THE CENTRE COUNTY
GAZETTE www.StateCollege.com
Abundance of art Bellefonte’s annual Arts and Crafts Fair will take place at Talleyrand Park this weekend./Pages 15-18
August 16-22, 2012
Volume 4, Issue 33
United Way kicks off campaign
Home Town Loop set for Saturday By SAMI HULINGS For The Gazette
BELLEFONTE — The sixth annual Herbie’s Home “Town Loop,” (HHL) a community run and bike ride, will be held Aug. 18 in memory of Jeremy Herbstritt, a Bellefonte resident who was killed in the Virginia Tech massacre. The event will be held in conjunction with the Bellefonte Arts and Craft Fair and will JEREMY begin at 8:30 HERBSTRITT a.m. Because the “Town Loop” was created by Herbstritt’s family and friends not only as a way to honor Herbstritt’s memory, but also as a way to give back to the Bellefonte community, proceeds from the event will be used to help build a community track. As in years past, a 4-mile run/walk will be held in honor of Herbstritt’s love of running. A time clock will be featured at the end of the race, as well as mile splits for runners. New this year will be a 16-mile, non-competitive bike course, which is set to begin at 9:45 a.m. Bike helmets are required for all riders and must be secure at all times. Both the run and the bike ride will start at the new site of High and Spring streets in Bellefonte to correspond with the Arts and Crafts Fair location. Online registration for the run and bike ride closes on Aug. 16.
Loop, page 3
FREE COPY
By SAMI HULINGS For The Gazette
GEORGE LUCAS/For The Gazette
TALKING POINTS: Penn State first-year coach Bill O’Brien spoke with reporters at the university’s annual Media Day on Aug. 9 at Beaver Stadium.
O’Brien, Lions look to season opener By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
UNIVERSITY PARK — More than 200 reporters crammed into the media room at Beaver Stadium on Aug. 9 as Penn State University ushered in a new era of Nittany Lion football. It was the first Media Day for first-year head coach Bill O’Brien, who takes over for the late Joe Paterno, who was fired on Nov. 9 in the midst of a child sex abuse scandal involving his former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky. Since O’Brien has taken over, the football program was hit with some of the harshest penalties in NCAA history. In addition to a record $60 million fine, scholarships were taken away, 112 wins were vacated and the Nittany Lions have been banned from postseason play for four
years. During the course of the news conference, O’Brien talked a lot about moving the program forward. “Instead of saying it’s us against them, let’s go out and play good football and think about the fact that maybe this is a little bit about more than football,” O’Brien said. “This is about helping a community. This is about bringing more awareness, much more awareness to child abuse. This is about making sure that we help lead this university. Not lead it, but be a part of leading this university through the next three or four years that will be a challenge, but that’s what life is about.” Earlier last week, it was announced that Penn State’s jerseys will feature player’s last names for the first time in the history
O’Brien, page 4
UNIVERSITY PARK — To kickoff its 2012 fundraising campaign, the Centre County United Way invited more than 200 community members to gather in friendship at the Bryce Jordan Center as “One Community United” Monday night. The event was sponsored by First National Bank and featured a reception catered by BJC staff, games for children and live entertainment from Bo Belly the Clown and the Nittany All-Star Cheerleaders. United Way speakers discussed their hopes for the community and their goals for this year’s general campaign. The program began with remarks by Tom McKee, chairman of the Centre County United Way Board of Directors. In thanking the community for all its hard work, McKee said though the past nine months have been difficult for Centre County, one thing still remains clear: “We’re a community that cares for each other and we (the United Way) will continue to support one another through philanthropy, volunteerism and loyalty to our partner agencies,” he said.
United Way, page 5
SAMI HULINGS/For The Gazette
GRAND TOTAL: The Nittany All-Star Cheerleaders announced the total Pacesetter Campaign goal for this year’s United Way fundraising campaign.
Three State College police officers promoted By MARJORIE S. MILLER mmiller@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — Three State College Police Department staffers were promoted on Aug. 8 during a special ceremony inside council chambers at the State College Borough Municipal Building on Allen Street. Sgt. Barrett C. Smith was promoted to lieutenant, and officers Charles Hamilton and Todd A. Scholton were promoted to sergeant. Smith, Hamilton and Scholton were honored by police Chief Tom King and joined by family and friends, as well as various members of the community, including State College Mayor Elizabeth Goreham. State College Borough Manager Tom Fontaine opened the ceremony by saying the event is a “tremendous opportunity to recognize our outstanding police officers.” King then introduced Hamilton, who was hired by the State College Police Department in March 2006. Hamilton, King said, was assigned to the university patrol division, as well as other Opinion ............................ 7 Health & Wellness ........ 8, 9 Send Story Ideas To editor@ centrecountygazette.com
divisions. “(He) performed exceptionally well,” at his various tasks, King said. Hamilton also has been trained in crisis intervention and has been active with the youthful offenders program, King said. Hamilton has an “outstanding attendance record,” King said, and in 2011 received a lifesaving award. “(He’s) very capable, pleasant and a professional officer,” King said, and he has a “strong work ethic.” Hamilton then took some time to address the audience. He said he thanks his wife and two daughters, as well as the State College Police Department. King then introduced Scholton, who has experience as a field training officer, was part of a crisis intervention team, and in 1998 helped establish a canine program. King said through his “many trainings,” Scholton has received “excellent performance evaluations,” and over the past six years has received recognition for his traffic enforcement activities. Scholton also received two lifesaving awards, King said; one
Education ....................... 10 Community ............... 11-15
Centre Spread ........... 16, 17 Sports ........................ 18-22
Have You Missed An Issue? Past Issues Available To View Online At centrecountygazette.com
in 2008 and one in 2012. Scholton is a “team player,” King said, who is not afraid to take charge when appropriate, and holds “strong ethical values.” Scholton then addressed the attendees: “(There are) too many people to thank,” he said. The people he works with, Scholton said, are his “No. 1 driving force in my career.” He isn’t able to do his job without the support of his family, he said. Scholton said he’s been doing police work for 20 or 21 years. “I look forward to what the next 10 or so years bring,” he said. Next, King introduced Smith, who he described as someone who has continuously performed “exceptionally well” in his career. Smith has been involved in many assignments, including the Centre County Drug Task Force and fire investigation. Smith was even appointed as a Centre Region fire mar-
Police, page 4 Arts & Entertainment 23, 24 What’s Happening ......... 24
Remember Your Loved One With A Gazette Memoriam. Call Gazette Classifieds At (814) 238-5051 For Details
MARJORIE S. MILLER/The Gazette
SPECIAL CEREMONY: State College Police Chief Tom King, left, promotes Officer Todd A. Scholton to Sargeant. Also pictured is Scholton’s wife, Joan.
Group Meetings ............. 25 Puzzles ............................ 27
Sell Your Stuff With Centre County Gazette Classified Advertising (814) 238-5051
The
Business .................... 28, 29 Classified ........................ 30
Your Ad Could Appear Here! Call (814) 238-5051 To Find Out How.