Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • Page 9

The Indiana Gazette Wednesday, April 19, 1989 Page 9 Council hears more protests on proposed landfill By BILL GRAFF Gazette Assistant Editor BLAIRSVILLE Residents Advocating Good Environment once again attended a Blairsville Borough Council meeting to brief council on efforts under way to fight location of a proposed landfill near Bairdstown in Derry Township. Lou Scansaroli, a Bairdstown resident, discussed the proposal and outlined potential dangers including additional truck traffic through downtown Blairsville, air and water pollution and possible expansion from a proposed 100-acre landfill to the entire 600- acre site under consideration by Waste Management Philadelphia and the Smith family of Ligonier, owners of the site. Council president Lance Alexander and borough manager B. Edward Smith both stated they had requested and had been assured by Derry Township supervisors that a copy of minutes of recent township meetings and other requested information concerning the landfill would be forwarded to council and Smith. Both agreed nothing had been forwarded.

Council authorized Solicitor James D. Carmelia to communicate with the state Department of Environmental Resources and Derry Township supervisors requesting an update on what action has transpired. Nearly 30 Derry Township and Blairsville residents attended Tuesday night's council meeting. During the business meeting, council approved a recommendation of the local municipal authority to earmark the borough's 1989 Community pevelopment Block Grant funding of slightly over $70,000 for extension of a waterline from Grandview Avenue'east to the Serell Plan. The was explained, would provide more volume of water "and pressure to possibly the only large area in the borough that is available for residential commercial expansion.

The recommendation was approved with Councilman Myron Kok voting against it. The line will help increase volume of wa- ter to Blairview Apartments, a moderate income housing development, plus serve the same or similar purpose for Adelphia Cable Communications new building along Adelphia Drive. Council also approved application for a state Department of Commerce grant of $75,000 to apply toward the waterline extension estimated to cost between $80,000 and $90,000. The borough will also apply for a Recreation Improvement Rehabilitation Act matching fund grant to improve recreational facilities, including a water slide for the municipal swimming pool. Another grant application will seek $20,000 matching funds from the state for revision of the borough's planning regulations.

Robert Thompson, Blairsville, received a $1,100 contract to trim, fertilize and care for 208 shade trees throughout the business district and the borough manager said he is in contact with Conrail trying to obtain approval to construct a lighted walkway from Morewood Towers, to Market Street. Conrail, the state Public Utilities Commission, Bankson Engineering, Pittsburgh, and council will meet at Conrail's Maple Avenue grade crossing at 1:30 p.m. April 27 to discuss repairs to the crossing. The borough's zoning hearing board will reorganize prior to two variance request hearings slated April 25 in council chambers. In other action, council: Approved a resolution asking borough voters to support the tax reform referendum in the May 16 Primary.

Noted two aging, dangerous trees were removed from McGillick Park as a safety measure. Approved a resolution designating the week of May 1-7 as National Drinking Water Week. Revealed that the Planning Commission had reorganized Monday with Dodie DeGruttola being elected chairman; Louis J. Canzano, vice chairman; Donald Richards, treasurer; and Steve Stoklosa, secre- tary. Frank McDonough, a retired resident of East Campbell Street in the borough, handed out cards seeking residents' signatures and addresses and urging Braun Baking Co.

of Pittsburgh to reconsider vacating its Pittsburgh bakery. The cards asked for a boycott of Braun baking goods if the firm follows through and closes the bakery. Mayor Harry W. Akins presented the police department report for March noting police completed five felony arrests, 11 misdemeanor citations, 52 summary arrests and 25 VASCAR arrests. The mayor said police assisted other departments 22 times during March.

It was noted that southern Indiana County municipalities will be meeting in council chambers at 6:30 p.m. Thursday when Indiana County Waste Management will discus recycling under state Act 101. An executive session discussion on personnel matters followed the regular meeting. Homer City driver injured in crash near Blairsville A Homer City womairwas injured in a two-vehicle crash just east of Blairsville Monday morning and two other people were slightly injured in traffic accidents during the past 24 hours. The summary: BLAIRSVILLE State police said Dorothy M.

Wlotko, 69, Homer City, was injured when her car crashed into a truck on Route 22 at the Indiana Avenue intersection just east of Blairsville at 9:10 a.m. Monday. Police said the Wlotko car attempted to cross Route 22 but struck a westbound truck driven by Elmer A. Sigouin, 56, Camp Hill. Citizens Ambulance Service, Blairsville Station, and Blairsville and Black Lick firemen were dispatched to the scene.

The injured woman was transported to Indiana Hospital for emergency care then transferred via Life Flight helicopter to Presbyterian- University Hospital in Pittsburgh where a spokesman said she is in fair condition today. According to police, Sigouin sustained a minor injury. Two killed in crash at Bellwood BELLWOOD A car collided head-on with a semi-trailer truck along Pennsylvania Route 220 near this Blair County community, killing two Allegheny County men and injuring another, state police said. A car being driven south by Craig Cuccaro, 21, of Turtle Creek pulled into the path of the northbound truck for an unknown reason about 3 p.m. Tuesday, state police said.

Cuccaro and one of his two passengers, James Brenner, 24, of North Versailles, were killed in the crash. They were pronounced dead at the scene by Blair County Deputy Coroner Ricahrd Goertz. The other passenger, John Vento, 28, of Penn Hills, who was thrown from the car, was in fair condition early today in Altoona Hospital. The driver of the truck, Joseph Testani, 26, of Hornell, N.Y. was not hurt.

Troopers said the car skidded across the highway and came to a rest along the west berm. The truck jackknifed across the northbound lanes, coming to rest against the east berm. A car following the truck slammed into its rear, but its driver, Joy Evans, 25, of Bellwood was not hurt, state police said. Another car following Cuccaro's vehicle was able to avoid striking the vehicles, but was damaged by debris from the accident scattered along the highway. The driver, Alvin Bennett, 26, of Roaring Spring, Blair County, was not injured, state police said.

By The Associated Press Peace Links meets today Peace Links is sponsoring the third program in a series at 7:30 p.m. today in Calvary Presbyterian Church, Indiana. The program will be a follow-up of last week's forum on the state Economic Adjustment Act and will feature a panel of local people examining the possibile impacts of the act on Indiana County. The panel consists of Commissioner James McQuown, David Purdy of Biocontrol Technology Inc. and Nick Momar of the United Mine Workers of America, District II.

HOMER Matthew J. Watterson, 18, 241 S. Main Homer City, was arrested for underage drinking and numerous traffic violations' following the wreck of Watterson's car along Route 56 about one mile west of Homer City at 4:45 p.m. Monday. Police said Watterson attempted to pass a vehicle but lost control and his vehicle crashed into a tree.

Although the driver escaped injury, a passenger police identified as Jason Holt Miller, 18, Homer City RD 4, was slightly injured. Police said charges are pending against Miller. Damage to the Watterson vehicle was severe. Homer City firemen were dispatched to the scene. State police said they investigated a hit-and-run accident where an unidentified vehicle sideswiped a car operated by Gloria A.

Bourdess, 47, Indiana, along Route 954 in White Township at 3 p.m. Monday. Damage was light. PUNXSUTAWNEY According to Punxsutawney Borough police, a hit-and-run vehicle damaged a parked car on North Findley Street in Punxsutawney at 9:32 p.m. Tuesday.

The parked car is owned by James Hill of Punxsutawney, police said. IN THE SLAMMER Keystone Cop Millie Stiffler reads Miranda rights to prisoner Keith Bloom, Marion Center Area High School band director. Witnessing the "arrest" are Josephine Valenti, chairwoman for the American Cancer Society's 1989 Jail-A-Thon, and co-chairman Thomas Streams. The fund-raising event will be held on the Indiana Mall Center Stage from 9:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Friday. Be careful, YOU may be arrested Friday and your friends will have to put up your bail. (Gazette photo by Peel) Area man charged with theft A New Florence man has been arrested and charged with the theft of racing car and related supplies valued at $13,219 fr9m a New Alexandria RD 1 firm, and a Blairsville RD man was treated for a head injury sustained when he reportedly was attacked in his residence by a burglar, according to police reports. The summary: NEW ALEXANDRIA State police from Greensburg said they have filed theft and receiving stolen property charges against William Dean Fleming, 34, New Florence. Police said Fleming is accused of taking small and large motor blocks, tools and a racing engine from Performax New Alexandria RD 1.

Fleming was arraigned before Loyalhanna District Justice Michael Giannini and released on his own recognizance pending a May 24 hearing, police said. BLAIRSVILLE State police said Brian Scott Henderson, 19, Blairsville RD, reported a burglary and assault incident. According to police, Henderson said someone entered his residence around 6:40 a.m. Monday, assaulted him and then removed his keys and fled. Henderson was treated at Indiana Hospital for a head injury sustained in the incident, police said.

Drawings for new ARIN building approved By SARA STEELMAN Gazette Contributing Writer SHELOCTA Preliminary plans for the Armstrong-Indiana Intermediate Unit's new central office facility were approved by ARIN's board of directors Tuesday night. Bill Douglass, a member of Hunter, Heiges, Sabo, Douglass, and Rogers, Sharon, architects designing the building, showed board members site plans, floor plans and drawings of the building as it will look when constructed and outlined construction plans. A conference room seating 100, as well as several small conference rooms, a testing area for preschoolers, offices for psychologists, Old mail delivered, a little late Cliff Claven, the mailman on TV's "Cheers," would be aghast. Six months after they had arrived, about 25 pieces of mail were found over the weekend in the Indiana Post Office. The mail had been put in an old collection box in the back of the office by mistake, according to postmaster PatRawls.

The mail, for which many claims had been filed, was either delivered or returned to the sender on Monday, Miss Rawls said. "At this point we're still investigating," Miss Rawls said. "We don't knew how it got in that box. It was just sitting back there broken (the box)." Only the recent mail crunch the annual onslaught of wire- beating tax returns made use of the box necessary, "We went to use it for the IRS returns and surprise, surprise there they were," Miss Rawls She said the office had been going through its process of searching for lost mail since the first claims came in September 1988. That, however, was little reassurance for people who received second bills when they had never received the first.

project coordinators, administrators and secretarial staff, computer space, storage areas and a print shop will be included in the building. John Armstrong, board member representing Indiana area schools, asked whether the building wouid have sufficient storage space and whether it could accommodate increases in ARIN's staff. Dr. Thomas Carey, ARIN's director, said storage space in the new building will be adequate because it will be better planned and utilized than existing space. He also said some materials and equipment now in storage will be auctioned off or otherwise disposed of before ARIN moves into its new quarters.

Dr. Carey also said there are no plans to increase staff numbers significantly at ARIN in the next several years. He said the new building will house about 50 staff members now spread through three buildings; 75 other staff members will continue to work at schools throughout Armstrong and Indiana counties. Everett Dembosky, who represents Marion Center area schools, asked if attention was being paid to the types of materials being'used and to air flow and air quality controls. The Marion Center school board is awaiting results of a third series of air quality tests performed at Marion Center Area High School.

Carey said air quality was being taken into consideration in the design of the new building. Mr. Douglass told board members bids for the building should be advertised in June or July and construction could begin by September. Board members approved three staff travel requests. Barbara Van- deCreek, teacher of gifted students, will travel with her students to com- pete in the Future Problem Solving Bowl at State College later this month; the cost to ARIN will be $86.

Staff member Evelyn Landon will attend a May-conference in Chicago on the use of teacher assistants at a cost to ARIN of $827. Superintendent of special education Larry Swisher will attend a May workshop on controlling aggressive behavior; ARIN's cost will be $331. In other business, board members: Accepted teacher Michele Crusan's resignation, effective March 31. Approved supplemental employment of three teachers, a speech therapist and a physical therapist for an extended school year program; the dates of the program and its cost are not yet determined. Voted to hire June Sinclair as a teacher of gifted students at an annual salary of $24,600, effective April 3.

Approved acceptance of a Federal Title I grant of $8,700 to support literacy training. Voted to hire Richard A. Freedline as a long-term substitute teacher at an annual salary of $21,725, effective April 21. Voted to hire Joseph Sgricca as a teacher at an annual salary of $22,525, effective April 19. Granted staff member Mary Davis two days leave without pay.

Approved the 1989-1990 ARIN general operating budget, which had previously been approved by the school boards participating in ARIN. The general operating budget will be $1,624,194, an increase of 6.3 percent over the 1988-1989 budget. Administrator from Michigan By SARA STEELMAN Gazette Contributing Writer ELDERTON Issues management, defined as "the ability to predict trends and control them in the most favorable arena for you," was the subject of William Banach's speech to the Armstrong-Indiana Intermediate Unit's annual convention of school directors at Elderton High School Tuesday night. Dr. Banach, assistant superintendent of Macomb Intermediate school district, Mt.

Clemens, told an audience of more than 100 school board members, administrators and guests that educators, like most Americans, are better at reacting to crises than proacting, dealing with problems before they become crises. He said school boards and administrators need to become aware of trends and issues before they become serious problems in order to control them on a local level. Issues, he said, start as isolated events; for example, the first case of AIDS reported in the United States. As similar events become more frequent, more people become aware of a problem. As more people become interested, public concern develops.

At some point, Dr. Banach said, an issue becomes a crisis. Then, he said, Congress or the courts become involved, and local agencies, including school districts, find they have lost control of the situation. Dr. Banach presented his listings of the 10 major educational issues for 1987, 1988, and 1989, pointing out some issues, such as governmental regulations of educational programs, exemplifying loss of local control.

He also indicated areas in which he felt schools had abdicated control, saying, for example, a developing public perception that public schools have failed in their mission indicates a failure on the part of schools to communicate to citizens what they are actually accomplishing. In addition, Dr. Banach listed a number of educational issues clearly affecting American society as a whole, including the lack of a sense of community for many people in a mobile society, longer lifespans and resultant intergenerational conflict, and economic trends promoting a two- tier society consisting of haves and have-nots, with a minuscule or nonexistent middle class. School board members and school administrators can become aware of issues before they become critical and in time to plan for them, Dr. Banach said, by noticing both what is in the newspapers and how much space it gets, and by noting the sources of ideas and issues.

Popular songs, art works, and science fiction, he said, often embody trends in their earliest stages, while professional journals usually note trends at least two years later. Similarly, anything happening in "critical" locations, including California, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts or New York City, may signal the birth of a trend. These areas have often been the sites of first appearance of ideas or events that later spread throughout the country. Similarly, he said, social movements in the Scandinavian countries and West Germany often predict events in the United States. Liberal maternity and paternity leaves and reduced work loads at full pay for parents could, he said, become issues here.

According to him, they are part of Danish law now. School boards and school administrators must work together, Dr. Banach said, to prepare for future problems and provide the educational services their districts need. In order to do this, he said, school districts must adopt strategies used by successful business and research teams, including the development of an overall vision and of explicit goals, the establishment of a sense of community, a willingness to seek inspired leadership and to support leaders, and a commitment to uncompromising quality. Thomas Carey, director of ARIN, also spoke briefly, summarizing ARIN's annual report on services provided to teachers, families, adult learners and younger students in Armstrong and Indiana counties.

Grace Butler LaMantia, daughter of George Butler, accepted a certificate of appreciation from the ARIN board of directors honoring her late father's service with the board. Mr. Butler, a member of the Blairsville- Saltsburg school board for many years, was Blairsville-Saltsburg's representative to ARIN's board from 1971 to 1978 and again from 1986 until his death in 1988..