Archive - Mar 2012 - News Article
March 4th
The 13th annual Ridgway Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous recently came to a close.
The streets of Ridgway look empty without the surplus of carvers and visitors fulfilling the downtown. This year there were reportedly 195 carvers in attendance representing nine countries including England, Germany, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Canada, the United States, Scotland and Romania.
The new location of the event raised many concerns in citizens and officials, but Liz Boni, coordinator of the Rendezvous, said it ended a success.
March 2nd
Representatives from Metaldyne attended Thursday night's Ridgway Township Municipal Authority meeting to discuss the installation of two fire hydrants and a sprinkler system at its facility along Rocky Road in Ridgway.
According to Metaldyne's Safety and Environmental Manger Bob Tami, the company's insurance provider will permit up to $1.8 million to spend on the project.
"Basically we need your [municipal authority] help as we start the project," Tami said "Our problem is we have to have it done by the end of this year. We need your help, at least, to make sure it goes well."
The students at Elk County Catholic High School always seem to be involved with something, whether collecting canned food for the Christian Food Bank or traveling to the Dominican Republic for a week-long mission trip.
March 1st
Friday, March 2 will feature March Madness in downtown Ridgway as part of the First Friday initiative established by the Main Street program. First Friday encourages retail shops in downtown to remain open longer on Friday evenings.
“We are encouraging those who do not have extended hours to do so at least one time a month,” Main Street Manager, Michelle Bogacki said. “We hope to get a little bit of a night life in Ridgway.”
While there is more snow to come and nary a bloom peeping out of the ground, it isn’t stopping area residents from gazing dreamily out of their windows with big plans for their gardens and spring landscaping.
Natalie Aiello, the Elk-Cameron County 4-H/Youth Extension Educator for the Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Extension's Master Gardener Coordinator for Elk County, said there are a number of things people can do now to prepare for the planting season.
ST. MARYS – Those looking to rid their closest of prom and formal gowns, wedding dresses and accessories may consider donating them to local schoolteacher Laura Kuntz, who distributes the gowns to underprivileged girls and women in poverty-stricken Beatyville, Ky.
Now in her fourth year of collecting gowns, Kuntz plans to made the trip to Kentucky this month, earlier than in past years.
ST. MARYS – Spring is almost here, which means area residents will once again begin the tedious task of spring cleaning. For those looking to dispose of old passenger vehicle tires, the Elk County Solid Waste Authority recently set the dates for their annual tire collections.
"We've already had calls about when we're going to do tire collections. Everybody wants to know," said Bekki Titchner, Elk County recycling/solid waste coordinator.
JONES TWP. – The Ridgway-based Pa. State Police report investigating an incident of attempted suicide that occurred on March 1 at 2:15 p.m. on Glen Hazel Road in Jones Township, Elk County. According to police, the incident occurred as a 49-year-old known female of Johnsonburg, took pills and deliberately drove off of the road and struck a tree. The woman was transported to the Elk Regional Health Center for treatment. Police were assisted at the scene by the Wilcox Fire Department.
February 29th
In an effort to implement cost savings and unify 911 services, nine counties in northern Pennsylvania have teamed up to upgrade to a "Next Generation 911 Telephony System and Network."
The counties are Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Venango and Warren.
"[The counties] have worked together as one entity to create a regional network and improving technology and operations while saving costs to their individual counties," said Michael C. McGrady, the president of MCM Consulting Group out of McMurray.
ST. MARYS - With the progression of PennDOT's Million Dollar Highway project, PennDOT has begun acquiring properties adjacent to a downtown St. Marys intersection slated to be widened.
According to Marla Fannin, community relations coordinator with PennDOT District 2, the scope of the project is to "provide full-depth reconstruction of the roadway from Wal-Mart to the St. Marys Diamond," with the estimated cost being $11 million.
Included in project plans is the widening of the SR 255/ SR 120 intersection.
