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Era names top stories of 2008
By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER
Era Reporter
marcie@bradfordera.com
Topping out the year in news is the turbulent economy of the nation and its trickle-down effects on the local region.
Jobs lost and closings and relocations — it’s been a tough year for businesses in the region. That’s the number one story on The Era’s annual countdown.
The second story is closely related, with the City of Bradford’s budget crisis next on the list. Facing a 39 percent tax increase, Mayor Tom Riel went public with the city’s plight, explaining where costs were rising and taking the mystery out of the financial emergency.
The third story on the countdown impacted the region in a different way — environmentally. Two men have been charged with causing an oil spill that dumped more than 40,000 gallons of crude onto the Allegheny National Forest.
Era editors, reporters and photographers voted on the top 10 stories of the year, noting factors such as importance and long-term impact.
1. Recession
Hit by hard times, the officials in the local business sector have tried to keep companies afloat with a myriad of tough decisions, such as layoffs, early retirements and extended shutdowns over the holidays.
One of the hardest hit has been Zippo Manufacturing Co., which has laid off more than 120 workers since September. Citing slow sales and a weak global market, Zippo officials also instituted a four-day work week for employees.
Other industries with confirmed layoffs have included Bradford Forest, Georgia-Pacific and KOA Speer, the latter of which offered employees a month of voluntary layoff for December.
2. City of Bradford’s budget crisis
As the end of the year approached, city officials voted on the first reading of a 2009 budget with a 39 percent increase in property taxes. Mayor Tom Riel goes public to explain the plight of the city, saying less income from timber sales, higher costs for health care and the state of the national economy all figure into the tax increase. Riel says city officials approached the labor unions, asking for concessions which could put less of a burden on taxpayers, but the unions declined. The city countered by laying off four employees and passing a 2.89 percent millage increase, down from 4.43 mills.
3. Oil spill on the ANF
Father and son, Andrew and Christopher Horton, are charged with vandalizing a tank battery on the Allegheny National Forest in August, causing more than 46,000 gallons of crude oil to spill into the environment. The men were former employees of Snyder Brothers Oil, who owned the tanks. Andrew Horton allegedly dropped off his son near the site, knowing his son intended to open valves on tanks and smash flow meters. About 17,000 gallons of the spilled crude entered parts of the Allegheny Reservoir. Criminal cases against the two men are still pending in McKean County Court.
4. Petroleum ups and downs
The ups and downs in the petroleum industry put Bradford and its neighbors on a roller coaster ride throughout 2008. Gasoline prices reached a record high of $4.02 and dipped to $1.78 in December — but always were significantly higher in Bradford than the rest of the country, sometimes by as much as 50 cents a gallon. Consumer prices for other types of fuel — propane, heating oil and natural gas — also fluctuated wildly in Bradford, but by year’s end had modulated with the price of gasoline. Local independent oil producers started out 2008 in fine shape but also took a hit by year’s end when the weakening economy pushed the price of crude below $40 a barrel.
5. BRMC looks to “merge” with OGH
Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital, across the border in New York, sign a letter of intent to merge in 2009. Officials with both say the “integration” is expected to be complete, with both hospitals operating as one new regional health care system, by Oct. 1, 2009. Officials say the merger would benefit both communities and would provide a larger population in attempts to lure specialty doctors to the entire region.
6. Changes for McKean County government
Three new county commissioners — Joe DeMott, Judy Church and Al Pingie — took office at the beginning of 2008, and set about dismantling the positions created by the previous board of commissioners, such as county administrator and director of legal affairs. The warden of the county’s prison, Tim Woodruff, resigned, saying he lacked support of the prison board. The commissioners name Sheriff Brad Mason to replace him, taking the prison back to the system of a sheriff-run facility. By the end of the year, citing rising costs, the commissioners pass a 1.5 mill real estate tax increase for 2009.
7. ANF battleground
The Allegheny National Forest was the focal point of many battles during 2008, most significantly one between the ever-expanding oil and gas industry and groups espousing environmental concerns. Perhaps most visible was a tussle over proposed oil drilling in the scenic Rimrock area. The entire issue will probably be decided in court as, by the end of the year, a lawsuit was pending over the issue. On another subject, forest officials had announced plans to abandon several recreational areas, citing increasing costs of maintenance.
8. BASD under fire
Some controversial decisions brought the Bradford Area School District and its Board of Education under fire in 2008. At a lunchtime meeting in March, the board approved a bid for nearly $1 million to convert Parkway Field to artificial turf, setting off a public furor about the need for such a tremendous expense in an uncertain economy. Due to the outcry, the board votes again — and still approves the field. In November, the district comes under fire again for failing to rehire popular Assistant Varsity Football Coach Jerry Pattison, at first without a reason given. Pattison later informs the press that school Superintendent Sandra Romanowski said his “hot-headed reputation” was the reason for his being let go.
9. Bradford Regional Airport changes
To start the year, Bradford Regional Airport unveiled its service to Washington’s Dulles Airport aboard United Airlines. Officials work to market the service. At the same time, ground is broken for a Pennsylvania National Guard Armory on airport property. Later in the year, air service comes up for bid under the Essential Air Service program, leading to Gulfstream Airlines of Florida taking over. Continental Airlines now flies to Cleveland, Ohio, from Bradford. And at the end of the year, airport Authority Chairman Clifford Lane resigns, and is replaced by Fred Fesenmyer.
10. (Tie) Cleland moves up
Celebrate Bradford
Longtime McKean County Judge John Cleland was appointed in June to fill a vacancy on the state Superior Court, a position he will hold until Dec. 31, 2009. Cleland had been the county’s only judge for about two decades until the state Legislature approved adding another position, which was filled by John H. Yoder, longtime district magistrate. After Cleland’s service on the state appellate court, he will become a Senior Judge, serving wherever the state Supreme Court assigns him.
Rounding out the list, Bradford City officials showed off their crowning accomplishments in September with a Celebration Day, showcasing the multi-millions of dollars of improvements at Old City Hall, on Kennedy and Boylston streets, and showed off the neighborhood rescued from blight on Onofrio Street.
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