Welcome to this week’s edition of the GantDaily Weekly Reload!
This last week we brought you coverage of pending litigation against Clearfield Borough Council as well as a lawsuit filed by a former Congressional candidate. We also brought you coverage about a man with a diaper fetish, a KOZ application and stray cats.
For these stories and more keep reading the GantDaily Weekly Reload.
Seven Corrections Officers Injured During Fight at SCI-Houtzdale
HOUTZDALE – State police in Clearfield are investigating a large fight that occurred at the State Correctional Institution in Houtzdale on Thursday evening that left seven corrections officers with injuries.
According to the report inmates were gathered for dinner in dining hall 2. One inmate threw his meal ticket at the CO who was collecting them. The inmate was ordered to pick the ticket up but refused. A supervisor was called to help defuse the incident.
The inmate then removed his jacket and struck a CO. Words were exchanged and other inmates removed their jackets and tied their boots. The CO was struck again, and while they were trying to get control of the situation other CO’s were struck. The ruckus moved into a canopied area where the CO’s were able to get control of the inmates.
For that story click here.
Clearfield Borough Council Facing Possible Litigation with Mayor
CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Borough Council may soon be facing litigation on two fronts.
During their regular meeting on Thursday night Clearfield Borough Council held a lengthy executive session for personnel and legal reasons. Council took action retaining new counsel, an action that has been expected since F. Cortez “Chip” Bell III announced his resignation in January.
After the meeting Bell explained the basis for the legal part of the executive session. Bell said that council is looking at issues with Bionol and Mayor Patty Gilliland.
Regarding the mayor, Bell stated that Gilliland has threatened legal action against Clearfield Borough Council unless she is given full, unsupervised, unlimited and unconditional access to the police department.
Click here for that story.
Clearfield Borough Looking at Ways to Deal With Stray Cats
CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Borough may soon see itself without animal control officers if the stray cat problem continues.
Mayor Patty Gilliland said at Thursday night’s meeting of Clearfield Borough Council that animal control is upset over the problems with stray cats. Gilliland said that when animal control traps a stray cat, they contact the people who have been feeding it, who then tell animal control that it is not their cat.
As it stands, there is no law that requires cat owners to license their feline pets. Gilliland suggested that council do something to help their animal control officers with the cat problem.
For that story click here.
Clearfield Borough Council Retains New Solicitor
CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Borough Council said goodbye to a couple of meeting fixtures on Thursday night.
Council’s Thursday meeting was Jim Kling’s last meeting as code enforcement officer for the borough. Kling has held the position for 10 years. Larry Mack, who will take over the position, has been learning under Kling in recent weeks.
“Larry’s picking it up,” said Kling. He asked council to have patience with Mack and to provide him with help and guidance.
“I want to thank Mr. Kling for helping me like he has,” said Mack. “He has very big shoes to fill. I can’t thank him enough. This man has been very underappreciated.”
“Thank you for 10 years,” said Jim Leitzinger, council president. “I think you’ve done a pretty good job.”
Click here for that story.
Texas Man with Diaper Fetish Waives Hearing on Internet Porn Charges
CLEARFIELD – A Texas man with a diaper fetish accused of downloading internet porn waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Bryan Park, 37 of Baytown, TX, is charged with 23 counts of sexual abuse of children.
According to the affidavit of probable causes state police were made aware of Park on Oct. 28. police interviewed Park’s local roommate. The roommate said that he was downloading music from one of Park’s CDs when he found images. He told police that he did not want any part of it and that was why he called them.
On Oct. 8 police spoke with Park at the barracks in Woodland. Park related to police that he was from Houston and that he was living in Tennessee before coming to Pennsylvania. He stated that he met his current roommate on a chat room and that he was asked to come to Pennsylvania. He said that he had been in Pennsylvania for about three weeks.
For that story click here.
CASD Invited to All Sports League
CLEARFIELD – At Monday night’s committee meetings, athletics director Jon Mikesell announced that Clearfield had received a unanimous invitation to join the District 6 Mountain Athletic Conference All Sports League.
Mikesell told the board that both they and Juniata were presented with the opportunity to do so at a March 4 meeting of the athletic directors from the league’s current member schools.
Mikesell stated they’re now required to sign a letter of intent that must be returned by May 1. He said if it is received well, they will be up for an official acceptance vote.
“I intend on signing and sending it in,” high school principal John Law said. “We’re excited about it.”
Click here for that story.
Marathon Equipment in Clearfield to Close Its Doors in May, Cites Poor Economic Conditions
VERNON – Marathon Equipment Company, headquartered in Vernon, AL, is closing its Clearfield, PA manufacturing plant effective May 15, 2009.
“Due to poor economic conditions, production of the Clearfield plant is being consolidated with the Vernon plant. We greatly appreciate the dedication and contribution of the Clearfield employees since the plant’s opening in 1989,” said Mike Beuke, VP of Operations.
For that story click here.
Derek Walker Suing DA William A. Shaw Jr.
CLEARFIELD – Former Fifth Congressional District candidate Derek Walker has filed a federal civil suit against Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr.
According to the Federal District Courts Filing and Dockets, the case was filed on Monday in Pennsylvania’s Western District Court. The nature of the suit is listed as civil rights.
GantDaily news partner WJAC TV reported that Walker claimed Shaw sabotaged Walker’s candidacy.
In May 2008 Walker pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, invasion of privacy, harassment and defiant trespass. He was fined $399 and placed on one year of supervised probation.
Click here for that story.
Charges Filed Against Two Grassflat Residents for Arson
GRASSFLAT – Two residents in Grassflat will be facing arson charges.
The state police in Clearfield announced that several felony charges of arson and insurance fraud have been filed against two Grassflat residents. According to the report the residents allegedly set fire to their home on Clearfield Street on Jan. 7 then filed a false insurance claim.
For that story click here.