Area news briefs
Brockway graduate killed in Iraq

Killed in Iraq

BROCKWAY -- Another area soldier has died in Iraq. The U.S. Defense Department this week confirmed that Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Tully, a 1992 graduate of Brockway High School, died of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device.

Tully, 33, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Wash. Tully joined the Marine Corps when he turned 18 and joining the Army four years later. He became a Ranger, then was selected to become a Green Beret.

Tully was on his second tour in Iraq, where he was serving as a combat medic. He had been in Iraq for about six weeks. His older brother, Sgt. 1st Class John R. Tully, is also serving in Iraq. Among his survivors is a 12-year-old son.

Rebuild veterans' home?

PORT ALLEGANY -- A fund has been started to rebuild the Veterans Memorial Home, a combined VFW and American Legion post near Port Allegany. It will replace the building that burned on July 24.

Spokesman Earl Stromberg said the home will probably be built on the same lot, off Rt. 155, south of Port Allegany.

New prison warden

RIDGWAY -- Former Deputy Warden Greg Gebauer has been appointed warden of the Elk County Prison, succeeding Daniel Shannon, who relocated to Wyoming. Ed Warmbrodt has been appointed deputy warden.

Gebauer said he is committed to continuing Elk County's tradition of achieving 100 percent compliance with Pa. Dept. of Corrections inspection requirements. The prison has an inmate capacity of about 80.

Gebauer is a graduate of Cameron County High School and a 20-year employee of Elk County, starting his career in the sheriff's department. He lives in St. Marys and is active with the Crystal Fire Department.Warmbodt holds a criminology degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. A resident of Kersey, he has worked at the Elk County Prison for 11 years.

Air service to D.C.

BRADFORD -- Colgan Air Inc. could soon be flying under the United Airlines banner from Bradford Regional Airport to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.

Local airport officials believe the change will increase passenger counts. Dulles is a connector airport for international travel. Airport managers also announced they're continuing work on a 30,000-square-foot multitenant center, across from a $6.2 million Pa. Army National Guard armory to be built in the coming months.

Principal post open

PORT ALLEGANY -- Members of the Port Allegany Area School Board, by a split vote, postponed the hiring of an assistant principal.

Superintendent Tony Flint recommended that Jennifer Wiley be hired, but board members opted to wait so that other candidates who will soon be qualified can be considered.

In other action, the board hired Amanda Stuckey as a high school mathematics teacher.

Oppose property tax

RIDGWAY -- Leaders of the Elk County Farm Bureau, during a legislative luncheon held last week in Ridgway, voiced their opposition to the real estate tax as a primary source of school funding in Pennsylvania.

To replace the property tax, the bureau favors a mixture of earned income and expanded wage and state sales taxes.

Ethanol plant coming

CLEARFIELD - BioEnergy International continues work on a corn-based ethanol plant in Clearfield Borough. The company also wants to build a smaller, pilot cellulose-based ethanol plant in the Clearfield Technology Park.

Plans are now before the Clearfield County Planning Commission. It must also be approved by the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Landfill expansion

KERSEY -- Expansion of the Veolia Greentree Landfill near Kersey could be approved later this year. The owner has asked the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection to expand its permitted area from the present 986 acres to 1,148 acres.

A meeting for public comment on the plan will be held Thursday night at 6:30 in Ridgway at the Northcentral Pa. Regional Planning and Development Commission office.

Rite Aid opens

ST. MARYS - A new Rite Aid store has replaced the former Eckerd Pharmacy located in the St. Marys Plaza along the Million Dollar Highway.

Overseeing daily Rite Aid operations is store manager Jason Woodring. Jill Brennan is the pharmacist manager. Among the features is a waiting area connected to a private pharmacy consultation room.

River partnership

RIDGWAY - Ridgway Borough Council has signed onto the Clarion River Municipal Partnership. It's a joint effort to develop tourism and public facilities along sections of the river. Joining Ridgway and Johsonburg boroughs in the partnership are the townships of Jones, Ridgway, Millstone, Spring Creek, Barnett and Heath.

New air service provider

DuBOIS -- Gulfstream Airlines of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is coming aboard to provide air service at DuBois Regional Airport. Clearfield-Jefferson Counties Regional Airport Authority approved the contract last week.

Gulfstream qualifies for an annual federal government subsidy of about $1.16 million to service the airport. Mesa Air Group, the service provider for the past 13 years, decided not to continue.

Gulfstream, which is working with U.S. Airways, will provide 18 trips to the Pittsburgh International Airport each week.