Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 1

www.indianagazette.com 24 pgs 2 sections Vol. 102 No. 279 SO May 2006 Wednesday Police: Van didn't hit Pearce Hairs on vehicle are from animal Forensic crime lab tests have determined that the van, impounded for an evidence search, was not involved in Pearce's death, police said. On April 26. officers from the Indiana station who resided on Park Road, New Florence, as late as last September, according to court documents.

According to an affidavit filed with the application for the warrant, two people told troopers they attended a party early July 15, 2005. at a residence in Black Lick and that a male guest arrived at the house "visibly upset" after driving on Route 1 19. Pearce. 29. of Belvedere Drive, was killed at about 1 a.m.

on that date when a vehicle hit the bicycle he was riding on the northbound lanes of Route 1 19 near Snyder Road. Trooper collected statements from the parly guests on April 16 and 26. according to the affidavit. Both said the fire station siren sounded at about the time that the man driving the van arrived at the house. Calls to a confidential tip line also yielded information that Led investigators to the damaged mtnivan.

State police Cpl. Michael Schmidt wrote in the affidavit that a private detective hired by Pearce's relatives also had collected statements from two other guests at the party, and took photographs showing Continued on Paga 12 obtained a search war rant and impounded the SCAJKAACE By RANBY WELiS Gazette Statt Writer Slate police at Indiana said hairs found on a damaged mituvan came from an animal, not from Sean Pearce. the Blairsville man struck and killed by a' hit-and-run driver last summer. van from a residence along Route 56 east of llomer City. The vehicle is registered to Margaret Burke of St.

Petersburg, Fla, IS YUlin TIM MIDOCK of Clymer is the assistant secretary position, which he says would save $11,000 a year. Residents want to cut position urging borough council to eliminate going councilman Daniel Berkey as assistant secretary to help with billing for a trial period ending June 30. "It's a sore subject that needs to be put to rest," said Tim Midock, a lifetime Clymer resident Midock and fellow resident Frank "Brad" Remalcy think Secretary ferry Roof can handle the task, and they are encouraging citizens to push for the elimination of Bcrkey's position when the issue is discussed at Tuesday's council meeting. They don't Who's in the news There is good news today in The Indiana Gazette about these area people: Shcryt Ann Reeder. Nicole AnnAdamson, BcnWatkins, Tina Ann and Thomas Baker, Rickey and Rita lippert.

Marjorie Pugh and lohn S. Ciolias. Weather Coming up THURSOAf: True gardeners rarely refer to soil as simply Inside BRAOUATHMS: Area high schools have scheduled baccalaureate and graduation ceremunies.Fafa 2 OPBI RECORDS: A leading public-records advocate will Iry to restore the state's Righl to Know Law.Pagt3 STEPfING DOWN: A Veterans Affairs secretary is resigning, citing missteps that led to a security breach. Paat 7 LAST DAY: Katie Couric. co-host of the "Today" show for the past 15 years, anchored her last episode this morning.Paae 12 CHAMPS: The Homer-Center softball team has claimed the 1 leritage Conference tiile.Patt 13 For young readers Female gamers arc gaining prominence in the video game world.Paft 18 lUD-FRCNDUr MUSIC: Bop" music is a big seller with the 'tween sci.Paf 18 Deaths Obituaries on Pag 4 DOANEY, William.

72. New Castle HOOVER, Thomas. 59, Seward HOPKINS, Lucy. 75, Commodore MACK, Stella. 92.

Blairsville REBOV1CH, Nicholas. 83. Pittsburgh, formerly of Homer City SMITH, Frank. 87. Colorado Springs, C'joIik, formerly of Saltsburg Index Classifieds 21-23 Dear Ab by 20 Kntenainmeru 18 Family.

10 Food 2A I.onery numbers 2 NASCAR 14 Today in History 20 Spons Ft-17 19 Viewpoint 6 Teddy fm I very 1 ambitious jm man is a Jat captive and fa every vJ covetous one a pauper." Arab proverb This newspaper is printed on recyclable paper Please recycle. towspiotr contents copyright 2006 Indiana Pmrtng ami Publishing Co mount. Pa. 2w, Tonight will he humid with jf scattered Pip. and a low of 65.

jyA Expect show- ers Thursday with a high of i 78.Pate 2 Berkcy's position and many times he has been there to defend his post. "Can one person do the job?" Berkey said earlier this week. "Yeah, one person can do the job. but they can't do it efficiently." This year, residents saw their rates increase from about 1 3 for a three-bag limit to $17.67 per month for unlimited pickup. Customers get a reduced fee if they pay annually or quarterly.

"Us up. but there wasn't a price increase for 12 years, Berkey Landfill looking to add 42 acres SUSSUGazette said. "Whether the borough did the hilling or not, there would have been an increase." Berkey said Waste Management is relinquishing billing duties as a way to cut costs while being saddled with unavoidable expenses such as fuel costs. A portion of the money raised from garbage hauling goes into a reserve fund to keep any future rate increases ai a minimum, and revenue is also designated for paying Berkcy's salary. Continued on Page 12 technical review of the application.

According to a release from DEP. Evergreen's request will increase its operational life expectancy by 1 4 years. Thai expectancy was due to end sometime in the next year. Humphrey, said. She added thai DEP has informed local officials about Evergreens plans, and talked wilh some ot them at a regional meeting in November 2004.

Hob in Hrilhart. secretary for Brush Valley township, confirmed thiit official then' had been notified ol Evergreen's plans. To date, the supervisors do not have concerns about the proposal, she said. "As (ong as they (Evergreen) have been there, we haven't had any problems." Krilhart said. Center Township secretary lather Yankuskie said she had heard Evergreen wanted to enlarge its local landfill but that she had no details.

Neither did Robert Po.ik, chairman of the hoard of supervisors and road master for lownship. "He doesn't know anything more than what he heard this morning on the news." Yankuskie said. Gardner Feeds Equine Seminar. Wednesday May 31 st 7:00 p.m. THOMAS council CLYMER BOROUGH claim to be leaders of an organized community group, but said they just want people to be aware of the workings of their local government.

"Clymer has a lot to offer," Re-maley said. "It could be a lot better town." At practically every council meeting this year, someone in attendance brings up billing and Gazette collaborating on the sculpture because both of Paulovich's grandfathers were also coal miners. "The whole project was the resultant of me being a third-generation Italian-American and my grandfather. 1916 to 1923, was a coal miner at Saltsburg," Mancini said. "The main thrust of the monument is not only a monument to Stephen Paulovich's and my grandfathers, having been miners in the area, but that we would like to recognize all min-Continoed on Pap 12 PA6E 12 A complete schedule of events.

Looking For An Internet Service? Call Your Internet By BILL ZIMMERMAN Gazette Staff Writer CLYMER It's been nearly a half a year since the price of garbage removal services increased in Clymer Borough, but the issue is still contentious. In November, the borough council agreed lo a five-year contract with Waste Management that caused rates to jump more than $4 a month. The council later voted to accept billing duties and hired out Canal Days kicks off Friday By ERICA FONTANA Gazette Statt Writer Sallshurgs 25th annual Canal Days will take place this weekend and. in addition to the usual festivities, will include a fundraiser for wounded members of the military and a groundbreaking for a monument honoring western Pennsylvania coal miners. 'I he opening ceremony, beginning at 1 1 a.m.

Saturday, will include a flag ret i a-men ceremony by American U'gion Post 57. in which people can bring their worn-out American flags to be properly disposed of; a parade organized by the Saltsburg fire department; a skit by Saltsburg's community drama club; remarks from Saltsburg's town council and mayor; and a performance by local ventriloquist Evan De-Win. The parade, unlike last year, will form at the Saltsburg MiddleHigh School athletic field. In keeping with the festival's historical component, Civil War re-cnactors from the Sih Virginia Company II, the 54th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company A. the I Ith PV1.

and Carpenter's Battery will set up camp in Saltsburg's North Park and will have Hi Speed Internet www.indianaloeal.net JEAN BASH, left. Bridget Kitch, center, and Clara Waters of the Loyal Hannas Quilt Guild worked recently on a quilt that will be auctioned off at Canal Days. DEP approves initial proposal Bf MARY AMI SLATER Gazette Siatt Writer Evergreen landfill Inc. received initial approval Tuesday from the state Department of Environmental Protection to add 42 acres to its M-acre dump site in Center and Brush Valley townships, a official said. DEP has approved the company's environmental assessment study, which examined how the proposed expansion would impact surrounding communities and what social, economic or environmental effects would be spawned by the project.

Helen Humphreys, a spokeswoman for DEP. said her agency now would send Evergreen's formal application for expansion to officials in Indiana (bounty and the supervisors in Center and Brush Valley townships. "They will have 60 days to comment from the time they receive it." Humphreys said. DEP must also complete a Personalized Birth stone Swarovski Crystal Bracelet (724)4 skirmishes at the River's Edge on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. In previous years, re -en actors have done scenes from the Civil and Revolutionary wars, said June Vatter, who is overseeing the parade and re-enactments.

This year's Canal Days will also coincide with the groundbreaking for a monument honoring the coal miners of western Pennsylvania and their families. Ed Mancini of Philadelphia and East Chester. N.Y., whose family lived in Saltsburg. got the idea for the project while researching his family history. Stephen Paul-ovkh of Ifxington, a sculptor and artist raised in New Kensington, contacted Mancini about Spaghetti Thursday; Seafood Friday.

4-7pm, Indiana VFW..