REGIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

Landfill expansion?

MT. JEWETT - Now that the former McKean County landfill is in private hands, its owner is looking to cash in on his investment through expansion.

Rustick LLC has filed an application with DEP to operate a waste transfer station serviced by a new Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad siding at the site, located in the village of Hutchins, near Mt. Jewett.

If the plan is approved, Rustick will be able to import more garbage. The company wants to expand the landfill by 335 acres. About 200 acres would be used for a new waste disposal area on the western side of the facility.

Maximum daily volume would rise from 1,800 tons per day to 6,500 tons daily. Most of the increase would come on railcars destined for the transfer station.

The expansion would ultimately add almost 20 million tons to the landfill's capacity prior to its scheduled retirement.

A public meeting regarding the landfill's expansion has been slated for 6 pm Tuesday, April 29, at the Sergeant Township Municipal Building.

Riverfront plan

RIDGWAY - A steering committee for the Ridgway Riverfront Conservation and Development project met last week to begin its work.

Committee President Dale Fox said the mission is to develop the riverfront area for local residents and visitors.

Rivers Studio, a river corridor consulting firm based in Texas, was retained to evaluate the potential for improvements in the Ridgway-Clarion River.

A master site plan supported by state grants from DCNR and DCED followed. Now that a scope of work has been determined, the steering committee can move forward with a series of public meetings in the coming weeks.

Ethanol site sought

SMETHPORT -- A company is seeking a site in McKean County to build an ethanol plant.

An unidentified company is looking for at least 25 acres in or around the Kane area, if possible. The plant, which would employ about 35 people, would be modeled after the Western New York Energy ethanol facility in Medina, N.Y., which produces 50 million gallons a year.

Ethanol has gained popularity as an alternative to petroleum based fuels.

School approves bonds

ST. MARYS -- St. Marys Area School Board has approved a bond issuance of $8.2 million to cover the cost of renovations and improvements and to refinance previous debt.

The district will pay $1,520,000 annually, including principal and interest, until 2016.

An estimated $14 million will be spent on school facilities.

In 2001, the district borrowed $7.4 million in bonds for technology upgrades and construction of the track and stadium.

Fiber optic network

SMETHPORT - Plans have fallen into place for construction of a modern fiber-optic system to serve businesses, institutions and other users in McKean County.

It's part of a private-public partnership between Coudersport based Zito Media and the McKean County Board of Commissioners. This redundant optical infrastructure will provide modern telecommunication capabilities generally available only in large metropolitan cities, according to county officials.

They believe it will provide for business and job retention; allow new businesses to expand their operations; expand emergency management and municipal communications; increase health care capabilities; provide massive digital bandwidth for higher internet needs; prepare the baseline for future "fiber to the home" and reduce costs for cellular expansion.

Among early users of the network will be Kane Community Hospital and Kane Area School District.

School obtains grant

BRADFORD -- A $140,000 grant from the U.S. Education Department has been approved to expand and update the Bradford Area School District Career and Technology Education Department.

Funds will be used to improve facilities at the school's auto shop, machine shop, nursing department, computer-animated drafting classroom and marketing school.

School officials are developing technical programs that provide high school students with workforce certification upon graduation.

The money will also help with a program to help adults acquire technical certifications through night classes.

Logger of the Year

KANE -- A McKean County man was honored as "Logger of the Year" by the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group (AHUG).

Tim Crissman of Rew was chosen as the individual who best exemplifies professionalism and a strong commitment to safety, community and industry service.

Crissman has been a member of the wood industry since 1989. He has served as a wildfire fighter and instructor and as an active forest fire warden.

More than a dozen former winners attended the awards banquet to honor Crissman and discuss changes in the industry.

AHUG is a non-profit trade association composed of more than 1,600 member companies that produce, sell and use hardwood lumber, or provide services to the hardwood industry.

County getting $1.4M

SMETHPORT - A $1.4 million payment that has been invested from the sale of the former McKean County landfill at Hutchins is on its way into the county's coffers.

The transfer will take place following approval of the move by the McKean County Solid Waste Authority.

Authority members also agreed to seek payments from the current landfill owner, Rustick LLC, based on contractual commitments that the company allegedly has failed to meet. Additionally, legal bills of more than $11,000 were paid.

Water edict opposed

RIDGWAY - Several Ridgway Township residents are protesting an order that they tap into a new municipal water line.

Ridgway Township Municipal Authority issued the order for residents along Pa. Rt. 120. Homeowners said they were opposed to mandatory purchase of municipal water. Some of them cited their aversion to chlorine and fluoride, which is added to the water by the township.

The residents are threatening legal action.

National Guard armory

BRADFORD -- Bradford Regional Airport officials were joined by lawmakers for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Pa. National Guard Readiness Center. The 28,000-square-foot, $8.3-million facility will house Company C, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Current armories in Bradford and Ridgway, serving about 140 people, will close and be sold after the Bradford armory opens sometime around June 2009.

Some Company C soldiers are expected to be deployed to the Middle East later this year, and the troops will probably be deployed when the Readiness Center is completed.

Kane lot being sold

KANE -- United Refining is purchasing a vacant lot in Kane Borough, with speculation that it will become the site of a convenience store and gas station.

The 1.9-acre parcel is located on Biddle Street at the former location of the Affiliated plant.

United Refining operates nearly 300 Kwik Fill Red Apple stores in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. The company operates 75 Country Fair convenience stores in northwestern Pennsylvania, western New York and eastern Ohio.

United Refining's oil refinery in Warren can process 70,000 barrels of oil per day into gasoline, diesel fuel and other petroleum products.