What's in the news

Kinzua project to start

MT. JEWETT - The Kinzua Bridge State Park project could go to bid by June. Phase one is an observation deck atop the six existing steel towers that were once part of the massive and historic railroad bridge built in 1882. A tornado toppled the midsection of the bridge in July 2003.

That work could be completed by early 2008, at a cost of more than $4 million. Those fallen pieces of steel girders and railroad tracks scattered in the valley will remain there as part of the historic attraction.

Later, the State Parks Bureau will blaze a footpath to enable visitors to take a close-up look at the debris field. A visitors center and a new park office will also be built, as well as a maintenance building, a small sewage treatment plant, public water system and two picnic pavilions. That phase of the work will cost upwards of $7 million.

D.A. cites drug abuse

SMETHPORT -- McKean County District Attorney John Pavlock reports that drug abuse in the region has reached nearepidemic 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.

Skydiver event set

CERES -- A parachuters' group will be sponsoring Safety Day and a Mercy Flight fund-raiser at the Freefall Oz Skydiving Center on April 22. The center is located at the Pa./ N.Y. border near Ceres.

Safety Day is sponsored by the U.S. Parachute Assn. to introduce the public to skydiving and emphasize safety. This year's event will include fire and rescue personnel from several area departments and a fund-raiser for the Mercy Flight emergency helicopter, which will fly in sometime after 4:00 p.m.

Many of the scheduled events, including sky jumps open to the public, will depend on the weather.

Hospital center opens

BRADFORD - The 120- year-old Bradford Regional Medical Center unveiled its new $15 million Outpatient Services Center. The five-story building on BRMC's main campus establishes centers for cancer care, cardiology and oncology and expands neurology, rehabilitation, behavioral health, surgical and outpatient services.

BRMC is now an affiliate of Roswell Park Cancer Institute of Buffalo and the cardiology services of Hamot Heart Institute of Erie.

Chainsaw Rendezvous

RIDGWAY -- The eighth annual Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous is expecting a crowd at least as big as last year's estimated 30,000.

It's slated for Feb. 17-24 at the Clarion River Holding Co., formerly Motion Control Industrial Complex, on Ridgway's West Main Street. Ice-carving will be featured at the Visitors Center on Main Street.

The Ridgway event is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world. More than 200 carvers have registered so far.

New airport carrier

BRADFORD -- Colgan Air Inc., which services Bradford Regional Airport under the US Airways Express banner, has been bought by Pinnacle Airlines Corp. of Tennessee. Pinnacle has 127 Canadair regional jets in the U.S. and Canada.

A company spokesman said Pinnacle supports the ongoing efforts by Colgan to change the airport's hub city from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. The Bradford airport will continue to be serviced by 34- seat Saab 340 aircraft.

Comprehensive plan

SMETHPORT -- McKean County Planning Commission is working on a new contracted with a consulting firm, Gannett Fleming Inc. of Harrisburg, to help prepare the plan for $85,000. About $55,000 is being provided by the Pa. Dept. of Community and Economic Development.

County officials will hold a public hearing the coming weeks and the plan should be ready by June. It will pinpoint areas for land development, infrastructure improvements and other changes, as a blueprint for orderly growth in McKean County. The current comprehensive plan dates back to 1972.

Wood-burning proposed

KANE - Kane Area School District is looking into a federally supported pilot program to use wood from the Allegheny National Forest to supply some of its heating needs.

John Rook, facilities manager for the school district, is pursuing the funds and expects an answer by mid-March. Kane already qualified for a $356,000 state grant. The district must decide what type of equipment it will use to burn the wood and transport the heat.

Bridge plan progresses

PORT ALLEGANY -- PennDOT is moving closer to a $7.9 million bridge replacement on U.S. Rt. 6 over the Allegheny River in Port Allegany. The work, which will require a local detour, also involves a railroad bridge in the same area.

PennDOT expects to put the job out for bid next month and work could begin as early as May.