Lock Haven Univ. eyeing Cloudersport

Persistent rumors that Lock Haven University is exploring the possibility of establishing a presence in Coudersport were confirmed by a university official.

University President Dr. Keith Miller told the Potter Leader-Enterprise that Lock Haven is "exploring possibilities" in Coudersport and representatives have gone as far as touring former elementary school and Adelphia headquarters at the corner of North Main and Water streets.

That's the same building the Potter County Board of Commissioners wants to claim for a county office complex, to be donated to the county by its current owner, Time Warner Cable. They those plans last week.

Lock Haven officials plan to discuss their options during a meeting with State Senator Joe Scarnati early next month. They've also held talks with Tom Bowman, a Potter County resident who is an aide for U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.

State Assemblyman Martin Causer has also weighed in, suggesting that the commissioners put their office building plans on hold.

One person involved with the discussions told Endeavor News that Lock Haven officials also considered the massive Adelphia Operations Center on South Main Street in Coudersport, but concluded that the expected multi-million dollar price tag would be too high.

Quick action taken by a township employee in Potter County averted a major environmental problem after a truck tipped over on Tuesday in the village of Gold. State police said 18-year-old Titus Risser of Genesee was driving the truck that overturned at the intersection of Rt. 49 and Rt. 449, spilling nearly 500 gallons of highly concentrated nitrogen-based fertilizer. Risser was not injured. Ulysses Township Supervisor Burdett Erway, who happened to be in the area, was able to dig a trench with a township backhoe on a vacant lot, allowing the fertilizer to collect. Police said Erway's quick action prevented the substance from entering a state-designated Class A wild trout water tributary to the Genesee River, where it likely would have caused a significant fish kill.

That building is still occupied by a handful of employees clinging to jobs with the estate of the bankrupt Adelphia Communications Corp.

Mountain Laurel Federal Credit Union held a grand opening at its new location on Emporium's Fourth Street. On hand were, from left: front - - Donna Tomasone, Warren Area FCU; Cathy Gerber, VP/Operations; Betty Grimone, Branch Manager; Ron Schatz, CEO; Rita Anne Weisni; and Jessica Grovantz; back -- Acting Borough Manager Don Reed; Nicole Cole, Bell Warren FCU; Nancy Schatz; Rob Wortman and Karen Beimel.

GKN Sinter Metals employees in Emporium honored the memory of Jeremy Herbstritt and other victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy with tree planting and ribbon ceremony conduced by Carol Mann (left) and Renee McKimm (right). Jeremy's uncle, Tim Herbstritt of St. Marys, works at the plant.