Cement truck crashes in Potter

Area News Briefs

A cement truck was severely damaged Friday afternoon when it crashed on Lyman Run Road. The truck, owned by Wayne Paving of Ceres and operated by Herbert Watson II of Austin, went out of control while descending a hill. Watson was unable to stop the vehicle, which smashed into an embankment. He escaped serious injury. Watson was hauling cement to Lyman Run State Park for a state-sponsored improvement project at the park's campground. A small quantity of concrete spilled in the crash.

A downstate resident is facing several charges for an incident allegedly taking place on Route 44, about a mile north of the Tennessee Road in Hebron Township. State police allege Dennis Weyandt, 19, of Claysburg was operating an allterrain vehicle on the highway and failed to stop when the patrol car's sirens and lights were activated. The pursuit, which lasted more than three miles, ended when the ATV turned onto a gas pipeline right-ofway,

where the patrol car could not go. Officers were able to obtain the license plate number and subsequently determined Weyandt was the operator. He's being charged

with reckless endangerment,

disorderly conduct,

attempting to flee

or elude a police officer,

reckless driving, inspection

and title violations,

and traffic charges.

Two Emporium drivers escaped injury in a collision on Rt. 120 at the Industrial Road intersection in Shippen Township. Police from Emporium said David Burgett, 39, had stopped his van to turn left on Industrial Road when his vehicle was rear-ended by a sedan being operated by 18-yearold Nicholas Guisto. The Guisto car sustained moderate damage and had to be towed from the scene.

State police from Kane have filed driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) charges against a Friedens woman, following a one-vehicle crash Friday evening on Route 6, just

west of Route 219 in Hamlin Township, McKean County. Deanna Griffith, 41, was headed east when her Cadillac sedan went off the road and struck two utility poles. Griffith suffered minor injuries.

DUI charges are being filed against 45-year-old Richard D. Jones of Kintersville, after he was stopped on Rt. 6 in Roulette Township, near the Fishing Creek Road intersection early Sunday morning.

An inmate at the McKean County jail has been charged with aggravated assault for a fight taking place early Monday. State police claim 24-yearold Douglas Thomas punched a fellow inmate several times and kicked him in the head.

The theft of a chainsaw from a Hector Township residence is being probed by state police at Denton Hill. Someone took the orange and white Model 290 Stihl chainsaw from the front porch of the Art Glover home on the Phoenix Run Road sometime between last Wednesday and Saturday.

Grant for airport

BRADFORD -- Bradford Regional Airport has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Pa. Bureau of Aviation to help finance engineering costs for a proposed multi-tenant center project on airport grounds.

The center is part of a plan to generate economic development at the airport and develop auxiliary businesses tied to the new Pa. Army National Guard armory to be built there. The center would be located on a multi-acre site which has already been cleared the airport's access road.

Construction could start as soon as 2008, depending on whether the airport can line up finances. Airport officials believe the center could attract several businesses, now that water service and sewage disposal can be offered.

Last week, the Airport Authority approved a deed of release, selling property to the Pa. Dept. of General Services for construction of the armory. The parcel is being sold for $6,814 an acre, for a total of $160,000. Tentative closing date is Dec. 8.

Construction of the 32,497 square foot armory could begin in the spring. Its estimated price tag is $5.7 million. The armory is part of the 56th Brigade's transformation to a Stryker Brigade, as part of an overhaul of the country's armed services.

Asst. principal hired

PORT ALLEGANY - Ken Gross, a retired educator with the Port Allegany Area School District, is returning as the district's interim assistant principal, at a salary of $300 per day.

Gross has served as high school principal, guidance counselor and teacher with the district. His responsibilities will cover both the elementary school and the high school. The school board continues to seek a permanent assistant principal.

Sheetz store coming

ST. MARYS - Demolition of several buildings will get underway soon to clear space for a Sheetz convenience store in downtown St. Marys. City Manager David Greene reports that asbestos abatement started this week.

Tentative demolition date is Dec. 4. In addition to the commercial buildings, two private homes will be torn down to make a route for construction trucks.

By entering the property from Brusselles Street and going out on South Michael Street, traffic will not be disrupted. Sheetz officials expect the store to open by June 1.

Ridgway favors EIT

RIDGWAY - Ridgway Area School District Tax Study Commission this week presented its recommendation for changes in tax structure to the school board. Pending board approval, the recommendation will be placed for voter approval on the May 2007 primary election ballot.

The commission recommends an earned income tax increase of .5 percent to offset the losses created by a reduction of $189 on real estate taxes for owners of qualified homes under the homestead exemption. Property owners will receive another chance to qualify for the exemption in December when the school will mail out applications for those not yet filed for it.

The board will review the recommendation to form a tentative referendum by March 14, 2007.

Tax hike coming

JOHNSONBURG - Johnsonburg Borough Council has approved, by split vote, a 1.5-mill real estate tax increase in 2007. The new tax rate will be 20.86 mills. Borough officials said the increase was needed to cover expenses at the Johnsonburg Community Center and to combat residential blight.

Councilman Louis Imbrogno cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing that maintenance of private properties should be the responsibility of those people who have allowed their houses to fall into disrepair. Council also unanimously approved a 2007 budget of $1.657 million, which includes a new truck and police car.

Jobs being eliminated

PORT ALLEGANY -- Imports from China are a major factor in Pittsburgh Corning's announcement that the company will shut down one of its two melting tanks and eliminate the accompanying production line in January. An estimated 50 jobs will be lost.

Pitt-Corning already eliminated about 40 positions from its Port Allegany workforce this year.

Veteran employees affected by the January terminations will be offered buy-outs as inducements for early retirement, according to one report. Company officials cited "a general decline in all sectors of the North American glass block business" in announcing the cutbacks.

Pitt-Corning has begun importing glass blocks from a manufacturer in China as a cost-savings measure. Italian manufacturers have also been moving into the business. The Port Allegany plant produced more than 18 million blocks in 2005.

Recycling survives

RIDGWAY - Elk County Solid Waste Authority has hired a consultant to find ways of continuing its recycling program, despite financial hurdles.

The agency has offered a free, self-sustained, recycling program for ten years and operates one of the only electronics recycling programs in the state. The authority has asked each Elk County municipality to provide support so the services can continue in 2007.

Harbored fugitive

SMETHPORT -- The McKean County man accused of helping fugitive Ralph Phillips hide from police earlier this year will serve a prison term of nine months to two years.

Todd A. Nelson, 30, of Ludlow was sentenced last week by McKean County Judge John Yoder after entering a guilty plea. Nelson also faces federal charges of violating the firearms laws and could face further sentencing.

Phillips, who escaped from a prison near Buffalo in April, was finally captured Sept. 8 when he surrendered to police north of Warren.

Nelson pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension of a felon and loaning firearms to a person who is prohibited from possessing them.