Welcome to the June 2010 edition of the GM5. Here are the top 5 local news stories, as read by you, our readers.
Budget Shortfall Leads to Staff Cuts in College of Ag Sciences
UNIVERSITY PARK – Ten people are losing their jobs and dozens of additional positions are being eliminated through attrition as a result of budget shortfalls in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences caused by state appropriations that have not kept pace with rising costs.
The job losses will cut across the college’s research and cooperative-extension missions.
The downsizing is part of a multiyear effort to address eroding state support while maintaining and enhancing high-priority programs that focus on issues of critical importance to Pennsylvania and the nation, according to Bruce McPheron, dean of the college.
For that story click here.
Fatal Accident Claims York Man’s Life
FRENCHVILLE – An accident on Frenchville Road Sunday afternoon claimed the life of a York man.
According to the state police in Clearfield, Joss King of York was traveling on Frenchville Road when he failed to round a sharp right curve. He traveled onto the east berm and his left rear tire struck the embankment. His Ford Excursion overturned and came to rest on it s passenger side door.
Passengers Robert Ross, 26 of Spring Grove and Clay D. King, 28 nd also of Spring Grove, suffered minor injuries. Neither were wearing seat belts. King, 30, also suffered minor injures. He was wearing his seat belt. Passenger Lucas Sieg, 32 of York, was not wearing his seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers were assisted by the Karthaus Fire Company, Morris Township Fire Company and Karthaus Emergency Medical Services.
Sestak Calls on EPA to Step Up Oversight of Marcellus Drilling
MEDIA – Following a blowout at a Pennsylvania natural gas well, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Congressman Joe Sestak called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today to increase its oversight of Marcellus Shale development.
The blowout at the natural gas well in Clearfield County last week, apparently caused by a failed blowout preventer, spewed polluted drilling water and natural gas 75 feet in the air and on the ground before being capped 16 hours later. The drilling liquid from the well’s hydraulic fracturing activities, whereby the liquids are shot underground at high pressure to break up shale and release its natural gas, flowed off the site and toward tributaries to Little Laurel Run.
While the situation was eventually contained, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said the accident could have resulted in a “catastrophic incident that endangered life and property.”
Click here for that story.
Stolen Vehicle Leads Police on Chase in Philipsburg, Driver Captured
PHILIPSBURG – The driver of a stolen pick-up truck led state police on a chase through Philipsburg Tuesday afternoon.
According to the state police in Philipsburg, they were alerted that a stolen Chevy truck was spotted on Second Street in Philipsburg Borough at 3:40 p.m. The truck was reported stolen from the parking lot of Country Convenience in Osceola Mills 1 p.m. The state police said that the Decatur Township Police Department initially took the report.
At 3:55 p.m., Tpr. Michael Wasilko reported seeing the stolen vehicle on East Pine Street at Ninth Street. Wasilko took pursuit and reported that the driver of the truck increased his speed. The driver turned onto Thirteenth Street and traveled past the Slabtown Playground and onto East Spruce Street. The vheicle then turned onto North Eleventh Street, traveling the wrong way at a high-rate-of-speed. When the vehicle entered the intersection of North Eleventh Street and Alder, the driver attemped to turn left onto Alder and struck a utility pole.
For that story click here.
‘Anything That Floats’ Boat Regatta Draws Crowd, Enthusiasm
CLEARFIELD – A new event at the Clearfield Riverfront Festival drew a large number of onlookers and enthusiasm for next year. The Clearfield Revitalization Corporation held the ‘Anything That Floats’ Boat Regatta. Participants began at Upper Witmer Park and had to pilot their vessels to Lower Witmer Park. The catch: the boats had to be handmade and powered by people. Boats ranged in all manner of build. One craft was fashioned out of wood and an inflatable matress while another was partially powered by a pedal bike. Five teams took part in the event: Zalno’s, the USS Mullet Madness, the Red in the Neck Boys, the S&T Bank Riverbank Boat and Spanky’s HB.com. After the participants started the race and crossed under the Market Street Bridge, participants made a mad dash to Lower Witmer Park to view the finish. The first team to cross the line was the Zalno’s team, followed by the Red in the Neck Boys, then the S&T Bank Riverbank Boat, USS Mullet Madness, and finishing up the race was Spanky’s HB.com. Click here for that story.