Tyrone to honor first responders

Monument to be located at corner of 10th Street, Pennsylvania Ave.

Tyrone Borough on Saturday will dedicate its new monument to first responders, located on a former vacant lot at the southeast corner of 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

A contractor recently completed the project, which involved creating a red stamped concrete surface, installing a concrete base and setting the 48-inch high black stone monument, which is etched with generic insignia for the fire service, law enforcement and emergency medical services.

John Claar Excavating of Woodward did the work in tandem with improvements to the City Hotel Park, diagonally across the intersection, according to Borough Manager Ardean Latchford.

Borough officials, along with local lawmakers, will be at the 11 a.m. dedication.

The borough paid the contractor $206,000 and Mayes Memorials of Lemont $12,000 for the stone.

Mayes provided the 4-foot high stone for the price of a 3-foot high version, said borough Mayor Bill Latchford.

The mayor wanted the monument to be "inclusive" of responders past, present and future, he said, during a discussion about the project in early 2022.

Council seat unfilled

Tyrone Borough Council has decided not to name a replacement for Councilman Charlie Mills, who died Sept. 9.

The borough's charter calls for filling a vacant council seat within 60 days, but the expiration of that time would be on Dec. 19, after council's regular December meeting and only a couple of weeks before council candidate Tammy Wills will be taking a seat on council anyway, Ardean Latchford said.

Wills is running unopposed in the general election next month.

Council could conceivably have appointed someone, including Wills, to fill out Mills' term at its December meeting, but that person would have served as an appointee for only that single meeting, the manager said.

The borough's solicitor said it was OK to let Mills' term expire without appointing a replacement, the manager said.

In addition, Borough Council gave the go-ahead for acquisition of a set of railroad wheels that a local artisan will turn into a bench for the borough's rail station park, at the request of Councilman Bob Dollar, president of the Tyrone Historical Society.

The bench will be similar to one located on the approach to the North Eighth Bridge in Juniata.

"It will be a great addition," said Mayor Latchford.

Borough Council also approved a plan for spending $91,000 in Community Development Block Grant money for rehabilitation of single-unit, owner-occupied homes.

There are 17 units on the borough's waiting list for CDBG rehab grants.

Blair County handles the administration of the borough's CDBG money.

Borough Council approved an application for a $910,000 Local Share Account-Statewide grant on behalf of the Neptune Volunteer Fire Company, so it can acquire a pumper engine. The engine would replace a 2001 model. The new truck would be safer, with more space for passengers and equipment storage, along with bigger pumping capacity, as stated in minutes for council's September meeting.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.