Progress (Newspaper) - September 10, 2009, Clearfield, Pennsylvania Vol. 103 - No. 212 Our 96th Year Moshannon September 10, 2009 50 Cents 18 PAGES Budget impasse forces Community Action cuts By Jeff Corcino Staff Writer The continuing state budget standoff has forced Central Pennsylvania Action to lay off employees and close some and Executive Director Hugh Daly said more cuts and layoffs are coming if the state budget isn't resolved This CPCA laid off 11 of its 82 closed its Bellefonte office and is only opening its DuBois office on Tuesdays in an effort to save money due to the lack of state Daly he the Clearfield office will not be affected and remains CPCA also has offices in Houtzdale and Community Action has laid off three drivers in its transportation four employees in its Work Ready job program for people on public two people at its Bellefonte office and two people at its DuBois according to He said because of the budget impasse the state is not paying its bills and now owes Community Action approximately million for its transportation program Turn to Page 6, Col. 4 Inside Dear News in boys soccer falls to Lewistown - Page 9 2 high school football previews 9 Corner By Josh Geppert St. Francis Elementary School notes tourism growth for the county By Wendy B. Lynn Staff Writer COALPORT - The Clearfield County Recreation and Tourism Authority board met at Country Bed and Breakfast in Coalport yesterday for the regular monthly meeting and a walking tour of Coalport led by board member and Coalport resident Rita The board reviewed the annual anniversary report for and one thing of note is that while lodging occupancy has been down throughout the rest of the Clearfield County has seen growth of just more than 10 percent during the past 12 While some of that growth can be attributed to the Marcellus Shale natural gas exploration and the construction of the new ethanol Director Sandy Fink Barrett attributed a good part of the growth to families looking for inexpensive getaway activities for their Peggy Hotel Tax Committee added that she has seen a rise in business recently at her bed and breakfast and Members of the Hotel Tax Committee were invited to join meeting in order to visit Coalport and interact with board Other happenings for tourism in the county include a new primitive equestrian camping site in the Travel Development Specialist Heather Barnett reported that the new located in the includes picnic tables and fire pits with access to miles of The site opened recently and little information has been distributed about but more information can be had by contacting the Moshannon State Forest or at the Barnett has also had an article printed in Elite Equestrian magazine on horseback riding in Clearfield She said her article was chosen out of several submitted by other The staff will also begin visits on the first Friday of each month to different communities throughout the Marketing Director Holly Komonczi said she hopes key staff for hotels and other businesses will join in and learn about the attractions in various communities so that they can then communicate to visitors what is out there to Barnett also reported has gained 24 new partners since and 15 new advertisers in the visitor She also reported Lew White Tours of Indianapolis visited the area in August and White contacted her and said the company will be using Clearfield as a dedicated stopover after their which included a trip to Denny's Beer Barrel Pub. not everything is going well with budgetary concerns throughout the Barrett is no end in concerning the President Barack Obama delivers a speech on health care to a joint session of Congress last night on Capitol Hill in Obama hopes pitch will sway health care debate WASHINGTON - President Barack leadership in the days ahead will determine whether his forceful health care address to Congress heralds the kind of sweeping change he promised while campaigning for the White Addressing Democrats and Republicans in the House along with Washington insiders and Americans with and without health Obama spelled out where he stands on key issues in dispute as Congress struggles to revamp the nation's health care While some of his explanations - notably on costs - were he left no doubt he's taking this the health care debate has looked like a tennis match between leaders in with the president sort of Turn to Page 6, Col. 4 CLA OKs extended camping Turn to Page 6, Col. 1 By Dianne Byers Staff Writer CURWENSVILLE - The camping season at Curwensville Lake Recreation Area has been At yesterday's meeting of the Curwensville Lake members authorized lengthening the season through mid-November to determine whether there is interest in an additional period of Beginning Oct. 12 and continuing through Nov. 22, primitive camping will be available at the A reduced rate of per night will be Susan authority said the trial run would be test to see how this is received and let the authority know how it should proceed next Charles said he supported the idea but wanted to see if the revenue from the experiment would support the Jim said he believed there are many campers who would welcome an opportunity to enjoy the scenery at the lake as the trees take on their autumn Authority members also discussed but made no decision on allowing a small portion of the campground sites to be designated as seasonal camping The label would allow certain sites throughout the campground to be available to patrons who wish to rent them for the entire Kathie the lake's seasonal said she has had requests from approximately five Defendants waive preliminary hearings By Liza Matia Staff Writer A man charged for pointing a loaded gun at a group of individuals waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday at centralized Donald 46, of Clearfield faces charges of aggravated simple recklessly endangering another terroristic disorderly harassment and public According to the affidavit of probable police were dispatched to a West Locust Street location on Aug. 29 for a report of a man with a Six reportedly were able to get the gun from the man and had him held to the When police the later identified as was restrained on the ground and was later Police also recovered a weapon that was found with the clip out and the slide locked The clip contained six live rounds of 45-cal-iber Two were also taken from the According to statements given by Norris pointed the semi-automatic handgun at a He had his thumb on the hammer and it was pulled Another man was able to rush the defendant and get the gun from Norris was then restrained on the Police found that one live round was ejected from the chamber of the Norris was highly intoxicated and very uncooperative at the time of the Officers noted that he showed no remorse and accused the victim of drawing a gun on him Norris is currently housed in the Clearfield County Two Philipsburg residents waived charges of burglary and criminal trespass Alvin 62, and Mary Beth 32, also face charges of criminal mischief and Charges stem from an incident that happened June 1 at a Shiloh Road According to the police the two arrived at the residence to try to take child from the The victim in the case said she was sitting on the porch when the two She ran into the locking the door behind and locked herself in a She heard Turn to Page 6, Col. 1 Until budget crisis ends will take on line of credit to stay afloat By Liza Matia Staff Writer CHESTER HILL - Like Pennsylvania's other 500 school Area is suffering the effects of the budgetary stalemate in At Tuesday night's school board Financial Director Michael Conte was approved to apply for a tax anticipation note in the amount of The line of credit is necessary for the district to stay afloat during the Conte said is currently in debt of more than Without a state the district could be looking at a shortfall of be struggling over the next months because of the he Corite estimated that the cost of operating the district each month is approximately He said the line of credit would be within three need to start looking at contingency he While Conte said he's no longer optimistic about the situation in he said the district is fortunate it hasn't had to take any drastic measures as the cash dries he face some difficult Until the budget Conte suggested a hiring can't afford to address hiring he we get further down the we might have to look at serious Conte is confident with the line of the district could survive for a few He proposed sending a letter to legislators proposing the Turn to Page 6, Col. 4 Turn to Page 6, Col. 4 Clearfield again earns Main Street designation Clearfield has once again earned the Main Street designation from the according to Clearfield Borough Mayor Patty The last time Clearfield was able to boast this designation was in 1980, bringing the revitalization of Market Street and several The program will bring more federal and state funding for improving and revitalizing the After working for almost two years to meet the program volunteers of the Clearfield Revitalization Corp. are looking forward to interviewing and hiring a Main Street manager this Mayor Gilliland encourages local planning development city businesses and individuals to apply the Main Street approach to what they are doing Turn to Page 6, Col. 6 Weekend Events is a weekly feature of The Progress published to alert readers about events planned by nonprofit organizations or events that benefit the ' All events are open to the To have an event submit the information in writing to any office of The Progress by noon Late submissions will not be nor will submissions that do not include a contact person and daytime telephone The Progress does not include club events that are limited to members and guests or yard sales or flea markets by private individuals in the Weekend Events The following events are planned this weekend in Art shows An art show titled Domestic and has been hung on the first floor of the Clearfield The paintings are the works of local artists and can be viewed through Sept. 19. A Susquehanna River Arts Center artist's showcase has opened at the Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library in The featured artist is Ben Saggese Weekend Events of View this exhibit now through Museum open Grice Clearfield Community located at Fourth and Pine is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from noon to 4 p.m. featuring more than 70 antique and classic show cars plus trophy game animal Prices are for and children under age 12 are admitted free with an Group rates are There is a gift shop and free Call 768-7332 for more Auction There will be an auction on Friday at the Bigler Township Building in Madera to benefit B&B The auction will begin at 6 p.m. and there will be fresh frozen gifts and The kitchen will be and Joe Mangiafico is the Barbeque chicken dinner The Clearfield County Society for Handicapped and Disabled Citizens will sponsor a barbecued chicken dinner Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at its office at 335 E. Locust The cost is per and only takeout meals will be The menu includes half a baked roll and Wine tasting A wine tasting party will be held Friday from 5-7 p.m. on the west front lawn at Ridgeview Elder Care and Rehabilitation 30 Fourth Admission is per The event will benefit the Ridgeview's team's fundraising drive for the Alzheimer Association Memory Walk on Sept. 19 at DuBois Memorial Yard sale The New Hope Christian located at 180 Fourth will host an indoor yard and bake sale Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sale will also take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. vintage items and more will be A massage therapist will be on hand from noon to 3 p.m. Friday and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday to offer chair massages at a cost of for 10 Country music A free country music concert will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. provided by local musicians at Oklahoma Salem Turn to Page 6, Col. 1
