THE CENTRE COUNTY
GAZETTE www.StateCollege.com
A berry delicious summer For one area family, piling in the car and heading to the strawberry patch to collect some of nature’s sweetness is a tradition like no other./Page 13
June 21-27, 2012
Volume 4, Issue 25
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Port Matilda to honor veterans By SAMI HULINGS For The Gazette
PORT MATILDA — Upon returning from World War II, Port Matilda soldiers were outraged to find the town had been voted dry. To protest the town’s decision to ban alcohol, the soldiers tore down the Port Matilda Honor Roll, a wooden war memorial honoring those who had served in various branches of the Armed Forces. Now, 66 years later, Mayor Bob Wiser has decided it is time for his town to honor veterans once again. Wiser, a former postmaster and lifelong resident of Port
Matilda, has been spearheading the memorial committee’s effort to construct a monument where the Bald Eagle Presbyterian Church once stood. He and committee members Dave Lykens, Karen Weller and Trent McCutcheon believe the memorial is a perfect tribute to veterans. “We need to honor those who served,” Wiser said. The monument, inspired by several other local monuments, will include a curved brick wall and seven flag poles, honoring each branch of the military. The American flag, POW flag and the Pennsylvania state flag will also be on display at the me-
morial. Accents will include special lighting, benches and landscaping. A 4-foot-wide plaque, inscribed with “Dedicated to our veterans of Port Matilda area, who served in the Armed Forces during war and peacetime,” will be displayed within the brick wall. To cover memorial expenses, the memorial committee is selling commemorative bricks to honor of those who served. Veterans’ names will be engraved in the bricks, though no rank or branch will be listed. Bricks may be purchased at
War memorial, Page 6
Submitted photo
MONUMENTAL TASK: Helping to rake, shovel top soil and plant grass at the memorial site recently were, from left, Dee Wiser, Mayor Bob Wiser, Karen Weller, John Myers, Connor Bravis, John Bravis and Vance Barndt.
Cruise provides respite from trial By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
MAUREEN LOCKARD/The Gazette
GLAD GRAD: Molly Love of State College Area High School decorated her cap so her family could easily pick her out of the crowd at her graduation. See commencement coverage of area schools beginning on Page 15.
New emergency department takes shape at Mount Nittany By MARJORIE S. MILLER mmiller@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — The first phase of the newly expanded and renovated emergency department at Mount Nittany Medical Center is complete, and doors are scheduled to open next month. The project, planned for two phases, is Mount Nittany Health’s response to the predicted growth and need for emergency care throughout the region. Mount Nittany Health is comprised of the medical center and Mount Nittany Physician Group. In 2010, more than 50,000 patients needed care at Mount Nittany’s emergency department, and by 2020, about 85,000 people Opinion ............................ 7 Health & Wellness ............ 8 Send Story Ideas To editor@ centrecountygazette.com
are predicted to seek emergency care, according to the medical center. The final phase of the new emergency department is expected to be finished in March 2013, creating an expansion totaling more than 56,000 square feet. More than 40 new rooms, each with its own restroom, will be added as part of the project. Other features include two triage areas and four self-equipped pods, two trauma rooms, a sexual assault nurse examiner room, isolation room and new parking areas and an access roads. The completed facility will
Mount Nittany, Page 6
Education ......................... 9 Community ............... 10-14
INSIDE: Lawyers wrap up their defense of Jerry Sandusky. Page 4
Officials: 10,000 enjoyed cars, fun By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
MARJORIE S. MILLER/The Gazette
NEW LOOK: Ed Bell, project manager of the new emergency department, moves a mobile cart.
Graduation Pages ..... 15-18 Sports ........................ 19-22
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BELLEFONTE — The satellite trucks were gone. So, too, were the reporters. The 24th annual Bellefonte Cruise gave the community a muchneeded break from the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse trial, which has reMAUREEN LOCKARD/The Gazette sumed this week at the CRUISE CONTROL: The satellite trucks parked Centre County Courtin front of the Centre County Courthouse house. However, for 48 hours had to leave for a few days because of the or so, the broadcast Bellefonte Cruise. trucks were replaced by a large stage. News vans fonte EMT. “It’s a nice break.” and the like gave way to classic By Thursday evening, the cars, which lined the streets of satellite trucks had cleared out downtown Bellefonte. from in front of the courthouse. Yes, the Cruise came at the “It was a group effort,” said perfect time. Dave Provan, director of public “It’s nice to see the communirelations for the Cruise. ty come out for an event like this,” said Fawn Guignet, a BelleRespite, Page 4
BELLEFONTE — The 24th annual Bellefonte Cruise went off without a hitch over the weekend. Cruise officials estimate that more than 10,000 people crowded the streets of downtown Bellefonte on Friday and Saturday to check out the classic cars, grab a bite to eat and relive the good old days. Vicki Eminhizer, of Lamar, has been coming to the cruise for 15 years. “We know a lot of the people
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here and everyone knows us. It’s just a chance to get out and talk to everybody and see the cars,” she said. She and her husband are restoring a 1957 Chevy. They also have a 2007 Mustang. Both of those makes were on display at the event. “We just like to see what other people have done with them,” she said. The 24th edition of the cruise began Friday night with a 90minute open cruise. After that, Your Dad’s Friends and Hounds
Cruise, Page 6
Puzzles ............................ 25 Group Meetings ............. 26
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