CRESSON - As a congressional deadline loomed, Keith Newlin hoped it won't be 1995 all over again.
Sixteen years ago, a federal budget impasse shutdown all "nonessential" government, including the nation's parks like the Allegheny Portage Railroad Historic site, Johnstown Flood Memorial National Memorial and others for a total of 25 days.
"I'm pretty confident that won't happen again," he said Friday, with just hours left in the government business day to stop a shutdown. "Hopefully, we'll get through this and avoid [a shutdown]. But I'm just listening and waiting like everyone else right now."
Newlin, director for the Western Region parks in Pennsylvania, which include the Flight 93 Memorial at Shanksville, said gates, offices and other park buildings would close immediately if it happens.
A bare-bones staff would remain at the park for patrols and safety.
"But there couldn't be meetings, events - any of that," Newlin added, noting scheduled school tours would be canceled.
Across the region, few other agencies will be impacted.
U.S. Post Offices would remain open. And federal prisons, like the Federal Correctional Institution at Loretto, will stay busy.
The Van Zandt VA Medical Center and its community outpatient clinics also will remain open for services, center spokeswoman Andrea Young said.
The U.S. District Court's office in downtown Johnstown also will be open - for the time being. Office staff confirmed Friday that judiciary funds are set aside to keep federal courts open for two weeks if a shutdown occurs.
The Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark site, which opened April 1 for another season, will not be affected if the federal government shuts down for lack of a budget.
"We are a national historic landmark, but not a national park," said Sherry McCarthy, marketing director for the Railroaders Memorial Museum that manages the Horseshoe Curve site.
Federal leaders worked late into the night Thursday on budget talks and it continued Friday.
Congressional leaders told The Associated Press that funding for several social issues, including a Republican planned $38 million cut to Planned Parenthood, had the parties deadlocked as of early Friday afternoon.
