NEWS BRIEFS FROM AROUND THE AREA

School burglary solved

ST. MARYS - Almost two years after a burglary at the St. Marys Catholic Middle School, city police report that they've solved the crime.

Last week, they filed charges against Adam J. Geer, 22 of St. Marys; Richard Pounds Jr., 32, of Emporium; and Patrick J. Steele, 22, of St. Marys. Charges against them include burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.

They're accused of stealing 20 laptop computers with a total value of almost $20,000. As of last week, Geer and Steele were in custody and police were still trying to locate Pounds for arraignment.

Landfill revenue spent

SMETHPORT - A payment of about $1.4 million into the McKean County budget from the sale of the county-owned landfill near Mount Jewett has largely been spent to help balance county finances, according to County Treasurer Nancy Evans.

The funds were transferred from the McKean County Solid Waste Authority. Members of the McKean County Board of Commissioners have put the public on notice that, without a similar infusion of cash next year, the county must prepare for financial challenges ahead.

Commissioners are hoping that the elimination of some high-salaried positions, such as county administrator, and changes in operations at the jail will save the county money. They're also looking into leasing oil and gas rights on county-owned property and they anticipate higher royalties from the landfill, now owned by Rustick LLC, after the facility is expanded. The county receives $1.25 for every ton buried at the site.

Fire dept. gets ATV

ULYSSES -- Tri-Town Fire and Ambulance Company of Ulysses recently added a new four-wheel-drive utility vehicle. Funds for the purchase were obtained through the Pa. Fire Service Grant Program.

The vehicle will be equipped with a skid unit for use in fighting wildfires and emergency medical equipment for wilderness search and rescue operations.

It will also have GPS capabilities for search and rescue operations. The ATV is small enough to access most offroad locations.

Car dealers sentenced

DuBOIS - A father and son whose car dealership collapsed in DuBois were sentenced to state prison terms last week after pleading guilty in Clearfield County Court.

Sentencing came after an emotional hearing for Jerry A. Miles, 68, and Jerry A. Miles Jr., 43, owners of the former Top of the Line Motors car dealership in DuBois.

They pleaded guilty to deceptive business practices and writing bad checks in six cases. Each was sentenced to three to eight years in state prison and five years probation. They were also ordered to pay more than $850,497 in restitution.

Witnesses, including investors and vehicle buyers, described how the business victimized them as the Mileses desperately tried to obtain more money.

The defendants said the business was prospering until new traffic patterns attributed to a bridge project cut vehicle sales by about 70 percent.

Offenses that led to the charges dated back as far as 2004.