Gas Company to Open Local Operation
02/13/2007
Dominion Transmission, Inc. has purchased a tract of land along East College Avenue and Witherite Road and plans to operate a pipeline compressor station on the site.

According to a Centre Daily Times article, Dominion, a West Virginia-based company, purchased the 55-acre parcel for about $1.7 million. They will construct a compressor station that will pump natural gas to an underground storage facility in Clinton County. (More details)

District's Act 34 Hearing Postponed
06/01/2006
The State College Area School District Board of School Directors postponed the Act 34 Hearing originally scheduled for Wednesday night.

Susan Werner, board president, stated that "the board, in its continuing process of listening to many perspectives, sought to ensure that people would have every opportunity to comment during the Act 34 Hearing. During the last 48 hours of the three week sign-up period, ending last Friday at noon, the number of residents on the list more than doubled. The board then scheduled a special meeting, as soon as legally possible, to take action to extend the hearing to two sessions. The board wanted to more comfortably accommodate all those wishing to speak and minimize residents having to stay into the wee small hours of the morning at either of the two sessions."

The board believed it was appropriate within the scope of Act 34 to hold a continuance in order to meet the other Act 34 provision that "any and all interested persons may be heard at such public hearing."

Very late in the day on Tuesday , May 30th, the district received preliminary information that PDE could question the two-session format for the Act 34 Hearing. This information could not be confirmed with the division chief until Wednesday morning. The board held its 7:30am meeting, as advertised, to adopt the resolution for the continuance, pending the consultation with the division chief in the expectation that a more favorable interpretation would permit the scheduled hearings to go forward.

During that consultation, Carle Dixon, Chief of the Division of School Facilities, advised that, in their experience, the acceptable hearing format is one session, no matter the number of hours of testimony involved. Therefore, they advised that, in this situation, the district not conduct the two sessions as scheduled. The department will send a written confirmation of their interpretation to the district. In view of this, the Act 34 Hearing will be re-scheduled and duly advertised for the required 20 days.

According to Susan Werner, board president, the board will set a new date for the Act 34 Hearing at a future board meeting after receiving the written definitive answer from the Department of Education. The board and administration very much regret any inconvenience caused to those planning to speak and attend Wednesday evening.

Missing Woman Found Dead; Man Charged
05/31/2006
Velda Malloy, a 74-year-old Cambria County woman who has been missing for several days, was found dead Tuesday in Munster Township. Nathan Fortson, 27, has been arrested and charged with murdering Malloy.

According to police, Fortson has confessed to killing Malloy and a second person, Dale Zunich of Altoona.

Police believe Fortson abducted Malloy and kept her bound in the trunk of her car as he attempted to withdraw cash from her bank account. Fortson allegedly killed Malloy by breaking her neck and slitting her throat. Zunich was apparently strangled to death, and his throat was also slit. Police have recovered a box cutter and a stolen Ruger .44 magnum handgun.

Fortson is currently being held in Huntingdon County Prison. Prosecutors have announced their plan to seek the death penalty in the case.

Paxson Case Delayed
05/31/2006
Centre County Judge Bradley Lunsford has issued a gag order in the Scott Paxson sexual assault case and has moved the case to the court's August term.

According to an article published in the Centre Daily Times, Lunsford issued his orders after a closed-door meeting with the attorneys in the case. A ruling on a request by Paxson's attorney to seat an out-of-county jury for the case has not yet been made. (More details).

Financial Relief Available for Military Families
05/30/2006
Pennsylvania’s new Military Family Relief Assistance Program is now accepting applications from eligible Pennsylvania service members and their families who have immediate financial needs as a result of their military service, according to Senator Jake Corman (R-34).

"The Military Family Relief Assistance Program is a grant program funded through the generous donations of individual taxpayers and businesses," Corman said. "To date, $125,000 has been raised to help Pennsylvania service members and their families who may be facing some tough financial times while their loved ones serve here at home or abroad."

Members of the Armed Forces who are residents of Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for assistance if they serve:

- Thirty or more consecutive days of active duty with the Pennsylvania Army or Air National Guard or Reserve Components of the Armed Forces (Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve or Coast Guard Reserve);
- Thirty or more consecutive days of active duty with the active Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard); or
- Thirty or more consecutive days of state active duty for emergencies or duty under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact in the Pennsylvania Army or Air National Guard.

The program also applies to certain family members of eligible service members as long as the relatives are residents of Pennsylvania. The maximum grant awarded under this program is $2,500.

Corman said eligible Pennsylvania service members and/or their eligible family members who wish to apply for assistance should visit the DMVA Web site at www.dmva.state.pa.us for program guidelines, frequently asked questions and to download an application. Applications with supporting documents should be mailed to the Military Family Relief Assistance Program, c/o Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Bldg. P-0-47, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003-5002.
Individuals and groups wishing to contribute to the fund should send a check made payable to Military Family Relief Assistance Program and mail it to the same address applicants use to request financial assistance. Donations are tax deductible to the extent authorized by federal law.
For additional information on the Military Family Relief Assistance Program, contact Patrice Jacoby toll free at 1-866-292-7201, or ra-pa-mfrap@state.pa.us.

School Renovation Meeting Set
05/30/2006
The State College School District's board of directors will host the first of multiple public meetings Wednesday night regarding the controversial $102 million high school renovation project.

Nearly 300 people have pre-registered to speak at the meeting. If each person speaks for the allotted three minutes, the meeting will last for up to 15 hours, prompting the board to plan for at leat two meetings.

Wednesday's meeting will run until midnight. The second session has yet to be scheduled.

Vandalism Suspects Arrested
05/30/2006
Weeks ago, local police issued a notice regarding numerous incidents of vandalism involving paintballs. Police now have several suspected vandals in custody.

Criminal charges have been filed against Shane Fleck, 18, of State College, Kalen Brown, 19, of Warriors Mark, Albert Dreibelbis, 19, of Port Matilda, and a 16-year-old juvenile. The men are charged with causing thousands of dollars in damage to homes, cars, and signs throughout Ferguson Township.

According to police, information prvided by the public was instrumental in making the arrests.

Building Explosion
05/30/2006
The State College Police Department is seeking information regarding the destruction of a state forestry building along Little Flat Tower Road in Harris Township.

Police were dispatched to the scene on May 20th, and found that a small outbuilding near the Little Flat Fire Tower had been completely destroyed by some type of explosion. Subsequent investigation indicates that, sometime between May 14th and May 20th, unknown suspect(s) placed an explosive device inside the shed and detonated it, destroying the structure.

The building is owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry. It was seldom used and was not occupied. No loss is listed for the structure.

Evidence from the scene will be analyzed by the crime lab in an effort to determine the size and type of explosive used. The case is under investigation with the assistance of the State College FBI and Penn State Police.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the State College Police Department at 814-234-7150, submit an anonymous online tip, or contact Centre County Crimestoppers at 1-877-992 -7463. Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for significant information in this case.

Drug Ring Conviction
05/26/2006
After nearly six hours of deliberation, a Centre County jury returned with a guilty verdict against Taji "Verbal" Lee for operating a drug ring in the county.

According to an article in the Centre Daily Times, Lee was convicted on 26 of 32 charges against him and could now serve a minimum of 30 years in prison.

Lee, 25, was indicted last year on charges that he distributed nearly $1.5 milloin of heroin and cocaine across Centre County. On July 6th, his prison sentence will be handed down. (More details)

Man Charged With Attempting to Murder Infant
05/26/2006
Patrick Settlemyer, and Altoona resident, has been arrested and charged with attempting to murder his infant grandchild Thursday.

According to Altoona police, Settlemyer got into an argument with another individual Thursday. For some reason, he grabbed the seven-month-old child and squeezed until the child stopped breathing. Settlemyer released the child only after the child's mother bit him.

A neighbor who knew CPR resuscitated the child, who was transported to the hospital following the incident.

Settlemyer, 53, remained combative after police arrived and had to be handcuffed. He now faces charges of attempted homicide, assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and resisting arrest. He remains in Blair County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Terrorism Center
05/26/2006
Penn State's University Park campus has been selected at the site of a new research center focused on reducing terrorism.

Officials from the Worlwide Universities Network, an international consortium of schools, announced that the International Center for the Study of Terrorism will research new ways to protect communities and evaluate the long-term effects of terrorism on society.

Other Pennsylvania schools participating in the Network include the University of Pittsburgh, Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

State High Forum Set
05/25/2006
The Centre Daily Times is reporting this morning that more than 100 local residents have registered to speak at a public hearing regarding the State College High School renovation project.

The hearing will be held at 7:00pm, Wednesday, May 31st at the Park Forest Middle School. If every registered speaker uses the allotted three-minute time limit, the hearing will last more than five hours. (More details)

Herman to Speak at Memorial Day Service
05/25/2006
Representative Lynn Herman (R-Centre) will be the featured speaker at Memorial Day services conducted by the American Legion in Port Matilda at 11:00am on Monday, May 29th.

The service will be held in front of the tank at the Legion at 510 W. Front Street in Port Matilda.

Herman will talk about the true meaning of Memorial Day which serves as an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.

Herman asks residents throughout Centre County to take time this weekend to remember those who gave their lives in defense of the country.

Clearfield Drug Ring Busted
05/25/2006
Robert Prisk and five others were arrested Wednesday in the bust of what narcotics agents believe was a $500,000-per-year drug ring in Clearfield County.

According to officials, Prisk sold cocaine and marijuana from his home and Curwensville business, Prisk's Trucking Company. He now faces 22 charges, including 11 felonies.

The drug raid was conducted by the state Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, the Clearfield County drug task force, and Curwensville police. In addition to Prisk, the raid also netted Charles Bloom, Dave Bressler, Tracy Kester, and Amos Brimmer. Allen Sheen was also indicted in the case. Sheen is already in a Florida prison on unrelated charges.

Prisk, 50, is alleged to be the leader of the drug ring. Officials believe he traveled to New York City and the Poconos to purchase marijuana and cocaine for resale. Prisk remains in Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Recycling Grant
05/24/2006
Representative Lynn Herman (R-Centre) has announced a state recycling grant of $470,925 for the Borough of State College.

“This funding will be used to help cover the costs of improving the borough’s multi-municipal composting facility operations that include the borough and College, Patton and Ferguson townships,” Herman said.

The grant was awarded under the Recycling Development and Implementation Grant Program of Act 101 of 1988 by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Composting is an easy way to reduce waste and create a valuable gardening supply. As they would be in nature, leaves and yard waste are recycled into natural nutrients and organic materials.

Herman noted that Pennsylvania’s recycling program has been recognized as one of the most successful in the nation.

Restaurant fire
05/24/2006
The Authentic China Wok restaurant sustained extensive damage in a fire Monday.

Fire officials report that the cause of the fire in the Northland Center business was accidental and was contained quickly by firefighters.

Neighboring businesses sustained some minor damage.

Fake Prescription
05/24/2006
The State College Police Department is investigating an incident involving a woman who submitted a fake prescription to a local pharmacy on February 27th.

Pictures of the suspect can be viewed on the police department's website.

Anyone with information about the woman in the pictures, should contact Officer Noel at 814-234-7150 or submit an online anonymous tip.

Whitehall Road Burglary
05/24/2006
On May 11th, the State College Police responded to a report of a burglary in the 800 block of West Whitehall Road. The burglary occurred at a townhouse apartment during the day between the hours of 8:00am and 5:45pm.

The following items were taken from the townhouse:

· Seven gold necklaces with a pearl and gold pendant, a black onyx and gold pendant, two heart pendants, and a gold cross pendant
· Five gold rings: one with opal and diamonds, one with green emerald stone and diamonds
· Red vinyl Jewelry box
· Black Pentax 35mm Camera Model ZXM
· Black Fuji 24 mm Camera
· Small crystal clock with the name “Mandy” engraved
· United Airlines round trip ticket voucher in the name of the victim

Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call the State College Police at 814-234-7150, CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-877-992-7463, or submit an online anonymous tip. Callers can remain anonymous and individuals who provide information may be eligible for a reward.

Drug Trial Begins
05/23/2006
Taji Lee, the man accused of running one of the largest drug rings in Centre County history, went on trial in Bellefonte Monday.

Lee was arrested in January 2005 when he attempted to sell approximately $7,500 worth of heroin to an undercover police officer.

Dave Gorman, a prosecutor with the State Attorney General's office, and defense attorney Ron McLaughlin presented their opening arguments Monday, and an undercover officer who allegedly made a buy from Lee also testified.

The case is expected to run at least through Thursday.

Garbage Truck Driver Trapped In Compactor
05/23/2006
The driver of a garbage truck sustained serious injuries Monday when he became trapped in the back of his truck.

According to emergency personnel, the accident occurred at about 8:30am on Trout Road in College Township.

The truck driver reported that the compactor jammed, and when he attempted to remove the jam the compactor began moving and trapped him in the truck. A nearby farmer heard the driver's calls for help and contacted emergency personnel.

The man was removed from the garbage truck by firefighters and life-flighted to Altoona Regional Health System, where he was being treated for serious hand and arm injuries.

Spikes Opening Night Tickets Still Available
05/23/2006
State College Spikes single-game tickets went on sale to the general public this past Saturday morning, and fans grabbed all available single-game tickets for the club’s June 20th home opener within the first hour they went on sale. However, fans can still enjoy the excitement of the Spikes’ first game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park by reserving season tickets. Twenty-game Half-Season Mini-Plan and group packages can still be purchased for the club’s inaugural 2006 season in the Class-A New York-Penn League.

Spikes’ season tickets not only guarantee fans seats to the Spikes home opener against the rival Williamsport Crosscutters (Pirates’ affiliate), but also guarantee the same seats to all 38 home games at Medlar Field. Season tickets include other great benefits, such as early entrance to the ballpark for home games, priority purchases for all playoff games, concerts and other special events at Medlar Field, private team meet-and-greets and autograph sessions, and a special 10% off merchandise pass for the entire season.

The Spikes’ 20-game Half-Season Mini-Plan starts at just $120 and also guarantees fans reserved seating for Opening Night, as well as the same location for 19 other pre-selected games on the schedule. Fans can also enjoy Spikes games together will family and friends through one of several group ticket packages, such as general seating for groups of 25 or more, picnics, team and birthday parties and luxury skybox rentals.

Fans interested in securing their seats to the June 20th home opener through season tickets, a 20-Game Half-Season Mini-Plan or one of the club’s group packages can call the Spikes toll-free at (877) 99-CURVE or visit www.statecollegespikes.com for more information.

Plenty of single-game tickets are also still available for any of the Spikes’ remaining 37 home games at Medlar Field, including the June 23-25 series against the Batavia Muckdogs (Phillies’ affiliate) and the July 2-4 set against the Jamestown Jammers (Marlins’ affiliate).

State College Spikes’ single-game tickets can also be ordered by calling toll-free at (877) 99-SPIKES or on-line at www.statecollegespikes.com.

Business Park Funding
05/22/2006
Senator Jake Corman (R-34) has announced that a $1 million financing package has been awarded to Granville Township for site preparation at the Mifflin County Industrial Park-East.

Corman announced today that a $300,000 state grant and a $700,000 state loan have been awarded for the project through the PennWorks program.

“One of the most important issues, if not the most important issue, for Mifflin County residents is jobs,” Corman said. “With this state funding in place, we will enable Granville Township to extend need infrastructure to prepare this site for future job creators.”

The Mifflin County Industrial Park (MCIP) consists of 250 acres and is located off of US Route 522 and US Route 22. The proposed MCIP - East is located between the existing Park and the Borough of Lewistown. The project entails extending the current sewer system 1,350 feet and the water system 580 feet to MCIP-East to prepare the site for the future business expansion.

“Assisting local governments with infrastructure needs is a vital component of state government services,” Corman said. “I have long advocated assistance like this and with this sewer system expansion into the business park, I hope to announce more good news in the future.”

Corman said the Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructure Program (which shall be referred to as “PennWorks”) was established by the General Assembly in May of 2004. The program provides single-year or multi-year grants to municipalities and municipal authorities and loans to municipalities, municipal authorities, industrial development corporations and investor-owned water or wastewater enterprises for projects which construct, expand or improve water and wastewater infrastructure which are related to economic development.

Borough Revisits Speed Control Plan
05/22/2006
Disappointed with bids received, State College Borough transportation officials are going to research other options for controlling traffic speed in the East Highlands neighborhood.

According to the Centre Daily Times, the borough received one bid for installing speed bumps on East Foster, East Hamilton, and East Prospect Avenues. However, the $32,000 bid was twice the anticipated price.

The borough's transportation commission will now discuss implementing the speed bumps a few at a time, rather than all at once. (More details)

Bank Robbery
05/22/2006
State Police are seeking information regarding a robbery at the Philipsburg branch of Omega Bank on Saturday.

According to police reports, a man entered the bank on High Street and demanded a specific sum of money. The teller did not take the request seriously until the man showed an object under his sweatshirt and repeated his demand. The teller then handed him the money, and the man fled.

Anyone with information about the incident or the robber should contact State Police at Philipsburg.

Portland Counters Allegations
05/19/2006
Rene Portland, coach of the Penn State women's basketball team, spoke out Thursday against claims made against her by the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Portland's statement, issued to the Centre Daily Times, was a response to NCLR claims published in the newspaper Tuesday.

In the original article, the NCLR claimed that numerous former members of the women's basketball team and some of Portland's co-workers made statements in support of former player Jennifer Harris' discrimination suit against Portland. In her response, Portland denied the validity of the claims. (More details)

Would-Be Burglar Captured By Homeowner
05/19/2006
Carlos Ruben Santos-Ortiz is in Blair County Prison this morning following an alleged burglary attemtp.

Acording to state police, Santos-Ortiz forcibly entered the Williamsburg home of Roy Edmundson late Tuesday night. Edmundson was awakened by a noise and found Santos-Ortiz inside his home. He was able to restrain Santos-Ortiz and keep him in custody until police arrived. Santos-Ortiz is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. (Source: WRTA.com)

Gricar Nephew Seeks Information on Case
05/18/2006
The Centre Daily Times is reporting that the nephew of missing former Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar met with Bellefonte Police and current District Attorney Michael Madeira Wednesday to discuss "possible police missteps" in the investigaion of Gricar's disappearance.

Tony Gricar has requested that control of the investigation be turned over to state police or the state Attorney General's office. That has not happened yet. However, Gricar was pleased to hear that Madeira has submitted a formal request to have the state police Criminal Investigation Analysis Team review the work that has been performed by the Bellefonte Police Department and other agencies thus far. (More details)

Bike To Work Day
05/18/2006
The State College Police Department, in partnership with the Centre Region Bicycle Coalition, the Downtown Improvement District and Centre Area Transportation Authority, is participating in the National Bike to Work Week May 15 through 19th.

On Friday, May 19th, a portion of South Allen Street between College Avenue and Calder Way will be blocked off from 7:00am to 5:00pm to celebrate Bike to Work Day.

Various displays and activities will be available for kids and adults. The State College Police Department will be there to provide safety information, bicycle traffic law and ordinance information, and to assist the public in registering their bicycles free of charge.

This is a community event, and all are invited to attend. For additional information, contact the State College Police Department’s Community Relations, Crime Prevention Section at 234-7150.

Ten Arrested in Drug Bust
05/17/2006
A 17-month investigation in an alleged cocaine distribution network resulted in the arrests of 10 people.

According to a report in the Centre Daily Times, the drug bust was carried out by local and state police early Tuesday morning. And while 10 people were arrested, warrants were issued for 15 people, and the suspected ringleader, Michael Wright, is still at large. (More details)

Paterno Elected to Hall of Fame
05/16/2006
Joe Paterno, who has built Penn State into one of the nation's premier football programs on the field and in the classroom during his 40 years as head coach, has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Paterno will be inducted with other members of the Class of 2006 at the National Football Foundation's 49th annual awards dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 5th at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

He will become the 21st member of the Penn State program inducted, joining 16 former players and four Nittany Lion coaches. The most recent Penn Stater so honored was guard Keith Dorney last December. Running back Lydell Mitchell was inducted in 2004, giving the Nittany Lions a Hall of Fame honoree three consecutive years.

Three of the four most successful coaches in college football history will enter the Hall of Fame in December, as Florida State's Bobby Bowden and St. John's (Minn.) mentor John Gagliardi also will be inducted. Gagliardi has been a head coach since 1949 and is tops among all NCAA coaches in victories with a 432-118-11 record. Legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson is second with 408 wins, followed by Bowden (359-107-4) and Paterno (354-117-3).

"I am very honored to be selected for the Hall of Fame," stated Paterno. "It is probably the pinnacle award anyone in college football can receive. Many people helped make this happen, starting with the great players with whom I've been involved and the great coaches who have been with me and worked in an unselfish way to help us have success and make the Penn State program what it is.

"I look forward to being in New York with my good friend Bobby Bowden and am delighted that we are going into the Hall of Fame together. I want to thank the Honors Court for selecting me. Hopefully I deserve it."

"This is the highest honor in college football and a very rare honor for a coach, so we are especially proud that Joe Paterno's lifetime of accomplishments is being recognized," said Penn State President Graham Spanier.

"We are thrilled with Joe Paterno's election to the College Football Hall of Fame," said Tim Curley, Penn State Director of Athletics. "Coach Paterno has had a profound impact on Penn State, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, college football and society as a coach, teacher and humanitarian. He has touched the lives of thousands of former players, Penn State students, alumni and fans, student-athletes at other institutions and many others.

"When Joe Paterno became head coach in 1966, he had a vision for Penn State and his program," Curley added. "He wanted Penn State to strive to become the best institution of higher learning it could be. And he wanted to build a football program with young men who understood that getting a quality education had to be their first goal, followed by developing teams that could compete for the national championship. He obviously has been very successful in building and maintaining those two foundations of his program throughout his magnificent career and is most deserving of induction into the College Football Hall of Fame."

Paterno's illustrious career will reach another milestone during the 2006 season, as he joins another college football legend, Amos Alonzo Stagg, as the only major college coaches to serve more than 40 years at one institution. Stagg was a head coach for 57 years, including 41 at the University of Chicago (1892-1932).

Other former members of the Penn State program enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, located in South Bend, Ind., include ex-coaches Hugo Bezdek, Rip Engle, Dick Harlow and Bob Higgins along with former players John Cappelletti, Jack Ham, Glenn Killinger, Ted Kwalick, Rich Lucas, Pete Mauthe, Shorty Miller, Lydell Mitchell, Dennis Onkotz, Mike Reid, Dave Robinson, Steve Suhey, Dexter Very, Harry Wilson and 2005 inductee Keith Dorney.

The other members of the incoming Hall of Fame class include: Bobby Anderson (Colorado); Bennie Blades (Miami, Fla.) ; Carl Eller (Minnesota); Steve Emtman (Washington); Thomas Everett (Baylor); Chad Hennings (Air Force); Chip Kell (Tennessee); Mike Phipps (Purdue); Mike Rozier (Nebraska); Jeff Siemon (Stanford); Bruce Smith (Virginia Tech); Emmitt Smith (Florida) and Charlie Ward (Florida State). Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State) will be inducted from the Divisional Class.

More Claims Against Portland
05/16/2006
According to a report on today's Centre Daily Times, more than a dozen former members of the Penn State women's basketball team have come forward with bias complaints against coach Rene Portland.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights claims the former players and numerous former employees of Penn State's athletic department will support the discrimination case against Portland that was filed by former player Jennifer Harris. The former players and employees reportedly contacted the NCLR after hearing of Harris' claim against Portland.

Portland continues to deny the claims against her. She, Harris, and their respective attorneys met in Harrisburg Monday for a mediation session; however, little or no progress was reported. (More details)

Whitehall Road Burglary
05/15/2006
On May 11th, the State College Police responded to a report of a burglary in the 800 block of West Whitehall Road. The burglary occurred at a townhouse apartment during the day between the hours of 8:00am and 5:45pm. The following items were reported stolen from the townhouse:

- Seven gold necklaces with a pearl and gold pendant, a black onyx and gold pendant, two heart pendants, and a gold cross pendant
- Five gold rings: one with opal and diamonds, one with green emerald stone and diamonds
- Red vinyl Jewelry box
- Black Pentax 35mm Camera Model ZXM
- Black Fuji 24 mm Camera
- Small crystal clock with the name “Mandy” engraved
- United Airlines round trip ticket voucher in the name of the victim

Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call the State College Police at 814-234-7150, CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-877-992-7463, or submit an online anonymous tip. Callers can remain anonymous and individuals who provide information may be eligible for a reward.

Faculty Divided Over Renovation Plan
05/15/2006
The Centre Daily Times is reporting that the State College Area High School faculty appear to be split over the $102 school renovation plan.

The State College Area Education Association conducted an informal survey of union members, and more than 200 faculty members responded. According to the association, the teachers' responses did not show a united front regarding the renovation. (More details)

School District Open House
05/12/2006
Approximately 200-300 people attended a three-hour open house at the State College Area High School North Building Thursday evening.

The district hosted the event to give the public an opportunity to discuss the much debated school renovation plan with school board members.

The Centre Daily Times reports that most of the questions asked by community members focused on the board's decision-making process and the architectural design of the new school. (More details)

Rush Township Sewage Grant
05/12/2006
Representative Lynn Herman (R-Centre) said Thursday that Rush Township will receive financial help from the state for preparing and making revisions to its sewage plan.

Rush Township will receive $12,863, which will be used as a reimbursement of 50 percent of the cost of preparing the official sewage plan and revisions to the official plans for sewage systems.

“Developing and making revisions to an official sewage plan is a costly matter,” Herman said. “These plans require technical expertise that involves the study and examination of the current sewage system by professional engineers.”

The grant was made possible through the Sewage Facilities Planning Grants Program of Act 537 of 1966.

College Avenue Construction
05/11/2006
Drivers using College Avenue between Atherton and Elmwood Streets should expect some delays over the next three weeks.

According to the Centre Daily Times, workers began a resurfacing project on Wednesday, and traffic will be limited to one lane each direction at times until the project is completed. Work will not be done overnight or on weekends. (More details)

Pandemic Preparedness Website Launched
05/11/2006
Senator Jake Corman (R-34), Chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, has announced the launch of a new pandemic preparedness website to provide people with timely, accurate and reliable information about pandemic influenza.

Senator Corman reports that the website, www.pandemicflu.state.pa.us, features the latest information on what Pennsylvania is doing to prepare for a widespread outbreak of the bird flu. It includes specific resources and directions for various groups – including local governments, individuals, businesses, schools, healthcare providers, communities and agriculture.

Corman said that Pennsylvania-specific planning documents, articles and fact sheets are available for download and up-to-date news and information from other health care and government resources as well.

“Pennsylvania's last influenza pandemic was nearly 40 years ago, and there is no immediate threat at present,” Corman said. “But the outbreak of a new strain of avian flu in Asia has reminded us of the need to be prepared in case a pandemic strikes at home.”

For more information on pandemic influenza, visit www.pandemicflu.state.pa.us.

Police Seeking Female in Gricar Case
05/11/2006
Bellefonte Police, the lead investigators in the case of missing former Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar, have announced that they are now looking for a woman who was seen with Gricar the day of his disappearance.

According to police, a witness reported seeing Gricar with a woman at the Lewisburg Antique Mall on April 15th, 2005, the day he disappeared. The woman was described as being in her mid-30s to early 40s, 5'8" tall, with dark hair.

Police say they received the witness' account early in their investigation, but they did not make it public out of respect for Gricar's family and friends. Anyone with information about the woman is asked to contact the Bellefonte Police Department.

Rockview Inmate Missing
05/10/2006
State Police at Rockview have reported that an inmate from the Correctional Institution at Rockview has escaped.

According to a Centre Daily Times article, the inmate, Eric Dennis Carney, was to be transported by bus from State College to a halfway house in Philadelphia. However, when the bus arrived in Philadelphia, Carney was not on it. Carney was traveling alone.

Carney was described as a black male, six feet two inches tall and 210 pounds. He has a muscular build and a scar on his left forearm. He was nearing completion of a sentence for robbery. (More details)

Another Tax Increase?
05/10/2006
A third straight tax increase may be in the cards for residents of the State College Area School District.

The $99 million preliminary budget approved by the school board for the 2006-07 school year includes a spending increase of 6.6%, which amounts to an $81 annual tax increase for the average homeowner.

According to the school board, the spending increase is due primarily to higher salaries and increasing utility costs.

Over the past three years, the school district has raised taxes an average of five percent per year.

Child Shooting Death Ruled Accidental
05/10/2006
State Police in Huntingdon have determined that last Saturday's shooting death of an eight-year-old Dublin Township boy was accidental.

According to police reports, the boy found the loaded shotgun in his home and began to play with it. When a 16-year-old family member attempted to take the gun from the child, the gun discharged, hitting the child in the head.

The police investigation in on-going, and it has not yet been determined if any charges will be filed in the case.

(Source: WRTA.com)

Gricar Segment to Air Nationally
05/09/2006
Personnel from "Dateline NBC" were in the area recently to conduct interviews for a segment about the disappearance of former Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar.

According to a Centre Daily Times article, the production crews completed filming Monday for a segment scheduled to air Saturday. Interviewed by NBC personnel were current District Attorney Michael Madeira, Bellefonte police officer Darrel Zaccagni, and Gricar's girlfriend Patty Fornicola.

Gricar was last heard from on April 15, 2005, when he called Fornicola to say he was driving along Route 192 between State College and Lewisburg. His car was found in Lewisburg the following day. (More details)

Madeira To Seek Death Penalty
05/09/2006
Centre County District Attoryney Michaek Madeira has announced that he will seek the death penalty in the case of a man charged with a brutal killing.

Accused in the case is Andrew Rogers, 28, who will face charges of first-, second-, and third-degree murder in the February 23rd beating death of a Penn State student. Rogers allegedly used beer bottles, a rolling pin, and a baseball bat to beat Youngcheol Park, 24, to death. He then took Park's wallet and fled the scene, turning himself into police a few days later.

Crimestoppers Seek Assault Info
05/08/2006
Centre County Crimestoppers and the Ferguson Township Police Department are investigating an assault that occurred in the 200 block of west Pine Grove Road on April 29th.

At approximately 9:00pm, a motorcycle rider was traveling west on east pine when a pickup truck began tailgating the motocycle. The motocyclist pulled over to allow the truck to pass. Later, the motorcyslist caught up to the truck which applied its brakes suddenly, forcing the motorcyclist to take evasive action to avoid an accident. The motorcyclist lost control on loose gravel and slid 23 feet.

The truck left the scene initially but returned later. Two suspect approached the motorcyclist and punched and kicked him. The motorcyclist received minor facial injuries.

The truck was described as a new style gold Ford Range or Mazda extended cab. A partial registration of YPY was obtained from the Pennsylvania plates.

The truck's driver was described as a white male in his 20s, with dirty blonde hair and a stocky build. He was wearing a black tee shirt.

The passenger was also a white mal in his 20s with a go-tee and may have had red hair. He was wearing a gray tee shirt and a red baseball cap.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Ferguson Township Police or Centre County Crimestoppers.

Law Enforcement/Emergency Services Day
05/08/2006
National Police Week will be observed this year throughout the week of May 14-20. On Saturday, May 13th, Law Enforcement, Fire, and Emergency Services Day will be held at the Nittany Mall.

The public is invited to come out and talk with representatives from the local police departments in Centre County on various public safety issues.

Children who attend can receive free handouts and check out the police cars, fire trucks and ambulances from around the county. Helicopters will be on hand (weather permitting) from Life Flight, Life Lion and the PA State Police at various times throughout the day.

This year, in conjunction with the community event, Centre Life Link E.M.S. will sponsor a bicycle rodeo from 11:00am-2:00pm in the rear parking lot of the Nittany Mall near the Community Room entrance.

The local Chapter of the American Red Cross will be conducting a blood drive between 10:00am-4:00pm. Anyone wishing to donate blood should report to the Community Room located in the rear of the Nittany Mall and east of the main rear entrance.

Wireless Internet In Downtown State College
05/05/2006
STATE COLLEGE, PA -- State College-based Getwireless.net announced today that it has begun implementing a citywide WiFi mesh network throughout State College.

Phase one of the project is well underway, with wireless access currently available throughout a significant portion of the downtown area, including many dining establishments, such as Ye Old College Diner, the Allen Street Grill, Cafe 210 West, Sport Centre Cafe, The Deli, the Tavern, Bill Pickle's Tap Room, Qdoba, Hiway Pizza, Mio Zio, and V&S Sandwiches. When completed this month, the first phase will cover the entire downtown area from Atherton Street to University Drive and between Beaver and College Avenues. According to the company, anyone with wireless access can use the downtown network now by looking for the SSIDs – "getwireless" or "getwireless.net."

Similar to WiFi networks established in Philadelphia and San Francisco, Getwireless.net's service will be accessible at street level and within downtown buildings. Local businesses and residents can take advantage of Getwireless.net's high-speed network for as little as $14.95 per month. Hourly, daily, and weekly rates will also be available for occasional users and visitors to the area. The network supports 802.11b/g connections and will initially offer speeds of up to 25 Mbps. Getwireless.net is working with its technology partners, Tropos Networks and Motorola, to upgrade the service to provide up to 300 Mbps in 2007.

Dan Myers, Getwireless.net's owner and president, commented, "Getwireless.net was ahead of the technology curve when we became one of the country's first Wireless Internet Service Providers ("WISPs") in 1998, and we remain on the forefront of wireless technology with the establishment of the WiFi network in Downtown State College. Future plans call for an aggressive expansion of our WiFi and WiMAX technologies in the Centre Region and throughout Central PA, and we are pleased to provide the service without the use of any taxpayer funds."

Businesses and residences not currently served by Getwireless.net's downtown WiFi network can still benefit from the company's services via a fixed-point wireless connection, wherein an antenna is mounted at the customer site and communicates with a nearby tower to deliver a reliable, secure, high-speed Internet connection. The fixed-point service is available for as little as $39.95 per month, without the additional taxes and tariffs charged by telephone and cable service providers. Getwireless.net also offers bulk packages for property owners and organizations that want to buy multiple accounts for their employees and residents.

Through a fixed-point connection, businesses can receive Internet access at speeds greater than that available by traditional T1 or cable connections, but at a fraction of the cost. For businesses that depend heavily on the Internet, VoIP and VPN connections for daily operations, Getwireless.net provides a very stable and dependable connection, either as a primary service or as secondary backup connection to existing T1, DSL or cable modem service. In addition, the company also provides traditional landline-based broadband services, such as T1 lines, managed website hosting, server co-location, DSL, and nationwide dial-up Internet access. Getwireless.net currently provides high-speed Internet service throughout Centre, Blair, Mifflin, Bedford, Huntingdon, and Juniata Counties.

To learn more about Getwireless.net’s services, please call 814-867-2100 or toll-free at 877-867-2100, or visit the company’s website at www.getwireless.net.

Counterfeit Check
05/05/2006
State College police are looking for a man who passed a counterfeit check at the Benner Pike Wal-Mart on March 20th.

The man passed the counterfeit check and then left the scene in an older model van.

A photo of the suspect can be viewed online. Anyone with information about the man or the incident should contact the State College Police Department at (814) 234-7150.

D.A .Will Not Seek Death Penalty
05/04/2006
Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira has announced that he will not seek the death penalty against accused murderer Josephy Ventura.

Ventura, 27, will stand trial on charges that he fatally stabbed 22-year-old Penn State student Michael Donahue at Club Love in February. According to Madeira, the crime does not merit a death sentence.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Ventura will face life in prison.

Tussey Fire Scorched 400 Acres
05/03/2006
The fire that began Monday and was extinguished Tuesday scorched about 400 acres of Tussey Mountain.

The fire, one of the largest in Centre County's history, was fought by nearly 200 firefighters, who worked through Monday night to gain control of the fire. Efforts continued Tuesday to extinguish remaining hot spots.

Officials believe the fire started when a tree limb fell on a power line.

State High Wins Science Bowl
05/02/2006
The team from the State College Area High School won the National Science Bowl competition Monday.

The competition came to a conclusion in Washington, D.C., with the State College team beating out hundreds of other teams for the title. More than 1,800 schools entered the competition, with the top 65 traveling to D.C. for the finals.

To win the championship, the students had to successfully answer questions on the topics of Astronomy, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Biology. The prize includes a $1,000 grant for the district's science department and a trip to France.

Tussey Mountain Wildfire
05/02/2006
A wildfire with flames shooting as high as 80-100 feet in the air charred more than 100 acres of Tussey Mountain Monday.

According to the Centre Daily Times, firefighters continued to battle the blaze late into the night. No structural damage had been reported; however, it was feared that numerous cabins may be in the fire's path.

The fire was apparently started when a tree fell on a power line shortly before 1:00pm. (More details)

Women Arrested, Charged With Drug Delivery
05/01/2006
The Centre Daily Times is reporting that two women were arrested over the weekend for allegedly delivering drugs to the State Correctional Institution at Rockview.

According to police, Veronica Graham and Robyn Viney, both from Norristown, visited the prison Friday evening. Graham, 22, allegedly placed heroin and marijuana in a trash can located near the prison's visitors center. (More details)

Driver Cleared of Fault in Pedestrian Death
05/01/2006
The State College Police Department has completed the investigation into the fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on Allen Street in February, and it has determined that Clifford Warner, the driver of the vehicle, did nothing wrong.

Penn State student Xiaohui Xia was struck and killed by Warner's vehicle February 9th.

Any questions from the public regarding this incident should be directed to the District Attorney’s office.

Philipsburg Bank Robbery Video Released
04/28/2006
Video has been released of a robbery that occured Tuesday at lunch hour at the County National Bank in Philipsburg. The man who State police believe to be the perpetrator handed the teller a not demanding cash in $20, $50, and $100 bills. The man is described as a white man, approximately 6 feet tall and 160 pounds with long grey hair and grey eyebrows. He fled around the back of the bank toward Front Street. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at Philipsburg at 342-3370. (More details)

Local Police Host Homicide Conference
04/27/2006
The State College Police Department is co-hosting the Pennsylvania Homicide Investigators annual training conference here in State College this week.

The conference is being attended by detectives and criminal investigators from throughout Pennsylvania, as well as from Canada, Georgia and North Carolina.

The five-day course, Advanced Practical Homicide Investigations, is being presented at the Ramada Inn & Conference Center in State College. It is being conducted by Practical Homicide Investigation founder and lead instructor Commander Vernon Geberth, along with criminal profiler Detective Raymond Pierce, Dr. Richard Ovens, Psychologist and Dr. Richard Walton. Topics covered will include criminal profiling and cold case investigations.

As part of the conference, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett will present the Homicide Investigation of the Year Award to the Philadelphia Homicide & Crime Scene Unit.

Student Group Calls For Portland's Termination
04/27/2006
Approximately two dozen Penn State students held a protest and sit-in at Old Main Wednesday to state their desire for women's basketball coach Rene Portland's termination.

According to the Centre Daily Times, the protest began with a larger group in the HUB-Robeson Center, prior to moving to Old Main.

Portland was fined $10,000 by university president Graham Spanier, based on the conclusion of an internal investigation that found that Portland had discriminated against former player Jennifer Harris. Portland must also complete diversity training.

The student activists claim the university should dismiss Portland and take a firmer stance against discrimination. (More details)

Employee Sues University
04/27/2006
Mitchell Aboulafia, an employee in Penn State's Philosophy department, has filed a federal lawsuit against the university and two employees.

According to a Centre Daily Times article, Aboulafia's suit claims that Susan Welch, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and an associate dean demoted him inappropriately in March 2004. Aboulafia claims he was demoted because he came forward with concerns about sexual discrimation in the college. (More details)

Bank Robbery
04/26/2006
A man walked into the County National Bank in Philipsburg Tuesday afternoon, told the teller he had a gun, and demanded money in $100, $50, and $20 bills.

The teller gave the man money, and he ran from the bank in the direction of Front Street.

The robber was described by witnesses as a white male in his late 30s to early 50s, and about six feet tall. He was wearing jeans, a blue shirt, and a vest.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact their local police.

Student Attended Party Prior to Death
04/25/2006
The Centre Daily Times is reporting that a party was held at the Gill Street apartment where Penn State student Jon Taiclet was found dead in his bed Saturday afternoon.

According to police, Taiclet, 21, was found by his girlfriend at about 5:00pm Saturday. He was last seen alive between 6:00 and 10:00am that morning. Police believe the party ended at about 6:00am.

No signs of struggle were apparent in the apartment. Police are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests. (More details)

State High Students Honored
04/25/2006
Representative Lynn Herman (R-Centre) on Monday congratulated State College Area High School, first place winners of the 15th Annual Pennsylvania Academic Competition held last Friday in Harrisburg.

“The success of the team is evidence of the quality education that is available at the State College Area School District,” Herman said.

Members of the team are Laura Gabrovsek, Ylaine Gerardin, Francois Greer, Alison Hudson, Barry Liu and Jason Ma. The coaches are: Julie Gittings, Smita Gandhi, and Karin Sutherland.

Students from 22 high schools competed in the House and Senate chambers on teams consisting of four students each. Student knowledge was tested in world history, American literature, American history, current events and science.

Rounding out the top three spots in the competition were West Chester East High School, Chester County, and Parkland High School, Lehigh County.

Organized by Chester County Intermediate Unit, the competition coincided with Pennsylvania Academic Competition Week (April 17- April 21) proclaimed by a House resolution.

By winning this competition, State College Area High School has the opportunity to represent Pennsylvania in the national 2006 Panasonic Academic Challenge to be held June 10-13th at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Corman to Host Town Meeting
04/25/2006
Senator Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte) will hold a town meeting in Centre County on Wednesday, April 26th.

The meeting will held at the Penns Valley High School Cafeteria, located at 4545 Penns Valley Road, at 7:00pm. Corman will update residents on current issues before the General Assembly and take questions from those in attendance.

Senator Jake Corman represents the 34th Senatorial District, which includes Centre, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry and Union Counties.

PSU Student Found Dead
04/24/2006
The Daily Collegian is reporting that a Penn State student was found dead in his apartment Saturday afternoon.

According to police, Jon Taiclet, 21, was found by his girlfriend in his Gill Street apartment bed at about 5:00pm Saturday. The initial investigation showed no sign of struggle or trauma.

The investigation is on-going. (More details)

Scholarships Available
04/24/2006
Senator Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte), a board member of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), has announced that applications are available for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. The application deadline is May 1, 2006.

Corman said the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program is a federally funded program designed to reward academic excellence in high school and encourages students to achieve an education at the postsecondary level. The program offers merit scholarships to exceptional high school seniors who have been accepted at an institution of higher education.

Eligibility requirements state that an applicant must be a Pennsylvania resident, rank in the top five percent of his or her graduating class, have a grade point average of 3.5 or better on 4.0 unweighted scale and have a combined SAT score of at least 1150 or a composite ACT test score of 25 or above. GED recipients must score 3550 or higher and earn an 1150 on the SAT test, or score a 25 on the ACT test.

Corman noted that the number of scholarships awarded is based on available federal funding levels. A scholarship will be awarded for each of the recipient’s first four years of undergraduate study if he or she continues as a full-time student and meets eligibility requirements.

The administration of the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program is managed and funded by PHEAA at no cost to taxpayers.

Corman said that PHEAA offers the Academic Excellence Scholarship Award Program to State Grant recipients who meet the eligibility requirements of the federal Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, but do not receive funding through the Byrd Program.

Corman said The Board of Directors established the program to reward students with both high academic potential and demonstrated financial need. The program is funded by AES/PHEAA with no taxpayer support. However, this award is contingent upon continued federal funding of the Byrd Program.

In addition to meeting the requirements set by the Byrd program, a student must attend a Pennsylvania postsecondary institution to qualify for the PHEAA Academic Excellence Scholarship.

First year awards will equal $1,500 with the opportunity for renewal for up to three additional academic years.

Qualified Byrd Program applicants will be automatically considered for the PHEAA Academic Excellence Scholarship. No additional application process will be required.

Students must submit an application for the federal Byrd Program to be considered for the PHEAA Academic Excellence Scholarship. The application must be received no later than May 1, 2006.

Corman said that interested high school seniors can obtain applications for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship from their high school counselor, by contacting PHEAA at 800-692-7392, or online at www.PHEAA.org.

Geisinger To Open Philipsburg Clinic
04/24/2006
The Geisinger Medical Group has announced that it will soon open a health clinic in Philipsburg.

The clinic will be open six days a week to provide acute, non-emergency care to Geisinger and non-Geisinger healthcare plan patients. The clinic seeks to fill a portion of the gap left when the Philipsburg Hospital closed its doors earlier this month.

High School Band Honored
04/24/2006
The State College Area High School Jazz Band has been selected as one of 15 finalists for the 11th Annual Essentially Ellington Competition.

The competition, which is considered by many to be the most prestigious jazz band competition in the country, will take place May 18-20 at the Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. Wynton Marsalis is the artistic director for the competition.

School Evacuated
04/21/2006
The Centre Hall Elementary School was evacuated Thursday morning after several students experienced sudden illness.

According to school administrators, four students became ill, prompting the evacuation of the school. Hazmat and medical crews searched the school for a cause, but none was confirmed. It is possible that a light in use on the school's stage may have generated enough heat to cause the children to become ill.

The school will remain closed Friday.

Bald Eagle Wildfire
04/21/2006
Firefighters are reporting that they have gained control of a wildfire that raced its way through the Bald Eagle Forest yesterday.

The fire reportedly started at around 11:30am Thursday behind the Rockview State Police barracks. Flames moved up the mountainside quickly, consuming approximately 60 acres before being brought under control last evening.

The blaze was battled by fire crews from across Centre County.

Source: WRTA.com

Crimestoppers Seek Thief
04/21/2006
Centre County Crimestoppers are asking for assistance in apprehending the person or persons who forcibly entered six rooms in Penn State's Chambers Building and stole electronic equipment.

Reported stolen were three Dell computers, two IPod speakers, a computer case, a small amount of cash, and assorted other items. The total value of the stolen property and damage caused to the rooms was estimated at $15,000.

Anyone with information about the break-in can contact Crimestoppers at 1-877-99-CRIME or univerity police at 814-863-1111.

Penn State Suspends Well Use
04/20/2006
Penn State officials have decided to stop using water from several wells located in the Houserville area. The suspension is due to a gasoline leak that occurred at a nearby Sheetz convenience store.

Officials maintain that the wells are most likely not contaminated, and recent tests have confirmed that. However, soil tests have shown that the gasoline has seeped to a depth of at least 45 feet.

Sheetz has reported that up to 115 gallons of gasoline leaked from a storage tank at their Lemont-Houserville store. Clean-up efforts are expected to take five years or longer and cost up to $750,000.

Fall Victim Returns Home
04/20/2006
The Digital Collegian is reporting that Ryan Walton, the Penn State student who fell from a sixth-story dorm window five weeks ago, has returned to his parents' home in Harleysville.

According to his father, Walton, 19, will require about six months of rehabilitation to recover from injuries to his back, arms, and pelvic area.

Walton fell from the Beaver Hall window on March 17th as he attempted to avoid police, who had shown up at a dorm room party where underage alcohol consumption was suspected. Walton, along with 12 others, was cited for underage drinking this past Tuesday. (More details)

Man, Teens Damage Substation
04/20/2006
An electrical substation was taken out of service Tuesday night when two Blair County teenagers and a Tyrone man broke into the power facility.

According to State Police at Philipsburg, the teens entered the Fowler Hollow Electric Substation in Taylor Township shortly before 10:00pm Tuesday by cutting through a fence. They had hoped to steal copper wire. A short caused by one of the teens destroyed two fuses and knocked out power to 380 homes in Northern Centre County. Damage is estimated at about $20,000.

The Tyrone man, Matthew Woomer, 18, and the two teens will face multiple charges for the incident, including risking a catastrophe and criminal mischief.

(Source: WRTA.com)

Fall Victim Charged
04/19/2006
Ryan Walton, the 19-year-old Penn State student who was severely injured from a six-story fall on March 17th, now faces charges of underage drinking.

University police report that Walton consumed alcohol in his Porter Hall dorm room before he attended a party in Beaver Hall. He was attempting to flee police through a sixth-floor Beaver Hall window when he fell to the ground. The citation shows that Walton's blood-alcohol level was 0.156 at the time.

Walton now faces a fine of $349.50 for the offense. (More details)

University Fines Portland
04/19/2006
An investigation into claims of bias against women's basketball coach Rene Portland has been concluded.

The investigation was launched in October by the University's Office of Affirmative Action following allegations by former Lady Lion basketball player Jennifer Harris that head coach Rene Portland had discriminated against her on the basis of her race and perceived sexual orientation.

The report was authored by Dr. Kenneth Lehrman, Director of Affirmative Action at Penn State and delivered to President Graham Spanier. The report concluded that there was no evidence to substantiate Harris' claim of race discrimination. The report did, however, conclude that enough evidence existed to substantiate a claim that Portland discriminated against Harris by creating a “hostile, intimidating, and offensive environment” because of Harris' sexual orientation. This is in violation of Penn State Policy AD-42, which prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, sexual orientation, and other personal characteristics.

President Spanier has accepted the general finding and conclusion of the report to the extent that it finds that some of Coach Portland's actions violated University Policy AD-42.

Discrimination, for the purposes of AD-42, is defined as conduct of any nature that denies equal privileges or treatment to a particular individual because of certain personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications. Harassment may include, but is not limited to, any conduct that has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's performance or creates an offensive, hostile, or intimidating environment.

In accepting the report, Spanier acknowledged that certain elements of the complaint could be interpreted differently by reasonable people, but that the preponderance of evidence supported a conclusion that discrimination had taken place. As a result of the report's findings and recommendations, Spanier ordered a series of actions to be taken:

• Coach Portland was delivered a letter to serve as a written reprimand that will become a permanent part of her official personnel file.
• The letter constitutes written notice that should Coach Portland be found in violation of Policy AD-42 for any actions that occur from the date of the letter going forward, she will be dismissed with cause from the University.
• Coach Portland is required to participate in a professional development experience devoted to diversity and inclusiveness. The experience will be chosen in consultation with and approved by Dr. Lehrman.
• While the report from the Director of Affirmative Action recommended a one-game suspension in the fall, President Spanier felt it necessary to have a sanction that was more immediate, and chose instead to have the University impose a $10,000 fine.

In addition to the actions taken against Coach Portland, Spanier also directed that the following actions be implemented by the Director of Athletics:

• For a three year period, NCAA mandated exit interviews of Lady Lion Basketball players will be conducted by a member of the staff of the Office of Affirmative Action, in addition to the administrator normally assigned to conduct such interviews. After three years, such interviews will be conducted according to athletic department policy.
• The Director of Athletics will submit for review to the President, by August 15, 2006, a revised protocol for exit interviews for all student athletes that allows for adequate checks and balances.
• All incoming student athletes should attend an informational training session conducted by the Office of Affirmative Action. The session should be designed to inform students of their rights under University Policy AD-42 and of available avenues inside and outside of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics for filing discrimination complaints.
• The Director of Athletics will, at the annual fall meeting of all athletics staff, review University policies related to non-discrimination.

The imposition of sanctions and administrative changes brings the University's investigation to a close. A federal lawsuit filed by Harris is scheduled for mediation.

Drought Watch
04/18/2006
One has to go back to the early 1980s to find a March as dry as the third month of 2006 -- which was the fifth driest in Pennsylvania since 1895, when such record-keeping began.

Largely because of March's lack of rainfall, the state Department of Environmental Protection in mid-April declared a drought watch that asks state residents to cut back on nonessential water-use by 5 percent. No cause for alarm yet, but Bryan Swistock, Penn State Cooperative Extension water resources specialist, is concerned that a serious situation is developing.

"I don't want folks to panic, but I don't like the way this is shaping up for our groundwater supplies," he said. "A drought is never a good situation to be in, but for us to be this dry, this early in the year, is a very bad thing. We are nearing the end of the groundwater recharge period, and after a mild, dry winter when there was little if any snow cover across the state, streams and groundwater levels in some areas of the state -- particularly in the Southeast -- are already very low."

What concerns Swistock is that March and April generally are the wettest months -- the time of year when groundwater supplies should be recharging. "In Pennsylvania, there aren't great variations between average precipitation from month to month," he said. "But typically in March and April, we get a lot of rain.

"Groundwater starting out the year so low could prove to be disastrous later because usually the levels go down from here. As soon as the trees start leafing out and taking up large amounts of water -- about now in southern Pennsylvania -- it is very difficult to get water into the ground."

Because Swistock works in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, he is very aware of farmers' need for rain in the spring. But for groundwater supplies, given how dry it has been in recent months, the normal amounts of rainfall won't be enough.

"This is a bad time to start a drought because farmers are trying to plant their crops and they must have adequate soil moisture," he said. "But if we are lucky and the showers are timed right, we might get just enough moisture for crops to grow and farmers will be pleased. But folks who depend on wells for drinking water might still face a serious shortage in late summer."

Although he is in the business of monitoring and anticipating precipitation levels, Swistock readily concedes that long-term weather forecasts are unreliable. "Beyond three months, I don't pay any attention to them," he said. "But we don't see any dramatic weather patterns coming into the summer -- we are just not getting much moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. It looks like this drought will get worse before it gets better.

"Looking at the long-term weather forecast by the National Weather Service, Pennsylvania is sort of sandwiched between an area to our south extending down to the Carolinas where a significant drought is projected to develop and an area to our north around the Great Lakes that is projected to receive above-average amounts of rainfall," Swistock continued. "So I suppose we could go either way. But the way our year has started doesn't give me any confidence."

Ironically, while much of the rest of the country dreads the coming hurricane season that has been forecast to be worse than normal, Pennsylvania by late summer may desperately need tropical moisture. "If you look at our state's history, almost all of the serious droughts were broken by the remnants of hurricanes bringing prolonged rains," he said. "The year after Katrina, I hate to say this, but Pennsylvania may be glad to see the remnants of hurricanes this year if the current weather pattern continues."

Although his experience monitoring precipitation in Pennsylvania makes him pessimistic about groundwater supplies in a year such as this 2006 has, Swistock knows a lot can happen weather-wise before late summer. "Seems like every time I talk about drought, it rains," he said. "But it will be tough for one or two storm events to overcome this drought. We need to see a change in the weather pattern."

To get more information on dealing with drought, visit Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences Web site at http://www.cas.psu.edu online, click on "Health and Emerging Issues" and then click on "Drought Resources" under "Emergency Readiness."

Robbery Charges
04/18/2006
Brandon Inhoof, a Bellefonte resident, is currently in the Centre County jail on charges that he attempted to rob another man last weekend.

According to police, Inhoof, 23, was parked at the Sheetz store at 2001 East College Avenue when he tried to interest another man in racing their cars. When the man refused, Inhoof allegedly began to chase him and grabbed for his wallet. The chase was eventually stopped by a passenger in Inhoof's vehicle. (More details)

Suspicious Fire On Campus
04/17/2006
A fire of suspicious nature was discovered at approximately 2:00am Sunday outside of Brumbaugh Hall on the Penn State campus.

According to a report in the Centre Daily Times, officials have not determined that the fire was arson; however, the fire closely resembled another fire that occurred two weeks ago in Pinchot Hall, another East Halls building.

Like the earlier fire, this weekend's blaze consumed a stack of newspapers. No damage was caused. (More details)

PSU Student Shot, Killed
04/17/2006
Tyrone Myers, a 22-year-old Penn State senior, was shot and killed in his hometown of Philadelphia Saturday.

According to a report in the Digital Collegian, Myers was home visiting family for the weekend when he sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his back and abdomen at around 4:30am Saturday. he was pronounced dead upon arrival at Temple University Hospital.

The police investigation is continuing, and at this point, there are no known suspects in the case. (More details)

I-99 Cleanup Meeting Scheduled
04/17/2006
Senator Jake Corman (R-Benner Township) and Representative Lynn Herman (R-Philipsburg) have announced that a public forum on the state’s efforts to clean up acid rock at the Skytop area of the I-99 construction site will be held on May 3, 2006.

At an April 10th public meeting scheduled by Corman and Herman, the state’s Department of Transportation outlined plans to move a million tons of pyritic rock from the Buffalo Run side of Skytop about three miles away to the Bald Eagle Creek side in Worth Township. Corman and Herman have scheduled another public forum in which the Worth Township site will be discussed and the designers of the site will be present to speak to the public.

The Worth Township site was designed by Blazosky Associates of State College, and that firm, along with Wetlands Habitat Management, Inc. also of State College, will be making a public presentation on this solution.

The presentation will be held at the Bald Eagle Area High School cafeteria.

Corman said the display area will be open to the public at 6:00pm, and the presentations by Blazosky Associates and Wetlands Habitat Management will begin at 7:00pm. PennDOT and Department of Environmental Protection officials will also be present.

“We have scheduled this meeting so the public is better informed and part of the clean-up process,” Corman said. “This clean-up effort must be discussed openly and this presentation is designed to provide information to the public and also give residents the opportunity to ask questions of the experts on hand.”

Judge Dismisses Charge Against Paxson
04/14/2006
The Digital Collegian is reporting that Centre County Judge Bradley Lunsford has thrown out the sexual assault felony charge against former Penn State football player Scoot Paxson.

Lunsford's ruling leaves in place two other charges against Paxson. Paxson is scheduled to stand trial this summer on a felony charge of aggravated indecent assault and a misdemeanor indecent assault charge.

The charges against Paxson stem from a December 2004 incident at his apartment. (More details)

Retail Theft
04/14/2006
Beverly Lange, a Philadelphia resident, has been charged with stealing $213 worth of clothing items from Nittany Mall stores Tuesday evening.

According to the Centre Daily Times' report, Lange, 19, was apprehended by mall security personnel after she left a dressing room at the Kaufmann's department store. Clothing from Kaufmann's and J.C. Penney were found in her possession. (More details)

Hospital Burglary
04/14/2006
Philipsburg Hospital closed its doors at midnight Wednesday due to financial problems. About six hours later, state police received a report about a man trying to break in to the facility.

According to police, a hospital employee spotted a red pickup truck at the hospital's emergency room entrance around 6:30am Thursday. Others claimed to have seen the man, who was described as having dark hair and a tattoo, inside the hospital before he left in the pickup.

The witnesses were able to get the truck's license number and described it as a red Chevy S-10.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the state police.

Drug Arrest At Courthouse
04/13/2006
The Centre Daily Times is reporting that a 48-year-old McElhattan woman was arrested for marijuana possession at the Centre County Courthouse Wednesday.

While on her way to the restroom, the woman set off the courthouse metal detector. She handed her jacket to a sheriff's deputy, and upon further investigation, the deputy discovered a dime bag of marijuana. (More details)

Logging Truck, School Bus Collide
04/13/2006
Shortly before 7:30am Wednesday, a school bus slowing to make a left turn into the Liberty-Curtin Elementary School was struck from behind by a logging truck.

The school is located on Route 150, close to the Centre-Clinton County line.

The school bus was carrying about 35 fifth- and sixth-grade students when it was hit. None of the students was seriously injured; however, approximately a dozen children were treated at Lock Haven Hospital for minor injuries.

The truck and bus drivers were not injured in the incident.

Herman Asks Governor To Keep Hospital Open
04/12/2006
Representative Lynn Herman (R-Centre) is asking Governor Ed Rendell to keep the Philipsburg Area Hospital open and operating. Financial problems are forcing the hospital to close its doors today, April 12.

“I write to urge your direct involvement in maintaining quality health care in Philipsburg either by providing necessary state funds to keep [the hospital] open and operating or finding another hospital or health care organization which is willing to own and operate the Philipsburg Area Hospital,” Herman said in a letter to Rendell.

The hospital’s closure will result in the loss of 155 jobs in a region that is already struggling economically and the loss of local quality health care for Philipsburg area citizens.

The nearest hospitals in Clearfield and Tyrone are 18 miles distant and the Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College is 24 miles away.

“My recollection is that the contractual agreement made between the Casey Administration and the Philipsburg Area Hospital stipulates that, if the hospital would close, the building, grounds and assets would revert back to the state,” Herman said.

Herman said that when Governor Casey threatened to close the Philipsburg State General Hospital in 1991, a few health care organizations came forward, such as Forbes Healthmark and Lee Hospital, with a proposal to operate the Philipsburg Hospital.

“I believe the administration should contact these organizations and others to determine their interest in owning and operating the Philipsburg Area Hospital,” Herman said.

Herman said he has spoken to Secretary of Legislative Affairs, Steve Crawford, regarding the hospital’s closure.

“I stand ready and willing to work with the governor as well as local officials to assure Philipsburg area residents to continue to receive the quality health care they deserve,” Herman said.

(Read letter to the governor)

Murder Case Sent to Trial
04/12/2006
Centre County District Judge Jonathan Grine announced very quickly after the last witness stepped down that the murder case against Josephy Ventura should proceed to trial.

According to a report in the Digital Collegian, Ventura will now stand trial on first- and third-degree murder charges in the stabbing death of Penn State student Michael Donahue.

Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira called seven witnesses to the stand during the preliminary hearing; however, a clear motive for the stabbing still has not been determined. The witnesses were uncertain about events of February 17th that prompted Ventura to allegedly pull out a knife and stab Donahue. (More details)

Student Charged With Drug Sales
04/11/2006
John Burnley, a 19-year-old Penn State freshment, was arrested Monday and charged with selling marijuana.

According to a report in the Centre Daily Times, Burnley sold marijuana to an undercover police officer on four occassions. The alleged deals took place in a campus dormitory building. (More details)

Hospital To Close
04/11/2006
Michael Loomis, the CEO of Philipsburg Hospital, has announced that the facility is closing its doors.

According to Loomis, the hospital's patients are being moved out, and the facility will cease operations Wednesday. The closing will force more than 150 people out of their jobs.

Loomis blamed the closing on the state of healthcare industry, citing the hospital's problems with recruiting new doctors and obtaining Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

Stabbing Hearing Set To Start
04/11/2006
A hearing in the stabbing death of Penn State senior Michael Donahue is scheduled to begin today.

The Digital Collegian is reporting that District Attorney Michael Madeira expects to solicit testimony from six witnesses in the hearing against Josephy Alberty Ventura. Ventura, 27, is accused of stabbing Donahue in Club Love on February 17th. He faces charges of first- and third-degree murder. (More details)

Alliance for Bellefonte Community Development Receives Grant
04/11/2006
Nittany Bank officials announced Monday that is has donated $10,000 to assist in the Alliance for Bellefonte Community Development (ABCD) project.

The ABCD is a group of volunteers committed to making Bellefonte a better place for residents, businesses, investors and tourists by revitalizing the downtown area. The group is working to gather the data needed to apply for participation in the Main Street Program.

The five-year Main Street Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, encourages revitalization by leveraging private dollars and requiring ongoing, local support evidenced by the establishment of an organization and documented financial commitment from the community.

Securing local funding is a crucial component to be accepted into the program and to qualify for as much as $1.2 million in grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Nittany Bank's financial donation is significant toward helping this project reach its initial goal of $90,000 over the first five years.

"Nittany Bank is committed to being a valued community neighbor and a catalyst in the future of Bellefonte," said Doreen Koleno, Nittany Bank Personal Banking Manager. Doreen Koleno serves on the ABCD Economic Restructuring Committee, a member of the Kiwanis Club, is the chair of the Kiwanis Reading in Schools program, and is an assistant troop leader for Girl Scouts.

Nittany Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Penn Bancshares, Inc. is a federally chartered financial institution headquartered and operated in State College, Pennsylvania.

I-99 Cleanup Meeting Tonight
04/10/2006
Officials from the State Department of Environmental Protection and State Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler will host a public meeting Monday night on the subject of acid rock cleanup in the Skytop Mountain area.

The meeting, which will be help at the Park Forest Middle School at 7:00pm, will include a synopsis of the pyritic rock situation and a discussion of available cleanup options.

In March, officials halted a $40 million plan that called for the contaminated rock to be trucked to an abandoned mine in Indiana County.

PSU To Turn Tires Into Roads
04/10/2006
Penn State's Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies received a $696,685 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to use waste tires to improve dirt roads that are causing silting of local waterways.

The demonstration project is intended to use some 500,000 discarded tires from the Starr Tire Pile in Columbia County, which is estimated to hold between 6 million and 8 million waste tires. The tire-bales-as-road-fill project will take place in Madison and Greenwood townships, near the Starr tire pile.

Penn State's Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies will use the tires to fill entrenched and degraded dirt and gravel roads. These roads were identified by Columbia County's Dirt and Gravel Road Program as sediment pollution sites to Mud Creek a tributary of the east branch of Chillisquaque Creek.

The tires will be baled into 2.5-by-4.5-by-5-foot blocks containing about 100 tires, reports Kevin Abbey, director of the center. About 5,000 bales will be used to fill the two roads and will incorporate drainage structures to channel runoff to surrounding vegetated areas rather than running down the road into the streams.

This project, if successful, could be applied throughout the commonwealth and could alleviate not only the problems with some unpaved rural roads, but also the problems surrounding tire piles, which include fires, chemical leaching and the creation of breeding grounds for mosquitos, including those that carry West Nile disease.

The project will take place this summer.

House Approves Minimum Wage Bill
04/07/2006
A bill passed by the state's House of Representatives in a 146-50 vote calls for a $2 per hour minimum wage increase over the next two years.

If the bill becomes law, the minimum wage will increase from its current $5.15 level to $6.25 in July 2006 and to $7.15 in July 2007.

Governor Rendell, along with labor unions, is in favor of a minimum wage increase. However, small business interests claim the increase will be harmful to small businesses.

Congress established the current minimum wage level in 1997, and since then, 19 other states and Washington, D.C. have passed minimum wage increases.

Murder Case Sent to Trial
04/07/2006
Centre County District Judge Jonathan Grine has determined that the murder case against Andrew Rogers can proceed to trial.

Rogers, 28, is accused of killing Penn State student Youngcheol Park in February. He faces charges of first-, second-, and third-degree murder for allegedly beating Park to death. Rogers turned himself into police four days after Park was killed.

According to a report in the Digital Collegian, autopsy results show that Park, 24, had cocaine in his system when he died. (More details)

Penn State Employee Killed In Crash
04/06/2006
Elizabeth Wenrick, a Penn State employee, was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Route 45 Wednesday morning.

According to a report published in the Centre Daily Times, Wenrick, 34, died at the scene from head trauma. She was employed as an assistant supervisor for environmental testing in the College of Agricultural Services. (More details)

Attorney General Sues Local Landscaper
04/06/2006
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett announced Wednesday that he has filed a civil lawsuit against Timothy Meyers, a Centre County-based landscaper.

Meyers, an employee of Custom Lawns, allegedly defrauded customers out of thousands of dollars. According to the lawsuit, Meyers accepted payment for projects he failed to complete. Complaints against Meyers were filed in Centre, Mifflin, Blair, and Cambria Counties.

Meyers has been charged with violating the state's unfair trade practices and consumer protection statutes. The suit also claims that Meyers failed to properly register the "Custom Lawns" name with the state.

Officials Investigating Railing Collapse
04/05/2006
The Digital Collegian is reporting that Centre Region Code Administration officials are investigating the cause of a railing collapse at University Terrace that seriously injured a Penn State student.

CRCA's investigation into the incident began Saturday, the day after the incident. Keystone Real Estate, the owner of owner of the University Terrace apartment complex, has also hired an engineering firm to help determine what caused the railing to break. (More details)

Judge To Rule In Paxson Case
04/05/2006
According to an article in the Centre Daily Times, the next step in the sexual assault case against Penn State football player Scott Paxson will be decided by Judge Bradley Lunsford on April 20th.

Lunsford will be asked to decide if the case against Paxson will continue to trial or if the charges should be thrown out. Paxson is charged with sexually assaulting a female student in December 2004. (More details)

PSU Football Team, Paterno Honored by Legislature
04/05/2006
The state House has unanimously approved Representative Lynn Herman’s resolution congratulating The Pennsylvania State University, head football coach Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions football team on a great season.

“House Resolution 582 officially congratulates Joe Paterno for being named 2005 Coach of the Year and the players for their 11-1 season and Orange Bowl victory,” Herman (R-Centre) said.

Penn State’s football team ended the 2005 regular season with a 10-1 record and the Big Ten championship title – its first since 1994.

The Orange Bowl was one of the most remarkable college football games ever played as Penn State and Florida State battled though three overtimes with the Nittany Lions emerging victorious 26-23.

“This season has marked an extraordinary turnaround for the team and is further evidence of Joe Paterno’s coaching ability in his 40th year as head coach,” Herman said.

Several players received individual honors this year and on Dec. 20, one day prior to his 79th birthday, Paterno was an overwhelming choice as the Associated Press college football coach of the year.

Power Outage
04/04/2006
According to a report in the Centre Daily Times, more than 1,100 Allegheny Power customers in the Park Forest area lost service Sunday night.

The outage, which began about 9:00pm Sunday and lasted into Monday, was caused by the failure of an underground power line. (More details)

Missing Person
04/04/2006
State College Police are searching for Natalie Garceau, a State College resident who was reported missing by family members on Sunday April 2nd.

Garceau was last seen at 1:00am at the family residence at 1617 Hawthorn Drive, State College. She left a note stating that she had to get away.

Garceau has a history of mental health problems and is currently on medication. She left without extra clothing or medications. She was driving a Dark Green Toyota Echo sedan bearing PA registration FCC-4792.

Anyone having contact with Garceau is asked to call the State College Police Department at (814) 234-7150 or to submit an anonymous tip online.

College Avenue Home Destroyed
04/03/2006
The Centre Daily Times is reporting that fire destroyed a house along West College Avenue early Sunday morning.

The structure was home to eight Penn State students, all of whom narrowly escaped serious injury, thanks to passersby who ran into the house to wake the sleeping residents.

According to witnesses, the fire was spotted at approximately 4:30am, and Alpha Fire Company received a call shortly thereafter. The fire was under control by 8:00am, but the building was destroyed. (More details)

Dorm Fire
04/03/2006
University police are seeking information about the person who set a fire in a dormitory elevator early Sunday morning.

According to police, the fire started shortly before 5:00am in Pinchot Hall. It appeared that someone intentionally set fire to a stack of newspapers in the elevator.

The fire extinguished itself; however, several hundred residents were forced to evacuate the dormitory building. No one was injured. The police investigation is continuing.

(Source: WRTA.com)

Student Injured In Fall
04/03/2006
Cory Wincek, a 20-year-old Penn State student, remains in critical condition after he fell from a second-floor balcony early Friday morning.

According to the Digital Collegian, Wincek was leaning against the railing at University Terrace at about 2:15am. The railing gave way, and Wincek fell 15 feet onto the pavement below. He was transported to Mounty Nittany Medical Center and then life-flighted to the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. (More details)

Defense Discusses Rape Charges
03/31/2006
Attorney Joseph Amendola, the attorney for a Penn State student accused of rape, claims in an article published in today's Digital Collegian that the sex between his client and the alleged victim was consensual.

The incident took place at the Kappa Alpha fraternity in October. The alleged victim claims she was unconscious and awoke to find Shawn Cornelius raping her. Cornelius, however, stated that the woman was conscious and wanted to have sex. He claims to have witnesses who will testify to the woman's desire to spend the night at the fraternity. (More details)

New I-99 Cleanup Plan Submitted
03/31/2006
The Centre Daily Times is reporting that PennDOT has submitted to environmental regulators a new application for what they hope will be a permanent acidic drainage cleanup solution.

The new application outlines a plan to pipe the acidic runoff from Bald Eagle Mountain to a treatment facility on the North Bald Eagle Creek side of the mountain. The plan will be oultined in a display at next public meeting, scheduled for April 10th at 7:00pm at the Park Forest Middle School. (More details)

Hearing Waived
03/30/2006
Clinton Teeter, a 24-year-old Bellefonte resident accused of committing 23 burglaries on the Penn State campus, waived his right to a prelimary hearing Wednesday.

According to the Centre Daily Times, Teeter has been charged with burglaries that took place in Rec Hall, the Physical Plant Building, Noll Laboratory, and the Nittany Landscape Building. The alleged incidents, in which items worth nearly $8,000 were stolen, took place over a year-long period starting in November 2004.

The case will now proceed to trial. (More details).

Rape Case Sent to Trial
03/30/2006
The Digital Collegian is reporting that 20-year-old Penn State student Shawn Cornelius will stand trial on charges that he raped an unconscious woman last October.

According to police reports the victim claimed that she was assaulted by Cornelius at the Kappa Alpha fraternity after she passed out from consuming alcohol. She said she woke up three times with no clothes on. She claimed that Cornelius was performing oral sex and having intercourse with her, and he continued despite her pleas for him to stop and let her walk home.

Cornelius faces numerous charges, including aggravated indecent assault, rape, sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Jury selection for the case is scheduled to begin in early June. (More details)

Man Faces Sexual Assault Charges
03/29/2006
Terry Dixon, Jr., a State College resident, has been charged with having sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl.

The Centre Daily Times is reporting that Dixon's alleged offenses took place over a period of four months. Dixon, 28, faces charges of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and several misdemeanors. (More details)

Apartment Fire
03/29/2006
An early morning fire at the Marvin Gardens apartment complex at 211 Easterly Parkway caused extensive damage to several apartments Tuesday.

The Digital Collegian is reporting that the fire, which began at about 2:00am in Apartment 13, may have been caused by a cigarette. The apartment suffered extensive fire and smoke damage, while neighboring apartments suffered smoke damage. Water used to extinguish the fire damaged some basement apartments. (More details)

Battista to Lead Nittany Lion Club
03/29/2006
Joe Battista, who led the Penn State Icers to six national championships, has been named executive director of the Nittany Lion Club in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations.

Battista brings proven leadership and remarkable success to his new post, compiling a record of 512-120-27 as head coach of the men's ice hockey club program for the past 19 years. The Icers captured ACHA national titles in 1990, '98, 2000, '01, '02 and '03 and were ACHA runners-up six times, including each of the past three seasons.

"I am moving into one of the best jobs I could ask for as a Penn State alumnus and former Lion Ambassador," said Battista, who will begin his new duties on April 10. "I've been fortunate to have been involved in Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics since 1978. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build on the relationships I already have with so many loyal Penn State alumni and fans.

"I am excited to represent the University and to continue the traditions of the Nittany Lion Club," he continued. "I bleed "Blue and White" and can't think of a better opportunity to serve my alma mater, our student-athletes and the Penn State faithful!"

The Nittany Lion Club, composed of Penn State alumni and friends of Intercollegiate Athletics, was established in 1961 to create greater interest in and financial support for Penn State varsity athletics. The more than 19,000 members of the Nittany Lion Club make possible grant-in-aid support for more than 500 student-athletes and provide operational support for Penn State's 29 varsity sport program, including 15 men's and 14 women's teams.

"Joe's passion, pursuit of excellence and productivity through his years here translate very well for what the Nittany Lion Club calls for right now," said Tim Curley, director of athletics. "Many know him simply as 'Coach', but he has a terrific business mind and a keen sense of how to motivate people."

"We're fortunate that someone so close to Penn State and so close to the workings and demands of athletics is stepping into this very important position," added Peter Weiler, Penn State's associate vice president of development and alumni relations. "It's a perfect fit for Joe and a perfect fit for Penn State."

Battista attended Penn State as an undergraduate where he was an original member of the Lion Ambassadors, president of the Ice Hockey Club, vice president of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, and a volunteer for The Second Mile. He was a standout defenseman for the Icers from 1978-82. Battista graduated from the Smeal College of Business with a degree in marketing in 1983.

Upon graduation, he was an assistant to the marketing director for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins for three years before joining the coaching ranks at Kent State University and Culver Military Academy (Culver, Ind.) and as a USA Hockey Player Development and Coaching Certification instructor.

A Pittsburgh native, Battista was named head coach at Penn State for the 1987-88 season. In his 19 years, he compiled a winning percentage of .800 and captured six ACHA National Titles with no losing seasons. He was named ACHA Division 1 Coach of the Year twice (1999-2000 and 2001-02) and during the 2005-06 season won his 500th game with a 6-5 decision over Arizona State.

A member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Battista has become a highly recognized member of the University community, regularly sought after as a motivational speaker. His nickname, "JoeBa", is similar to one referring to another legendary Penn State coach.

Icer players excelled in the classroom under Battista, regularly earning a team grade point average of more than a 3.0 and boasting an ACHA-best 41 Academic All-Americans since 1995. Battista, along with Team Advisors Ray Lombra and Paul Cohen, helped launch the Icers Enhancement Endowment Fund in 1998 and have raised almost $1million to date.

Battista replaces Kay Kustanbauter, who retired in December after a 33-year tenure with the Nittany Lion Club, serving as executive director since 1989.

Clean Energy Expo
03/28/2006
The PA Clean Energy Expo, a clean-energy showcase for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will be held from 10:00am to 7:00pm Friday, March 31st, and 9:00am to 5:00pm Saturday, April 1s, at the Bryce Jordan Center, University Park. Parking and admission are free to the public.

Attendees may explore these major attractions and events:

-- Clean transportation: The expo will showcase many aspects of clean transportation, including biodiesel and ethanol exhibits, GE Transportation's Hybrid Locomotive, GM's fuel cell vehicles, Centre Area Transportation Authority's (CATA) clean transportation.

-- Home energy: The expo will showcase technologies available to build energy-efficient, healthy homes and businesses. Attendees will learn about home energy savings, high performance commercial green building technology, high-tech wireless digital thermostats and the new Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) for Pennsylvania home improvements that decrease energy usage.

-- Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Funds: The funds will showcase renewable energy technology in Pennsylvania, including solar power, wind, biomass and hydrogen sources.

-- Community and technical workshops: Technical and free community workshops will be held during the expo. Attendees will learn how to make wiser energy decisions. The list of available workshops will be continuously updated at http://www.wppsef.org/paexpo online.

-- Special events: Attendees can enjoy a story with Clifford, the Big Red Dog, meet representatives from Apple Computer who will showcase the latest technologies and take home a personalized digital experience of the expo, test drive a "people-powered" vehicle, check out films at the Energy Expo Theater, take a "Green Tour" of the Penn State University Park campus, learn how Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream is doing their part for the environment and much more.

This event is one example of Penn State's concern for the environment. The University's environmental conservation efforts are being recognized nationally, as Penn State recently made the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the top 10 college and university Green Power Partners. In addition, The Penn State Center for Sustainability works to educate people on how their personal and professional decisions impact the environment.

THON Changes
03/28/2006
With the record-setting 2006 edition of Penn State's annual IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon now in the history book, organizers already are looking ahead to next year's event, which will be held for the first time in the Bryce Jordan Center.

In addition to the change in venue to allow for greater participation and enhanced safety and support services in the spacious, state-of-the-art facility, THON will have a more compact sche