REGIONAL NEWS

Armory groundbreaking

BRADFORD - Groundbreaking is scheduled April 4 for the new Pa. Army National Guard armory next to the Bradford Regional Airport. The $8.3 million armory should

be ready for occupancy by midto

late-2009.

Current armories in Ridgway and Bradford will be closed. The new facility will house a Stryker Brigade, trained to deploy rapidly.

Injured in propane fire

SAVONA, NY -- Four people were injured in a fire Monday afternoon at a liquid propane storage facility in Savona.

Inergy Midstream LLC, which owns the land, was contractor Gas Field Specialist (GFS) of Shinglehouse to drill a hole when an unknown gas entered into the drill's motor, causing an explosion and fire.

New York State Police identified the victims as Ronald Barrett, 39, of Sayre, who suffered severe facial burns; Rodney West, 47, and sons Jed West, 22, and Tanner West, 19, all of Pavilion, N.Y., employees of GFS.

'Letters From Home'

ST. MARYS -- A regional "Letters From Home" program is making arrangements for another shipment of care packages to hundreds of soldiers serving overseas.

Next shipment is set for April 20. Boxes will be filled on that day at the Sacred Heart Activity Center in St. Marys starting at 12:30 p.m. Volunteers are welcome. Anyone interested in helping Letters From Home should call Christine Jovenitti at 965-5118.

Stream improvements

RIDGWAY - A state grant will allow for a water improvement project at Big Mill Creek in Elk County.

Some $255,000 has been approved from the Growing Greener program to help the Elk County Freshwater Association install two treatment systems to improve water quality. The stream has been compromised by persistent acidic conditions caused by coal mining.

Historic building

SMETHPORT - A building in downtown Smethport has been recognized for its historic significance. Last week, a ceremony was held to designate the property at 304 Fulton Street for the Smethport Historic Registry.

It was built in 1912 as an office building for a prominent publication, Boys' Magazine, which was published from 1910 to 1921. Later, the building was occupied by Smethport Speciality Company, a toy manufacturer made famous in the 1950s for its "Wooly Willy" product.

Fire company centennial

RIDGWAY -- Members of Ridgway's Second Ward Hose Company gathered Saturday night to celebrate the organization's 100th anniversary. Fire Department President Mike Plaster, who has 35 years of service, suggested that this year's volunteers set a goal of 200 years of service.

Three faithful members, Thomas Eckert,Tony Rutigliano and Forrest Kinley Jr., were recognized for 50 years of service.

Artificial turf considered

BRADFORD - Bradford Area School Board is considering tearing up the sod at Parkway Field, site of the annual Don Raabe Big 30 Football Charities Classic, and replacing it with artificial turf.

Low bid for turf and lettering is about $961,000, board members said.

Not all members agree with the plan. Rich Roupe complained that the upfront cost was too high and maintenance expenses would aggravate the problem. Private sources have pledged about $72,000 toward the cost.

WWII vets honored

JOHNSONBURG -- Sixty World War II veterans from the region were honored Saturday during a program at the Johnsonburg Fire Department Social Hall.

Pa. State Senate Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati organized the recognition ceremony. Keynote speaker was 2nd Lt. Joshua T. Fox of the Pa. Army National Guard.

Fox, who leads the Ridgwaybased Stryker Brigade Combat Team, is scheduled to deploy to Iraq this fall. He thanked the veterans for their service and for their role in protecting the freedom Americans enjoy today. Fox pointed out that even those who protest the war today are entitled to freedom of speech and their rights are defended by those in the military, both past and present.

More than 100 World War II veterans had signed up for Saturday's program, but icecovered roads discouraged travel. Medals and certificates were presented to the WWII vets who did attend and will be mailed to those who were absent.

Drake Museum boosted

TITUSVILLE -- The state is giving the Drake Well Museum in Titusville $6 million to get a complete makeover ahead of the 150th anniversary of the birth of the oil industry. The anniversary celebrations will be held in August 2009. The state-owned museum is central to those events.

Drake Well has not been renovated since the 1960s. The funding was initially promised in 2005, but the state has only fully allocated it this week. The museum is a commemoration of Col. Edwin Drake's successful oil well on Aug. 27, 1859. Drake's well began an international quest for petroleum. The museum is home to a wide collection of items that reflect the region's claim to being the birthplace of the oil industry.