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Traffic study ordered

TYRONE — At the request of a former crossing guard who was nearly hit by a car on Clay Avenue in front of the Tyrone Area School District Campus, Borough Council this week agreed to ask PennDOT to conduct a traffic study on that stretch, in hopes it will justify a reduction in the 35 mph speed limit.

The speed limit almost everywhere else in the borough is 25 mph, and it’s unconscionable that it should be 10 mph faster in a school zone, according to Michele Miller.

“It’s crazy,” Miller said.

Last week, the Snyder Township supervisors agreed to ask PennDOT for a study on Clay Avenue, contingent on the borough doing the same, Miller said.

The municipalities share jurisdiction in the area.

The last traffic study for Clay was in 1989, Miller told council.

The study will cost the borough nothing, Miller said.

While not opposing Miller’s suggestion, Boro­ugh Manager Ardean Latchford said that a PennDOT official has told him of the department’s concern that lowering the speed limit on Clay Avenue would cause congestion.

After the car almost hit her, Miller flung a glove at it, which led School District Superintendent Cathy Harlow to question her judgment and — during a meeting on safety plans for the avenue — to Miller arguing with Physical Plant Supervisor Thomas Muir, resulting in Miller’s being fired as a security guard and resigning her post as a crossing guard.

Grant match

Council this week also voted to pledge up to $35,000 as a match for a grant sought by a local group that hopes to renovate the basketball courts at Reservoir Park.

The Tyrone Sports Association is asking for money from the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission for the $70,000 project.

The group wants to repave the courts, install a scoreboard, run electricity to the scoreboard, replace the lights and fencing and work on the bleachers, according to group President Ronnie Garbinsky.

Garbinsky first asked for the commitment in February, at a meeting council held to consider requests for money from the borough’s Community Enrichment Fund, which was created years ago to receive rent payments for wind turbines on borough land.

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