Mountain Lines by Nelson Haas

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Madoff in McKean County?

Bernie Madoff could be spending the rest of his life in McKean County.Madoff is the convicted mastermind of the largest Ponzi scheme in history, and was sentenced this morning to 150 years in federal prison.Alan Ellis, an attorney and author of the "Federal Prison Guidebook," tells CNN that he believes Madoff will probably get sent to one of four institution – two are in upstate New York, one is in New Jersey and the other is FCI-McKean.For the full story, go to CNN Money.com.
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Fireworks planned in Emporium

LINK
An aura of colors will still illuminate the sky for Emporium's Independence Day celebration despite the loss of a major sponsor and an increase in costs.Committee President Hollis Langley said the contributor's donation had amounted to 30 percent of fund-raising. To top it off, expenses jumped 20 percent.But community support has helped raise about $6,000 to put on this year's display."The people have really came through for us," he said. "We are in for this year."Entertainment kicks off at 7 p.m. with a clown, music and face painting at the Cameron County High School's athletic facility. Emporium Borough Councilman Max Narby will be the master of ceremonies.The fireworks will be set off by R & R Fireworks Inc. of Houtzdale. The display will begin at about 10 p.m. Rain date is July 5. "We have always had positive comments," Langley said. "I tell you, it's (Cameron County) a very patriotic area. It's important you celebrate the Memorial days and the Fourth of Julys and those types of holidays."A few fund-raisers are being planned, including running a food stand at the Cameron County Arts "Art Fest" July 4 on Broad Street among others.In the fall, Langley said, the committee plans to get a jump start on funding sources for next year's display. Any money collected during this year's fireworks will be used for next year's.Donations may be sent to: Emporium Fireworks Committee, PO Box 141, Emporium, PA 15834.For additional information, contact Langley at 486-3821.
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Community Project a Success!

The employees of GE Transportation (Emporium) ,and members of IUE/CWA Local 88607, worked on their 2009 Community Awareness Project. This years project was a cooperative effort building a new playground complex at the South Park playground. The GE team was also assisted by members of the Cameron County Recreation Board and by the Cameron County Probation Department. There were approximately 30 sets of hands in all, digging holes, setting posts, and assembling the play area. The project was 90% completed in just under five hours. A delicious lunch was provided by the Recreation Board , and the playground should be ready for the kids by next week.

A big thank you goes out to the Emporium Foundation, the CC Recreation Board, CC Probation Department, the management and workers of GE Motor Coils, and to neighbors and community members for their help in making this project a pleasure and a success.

photos by Holly Manginell (more at http://camconative.dotphoto.com/)

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Scarnati--Scare Tactics Aren't Going To Work

Scarnati Blasts DCNR's Quigley
A confirmation hearing was held today for Acting Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley, and Senate President Pro Tempore took that opportunity to address the Rendell Administration's use of hyperbole in an effort to get support for a tax increase.
"The scare tactics that this administration has put out on state parks, on sex offenders being let loose on our streets, people in wheelchairs being abandoned in parks is shameless," Scarnati said. "The Pennsylvania taxpayer needs to know this is a scare tactic that isn't going to work.""I would suggest that you and others," he told Quigley, "look at opportunities to do a job that keeps Pennsylvania services at a level they need to be, and not use scare tactics.
"Besides the closing of state parks, Governor Ed Rendell has said that 800 state troopers would lose their jobs making it impossible to keep tabs on Megan's Law offenders; veterans homes would close; thousands of children wouldn't be eligible for health insurance; and spraying for West Nile Virus couldn't be done.
Scarnati went on to say that in 2003 Rendell cut $10 million from DCNR's budget and no news releases were issued saying state parks were going to close, garbage wasn't going to be hauled away and services were going to be cut."Never heard a whisper," he said. "Not a word."This year, he said, Rendell cut DCNR's budget by 4.5 percent and, still, no news releases. But when the senate "cut a little more, all of a sudden the nuclear winter was going to come."
DCNR has said that as many as 50 state parks – including Kinzua Bridge State Park – would have close under the Senate Republicans' budget proposal.
"I think that is irreparable harm to the tourism industry in Pennsylvania, to those in Pennsylvania who have an income and make a living off the tourism coming in with the state parks," Scarnati said.As for the confirmation hearing, Quigley's nomination was moved to the Senate floor for consideration. Posted by Anne @1490 NewsBlog
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Former Emporium Sylvania Employee receives College Degree

PROUD MOMENT

Wiladine Van Wert finally received her college degree and, boy, was that a surprise.The Jackson Township resident graduated from high school in Bradford, Pa., in 1945. She was a National Merit Scholar and was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in zoology and biology.
In 1948, her grandmother became ill and Van Wert left school to care for her. She returned to the university in 1949 and attended through April of her graduation year, when she was offered a job by Sylvania-Emporium, a manufacturer of radio tubes.
“I was there three years before I met my husband to be,” she said. “We got married and he got a job at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, N.Y., so we moved. They offered me a job too, so, I worked there until I got pregnant.”
Recently, her children — Thomas Van Wert of New York, Kim Anderson of Massillon, and Karee White of North Carolina — decided to approach the university on their mother’s behalf.“I knew nothing about it until Kim and her family took me out to dinner and presented me with my diploma,” said Van Wert.
“They told me it was about time I got my diploma since they all had theirs and my husband (now deceased) had his. I never thought about going back and getting it. There was no place I could go and get a job in chemistry anyway.”
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Straub Beer Comes in Cans Now

While many companies in Pennsylvania are canning their employees, Straub Brewing company is doing something it hasn't done in its 137-year history: canning its beer.The St. Marys company began putting its beer in 12-ounce cans for the first time on Monday. The beer is actually being canned at the High Falls Brewery in Rochester, New York. In St. Marys, they're still bottling the beer and putting it in kegs.Company officials say they've seen their sales increase lately, and by packaging the beer in 24-can packages, people can take it with them to more places.
http://www.straubbeer.com/
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For the love of acting

Friday, 19 June 2009

Photo submitted by Alex Davis

Patrick Cherry is a former actor who has performed alongside multiple Academy Award winners.

By Greg Reedy
Record Sports Editor
Patrick Cherry has enjoyed being in the acting world. He brought his acting expertise in working with and alongside Academy Award winners to Emporium as the Cameron County High School Drama Club advisor in the spring. He was set to have the students perform “15 Reasons Not To Be in a Play” but it had to be cancelled due to not having enough students. “I will continue to offer my time at the high school,” Cherry said. Cherry was born in Emporium with cerebral palsy and weighed less than two pounds at birth. It is thought that the cause was due to his father’s proximity to Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped during World War II. The actor has worked in such movies as “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Let it Ride” and “Jeepers Creepers.” The latter movie had Francis Ford Coppola as an executive producer. In the 1990 picture, “Miami Blues,” Cherry worked with current “30 Rock” star Alec Baldwin. ..read MORE

Thompson $500,000 Clarion Project to House Passed Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Glenn `GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, announced he requested the $500,000 for the Clarion Northwest Central Regional Interoperability Strategic Telecommunications Plan that has been included in a House funding bill. The Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations measure for fiscal year 2010, which passed the House of Representatives last night, included the project. “I’m very gratified to have the support of the House for an important new communication system in my district,” said Thompson. “The funds are provided under the Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS. This program helps law enforcement agencies across the country meet a range of community policing challenges. Having spent years as a volunteer emergency medical technician, I can attest first-hand to the importance of adequate communications systems for first responders.” The $500,000 will create a joint communication system, located in Clarion, which will promote seamless interoperability among counties, hospitals, schools, regional, state and federal agencies including: the Pennsylvania State Police, National Guard and Department of Transportation as well as the Federal Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Radio communications, along with broadband and internet connectivity, are vital elements to link the region’s telecommunications needs and allow the counties to continue to provide direct services and mutual aid. The project will serve Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, and McKean counties. Clarion County Commissioner Donna Hartle said, “This grant announcement is a start of interoperability efforts for the six-county region. The effort by Congressman Thompson clearly gives the six-county region a viable start in providing necessary and critical infrastructure that will be of benefit to so many people. We cannot thank the Congressman enough for understanding our needs in this 6-county region.” While House passage of the measure is an extremely positive sign, the funding must still be approved in the Senate version of the Commerce, Justice Science bill, and the measure must be signed into law by the President.
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Former Cameron County WCO gets award for bravery

Wildlife Conservation Officer Receives Two Awards For Act Of Bravery


Pennsylvania Game Commission
HARRISBURG, PA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Clint Deniker recently was presented with two awards for saving the life of a driver trapped during a car crash on April 4, 2008.
When Deniker came upon an overturned and burning vehicle, he took a great personal risk when he acted quickly and decisively to cut the seat belt and carry the driver 50 yards to safety. Deniker administered first aid and helped the victim maintain consciousness until emergency medical personnel arrived..........MORE
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AP: State hiring freezes allow numerous exceptions

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Financially strapped states that have announced a freeze on all but essential hiring have made thousands of exceptions for zookeepers, dog wardens, golf-course groundskeepers, boxing inspectors, state fair workers and the like, an Associated Press review of hiring records has found.
"What's the point of the order if you're not going to follow it?" grumbled Ohio state Rep. John Adams, a Republican and owner of a furniture store. "In this economy, honor your hiring freeze. I don't know any businesses that are hiring right now."

............."In the current uncertain economic climate, we must be especially prudent stewards of Pennsylvania's resources," Gov. Ed Rendell said in ordering a hiring freeze last September.
Since then, Pennsylvania has brought in more than 1,000 new employees, including a fiscal director making $128,000, a press secretary earning $84,000 and seven clerk typists at salaries from $24,000 to $28,000.
The AP found the exceptions in records requested from seven of the biggest states with hiring freezes, including New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.....read MORE
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Mountain Lines by Nelson Haas

See this image HERE

We are proud to feature the artwork of Mr. Haas here each week. You can see this image, and more, in full resolution HERE

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Emporium nuisance bears Captured and relocated

Thanks to the EVFD, the Emporium Borough Street crew, and Game Protector Hunt, this momma bear was captured in a trap. The cubs headed for a nearby tree, where they were rounded up and relocated.

more photos HERE

Below are two (2) links to articles written by the PA Game Commission concerning black bears and safety tips. Please take the time to review this information. According to the PA Game Commission this situation is normal for the months of June and July. There are several reason why these animals are more active in the Borough limits during this time of the year however, the main reason is the lack of food available in the woods during these months. Again for your safety please take the time to review these articles.

Bear Safety Precautions
LINK: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=473&q=160478
Living with Black Bears
LINK: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/lib/pgc/blackbear/pdf/living_with_bears.pdf

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Cameron County Geneology Club Sorts Materials

Book inventorying and shelving have started to take place at the Cameron County History Center on Greenwoood Street in Emporium. Cameron County Genealogy Club leader Wendy Davis, second from left, and Marti Lewis and Dorothy Lewis sort and catalog materials during a meeting on Saturday, June 6.

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Cameron County Unemployment At 17.1%

Courier ExpressUnemployment rates continued to rise in Jefferson and Elk counties in March, while the rate dipped slightly in Clearfield County.The Tri-County Area is broken into three areas by the state Department of Labor and Industry: DuBois and St. Marys micropolitan areas and the Jefferson County labor market. The jobless rate in St. Marys was 13.8 percent in March, compared to 13 percent in February and 5 percent in March 2008.The unemployment rate in Cameron County is the highest in the state - 17.1 percent - up from 7.8 one year ago.The jobless rate in the DuBois MSA was 10.9 percent in March, down from 11.1 percent in February. One year ago, the unemployment rate was 7.1 percent.The jobless rate in Jefferson County in March was 9.8 percent, up from 9.4 percent in February. A year earlier, the rate was 5.9 percent. More...

Latest figures issued by the PA Department of Labor and Industry for April, 2009 shows the following unemployment rates:Potter County------11.5%Cameron County---16.1%Tioga County-------9.1%Bradford LMA(McKean County)--9.1%Pennsylvania-------7.6%United States-------8.6%
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'CREATING A CURE' RAISES ABOUT $10,000

EMPORIUM, Pa. – About $10,000 has been raised from the American Cancer Society's pilot event "Creating A Cure," held Saturday, May 30, at Sizerville State Park."We received many positive comments from those attending," said ACS spokesperson Marie Costello. "We are planning on making this an annual event."About 250 people turned out. Proceeds benefit cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services.Ground work is already being laid for next year's event, which will likely take place in June or early July at the state park with more artist demonstrations."Creating A Cure" replaced the Relay for Life, which had been held in Cameron County for a decade.Costello expressed appreciation to volunteers, artists, musicians and attendees.

"Creating A Cure" committee members Lora Cope, left, and Pat Martin walking the labyrinth made of bags that honor cancer victims. musician Bob Spaeth of Emporium
artist Mary Wise of Tioga County painting an ornament.

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Economic crisis shaped Pennsylvania's state parks

The Great Depression, which has been mentioned frequently during the current economic crisis, helped give Pennsylvania's state parks and state forest picnic areas their distinctive, instantly recognizable look and feel. ..............................
...............In addition to the building projects, the CCC planted millions of trees across a state whose forests had been devastated by clear-cut logging, forest fires and unchecked disease. It also battled many forest fires, including one in October 1938 that killed eight firefighters -- most of them teens -- on Pepper Hill Mountain in Cameron County.
read MORE


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