Page 1 of 13 Dec 2013 Issue of Bedford County Inquirer in Bedford, Pennsylvania

Bedford County Inquirer December 13, 2013 Page 1 old newspaper archives

Read an issue on 13 Dec 2013 in Bedford, Pennsylvania and find what was happening, who was there, and other important and exciting news from the times. You can also check out other issues in The Bedford County Inquirer.

Browse Bedford County Inquirer

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

How to Find What You Are Looking for on This Page

We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to make the text on a newspaper image searchable. Below is the OCR data for 13 Dec 2013 Bedford County Inquirer in Bedford, Pennsylvania. Because of the nature of the OCR technology, sometimes the language can appear to be nonsensical. The best way to see what’s on the page is to view the newspaper page.

Show OCR

Bedford County Inquirer (Newspaper) - December 13, 2013, Bedford, Pennsylvania 38 Tofor tonn established 1812 a 202nd year no. 18 december 13, 2013 uses 0477-2000 single copy 75 cents Bedford hears audit report by Sharyn in a u St Gazette managing editor Bedford area school Board held its organizational meeting tuesday and received the audit report for the 2012-13 school year which showed the District had an $800,000 deficit. Sworn in As Board members were William v. Ross j. Roy Bence d. Royce Coughenour and Emily j. Kendall. Ross the Only new member succeeds h. Clay Thomas however Thomas is also returning to the Board in place of William Newman who resigned. Ross said after the meeting that he ran for the school Board Quot because i like to get involved in things like he s served on Manns Choice Borough Council and on the Board of Bedford area Parks and recreation. Ross said he had no particular issues or areas to address on the Board. Quot i think i can bring a lot of life experience to the Board Quot he said. Ross spent 39 years in communications working for sprint. The Board reelected Tom Bullington As president and Jay Cessna As vice president. The Board will continue to meet in regular sessions on the third tuesday of the month at 7 . In the High school. The Board also holds a work session meeting the monday of the prior week. Regarding the audit presented by Randy Ritchey of Ritchey Ritchey amp Koontz superintendent Allen sell said the District Quot is used to deficit budgets but not actual the $800,000 shortfall last year was less than was budgeted it was paid from the District s fund balance in order to balance the budget. The District expected a deficit of almost $2.2 million but managed to make savings by refinancing a Bond Issue not replacing the assistant superintendent and trimming tuition paid on Caber or charter schools through Bedford s own Academy. Sell said that the Quot challenging Quot situation is being looked at by administrators and committee members. Quot we re working on a four year plan to reduce the deficits but we Hope to have it done sooner Quot he said. According to Ritchey s report Bedford took in $�?~27.3 million and spent $28.1 million last year of the Revenue $12.3 million or 45 percent came from local sources with the remainder split Between the state 47 percent and the Federal government 2 percent. Ritchey said that at the end of the fiscal year on june 30, the District had $9.7 million on hand and owed $4.6 million leaving $5.1 million in the fund balance. Of the $5.1 million $2.3 million is designated to pay for items such As anticipated pension and health care costs. The remaining Money is less than one month s expenses Ritchey noted. In response to a Board question the accountant noted that the figures do not include the District s capital Reserve fund which amounts to approximately $2.3 million. Fiat Money can Only be spent on capital or building projects. Bedford is still due More than $800,000 reimbursement from the state on the Middle school renovation a a project in which the District invested $4 million. The Board spent some Money tuesday renewing the Telephone software subscription for five years at a total Cost of $37,773.99. In other business at the meeting Kitty Bollinger and Karen Waybright were approved As Volunteer cheer leading coaches at Bedford High school. Bedford Man Dies in Home fire by the Gazette staff a Bedford township Man died in a Cabin fire that started around at 4 05 . Monday morning in Bedford township. Denver d. Yokum 58, of Warmuth Lane Bedford died in the fire that nearly levelled the two Story log Cabin located on the Lane behind Millers Quality recycling off route 220 South of Bedford. State police said the body was located inside of the residence at 177 Warmuth Lane after the fire was extinguished. The Man was pronounced dead at the scene by the Bedford county chief Deputy Coroner Russell w. Styer. According to state police an autopsy was completed monday and determined that the Many a cause of death was smoke inhalation. Toxicology results Are pending. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the state police fire marshal. Bedford Shawnee Valley Everett Centerville Breeze Wood Imler and Alum Bank fire companies from Bedford county and Bedford Road from Maryland All responded to the scene. Bedford area ambulance service and Shawnee Valley also both responded to the scene. Bedford fire chief Bill foor said the fire appeared to have started at the rear of the Cabin. A upon our arrival it was fully engulfed. It was All exterior attack initially until we got the fire knocked Down Quot Gazette photo Elizabeth Coyle Denver d. Yokum 58, of Bedford died As a result of smoke inhalation Early monday morning when the House in which he was living was destroyed by fire. The cause of the fire la under investigation. Foor said. The Lane Back to the residence was icy and Snow covered and truck Drivers had problems getting up the Lane and turning around causing some to elide off the Lane temporarily. The fire broke out in the Middle of freezing rain storm that also prompted school closures across the county. Firefighters also had to contend with a downed live wire at the scene until the Power company turned off the electricity. A it did impede some of our fire suppression initially a foor said but volunteers went on hosing the Blaze with caution. Foor also said it was a a struggle getting manpower there though he Wasny to sure Why. A we appreciate the help from Mutual Aid companies a he said. New Baltimore stood by at Bedford shall while Crews were at the scene. Bedford firefighters returned to their Hall about 1 10 . Yokum is survived by his father and step Mother three daughters four grandchildren four Brothers and five Sisters. Heritage Trust pushing Bedford tourism by Elizabeth Coyle Gazette associate editor the Bedford heritage Trust is building a Bridge that it Hopes will connect its resources to other organizations to make heritage tourism a Large economic Driver in the Bedford area. During a quarterly meeting of the Board of trustees officials announced the organization is working toward few items remain in Everett building project list by Elizabeth Coyle Gazette associate editor Everett a there Are still some items left to be finished before the $�?~29 million renovation addition project at Everett area Middle High school is considered Complete the districts superintendent said thursday following a re organizational meeting of the school Board. The completion Date has moved several times in recent months but superintendent Danny Webb said he a expecting for the project to be done in january except for Small punch list items. One of the items needed is a hand railing for a ramp in front of the main office area and another is fixing the terrazzo flooring in front of the auditorium. Also repair of the roof on the shop area of the building is still under construction. Webb expects a continued on Page 8 the adoption of a business plan to present to Bedford Borough Council. Council is responsible for the operation of fort Bedford museum a facility that has taken anywhere from $9,000 to $35,000 per year to operate in recent years according to Bedford mayor Bill Leibfreid. Leibfreid said Council wanted a business plan As the Borough and the Board of trustees work toward adoption of a five year contract. The operation and funding of the fort Bedford museum is just the a inaugural step of what the Trust will become said Steve George vice president of the trustees. A it could Lead to anything a said Tom Otis president of the trustees. That a what the trustees Are work ing toward development of and ancillary organization that will assist other history oriented groups around the area. A we can reach out and get to know each other and get to help each other a George said. Mark Thomas treasurer of the trustees said the organizations goal a continued on Page 5 state to provide More Road Bridge work official transportation Bill will help to improve safety Spur Economy by Elizabeth Coyle Bedford Gazette state transportation Secretary Barry Schoch promised that the travelling Public would see More Road and Bridge work in 2014 and in the next several years to come now that transportation funding is in place. Schoch along with the regions pen not executive the Pennsylvania turnpikes chief and two elected officials addressed Bedford county chamber of Commerce so government its your business transportation luncheon at Omni Bedford Springs. As of Jan. I a fuel tax increase. License and registration and other fees take effect As the Start of a five year $2.3 billion infusion of Cash for the states transportation system. Schoch defended the transportation Bill a which some say will raise the Gas tax As much As 28 cents per gallon of gasoline a As a measure that will improve Road and Bridge safety Spur economic development and Stop the continued deterioration of the states roads ports trains and air traffic systems. A this is about Public safety about economic competitiveness a said Schoch who has been touring the state Selling a continued on Page 5 Ritchey adds print to Monument Gazette photo Bridgett Weaver Dennis Tice executive director of the Bedford county visitors Bureau helps Wii Veteran Harry t. Ritchey press his thumb print into the Clay of the statue that will soon stand As the Centrepiece of the Wii memorial that will be placed along Penn Street near the Post office. By Blodgett Weaver Gazette staff writer world War ii Veteran Harry t. Ritchey of Hyndman who started his naval career at Post attack Pearl Harbor pressed his thumbprint into the statue that will be the Centrepiece in the Bedford county Wii memorial when finished. Wii veterans in the Bedford area have been asked to place their thumb print into the Clay before dec. 24, when it gets sent to be bronzed. More than 30 veterans have put their prints in the statue so far according to Dennis Tice executive director of the Bedford county visitors Bureau and member of the committee spearheading the monuments construction. Ritchey 96, is one of the oldest known surviving world War ii Veteran in Bedford county Tice said. Ritchey served in the War for a Little Over four years entering on january 9,1942 and getting his honorable discharge on april to 1946. He enlisted in the Navy in Cumberland but was quickly sent to Baltimore and then to Washington. After the attack on Pearl Harbor Ritchey was stationed there. A continued on Page 5

Search All Newspapers in Bedford, Pennsylvania

Advanced Search

Search the Bedford County Inquirer Today with a Free Trial

We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.

Start for Free

Not Finding What You Were Looking for on This Page of The Bedford County Inquirer?

People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!

Advanced Search