Archive - 2011 - News Article
July 28th
Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Barry J. Schoch made a conference call Wednesday morning to board members at the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission [NCPRPDC] to discuss possibilities handed down from the governor's funding advisory commission.
The funding advisory commission was reportedly formed to study various transportation issues plaguing the state, including new ways to fund the many transportation needs of the commonwealth.
July 27th
The Ridgway Area School District held a special meeting Tuesday afternoon to appoint Dr. Michael O'Brien as the new superintendent.
Dr. Tom Butler attended his last RASD school board meeting to congratulate and welcome Dr. O'Brien to his new role with the school district.
"It's been a joy, this is a great school district and I know Dr. O'Brien and his wife will be welcomed to the community," Butler said. "You will have a great time."
The board voted unanimously in favor of appointing O'Brien as superintendent effective Aug. 9, 2011 and ending Aug. 8, 2014 at a salary of $115,000.
JOHNSONBURG – Area spectators will have the opportunity to witness performances by eight open class drum corps at Blast in the Burg II, taking place Thursday, Aug. 4 beginning at 6 p.m. at Memorial Field in Johnsonburg.
*This is part of a special online edition*
KANE – Ken VanGiesen is home again.
The body of the 30-year-old soldier killed in Afghanistan last week arrived in Kane shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday following an emotional procession from the Bradford Airport in Lafayette Township.
An estimated 85 patriotic motorcycle riders accompanied the cortege, which included two military vans for the soldier's family and a hearse that carried the body to the Ronald McDonald II Funeral Home along South Fraley Street.
July 25th
The Ridgway Area School District and the Elk County Commissioners are breathing a second sigh of relief after an appeal from school board member William Seely was denied by the Court of Common Pleas of the 59th District, Elk County Branch, on Monday, July 18.
Seely had initially filed a lawsuit that was dismissed alleging that the occupational and per capita tax collected were unconstitutional.
The lawsuit was filed in the beginning of 2010 shortly after Seely became a member of the school board.
Elk County Conservation District watershed specialist Kim Bonfardine debuted new monitoring equipment that will be used for the Elk County Monitoring Project during Monday night's regular meeting.
"I'm pretty excited as we are trying to get things going quickly because of all the equipment that is coming in," Bonfardine said.
One of the items presented was a data logger that will go directly into the waterway to measure the conductivity, flow and temperature.
Each data logger will be encased in a housing unit, built by interns, to protect it from weather and debris.
*This is part of a special internet edition*
KANE – On Oct. 3, 1997, Ken VanGiesen, a junior, took Erin Sirianni, a sophomore, to the Homecoming Dance at Kane Area High School.
They've been a couple ever since.
"I was 15 and he was 16," Erin said in recalling the dance on a date that has become their anniversary. "We started dating and have been together since then. We just fit together."
July 24th
Members of the Ridgway Heritage Council are in the early stages of restoring the facade of the the historic Bogert House at 105 Main St. in downtown Ridgway.
"We thought in the short term it would be a good idea to start with the front of the building because that is what you see first," said Robert Imhof of the Heritage Council.
With the restoration of the facade, Heritage Council members hope to spark more interest from potential buyers and investors.
Once purchased, Imhof hopes to see the building restored to its intended use as a hotel or hotel/apartment building.
July 22nd
For many folks, it seems to be the simplest of tasks: "I can get into the grocery store and remember things without even writing it down," says Jim Bodien of Ridgway, "even if it is just two or three things."
Jim suffers from Huntington's disease, a genetic defect on chromosome No. 3 that has caused loss of memory, judgment, speech changes, personality changes, and has brought on confusion in his life. To simply remember those two or three grocery items is in itself a noteworthy achievement.
*This is part of a special internet edition*
KANE – Two key generals in the Pennsylvania National Guard visited Friday afternoon in Kane with the family of 30-year-old Staff Sgt. Kenneth VanGiesen, who was killed Monday in Afghanistan.
The generals who flew to Kane in a Black Hawk helicopter from the Guard headquarters at Indiantown Gap near Harrisburg include:
*Major General Wesley Craig, who as adjutant general is the leader of the entire Pennsylvania National Guard.
