Neat numbers in the news

7.5

Pa. State Police have launched a three-year strategic action plan meant to accomplish three goals: reduce crash-related injuries and fatalities by 7.5 percent; reduce DUI-related crashes through diligent enforcement; and improve public awareness of laws covering behavior, equipment and restraint systems.

Police now use a computer program to identify high crash and DUI crash areas. The tool recognizes data trends and provides a framework for decisions on where extra troopers will be sent for patrols. Their primary objective during the steppedup patrols will be to identify impaired drivers and reduce the number of DUI crashes and violations.

7M

Movie rental retailers are feeling the impact of Netflix. That company, which expects to hit the 7 million customer milestone soon, sends movie DVDs by mail and is launching an auxiliary business: delivery of movies and TV episodes over the Internet.

500

Allegheny National Forest Supervisor Kathleen Morse reports that the new forest management plan will be released in March. It's the result of exhaustive research and an extended public comment period. Morse said she received about 500 letters commenting on the plan.

Management strategies in the document will not differ extensively from current policies dealing with timber harvesting, subsurface drilling, public access issues and designated wilderness areas. Input on the plan ranged from pleas for additional timber sales to requests for a cutback in logging activity.

Meanwhile, McKean County is getting about $1.69 million as is share of revenue derived from timber harvesting in the Allegheny National Forest. Most of the payment goes to the school districts and municipalities.

Smaller shares were doled out last week to the Sheriff's Dive and Rescue Team, Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau, Cooperative Extension Forest Resource Education Program, Kinzua Valley Trail Club, Regional Forestry Education School, Tuna Valley Trail Association, Corydon Township Volunteer Fire Department and the McKean County Historical Society.

65

A proposed ethanol plant in Curwensville would create at least 65 jobs. Sunnyside Ethanol LLC is considering locating the plant at the former Howe's Leather site. Clearfield County Industrial Development Authority supports the concept as a way to add jobs and support local farmers who would sell corn for conversion to ethanol.

Other organizations have raised concerns about the impact of the plant on the West Branch, a popular trout-fishing stream, and are demanding assurances that the plant's emissions will not foul the air. Sunnyside would transport corn and coal to the plant by rail. The ethanol would be carried by rail to the marketplace as an alternative fuel.

The company said it would likely use about 30 million bushels of dried corn annually to produce 80 million gallons of ethanol. Sunnyside would like to begin construction by early 2008.

10

The 10 instructors at the Seneca Highlands Vo-Tech School in Port Allegany have been working without a contract since July 1, 2006. Negotiations between the teachers' union and the Intermediate Unit 9 directors have failed to produce an agreement and the matter has been referred to the state's mediation process.

Meanwhile, the IU9 board is negotiating with the union representing the 131 teachers employed through the IU.