Tyrone Daily Herald from Tyrone, Pennsylvania • Page 1

Saturday SVL Edition "Celebrating i24 Years As A Dailv Newspaper Serving Tyrone, Bellwood, Antis Snyder Warriors Mnrk Twp. Vol. No. 125 Number 208 25' Per Copy Ffl.wt-wrtw- SATURDAY. APRIL 20, 1991 PHONE MJPI niijufin inijLiuniriiinuj.ni HMHLJ uu ii'i TNI rrr Don't Let The Big Rigs On Area Roads; CRASH, Local Civic Leaders Tell Congress KILLERS Statistics gathered by CRASH (Citizens For Reliable and Safe Highways) indicate that tandem trailer trucks are up to three times more likely to be involved in a crash than are single-unit trucks.

The big rigs are also more likely to be involved in jack-knifing and roll-overs. The current ratio for car passenger deaths to truck driver deaths in heavy truck- auto collisions is 29 to one, but it's 45 to one in multi-trailer truck-auto collisions! This triple-trailer crashed through cement median barriers and into five cars in the opposite lane in downtown Portland, OR in May 1990. The truck's fuel tank burst, spewing diesel fuel. The driver of one car was killed and the others were seriously injured. The triple was being operated with an expired permit.

The track driver reported he was proceeding normally when he suddenly fell his driving wheel spin and "before I knew it, I was into the barrier." A witness reported that he saw the track fishtail before the driver lost control. 50 Student Workers 'Circulate' To Keep TAHS Library Humming By DAN MECKES Dally Herald News Editor It's raining. The click-clack of the car's wipers have a hypnotic effect as do the sizzle of tires and the too-familiar road. That truck approaching you as you drive to the shopping centers along Pleasant Valley Boulevard looks big, but then all tractor-trailers are big and so you barely notice it as it comes down off the hill by Fifth Wheel Restaurant and you zip through the greenlight at Eland's Park. You look again and it is humungous a tractor, pulling three trailers; 110 ft of 55-tons-on-wheels coming at you 60 miles an hour.

It's back trailer is switching like a crack-the-whip, moving side to side, 17 ft. for every five feet of lateral movement from the cab. You don't get a look-you're dead. It hasn't happened here yet, but it could. Heavier Trucks Coming? The current U.S.

truck weight limit is 80,000 pounds. But, according to the national organization which calls itself CRASH (Citizens For Reliable And Safe Highways), The American Trucking Association wants Congress to lift that limit to 135,000 pounds. As part of that request for heavier tracks, the ATA is requesting a corresponding increase in length (triple ft. trailers, combined length 110 double, 48-ft. trailers, combined length 120 ft.

and Rocky Mountain long front trailer followed by a shorter rear trailer, combined length 98 For these monster rigs, the ATA is asking access, across the country, to the network of Highways of National Significance. In Blair County those highways include Routes 220,350, and 36. In Centre County they include Route 322 and portions of Route 26 and Route 144. On The Move Already the big, BIG rigs are on the move. In 13 states triple trailers-three 28V4 -foot trailers up to 110 feet long and 110,000 pounds-are now operating.

Fifteen states allow Turnpike Doubles, two 48-foot trailers, up to 120 feet and 135,000 pounds. And it is conceivable, according to CRASH that Pennsylvanians will be forced to allow these monster trucks on local highways even though those roads (Con't on Page 2) By PEG KURD Daily Herald Staff Writer An industrious crew of 50 students most of them members of the TAHS Library Club help keep books coming and going at the Tyrone Area High School Library. Among the duties they perform are: placing books on shelves, processing and preparing them for circulation, decorating display cases and bulletin boards, and working at the circulation desk. This week, National Library Week, they have been circulating an important message written in verse: "The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the smarter you grow.

The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice When speaking your mind or making your choice." The student workers, who are in grades 8 through 12, arc enthusiastic about their work and through it acquire abilities that will help them in any future position they may choose. They learn accuracy, neatness, promptness, initiative, pride in their work and the importance of getting along with coworkers. They also have the opportunity to see new materials before they are circulated, to learn more about library materials and services, and to gain experience in other areas. Many become interested in the field of library science. In addition to assisting the librarians, the group initiates projects to help the library.

This year's project was the acquisition of a computer program. There is fun involved. Like a trip to Kennywood Park financed by the sale of candy bars. Like a Christmas party. And like the annual Awards Breakfast, held Wednesday of Library Week at the high school.

The following student library workers received service awards: 5 years of Service Angela Ingram, Scott Richardson and Todd Weakland; 4 Years of Service Aileen Frey, Cherilyn Kephart and Tina Smith; 3 Years of Service Chrissy Bouley, Jennifer Walters and Cheryl Wheland; 2 Years of Service Chrissy Bell, Kim Christofer, Bobby Jo Dixon, Sheri Hamp, Josh Herbster, Katie Ingram, Billie Jo Keith, Melissa Kimberling, Bonney Martz, (Con't on Page 2) I-HOTO BY VIRC1E WERNER LIBRARY librarian Jane King (MO presents five-year service awards to (left to right) Scott Richardson, Todd Weakland and Angela Ingram. Fifty student workers received felt letters in recognition of their service to the library. The presentations were made at a breakfast commemorating National Library Week. Gill's Auto Body Shop Marks 56 Years Of Service To Tyrone Knowledge Is Power In Battle With AIDS Virus THREE GENERATIONS Three Generations of Gills stand by beside the classic 1961 Jaguar Mark Salon they recently restored at their Tyrone Route 22 auto body shop, for a local classic car enthusiast. The car was taken down to bare metal panels, recreated and eight coats of hand-rubbed lacquer paint were applied.

Standing left to right are: James Gill, Fay Gill. John (Jack) A. Gill Jr. and John A. Gill Sr.

Registration For School In TASD Kindergarten and first grade registration for the Tyrone Area School District got underway Friday with registration completed at the Warriors Mark School. Schedules coming up April 22 to 26 include: Adams School, April 22. Last name initial A to from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Letters to from 10 a.m. to noon.

Letters to from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Letters to from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Logan School, April 23. Last name initial A to from 8:30 to 10a.m. letters to from 10 a.m.

to noon, letters to from 1 to 2:30 p.m. letters to from 2:30 to 3:30. Lincoln School, April 26. Last name initial A through from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Letters to from 1 to 3 p.m. The registration is for beginners who will enter kindergarten or first grade in September 1991. This applies only to those children who have never attended the Tyrone Area School District. Students presently in kindergarten need not be registered for first grade. To enter kindergarten in September, 1991, a child must reach fifth birthday before September 1.

To enter first grade in September, 1991, a child must reach (Con't on Page 2) By DAN MECKES Daily Herald News Editor When John A. Gill Sr. moved into Tyrone from Spruce Creek some 60-plus years ago, he had a dream he wanted his own business. He knew he was going to have it, but he never dreamed he would be in that business for 56 years. Nor did he dream that business would be maintained into the third generatioa Today, the Gill Auto Body Shop is still prospering in its location outside Tyrone on Route 220 and is now run by John (Jack) A.

Gill his wife Faye and his son, James. John Sr. came to Tyrone from working in his brother Paul's, Spruce Creek auto repair shop where he found he was handy with auto body repair. "My brother had bought a 1927 Pontiac and was going to put a Mifflinburg body (wood) on it but it got too much for him. I tinkered with it and began working away at it, learning as I went, and eventually got all the wood replaced and the body back in shape and soon a salesman came along and wanted to buy it and my brother sold it," says Gill The Dream Becomes Reality "Well that got me started and then Carl Rupert in Tyrone wanted me to work with him and I did for five years and in 1935 when I had saved up By JERRY HOLLABAUGH Dally Herald Staff Writer Ten years ago, a disease called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome was an obscure ailment that appeared to be limited to various factions of society.

Today, AIDS is an equal-opportunity destroyer that is spreading as quickly as the ignorance and fear that accompany it. Unfortunately, despite all of the information that is available to protect individuals from getting AIDS, an element of misunderstanding is still widespread and apathy is even more developing. Those who are inflicted with the AIDS virus must endure not only their own physical demise, they are also subjected to the misguided attitudes and actions of a frightened society. There is an organization, however, that is doing all it can from the perspective of education to see that fears are cut down to their realistic size. In its traditional role on the battle lines of nature's attacks on society, the American Red Cross is fighting AIDS with the best weapon of Diarme Lantz, Health Services Coor- dinator at the Altoona chapter of the American Red Cross spends a great deal of her time teaching and arranging educational instruction to various groups in the area.

She says the focus of Red Cross teaching is on prevention and, equally important, public attitude toward the disease. Risky Business The Red Cross instructs participants in their educational programs about the dangers of "high risk behavior." Activities such as IV drag use and sexual "promiscuity" would be considered to put one at a greater risk for contracting the AIDS virus. Lantz says that it is difficult to know just how many people are infected with AIDS because the virus can live in the body for years before any symptoms appear. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is what is transmitted and eventually becomes the AIDS virus. A Growing Epidemic Latest statistics reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in mid-1990 indicated that there were 250,000 cases of AIDS reported worldwide and WHO estimates that there are probably about a half a million more unreported cases.

In the United States there have been 167,803 cases reported. Pennsylvania accounted for 4,586 of those victims, including 14 reported in Blair County. Of those 14 people, Lantz says that nine have died. Lantz says that the figures are often misleading and difficult to utilize because the infected person is only reported once. "It is not uncommon," she says, "for someone who is diagnosed with AIDS to go to another place for treatment.

For instance, someone who is diagnosed with having AIDS in Nevada may go to Los Angeles to be able to blend in with the culture more easily. "The cases reported here in Blair County," she continued, "do not accurately reflect the true number of people who are infected with AIDS that are living here." According to Lantz, a possible scenario is for a person who may have grown up in this area to have moved (Con't on Page 2) enough money to do it, I opened my first shop-I opened my dream," John Sr. says. "The first shop stood on Lanners St. where the Penzoil Building stood- whcre Claster's used to be.

It was the first independent auto body shop in Tyrone-the others were all dealer owned. The first shop was just big enough for four cars," Gill recalls. "Then we went to the old Hoffman Ice Cream building. We were there for two years and then we moved to Pennsylvania Ave. where the Sears store is now.

And then, after five years, we were told we had to move because Pittsburgh Auto was coming in and I decided to buy the land where we are now and I built the present building," John Sr. explains. 56 Years Later The present shop specializes in repairing wrecks and restoring an occasional classic car from "almost the bottom up." The shop also does alignment and frame straightening and brake rebuilding. "We work on every part of a car except motor and upholstery," Gill says. Neptune Carnival Week Of April 22 By VIRGIE WERNER Dally Herald Staff Writer The Neptune Volunteer Fire Company will host its annual spring Carnival from April 22 to the 27th.

Special events are scheduled each night around the fire hall and grounds located at Lincoln Avenue and 17th Street to conclude with a grand finale parade. The fire company fund-raiser will include carnival rides, games, fun booths, entertainment and plenty of food each day throughout the week beginning Monday. The Firefighter's Parade scheduled for 4 p.m. April 27 will be be a "Weclome Home The Troops Rally." The parade this year will begin to form at 3 o'clock at Femer Field, off Park Avenue. Parade chairman Tim James said, "The parade will be sort of moving 'backward' this year.

Usually parades conclude in the Park Avenue area, but this time that is where it will begin and concluded at the fire hall in East Tyrone." All area men and women who served in the recent Desert Storm war in the Persian Gulf Operation, who will be home, are encouraged to participate. State Representative Samuel E. Hayes and Mayor Gene Johnson will be speakers at the program honoring service men and women at the fire hall following the parade. (Con't on Page 2) The Early Days Recalling his early days in Tyrone Gill Sr. says, "There were some fancy cars around then.

The Wilson's always had a big Packard, so did Mrs. Bcaston; Julius Sealfon had a LaSallc, Jack Giles had an Auburn, the Oakwood boys had Auburn speedsters and Cords." "Our first wrecker was an old 16-cylinder Cadillac sedan we cut the back end off of and welded a lift and towing rig on. I remember we towed a Mack track all the way to Pittsburgh with it- up over the old Ebensburg mountain road and it went all the way and back. Think what that car would be worth Gill says. "We built five wreckers.

After World War II we bought an old Packard sedan and cut the back off that and welded a surplus army weapons carrier to it. It carried tremendous loads," Gill recounts. "We have refinished woody station wagons, and those Town and Country Chryslers they used to make with wooden bodies and steel fenders and hoods-great big cars. "Oh, we must have fixed thousands of cars-thousands," he explains, throwing his hands up with a laugh. "Everything from aluminum panel body tracks to classics like that Jaguar Mark a '57 Chevrolet track, a '49 Plymouth.

I can't begin to remember how many," he says. Enter John Jr. John son John came into the business as a boy. "With a broom," Jack laughs. "I really began at the bottom, cleaning up." "I sure knew what I was going to do every was raised in a garage, you might say," he jokes.

In 1952, Jack came into tne business after high school graduation and in 1972 he took over the auto body busi- (Con't on Page 2) Weather Lottery Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday: Continued cool with showers. Also areas of fog over higher elevations. Highs Saturday near 50 with wind southeast 10 to 20 mph. Lows Saturday night around 40. Highs Sunday near 50.

Chance of rain 80 percent Saturday, 80 percent Saturday night, and 80 percent Sunday. Here are the winning numbers selected Friday in the Pennsylvania Slate Lottery: Daily Number, 9-9-0; Big 4, Wild Card Lotto, 9-17-21-23-32 and 34. The wild card number was 27..