Area news briefs

Yates to retire

RIDGWAY -- The man in charge of many of the mental health services available in Cameron, Potter and Elk counties for decades will retire at the end of 2007. John Yates, director of Dickinson Mental Health Center and an employee of the organization for 40 years, announced his plans last week so the governing board can begin its search for a successor.

Dickinson has more than 20 divisions and provides a variety of mental health and mental retardation services. The organization employs about 220 people with an annual operating budget of more than $8 million.

Township holds the line

RIDGWAY TWP. -- Several line items have been axed from the Ridgway Township budget, allowing the supervisors to avoid a real estate tax increase for the 14th straight year.

The 2007 budget retains small allotments to the Elk County Humane Society, Elk County Council on the Arts and an intermunicipal summer parks program. There is no funding for the Elk County Solid Waste Authority or the St. Marys Area Airport Authority.

Grant for schools

RIDGWAY — St. Marys and Ridgway School Districts have been awarded grants for “digital streaming” video in the classroom.

Northwest Savings Bank is the latest donor to these efforts to extend the use of the video on demand and additional digital curriculum in area schools. The money will allow the schools to increase their storage capacity for digital streaming programs.

UPB adding dorms

BRADFORD — University of Pittsburgh at Bradford officials have approved the blueprint for the construction of a $6.4 million residence hall on the campus grounds.

That new building, for 146 students, is expected to be open next year. It will be located between Blaisdell Hall and a section of the Witman and Hurston buildings. The building will be patterned after the Reed-Coit Residence Hall constructed in 2004.

Business emporium

RIDGWAY -- The Main Street Emporium has opened in downtown Ridgway, offering an integrated space for 12 businesses to locate in Ridgway.

These multi-tenant facilities are the wave of the future in downtown merchandising, allowing retailers to share expenses such as heating bills and taxes while drawing customers to centralized locations. Ridgway’s emporium has a gift shop, music store, bakery, clothier, coffee shop, antique mart and other tenants.

Learning hydraulics

JOHNSONBURG -- Dozens of employees from companies in Cameron and Elk counties gathered in Johnsonburg last week for specialized hydraulics training.

Northcentral Pa. Regional Planning and Development Commission established the course to help the region’s powdered metals industry. Seven companies sent employees to learn about schematics, theory, components, troubleshooting, circuitry, and settings for hydraulic pumps and equipment.

Northcenral has set up a mechanism for representatives from industries throughout Elk and Cameron counties to address training needs on a collaborative basis.

Airport ready for ‘07

BRADFORD — Bradford Regional Airport Authority members have approved a $525,000 budget for 2007, which they expect to be a year of considerable progress at the facility.

Airport Director Tom Frungillo said the organization will see increased revenue from nearly 40 active oil and gas wells on airport property. Other economic development activities on airport land could also provide revenue, now that a water and sewer project is complete, Frungillo added.

Subsidies from participating counties will remain unchanged: McKean, $168,000; Elk, $24,445; Cameron, $5,432. Potter and Warren counties are also members of the authority.

The 2007 budget includes $140,000 for labor costs. Frungillo is slated to earn $61,000. Revenue sources include sale of jet fuel, rent from current carrier Colgan Air Inc., hangar rentals, restaurant rent, Transportation Security Administration rent, and income from display cases in the terminal and a rental car concession.

Dementia unit opens

ST. MARYS — Elk Regional Health System has opened its new dementia unit at Pinecrest Manor.

Up to 10 residents will be served, according to Pinecrest administrator Gregory Bauer. The unit has structured activities, special furniture, lighting and security features. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact admissions coordinator Dusty Byham at 788-8213.

Fallen soldier recalled

BROCKPORT - When U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon, formerly of Brockport, died Oct. 17 in Iraq, he left behind a five-year-old daughter, Isabel.

A benefit and memorial dinner will be held Jan. 6 at the Bandit’s Hideaway social hall, just off Boggy Run Road in Brockport, starting at noon. Members of Lt. Loudon’s infantry division, based in Fort Hood, Texas, will be attending the buffet dinner, with live entertainment, raffles and door prizes. Beverly Fustine is organizing the event. She can be contacted at 265-2502 or 590-0910.

Auditorium help needed

ST. MARYS — St. Marys Area High School is turning to the public for help with needed renovations to the school’s auditorium.

Superintendent Murray Neeper reports that the auditorium needs a new curtain, new floor and structural improvements. The district may host a community variety show in February to help raise money for the upgrades, Neeper said.

The upgrades have been cut from the district’s budgets for each of the past three years to avoid real estate tax increases.

Health insurance pool

SMETHPORT — McKean County may join a statewide health purchasing cooperative to save money on a portion of its employee benefits expenses. A vote on the proposal to join the Pennsylvania Municipal Health Insurance Cooperative is slated on Wednesday.

McKean already purchases health insuance and prescription drug coverage for about 170 employees through the Northern Counties Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative. If the plan goes through, vision coverage will be provided through the statewide cooperative. The county commissioners are also investigating dental coverage through the same organization.

County officials expect to pay between 10 percent and 15 percent higher premiums for health care and prescription drug coverage next year.