Endeavor news briefs

Vo-tech plan passes

SMETHPORT -- Expansion of the Seneca Highlands Vocational-Technical School in Port Allegany has moved a step closer. By an overwhelming majority, school board members from participating districts have approved the plans.

Cost of the project will be about $7.7 million. The state will pay $2.6 million, while the nine school districts pay the remainder. Construction could begin as early as March.

The school will be expanded, with a new culinary arts program being added. Improvements will also be made to the current building.

Airport runway planned

BRADFORD - Bradford Regional Airport Authority awarded a contract for construction of a new runway last week. Cummins Construction Co. of Bradford was successful bidder, in the amount of $1.31 million.

It's part of a broad-scale renovation of the airport property to meet federal standards for safety and to make the facility more attractive to passengers and potential business users. A Pa. Army National Guard armory and a business center will eventually be built.

The armory will likely qualify for federal funds in the next few weeks. Congress is poised to approve $6.2 million for the project. Airport officials have already agreed to turn over a portion of the airport's land to the U.S. Army for construction of the facility. Municipal sewage service to the airport has begun. That, along with the potential for additional development in the area, were two factors that led the Army to choose the McKean County site.

Inn will reopen DuBOIS -- Operators of the Quality Inn, formerly the Ramada Inn, off Route 255 near DuBois, said the motel will reopen in the coming weeks after fire caused heavy damage to a portion of the structure on Tuesday morning.

Sandy Township firefighters who arrived on the scene at about 9:30 reported that local police and employees were trying to extinguish a fire that started in the men's restroom on the main floor, near the lobby. Fourteen guest rooms occupied were evacuated.

The fire was contained to the lobby, hallway, conference room and restrooms. Other areas sustained smoke damage. There were no injuries. Owner Javaid Tarar of Treasure Lake said repairs will begin soon and the inn will reopen in the near future.

Enterprise zone

ST. MARYS - St. Marys City Council is asking the Pa. Dept. of Community and Economic Development to approve an enterprise zone in the city.

If the plan is approved, property in the designated area would qualify for reduced local and state taxes for an initial period of seven years.

City Manager Dave Greene supports the enterprise zone concept as a tool to attract business and industry. The zone would include most of downtown, as well as Stackpole Center, the Townhouse Bed and Breakfast area and an area city officials already designated as a redevelopment zone.

Council's resolution to apply for state approval does not obligate the city to establish the enterprise zone.

Wireless 911 plan

RIDGWAY -- The Elk County Board of Commissioners reports that a "wireless 911" system serving most of Elk and Cameron counties is up and running.

Not all carriers have 100 percent coverage in both counties, but those that do provide service have been tested.

Michael McAllister, director of emergency services, said cellphone users who are in an area where they can obtain a signal can now be located through global positioning satellite.

McAllister added that pinpointing the location of a 911 call from a cellphone is only possible if the phone is GPS-capable. Some older models do not have that function, he pointed out.

D.A. cites drug abuse

SMETHPORT -- McKean County District Attorney John Pavlock said last week that drug abuse in the region has reached near-epidemic proportions.

Although marijuana use has been steady, the D.A. told the Bradford Era, he is especially troubled by the rising popularity of more dangerous drugs such as LSD, morphine, crack cocaine, powdered cocaine and Oxycontin.

Undercover agents in the county's Drug Task Force have purchased all of those substances in recent months. Crack cocaine continues to flow into the region from Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Pavlock said.

Its addictive nature and its impact on users' judgment have resulted in additional criminal activity such as bad checks, identity theft, thefts and burglaries.

He added that 'crack houses," more typically associated with urban areas, have been raided in Port Allegany, Kane and Bradford.

Another major problem is the resale of prescription medications to users on the street. Pavlock called on local doctors to be conscientious in prescribing pain medication and to more closely monitor patients' consumption.