News briefs from around the area

Land plan approved

JAY TWP. - Members of the Jay Township Board of Supervisors heard from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy about that organization's plans to acquire 6,000 acres of land in Elk and Clearfield counties.

Part of the land is located in Jay Township. The conservancy plans to convey a portion of the property to the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection for a proposed acid mine drainage treatment plant to be built near Hollywood.

About 1,500 acres would be owned by the conservancy and remain open for public recreation. The supervisors agreed to write a letter of support for the plan.

Charter school showdown

KANE - Kane Area School District expects to receive a formal application by Nov. 15 for the Mt. Jewett Charter School.

School board members will assess the application to determine if it is a viable option for properly educating students, some of whom would come from the school district and others from surrounding districts.

Business Manager Steve Perry is studying the impact of a charter school in Mt. Jewett on district finances.

If the board accepts the plan, the school will be authorized for between three and five years, at which time its operations will be reviewed. Charter school trustees will be required to issue an annual report to Kane Area School District detailing educational and financial information.

Back to Iraq

RIDGWAY - Pennsylvania Army National Guard members in Ridgway and Bradford have been notified that they'll likely be deployed to Iraq next year.

They're members of the 28th Division's 56th Stryker Brigade, headquartered in Philadelphia. That brigade last week received an alert order, according to Capt. Cory Angell, public affairs officer.

Some members of the Bradford armory have already received training to operate the Guard's newest piece of machinery, the Stryker.

At $2.2 million per vehicle, the Stryker has been touted as the most advanced communications equipment the Army has to offer. It has stealth capabilities and quick reflexes and maneuverability. If a Stryker mobilization order is given, as expected, about 4,000 Guard members across the state will be deployed to Iraq, the largest deployment since the Korean War.

About 2,200 Pa. Army National Guard members were deployed to Iraq in the summer of 2005 returned in June 2006. According to the U.S. Defense Department, the local units are needed to maintain troop levels, ease some of the strain on the active duty Army and provide security for ports, convoys and other installations.

So far, about 5,000 Guard troops from Pennsylvania have served in Iraq and 750 in Afghanistan, according to Angell. He added that no Pennsylvania unit has served in either nation for more than one year.

Wetzel to retire

SMETHPORT - Dan Wetzel is retiring next year after a long career as the Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit Nine executive director. Wetzel, a 1964 graduate of Coudersport High School, made his announcement this week.

IU9 leaders have appointed a search committee to recruit a successor. Advertisements have already been placed in education journals and other media.

Wetzel has been the IU9 executive director for 15 years. He previously served the organization in other roles for 20 years.

A high school basketball star at Coudersport, he went on to enjoy a successful career at Virginia Tech University.

Teacher pact settled

SMETHPORT - A new contract has been approved with the union representing 131 full-time and nine parttime educators with Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit Nine.

Members of the IU9 board of directors approved the fouryear contract this week. The union accepted it earlier this month.

Contract terms were made retroactive to July 1. Teachers will receive salary increases of $1,950 for the current school year and similar raises for the subsequent three years.

These average out to approximately 3.5 percent per years.

There are no changes in health insurance, prescription coverage and life insurance.

Art event Nov. 10

SMETHPORT -- McKean County Historical Society will sponsor "McArt Night" on Saturday, Nov. 10, with doors to open at 7 p.m. at the courthouse.

On display will be paintings, photographs, sculptures, drawings, woodcarvings, woodworking, stained glass, jewelry and fabric art by McKean County artists.

Jim Johnson, a society director, is chairing the event. Many of the items will be sold during an auction that starts at 8:30.

Two oil paintings from the Kane family collection will be on display but not sold: a portrait of Elizabeth Kane by an unknown artist and a work that portrays the sinking of a battleship by Elijah K. Kent. They have been donated by the Everett Engstrom family in Smethport.

The evening will also include music from Margaret Hoehman, a harpist from Port Allegany; and Danbee Kim of Bradford, a classical pianist and violinist. Tickets will be sold at the door. Proceeds will help pay for roof replacement at the museum.