Archive - News Article
March 18th, 2012
SMETHPORT â The McKean County Board of Commissioners is expected to act Tuesday on legislation for âimpact feesâ for Marcellus Shale natural gas wells.
Commissioners Joe DeMott, Al Pingie and Cliff Lane endorsed the legislation at a previous meeting and are expected to finalize the ordinance Tuesday. The meeting at 10 a.m. at the county courthouse in Smethport is open to the public.
The legislation for the âimpact feesâ has been approved on the state level. To take part in the program, counties must adopt their own ordinances by April.
March 16th
Plans are in the works to add a Kane Area School District channel on the local Comcast cable television network.
Chris Niklaus, assistant technology director for the school district, and Brian Wymer, high school business and technology teacher, discussed the proposal earlier this week at a meeting of the school board's Curriculum Committee.
In his report to the committee, Niklaus said the channel would begin with a basic "storyboard." The "storyboard" would include slides, scrolling messages, photos and videos of school district activities.
A James City woman has been charged with theft for allegedly using more than $3,400 in funds for the Highland Township Volunteer Department to pay personal bills.
Cindy Ann Hulings, 40, of 168 Maryland Ave., James City, is charged with two counts of theft by deception and one count of access device fraud, according to a criminal complaint filed with Johnsonburg District Court Judge George âTonyâ King.
One of the counts is a felony, court records show.
Hulings faces a preliminary hearing in district court at 9 a.m. April 11, according to court information.
March 15th
Itâs no surprise that Kane native Jim Sirianni became a high school history teacher.
The late Robert âChiefâ Carson, a Kane teacher, heavily influenced Sirianni. And he listened to his tutor and has had a 36-year career as a history teacher at Kane Area High School.
âIâve always been interested in history,â Sirianni said.
Sirianni not only teaches history. He has dug deep into the subjectâespecially on the local level.
Damage is estimated at $75,000 in a late Wednesday night fire at a residence in Kane.
Tim Holt, chief of the Kane Volunteer Fire Department, said firefighters were called at 11:43 p.m. Wednesday for a fire at a residence at 118 Ash St.
Charles Johnson, the lone occupant of the residence, escaped without injury, Holt said. No injuries to firefighters were reported, Holt said.
Holt said the fire broke out in the basement of the one-story residence, which has an attached garage. There is extensive smoke and water damage to the home, Holt said.
March 14th
JAMES CITY â Seneca Resources is conducting a test to determine the feasibility of disposing of drilling brine fluids in an old gas well in Highland Township.
"The purpose of this test is to evaluate the potential of depleted sands as a means of disposing of produced brine from other Seneca wells," Doug Kepler of Seneca Resources said in a letter to Highland Township Supervisor Charlie Vaughn.
According to Kepler, the "injectivity test" is "strictly monitored" by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Kane native Marty Niklas is one of the U.S. Marines chosen to carry the special National 9/11 American flag during a ceremony last week at the BNP Paribas Open professional tennis tournament at Indian Wells, Calif.
Private First Class (Pfc.) Niklas is a 2011 graduate of Kane Area High School. He is the leader of his platoon based at the Marine base at 29 Palms, Calif.
March 13th
The Lutheran Home at Kane is seeking permission to link with Biddle Street (Route 6) over an alleged right-of-way known as Lincoln Street Extension.
"Is there a right-of-way and are we permitted to construct a road to improve our land accessibility?" Lutheran Home Administrator Linda Carlson asked in a letter to the Kane Borough Council.
She said the Lutheran Home has the "understanding" that Lincoln Street Extension "comes off Route 6" and extends to the Lutheran Home property at 100 High Point Drive.
The fund is building for the purchase and installation of a new memorial stone for the "point" at Evergreen Park in Kane.
The stone is for "Operation Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan.
The stone will carry the name of Sgt. Staff Ken VanGiesen, a Kane native killed in Afghanistan last July while serving with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
The Kane Eagles Club has purchased the stone. Plans call for the installation of the stone before Memorial Day in May.
HAZEL HURST â A revised property tax-relief program for business and industry is coming in Hamlin Township.
The state-authorized Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program is designed to encourage commercial development in the township.
Portville Truckingâreferred to as âBig Dogââat Lantz Corners is expected to qualify for participation in the new LERTA, according to Julie Graham, secretary-treasurer for the township.
