Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
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The Claysburg-Kimmel School Board of Directors approved a preliminary 2024/25 budget which will raise taxes to the Act 1 limit of 7.7% and would cost the average homeowner $1.52 a week , $80 a year more per household, and generate $321,740. The millage rate in Greenfield and Kimmel townships would be increased to 9.76 and 11.71 mills. The budget shows $14,651,863 in expected expenditures and $14,306,667 in revenue with a deficit of $345,196. The board does not know what they will receive in state funding at this point, so they took the budget...
Northern Bedford County School District Superintendent Todd Beatty gave a 2024-25 preliminary budget presentation at the April 9 Northern Bedford School District Board of School Directors meeting. Beatty proposed a 3.65 percent tax increase for the district, which falls just between the minimum of 0.5 percent and the state-set maximum allowed of 7.3 percent. This represents an increase to the median household of $45 a year in taxes. It does not count homestead program money that the district may be eligible for. Supplies, wages, health...
During the regular April meeting of the Spring Cove School District Board of Directors, Cheyenne Dickson was named Martinsburg Elementary Principal for the 2023-24 school year. Her annual compensation will be $85,000 with a start date of May 13. Dickson has been the assistant principal at Central High School for the past three years. Prior to coming to Spring Cove School District, she taught fourth- and fifth-grade classes at Bellwood Antis Elementary for seven years. She also served as an...
Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker reviewed the Spring Cove School District finance committee meeting presentation for the 2024-25 school year budget, given by Business Manager Steven Foor at the April Board of Directors Committee of the Whole meeting. Dr. Baker discussed the challenges facing the district financially, particularly the cost of cyber charter schools. Spring Cove will face a $200,000 increase in cyber charter costs for the 2024-25 school year. Baker said, “Although the maximum a...
A long discussion was held at the April regular monthly supervisors’ meeting for North Woodbury Township in regard to making a decision on new salt storage bins. The bid from Garman Brothers Construction was given for a 4,000-square-foot. storage bin of $427,000, but for a smaller 2,400-square-foot bin, the price came in at $375,000. Supervisor J.D. Donaldson said for the $52,000 difference, the township would be losing a great amount of storage area. He didn’t think this was a good choice. The bid was more than the grant money which the tow...
There was a long discussion at the April Taylor Township regular monthly meeting after township resident Jeff Brennecke stated that the many dead trees on Houston Road presented a danger to those who lived and traveled along the road. Township Manager Timothy Laird said he had driven along the road that day and had not seen the trees on the road. Laird informed Brennecke that the township does not trim trees in wires. Brennecke maintained that the problem of trees didn’t stem from those in wires. The two agreed to take a drive down Houston R...
Several important bids were approved along with major purchases involving building and grounds committee matters during the Northern Bedford County School District Board of Directors March monthly meeting. The purchase of training equipment and flooring for the Wellness Building in the amount of $209,320 was approved. A Pa. Commission on Crime and Delinquency Mental Health and Wellness grant will cover $112,800 of this purchase. The remainder will be paid from the district’s capital reserve fund. Other major district projects approved from t...
The resignation of Martinsburg Elementary School Principal Melissa Cerully was accepted at the March Regular School Board of Directors meeting. Cerully had served in the position since July 2021. Prior to assuming her position at Martinsburg Elementary School, she had served as assistant principal at Central High School since 2018 under Principal Stephanie Thompson. She assumed her position at Martinsburg Elementary following the resignation of long time administrator Kendra Prichett. Cerully attained her Principal Certification in 2018 from...
The March monthly North Woodbury Township Supervisors regular board meeting featured some in-depth discussion on new business on their agenda. There was some question about payment of the Martinsburg Volunteer Fire Co. fuel bill for 2022. The board had just paid their 2023 fuel bill which was submitted, the 2022 bill for $4,741 came in afterward. Solicitor Larry Lashinsky said the township had always paid the fuel bill in past years as a courtesy, but they may want to look at how they handle payments in the future. There was no explanation for...
Spring Cove School Board Board Member Misti Fisher spoke adamantly about changing the district’s absentee policy during the attendance policy discussion (Policy No. 204) while other boardmembers expressed opposition during the February regular Board of Directors meeting for the Spring Cove School District. Fisher said that in other nearby school districts, five days off with the flu would not even count as one day absent. She cited Northern Bedford’s attendance policy several times, saying other districts were not as strict as Spring Cove on...
At the February monthly meeting of the Northern Bedford County School District, both middle school and high school principals announced the results of an undertaking called Unplugged Day. All students gave up electronic devices connected to the internet for one day. The purpose of this activity was to raise awareness of addiction to technology, specifically social media. High school Principal Shawn Cerully reported the day a “complete success.” Many of the students said this experience opened their eyes to the specific addiction to social med...
An informational session was held prior to the Spring Cove School District Board of Directors Committee of the Whole meeting with the solicitor regarding the state’s Sunshine Act. The public’s right to attend governmental agency meetings in Pennsylvania is based upon a state law called the “Sunshine Act.” The Sunshine Act applies to public agencies, which include Pennsylvania executive branch agencies, the General Assembly, and municipal authorities, such as township boards of supervisors and local school boards. The Act also covers any org...
Interim Acting Superintendent Darren McLaurin announced his resignation after only four months in the position at the February monthly Committee of the Whole meeting of the Hollidaysburg Area School District Board of Directors. The new superintendent, Curtis Whitesel, will not come in to fill the position until April. Until that time, Special Education Director Rodney Green will fill the superintendent slot. McLaurin thanked the board for a chance to serve the district for the past four months as interim superintendent and would be glad to...
The longtime victims of flood waters in Gaysport received good news with the announcement that the borough of Hollidaysburg had been awarded $690,000 in grant money for the Gaysport stormwater project. Approval was given by Hollidaysburg Borough Council to use a portion of the grant money to purchase 7.8 acres of the Stowell Farm to construct a retention pond as part of the stormwater project. The original estimate of the cost was around $1million for the project. The final cost will be above that. Borough Solicitor Nathan Karn said the match...
Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker reviewed the 2024-27 comprehensive plan for the Spring Cove School District at the regular Spring Cove School District Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The plan was put together by parents, community members, teachers and administrators. The plan’s motto was “Building a foundation of success, one student at a time.” Dr. Baker described the biggest challenge faced by the district as a teacher and support-staff shortage and retention with fewer job applicants. Dr. Baker also cited as a chall...
The Hollidaysburg Area School District Board of Directors unanimously approved the appointment of Curtis A. Whitesel as the new superintendent for the Hollidaysburg Area School District at the January Committee of the Whole/Voting Meeting. Whitesel was given a five-year contract running from April 2024 through March 31, 2029. Whitesel is currently the superintendent of schools for Bald Eagle Area School District, a position he started in October 2022. Prior to that, he had been superintendent at...
The longtime victims of flood waters in Gaysport received good news with the announcement that the borough of Hollidaysburg had been awarded $690,000 in grant money for the Gaysport stormwater project. Approval was given by Hollidaysburg Borough Council to use a portion of the grant money to purchase 7.8 acres of the Stowell Farm to construct a retention pond as part of the stormwater project. The original estimate of the cost was around $1million for the project. The final cost will be above that. Borough Solicitor Nathan Karn said the match...
The Spring Cove School District Board of Directors had to stop its monthly committee of the whole meeting for a 40-minute executive session after new board member Kevin Smith said he was going to ask for Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker’s resignation. The executive session came after an hour of listening to distraught parents upset over a variety of issues during the recognition of visitors portion of the meeting. Smith has claimed the board is not following policies as written. Smith said he w...
The Hollidaysburg Borough Council December monthly meeting was highlighted by the resignation of the borough manager, the hiring of a new police officer, and the final adoption of the 2024 budget. The borough council accepted the resignation of Borough Manager Jim Gehret, who had served as both manager and finance director for Hollidaysburg. He had been employed by the borough for almost 14 years. Councilman Walter Kalista highlighted the accomplishments of Gehret's tenure in office. The borough council then hired Gehret as the Interim Finance...
There was a major reorganization in the Hollidaysburg Area School District Board of Directors as four new members took the oath of office at the December Reorganization and Committee of the Whole Voting Meeting. New members included: Michele Luther, Missy Sullivan, Dr. John Wells, and Dr. Ying Lee. Kenneth Snyder retained his seat on the board, and holdover members on the board were Carmen Bilek, Scott Brenneman, Jennifer Costanza, and Ronald Sommer. Bilek was unanimously elected president of the board by a 9-0 vote replacing Ronald Sommer and...
New board members were installed during the December Hollidaysburg Area Community Partnership (HACP) Board of Directors meeting. Hannah Vipond of Geely Bar Nail Salon replaced the position left vacant by Jess Sorge's resignation while Susan Cashner of SLY Photography filled the opening left by Dr. Bob Gildea. Board terms were ending for Corey Gildea, Don Delozier, and Jodie Albarano, all three agreed to stay on the board. Becki Hollen retained her position as President while Maureen Letcher was chosen to step into the role of Vice President....
The Northern Bedford County School District Board of Directors had six members take the oath of office as part of the new board of directors at the December reorganizational meeting. Kelly Steele and Jack Briggs are new members to the board, while Steve Cottle, John Eshelman, Andrea Poteat, and Ralph Scott were reelected to serve in their positions. Scott will be serving a two-year term. Randy Wiand was elected as board president, Steve Cottle as vice president, and Poteat as board secretary. Briggs was appointed to serve as legislative...
The Spring Cove School District Board of Directors saw four new members and one incumbent take the oath of office administered by District Judge Andrew Blattenberger. Newcomers Gretchen Bettwy, Misti Fisher, Andrea Moses, and Kevin Smith joined incumbent Troy Wright on the newly elected board. The board lost four outgoing members in former board president Brian Gahagan, Floyd Detterline, Samantha Snowberger, and Kelly Marks. Troy Wright was elected as school board president while Amy Acker...
The Hollidaysburg Area Community Partnership (HACP) announced at its November monthly Board of Directors meeting that it will be losing its Director of Marketing Alyssa Barilar. The City of Altoona has eliminated its director of marketing position and its current director, Emily Evey, may be interested in assuming the position with the HACP. Board member Don Delozier said the Hollidaysburg Borough was fortunate to have Melanie Ramsey as director of community relations and events as a community event planner/liaison while communities around...
The Board of Directors for the Hollidaysburg Area School District continues to move forward with the hiring of a new School District superintendent. The board met Tuesday, Oct. 31 in the senior high school library at 6:15 p.m. for discussion of superintendent candidates. They also discussed the issue in a closed-door session Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 p.m. in the library, and on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. in the senior high guidance career conference room. An update on the search should be given at the Dec. 6 reorganization and committee of...
The November monthly meeting of the Hollidaysburg Borough Council was highlighted by the vote on approving the Hollidaysburg Police Association Collective Bargaining Agreement, the hiring of a part-time safety clerk for the police department, and a new ambulance for the Hollidaysburg American Legion Ambulance Service. Borough Manager James Gehret said the police salary increase for the years 2024, ‘25, and ‘26 would be 4 percent across the board. Gehret said there would be no more shift differentials paid. The current contract with the Hol...
A long discussion on the construction of the Wellness Building on campus highlighted the Northern Bedford County School District November Board of Directors meeting. The board was asked to approve the Wellness Building construction bid as presented by the sole bidder, Corle Construction, at a cost of $1,121,991. The original budget for the Wellness Buildng was $1,335,000. The possibility of moving forward with the project if construction costs increase until building began was recognized by the board. The Wellness Building bid from Corle was...
The November regular meeting of the Spring Cove School District Board of Directors served as the last scheduled meeting for four of the sitting board members: President Brian Gahagan, Floyd Detterline, Kelly Marks and Samantha Snowberger. The new board members will be seated at the re-organizational meeting on Dec. 4. Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker stated, “On behalf of the entire Spring Cove School District, I wish to thank all four of these board members for their service to our community and particularly to our students. In reflection, y...
Administrators, school board members, parents, students, teachers, and members of the business community crowded into the Northern Bedford County High School Cafeteria for the bi annual Career Technical Education (CTE) Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC ) banquet. The main purpose of the OAC is to strengthen the career and technical education program of the school by making recommendations for program improvement and providing technical assistance to assure the most up to date curriculum content and resources. Northern Bedford High School...
Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) requested that the Hollidaysburg Borough submit a grant application for a Local Share Account Grant on behalf of the fire department. This grant would allow the department to purchase a new fire engine at $936,841. A purchase agreement in the amount of $170,000 for the property known as Diamond Supply at 320 N. Juniata St. was unanimously approved. The property was purchased to construct a pedestrian bridge from Canal Basin Park over the highway to the current Diamond Supply location. This will become...
The Hollidaysburg Area Community Partnership (HACP) is looking to promote member businesses through video promotion. A quote was received from Joe Glass for a promo video creation at a base price of $600 for an approximately one-minute video with shots around the town of Hollidaysburg and a voiceover. The base price for a mini documentary-style video that would include a few interviews from people (3-6 minutes long) would be $1,000. He is the videographer who does all the ABCD Corporation First Frontier videos. Marketing Director Alyssa...
The motion to appoint Darren McLaurin as acting Superintendent of the Hollidaysburg Area School District was unanimously approved by the board of directors at the October committee of the whole/voting meeting. McLaurin will step into this role to fill in for departing Superintendent Dr. Robert Gildea. McLaurin will be hired at a rate of $550 per day effective Oct. 30, 2023, through Oct. 30, 2024, or until the district hires a new superintendent. McLaurin retired as the Claysburg-Kimmel School District superintendent, a position he assumed in De...
The Spring Cove School District took another step in ensuring safety for staff and students by hiring Gregory Sutton as a part-time school police officer for 16 hours per week with a starting rate of pay set at $25/hour. “We are fortunate to currently have four (police) resource officers, two part-time and two full-time, all of them retired State Police Officers,” said Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker at the Monday, Oct. 16, school board of directors meeting. The district was originally looking at hiring a full-time officer, but that can...
Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker announced at the Monday, Oct. 9 Spring Cove School Board of Directors committee of the whole meeting that the new boiler purchased for Martinsburg Elementary School could not be operable until the flue liner, which was ordered, arrived. The liner is due to come any day. In the meantime, 31 large space heaters at a cost of $3,000 have been placed in classrooms to keep students warm. Notification has been sent home to all parents on the status of the situation. The board had a lengthy policy discussion on...
The Blair County Sports Hall of Fame will recognize Jim Fee as the Community Service Award winner at its banquet to be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Fee is receiving the award as a result of his 50-year involvement as an ambassador for soccer in Blair County. Fee’s start in soccer began by playing on the first Altoona Area High School Soccer team in 1967. He played four years on varsity from 1967-70. In the armed forces, he played soccer and began refereeing games while stationed in G...
The Hollidaysburg Area School District Board of Directors unanimously approved a contract with the Pa. School Board Association (PSBA) to begin a search to replace departing district Superintendent Dr. Robert Gildea. The PSBA will provide the district professional consultation and clerical services to assist in the selection of a new superintendent of schools. Gildea, who has been with the district for 23 years, serving as Hollidaysburg School District Superintendent for the past 10 years, is the new superintendent at Lower Dauphin School...
Stormwater updates on grant money for the storm sewer project, the hiring of a part time safety clerk for the police department, and submitting a grant on behalf of Phoenix Fire Co. for a new engine dominated discussion in a packed meeting room at the September Hollidaysburg Borough Council Meeting. The Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department requested that the Borough submit a grant application for a Local Share Account Grant on behalf of the fire department for the purpose of purchasing a new fire engine. Council President Joe Pompa suggested...
The Marketing and Program & Development committees of the Hollidaysburg Area Community Partnership (HACP) have been extremely active in the borough in the past month. The planned member mixer gathering involved a major effort for those involved. Postcards were mailed out to all current HACP members. Cards were also placed at Boro Coffee. Over 20 businesses attended the mixer on Sept. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Boro Coffee. Attendees were all encouraged to head to the Downtown Live event after the mixer. A $25 gift card was given to Boro Coffee....
The discussion at Northern Bedford County School District Board of Directors’ monthly meeting focused on which specific areas of the school were most in need of extensive HVAC work and approval of a bid to complete the job. The board had bids from three vendors for HVAC work, and the low bid for air conditioning work went to Marc Service Inc. of Windber, PA, at a base bid of $87,523. There were four other alternative projects up for consideration of air conditioning work including the stage and conference room at a cost of $46,847, the elementa...
The regular September meeting of the Spring Cove School District Board of Directors was highlighted by numerous hirings and resignations. Thad Albright was hired as a mathematics teacher at Central High School with a salary of $50,728. Albright was hired with an emergency certificate and his continued employment is contingent upon obtaining a valid Pa. mathematics certification no later than the start of the 2026-27 school year. He must also continue to meet the annual requirements for emergency certification. Solicitor Jenn Dambeck said due...
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board of Directors unanimously approved the 2023-24 school meal prices by a 6-0 vote. Board members Nicole Hartman, Manny Nichols, and Jennifer Costanza were absent for the meeting. Per the Pa. Dept. of Education (PDE), breakfast will be free for all students in 2023-24. Those who qualify for a reduced lunch will now receive a free lunch. The administration’s recommended prices for all a la carte items for the upcoming year were also approved. The motion to approve and accept an Agreement for a Guaranteed Energy S...
The process to hire the ninth police officer for the Hollidaysburg borough has proven difficult over the last several months. Only two applicants applied for the position and Ann Andrews of the Pa. Civil Service Commission said applicants for open police positions are down everywhere. The commission reviewed the hiring process to move it along more quickly and made these suggestions to help make needed changes in filling the position: Applicants minimum age should be dropped from 21 years of age to 19, applicants residency should be moved from...
The Hollidaysburg Area Community Partnership (HACP) Board of Directors monthly meeting outlined a number of marketing and program and development committee projects they have become invested in within the Hollidaysburg Borough. HACP will be sponsoring all music for Third in the Burg held downtown the third Friday of each month. Third in the Burg features late shopping, music, and an evening Farmer’s Market. It has met with a large turnout of participants. HACP provides additional information on the event on their Facebook page. The Story Walk H...
Spring Cove School District Athletic Director Stacy Kuster is looking to bring a girls wrestling program to the district as an official sport. According to Kuster, girls wrestling is the fastest growing sport in the country. It has been approved by the PIAA as an official sport. Spring Cove S.D. currently has one girl already wrestling on the varsity boys team. Several other girls have expressed interest in taking part if the district can pull a team together. Kuster will attend a Sept. 12 Zoom meeting with the PIAA in regard to girls...
Spring Cove School District is gearing up for the start of the 2023-24 school year. Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker announced that eight newly hired teachers would be taking part in this year's induction sessions, which include one initial full day session in August and monthly after-school sessions for the remainder of the year. Inductees are assigned teacher mentors to support them on a daily basis as needed throughout the school year. “Meet the Teacher events are quickly approaching,” Baker said. “This year we plan to operate a ‘Job Opportu...
There was a great deal of news from the Marketing Committee and the Planning and Development Committee from the Hollidaysburg Area Community Partnership (HACP). HACP sponsors music for Third in the Burg every third Friday of the month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There is shopping, music, and an evening farmer’s market. The dates for Third in the Burg were set for June 16, July 21, Aug. 18, and Sept. 15. Samantha Prass performed at the most recent event. The celebration takes place rain or shine. HACP will partner with the Altoona Area Business C...
During the July Borough Council meeting, Police Chief Christopher Storm stated there were two candidates for the opening of a ninth police officer in the borough, but neither candidate fit the bill for the position which has been vacant since October 2021. The search for the officer began in May. The borough had two applications for the job, but one candidate did not have his Act 120 certification which is a requirement for all Pa. municipal police officers and the other was an out of state university policeman. “We need to readvertise for the...
The annual report presentation to the board was given by Superintendent Dr. Robert Gildea and Business Manager Autumn Fiscus. Gildea started by stating the Hollidaysburg Area School District vision statement, which says that the community is dedicated to educating all learners by maximizing the growth of each individual student. He gave five vision statements to enable this growth. 2023 has been a future-driven, student-centered learning environment. The acronym T.I.G.E.R. has become important: think, imagine, growth, explore, reinvent...
Central High School Principal Stephanie Thompson gave a special presentation on the school's Work Release Program at the regular monthly meeting of the Spring Cove School District Board of Directors. Thompson's purpose was to put a structured formal plan in place for work release. The program is strictly for seniors and those involved will be part-time students and spend part of the day at their workplace. Thompson emphasized, however, the Work Release program does not follow co-op guidelines....
Approval of release of funds to the Phoenix Fire Co., renewal of the Intergovernmental Stormwater Committee agreement, an update on hiring of an additional police officer were primary items on the agenda at the Hollidaysburg Borough Council monthly meeting. The Intergovernmental Stormwater Agreement up for renewal was reviewed by council members before a vote was taken on renewal. The ISC has 10 local entities, which jointly manage, implement, fund and comply with federal regulations related to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Municipal S...
