Tyrone Daily Herald from Tyrone, Pennsylvania • Page 1

Sports: The Casey Saga Continues, See Page 5 THE DAILY HERALD VOL. 135 49 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2000 Eland's Park changes name 'DelGrosso's Amusement Park' to feature new rides, all-year passes for 2001 season By ROB CAROLUS Daily Herald City Editor Since 1947, The DelGrosso family has proudly owned and operated Bland's Park, in Tipton, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Blair County. Today, representatives of the Del- Grosso Family addressed the media with several big announcements with regard to the park, the biggest of which was that the park's name would, effective immediately, be changed to DelGrosso's Amusement Park. Bland's Park spokesperson Tom Riley welcomed the crowd to the 10 a.m. press conference.

"What makes this morning so significant is that one part of Tipton is about to change forever," he said. "In the fall of 1946, Fred Del- Grosso was driving ddwn the road out here, on his way to Tyrone to watch a ball game, and he stopped by what was then known as Bland's Park and Restaurant. Fred and his friends enjoyed a sandwich and a beverage, and then Fred began to look over a small building in the rear of the park. "He thought it would be a great (Continued On Page 2) Brand new name Joe DelGrosso, vice president of DelGrosso Foods, of Tipton, met with the press this morning to make some major announcements with regard to Bland's Park. A new name, "DelGrosso's Amusement Park," two new rides and season passes will be featured changes for the 2001 season, which begins May 6.

(The Daily Carolus) Arlen Specter seeks truth in new book By ROB CAROLUS Daily Herald City Editor Truth in Washington some consider this an oxymoron. Others, such as U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, CXpedt only the best from those who represent us in government. Yesterday, Specter stopped by the Logan Valley Mall, in Altoona, to reveal his new book, Passion For Truth: From Finding JFK's Single Bullet to Questioning Anita Hill to Impeaching Clinton, which is in bookstores and libraries now. The book, which was originally completed in late 1999, is the product of a three-year effort on the part of Sen.

Specter. In the book, Specter cites his viewpoint that, since the Kennedy assassination in 1963, voter participation has become anemic, militias have sprouted in over 40 of our 50 states and public confidence in America's institutions has plummeted. He said, "The inspiration was, I've been very much concerned about the growing lack of interest in government voter participation falling and I think that arises because of distrust in government and the need for government to tell people the truth. "In the Senate, I chaired the judiciary subcommittee looking into Ruby Ridge, where the government lied to the people about what happened with Randy Weaver," he continued. "The Department of Defense lied to the soldiers in the Gulf War about being exposed to chemical substances.

"Also, there's been a lot of public skepticism about my work on the Warren Commission the single- bullet theory," he noted, "so I decided to write this book and lay it all out as to how we went about the job and the integrity of the commission." Specter was a young assistant counsel who worked on the Warren Commission during the Kennedy assassination investigation. "This book contains a story about my work as aruassistant DA, prose- cuting corrupt union officials in Philadelphia. I got the first prosecution on the Teamsters and it was the (Continued On Page 2) Wanna go to the mall? U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, (R-Pa.) seated, visited the Logan Valley Mall, In Altoona yesterday, to greet constituents and to sign copies of his new book, Passion For Truth. Specter is shown signing a copy for local resident Claudia Grimm.

(The Daily Carolus) Grants approved for local fire, ambulance companies State emergency personnel to share $25 million By ROB CAROLUS Daily Herald City Editor Some local state legislators announced yesterday the approval of over $600,000 in state grants for local volunteer fire companies and ambulance units in Blair, Bedford and Huntingdon counties. As recruitment and fund raising efforts become more and more difficult for these volunteer organizations, this news comes as music td their ears. In June of this year, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, as an answer to the ever-increasing challenges facing volunteer emergency services across the state, signed into law the Volunteer Fire Company and Ambulance Service Grant Act. This is the first direct grant program ever developed in the commonwealth, which is meant to serve the over 2,700 volunteer units across the state. Grant moneys in the amounts of $22 million for fire companies and $3 for ambulance units will be dispersed statewide through this program.

Individual fire companies are eligible for a maximum grant of $9,900, while ambulance companies can receive up to $7,684. Checks are to be issued in the next two weeks. These vital organizations can use the funds to pay off loans, make building repairs, refurbish or replace equipment and to fund training for company personnel. Altogether, 29 units in Blair County, 20 in Huntingdon County and 17 in Bedford County will benefit from these moneys. The Blair County companies will share a large $267,688.66 chunk of the grant.

Locally, Bald Eagle Volunteer Fire Company, Bcllwood Fire Company, Citizens Fire Company, Pinccroft Fire Company and Sinking Valley Volunteer Fire Company will all receive the maximum amount of $9,900. Tipton-Antis District Volunteer Fire Company will receive $8,778 and Neptune Sleam Fire Company No. 1 has been allotted $5,762.18. One local ambulance service, Bellwood Ambulance Association, (Continued On Page 2) ers BelhYQQd Banner wwivIM A Obituaries A4, Greetings! it's November already, can you believe Our paper was graced with the presence Clark yesterday. If you missed seeing him, check with Chief Frye to when he expects to have help from the superhero, always, thanks for picking up your copy of a wonderful day! PER COPY Ground broken on new Water Street bypass By GREG BOCK Daily Herald Staff Writer Motorists traveling to Huntingdon via Route 453 and Route 22 know that the intersection at Water Street is tricky.

Route 453 intersects Route 22 at a curve that shortens the distance drivers can see. Due to the heavy tractor-trailer traffic and triangular configuration of the intersection, drivers' visibility is hampered as well. Long-known as a dangerous section of central Pennsylvania roadway, this intersection and the plethora of accidents that occur there will soon be but an unpleasant memory, thanks to the diligence of state and federal legislators representing our area. Bids were recently opened for the. $16 million Water Street Bypass Project and PennDOT officials, along with U.S.

Congressman Bud Shuster, state Representative Larry Sather and state Senator Robert Jubelirer, announced the securing of the necessary state and federal funds. PennDOT District Engineer Earl Neiderhiser, P.E., presided over the ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday morning at the intersection in Water Street. "Last week PennDOT opened bids for what many consider the most important project for this region of Huntingdon County. Over the next two years a major construction project will be undertaken to build a Rt. 22 Bypass of Water Street and reconstruct the intersection where we now stand." The project, located in Morris Township, will consist of a two- lane bypass that will include a west-bound truck climbing lane.

Included in the plans is a reconstruction of the existing intersection and the construction of a three-span, three-lane bridge over the existing Route 22 and Shaffer's Run. A 110-feet-long, single-span bridge over Goodman Road and an adjacent cattle path well as a 47-feet-long bridge over Shaffer's Run on the existing 22 will also be built. Included in the construction will be a 113 feet-long culvert measuring 12 feet by 7 feet. "It's hard to believe that it was in 1989 that PennDOT did their safety study and concluded that this is a very dangerous intersection," Congressman Shuster said. "In fact, there were accidents averaging three fatalities every five years and roughly six accidents per year.

So something needed to be done. So in 1991, then, in a trans- 'portation bill I put $8 million dol- (Continued On Page 2) Bypass coming soon With shovels in hand, officials break ground on the Water Street Bypass Project at the intersection of Rt. 453 and Rt. 22. Letting it fly, from left to right, is Earl Neiderhiser, PennDOT District Engineer; Senator Bob Jubelirer; Congressman Bud Shuster; Representative Larry Sather and Morris Township Supervisor Ron Hall.

(The Daily Bock) National weather The forecast for Nov. 2. Bands separate high temperature zones lor the day. 2000 AccuWeather, Inc. 70s FRONTS: COLD WARM STATIONARY fnuun: High Low Showers Rain T-tiormg Flurries Snow Ice Sunny PI.

Cloudy Cloudy Via Associated Pnss The Local Forecast Low in the lower 30s. Light northwest wind. sunny. High in the lower 60s. Thursday cloudy.

Low in the lower 40s. cloudy with a chance of showers. High in the mid 60s. cloudy. Low in the 40s and high near 60.

cloudy. Low in the 30s and high in the 50s. In Sports; Hyzdu Named Eastern See page 4.