THE CENTRE COUNTY
GAZETTE www.CentreCountyGazette.com
March 15-21, 2012
Exchange of words The Penn State Board of Trustees offered its rationale for firing late coach Joe Paterno: Paterno’s family responds./Page 6
Volume 4, Issue 11
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Penn State makes way for new ice arena By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
UNIVERSITY PARK — Joe Battista is just like a kid at Christmas. Nestled away in his office at the Bryce Jordan Center, Battista grins from ear-to-ear as he talks about the progress at the site where the $88 million, state-ofthe-art ice hockey arena is being built. “Every day there's more and more tangible evidence that something big is coming,” Bat-
tista said. “I find myself going over there at least once a day. I want to go over and see what kind of progress they're making.” Near the corner of University Drive and Curtin Road, the progress is tangible. If you work or live nearby, chances are you've heard some of the blasting that has gone on in an effort to move earth. If you've driven by the site, chances are you've noticed some of the construction equipment that's being used to ready the land for Penn State's newest ath-
letic facility. Battista, Penn State's associate athletic director, is the brains behind it all. And just like that kid at Christmas, Battista is all smiles as he shows off his toys. First, he breaks out his iPhone to show a video of one of the blasts, recorded by is own hand. After echoes from the blast fade, cheers and clapping erupt. But his favorite toy is his com-
Ice arena, Page 4
Penn State Sports Information
GOING UP: This is an artist's rendering of the Pegula Ice Arena, an $88 million dollar facility that will be built on the Penn State campus. Construction workers have been clearing ground for the facility, which will house Penn State's Div. I men's and women's hockey teams. The official groundbreaking is set for April 20.
BELLEFONTE
Borough, property owners at odds By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
sitioned from my brothers and sisters at one point to now, where it's myself and my two sons.” GOH Inc. began in 1952 as a small excavation and equipment rental company. Dan was 12 years old when the company was founded by his father and mother. His mother, Thelma, was the accounting staff, payroll department, human resources and part-time truck driver. Dan, along with Glenn Jr., Marie and Alan, were brought on to carry out equipment maintenance tasks on weekends and after school. Dan enlisted in the Army and then went to college. In January of 1966, he went to work fulltime for GOH Inc.
BELLEFONTE — There is a battle brewing in Bellefonte Borough. And it's all about land. At the end of 2011, the borough filed paperwork in county court to take property by eminent domain because the owners of the land do not want to sell. The borough intends to use the parcels for a large-scale development project. The parcels are located along Spring Creek between the High Street and Lamb Street Bridges. One of the properties is the site of the former Bush House, which burned in 2006. Following the fire, that building was razed. “Where that building was, it's a totally vacant lot. As of today, it still sits as a vacant lot,” said Ralph Stewart, Bellefonte Borough manager. The borough would like to see the properties become part of a $6 million development effort. A $3 million grant from the state already has been secured, and the borough has agreed to match that amount dollar for dollar, according to Stewart. The site where the Bush house once stood could be the site of a Victorian hotel, high-rise or office buildings. According to Stewart, the borough would like to see a new hotel in that spot.
Hawbaker, Page 5
Bellefonte, Page 5
MARK SELDERS/Penn State Athletic Communication
NO. 4 SEED: The Penn State Lady Lions celebrate after seeing their name called during Monday night's NCAA tournament selection show on ESPN. The Lady Lions will face UTEP in the first-round of the tournament on Sunday evening in Baton Rouge, La. The Lady Lions were the Big Ten regular season champions under coach Coquese Washington. Story on Page 25.
Hawbaker Inc. steeped in tradition By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — At a time when the economy is not exactly humming and unemployment rates across the state remain high, Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. continues to thrive. At the head of it all is Dan Hawbaker, president and CEO of GOH Inc., a family-owned business that is one of the largest employers in Centre County. “We have been fortunate to assemble a group of people who have a desire to build and grow business,” Hawbaker said from his third-floor office on Waddle Road. “We just celebrated 60 years, thanks to my parents who started the business. We've tran-
CHRIS MORELLI/Gazette
ON THE JOB: Dan Hawbaker, president and CEO of Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., sat recently in his Waddle Road office.
Police Log .............................3 Education .....................12, 13 Centre Spread...............16, 17 Puzzles ................................20 What’s Happening.............23 Sports ............................25-27 Lifestyles .........................7-11 Opinion.........................14, 15 Arts & Entertainment...18-24 Save the Date......................21 Business........................25, 26 Classifieds...........................30