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Blair County approves labor contracts with union employees

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County commissioners recently approved separate contracts with two groups of unionized employees. A three-year contract addressing wages and benefits for unionized personnel at the county prison, as approved June 25 by commissioners Dave Kessling and Amy Webster, introduces a 15-step wage scale and a retroactive effective date of Jan. 1. That scale sets a starting hourly wage of $23.50 for corrections officers and pay increases per step, to maximum hourly pay of $30.50. It also sets a starting hourly wage of $25 for sergeants, with pay increases per step, to a ...

Norfolk Southern issues alert ahead of Big Boy visit

Norfolk Southern officials are asking Big Boy viewers to keep mainline access roads clear when the locomotive is coming through. Anyone who parks at the entrance of an access road to the Norfolk Southern mainline — so they can walk to the tracks to see the Big Boy steam locomotive as it passes through our area between July 8 and 11 — should make sure their vehicles don’t block the entrance. It’s possible the road may be needed for emergency vehicles or railroad equipment, according to an NS spokesperson.

Prince Gallitzin targets aquatic invasive species

Prince Gallitzin State Park will be participating in the annual Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week and the “Landing Blitz” watercraft inspections on Saturday and Sunday, July 4-5, at the Beaver Valley Marina launch. Hundreds of organizations across the Great Lakes region will be coming together to educate boaters and the public about the risks of spreading aquatic invasive species (AIS) during the annual Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz. As part of the Landing Blitz, inspectors will be at the Beaver Valley boat launch to educate boaters on how to prevent the spread of AIS, ways ...

Central Cove participates in state convention

UNIVERSITY PARK Central Cove FFA members delivered an impressive showing at the 97th Pennsylvania State FFA Convention on the campus of Penn State University. Students competed in a wide range of Career Development Events and Leadership Development Events, earning commendable placements and multiple bracket recognitions across the three-day event. The Forestry Team secured an outstanding 3rd place finish, marking one of Central Cove’s highest team achievements of the week. Central Cove’s annual FFA Scrapbook placed fourth out of 38 entries, earning a coveted Gold Bracket ...

FFA Spotlight: Grace Novosel

Age and school: 18, Bellefonte Area High School Family: Parents, Michael and Billie Novosel FFA chapter: Bellefonte Years involved with FFA: 3 years Amount of time spent on FFA: I take Ag classes, participate in CDE’s, attend leadership events and work on my SAE. FFA projects: Public ...

Sweet success? Spring temperature ‘roller coaster’ may delay corn crops

Once again, a mixed bag of weather has created havoc for area sweet corn growers; however, some sweet corn may be ready this week. “We are planning to pick our first corn July 2. Our goal is to try and get excellent sweet corn ready by the Fourth of July. That doesn’t happen every year ...