school teacher at Brookville, will replace Jim Estep, who resigned at the close of the last school year. John Grottenthaler has been serving as interim superintendent.

'Boot Jack' concerns

RIDGWAY - Members of the Boot Jack Hill Task Force are pushing for strong

enforcement of laws prohibiting tractor-trailers from traveling on the steep section of Rt. 219 entering the borough from the south.

With stiffer penalties now in place, including a $500 fine plus court costs, members are pressuring District Judge George 'Tony' King to be impose maximum sanctions against offenders.

Task force members are also calling for an illuminated electronic sign to advise truck drivers of the bypass. That could cost upwards of $150,000, according to PennDOT.

Airport gets grant

BRADFORD - Bradford Regional Airport almost $1 million in federal funding to help build a new parallel taxiway connecting the facility's terminal with its main runway.

The money will also be used for a snow removal vehicle and a power generator.

The asphalt taxiway will measure between 2,000 and 2,500 feet long and 50 feet wide. Bob Cummins Construction Co. of Bradford was low bidder for the work, at $1.3 million.

Educators sue

COUDERSPORT - Five professional employees of the Coudersport Area School District are suing the school board and district itself.

The employees, including guidance counselors, librarians and a vo-ag teacher, allege that the school administration illegally terminated extendedyear contracts under which they worked during the summer. They seek financial damages, reinstatement of the contracts and legal fees.

Stoltz renovates ST. MARYS - Stoltz of St. Marys has renovated its auto dealership on the Million Dollar Highway. Micale Construction was contractor for a $1 million project that started last October. It includes a new showroom, sales offices, restrooms and a service and parts area. A six-service bay expansion and customer lounge were also added. Outside, Stoltz has added paving, lighting, a retaining wall and landscaping. Co-owner Steve Stoltz said, "We're here to stay."

Dollar General coming

A prominent lot along Main Street in a residential section of downtown Port Allegany is being converted to a retail plaza. Construction of the first new business, a Dollar General store, will get underway in the next few weeks. The new building will be going up close to the Benton Mansion on a lot the owners, Bill and Jeanette Burleson, are calling the Benton Place Plaza. Development of the lot began several weeks ago with the removal of several large trees. The project was delayed for more than a year by a legal dispute with Port Allegany Borough over zoning and land development regulations.

Aquifer ordinance St. MARYS - St. Marys City Council is considering passage of an aquifer ordinance to protect groundwater. It would require all properties in specified areas, particularly industrial sections, to connect to a community water supply for drinking water and agricultural purposes. Water wells drilled in certain areas of the city would have restricted uses.

Carrier coming soon

BRADFORD - RegionsAir will likely begin as the new carrier serving Bradford Regional Airport by the end of September.

Flying under the Continental Airlines banner, RegionsAir has qualified for a subsidy under the federal Essential Air Service program.

It will be taking over from current carrier, Colgan Air Inc., and change hub cities from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. The airline will also service Jamestown, N.Y.

The airline is slated to fly 34- seat Saab 340 aircraft, complete with a steward and lavatory.

Tentatively, RegionsAir will make three daily flights into Bradford, although some airport officials have expressed a desire to add an additional morning flight for business travelers. Airport officials are hoping the change in hub cities will provide additional connections across the country and world.

Education studied ST. MARYS - A focus group established by the Stackpole Hall Foundation recently evaluated education in the area. The most critical issues that school officials and community leaders should address are: drug and alcohol use by students and parents, emotional problems displayed by students, and technology need.

Hit-and-run sentence

COUDERSPORT- A Potter County woman who struck a teenager with her car and fled the scene was sentenced to more than two years in a state penitentiary last week by Judge John B. Leete. Quenna Y. Stilson, 42, was sentenced to between 25 months and six years in prison for the June 2005 incident.

Amanda Lehman, 17, of Ulysses was riding along Rt. 49 in northern Potter County when a car operated by the defendant struck her.

The girl suffered serious injuries. Stilson was arrested at her Ulysses home the following day after a family member turned her in. Earlier this year, Stilson pleaded guilty to several charges, avoiding a trial.

Abbott to expand

ST. MARYS - St. Marys Zoning Hearing Board has given Abbott Furnace Company the go-ahead to expand. Abbott, founded in 1982, expects to hire more engineers and create eight new jobs. Current workforce is 70.(The company is one of the largest manufacturers of industrial furnaces in the nation. Planned expansion will increase manufacturing and office space by 25 percent.

Industrial project funded

ST. MARYS - The St. Marys Airport Industrial Park project has qualified for a $1.1 million loan from the Commonwealth Finance Agency. This will cover about half the cost of the overall $2.1 million project. The remainder is being financed through government grants.

The project serves two functions: development of an industrial park and expansion of current businesses in the area. Funds will be used for the construction of roads, excavation and grading, an environmental assessment, installation of water and sewer lines, utilities and related engineering costs.

The plan calls for developing 53 acres of the 118-acre airport property. The industrial park will eventually consist of 14 lots, each four to six acres. The loan will be paid back through the sale of lots.