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Greene County Gazette
from
Greene County Board of Commissioners
Pam Snyder, Chairman
Archie Trader
Chuck Morris
For Immediate Release
www.co.greene.pa.us
Ruth Thornberg, Webmaster
Edited by
Elizabeth Menhart, Communications Director,
Commissioners’ Unit
[email protected]
Greene County Commissioners
Phone: 724-852-5210
Fax 724-852-5327
93 East High Street, 3rd Floor
WAYNESBURG, PA – Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Pictured, from l. to r., are Teen Miss Floretta Chambers, Commissioner Chuck Morris, Young Miss Caitlyn
Ricco, Recreation Director Jake Blaker, Tiny Miss Bailey Barnyak, Commissioner Archie Trader, Petite Miss
Alexa Smith, Commissioner Pam Snyder and Junior Miss Macey Whipkey.
Five local girls crowned Miss Greene County queens
Five local girls were crowned Miss
Greene County in their age divisions
during the 22nd annual Miss Greene
County Pageant, held at 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 4, in the Stanley
Ferek III Auditorium of Carmichaels
Area High School. A queen and first
runner-up were crowned in each of
the five age categories – tiny, petite,
junior, young and teen.
The five queens crowned were:
Tiny Miss, Bailey Barnyak, 4, of
Carmichaels; Petite Miss, Alexa
Smith, 7, of Carmichaels; Junior
Miss, Macey Whipkey, 8, of
West Finley; Young Miss, Caitlyn
Ricco, 12, of Carmichaels; and
Teen Miss, Floretta Chambers, 17,
of Carmichaels. Each of the five
queens received a trophy, crown,
1
sash and bouquet, and will receive
a $100 savings bond.
A total of 18 contestants competed
in this year’s pageant, which had the
theme “Walking on Sunshine.”
“This year, we had 18 lovely
young ladies all competing for the
title of Miss Greene County,” said
Commissioner Pam Snyder, chair
Continued on Page 4
March 28, 2012
Greene County Gazette
Page 2
Commissioners make two proclamations in March
Greene County Commissioners
made two proclamations during
their March regular meetings.
On March 8, commissioners
proclaimed the month of March
2012
Intellectual
Disabilities
Awareness Month.
The proclamation offers advocates
of developmental disabilities an
opportunity to educate the public,
policymakers and other system
professionals about the challenges
that come with intellectual
disabilities.
The proclamation also recognizes
the thousands of service providers
that encourage individuals with
intellectual disabilities to lead full
and productive lives within society.
Commissioners
recognized
Debbie Conrad of Carmichaels,
an Intellectual & Developmental
Disabilities program consumer
Pictured, from l. to r., are Commissioner Chuck Morris; Commissioner
Archie Trader; IDD consumer Debbie Conrad of Carmichaels; Commissioner Pam Snyder; Cindy Moore, IDD supports coordinator; and
Deneen Chulick, IDD director.
Pictured, from l. to r., are Commissioner Chuck Morris; Commissioner
Archie Trader; Greg Leathers, emergency management director; Jack
Glidden, 911 telecommunications officer 2; and Commissioner Pam
Snyder.
who is currently employed with the
Fairdale Inn in Carmichaels.
The commissioners and IDD
staff also presented Conrad with a
special certificate acknowledging
her achievements in the community,
including gaining employment and
leading an independent life.
On March 22, commissioners
proclaimed the week of April
8-14, 2012, National Public Safety
Telecommunications Week.
The proclamation recognizes
the
Greene
County
911
telecommunicators who respond
to emergencies around the clock,
provide accurate information to
police and fire services and work to
keep the county safe.
“This is a great way for the county
to recognize our telecommunicators
and the professionalism they bring
to work every day,” said Greg
Leathers, emergency management
director.
March 28, 2012
Greene County Gazette
Page 3
Flashlight Drags
2012 dates set
At their March 8 regular meeting,
the Greene County Commissioners
approved the 2012 dates for
Flashlight Drags, the series of dragracing events held at the Greene
County Airport in Waynesburg.
Five dates have been selected: four
Sundays – May 20, June 24, July
22 and Aug. 26 – and one Saturday,
Sept. 8.
“We are pleased to once again
host Flashlight Drags in Greene
County,” said Commissioner Pam
Snyder, chair of the Board of
Commissioners. “We look forward
to continuing to improve these
events and build them into a unique
draw for the county.”
Gates are expected to open at noon
on the day of each race, with races
scheduled to run from 2 to 6 p.m.
Admission is $5 to watch and $25 to
race. Children under 12 are admitted
free.
Street-legal cars, trucks and bikes
are eligible to race, and all drivers
must have appropriate paperwork,
including a valid driver’s license,
current state registration and proof
of insurance.
Passengers are not allowed. All
racers must sign a waiver, and
minors must have a waiver notarized
to race.
For drivers wishing to race
convertible cars, the top must be
up, or the driver should wear a
Tim Rodeheaver of Rodeheaver Hotrod and Auto Repair in McClellandtown gets ready last year to practice-race his 1981 Ford Mustang
with a twin turbo against Michael Schindel of Altered Gas Performance
Events, LLC, the producers of Flashlight Drags, in his white BMW 335i.
helmet. Mufflers and Pennsylvania
Department of Transportationapproved tires are required. There
will be no refunds.
Produced
by
Altered
Gas
Performance
Events,
LLC,
Flashlight Drags consists of a 1/8mile race along the airport runway.
Drivers can race as many times as
they want and against any of the
other racers, all for fun. The format
is heads-up, meaning that both
vehicles leave the starting line at the
same time. The name of the event
refers back to the early days of drag
racing, when a flashlight was used
to signal the start.
The Flashlight Drags series of
races began in Greene County in
2007 and ran again in 2008 before
PennDOT’s Bureau of Aviation
mandated that municipal airports
could not host non-aviation events.
The Greene County Commissioners
appealed this decision and received
a waiver from the bureau allowing
the county to again host the drag
racing events at the airport, which
began again in 2010.
This year, the county will receive
20 percent of admission from both
spectators and racers.
Rain dates are planned in the event
of inclement weather.
For more information, call the
Department of Recreation at
724-852-5323, or visit www.
flashlightdrags.com.
Greene County to maintain transportation services
Just days away from an anticipated
reduction in services, the Greene
County
Medical
Assistance
Transportation
Program
has
received additional state funding
and will not need to limit services
for transportation consumers.
Last month, the Greene County
Commissioners announced that,
due to spending cuts by the state
Department of Public Welfare,
the county may reduce its MATP
services beginning April 1.
However, the county has received
an additional allocation of $157,878
from the state that will allow the
MATP to continue operating with
no change or reduction in services.
Human Services Administrator
Karen Bennett met earlier this
month with state Sen. Tim Solobay
to discuss the funding issues.
Last July, the state trimmed nearly
Continued on Page 4
March 28, 2012
MATP maintained
From Page 3
$400,000 from the county’s MATP
allocation. The state also reduced
mileage reimbursement rates from
27 cents a mile to 12 cents a mile for
consumers who arrange their own
transportation to and from medical
appointments.
In
early
February,
the
commissioners mailed a letter to
the state expressing disappointment
over the July funding cut and
Miss GC Pageant
From Page 1
of the Board of Commissioners
and master of ceremonies for
the pageant. “They all brought a
terrific amount of beauty, talent
and sunshine to our pageant stage,
and we’d like to thank them for a
wonderful show. We’d also like to
congratulate this year’s queens, and
we look forward to seeing them out
and about Greene County.”
The contestant age categories were:
Tiny Miss, 2 to 4 years; Petite Miss,
5 to 7 years; Junior Miss, 8 to 11
years; Young Miss, 12 to 14 years;
and Teen Miss, 15 to 17 years.
In the Tiny Miss division, Barnyak
also won the photogenic, sportswear
and formalwear awards. Runner-up
was Addison Palko, 4, of Jefferson.
In the Petite Miss division, Smith
also won the formalwear award.
Runner-up Jovi Blasinsky, 5, of
Carmichaels won the sportswear
award. Ariel Russo, 6, of
Carmichaels won the photogenic
award, and Brookelynn Walker, 6, of
Carmichaels won the talent award.
Other Petite Miss contestants
included Emilee Wollard, 5, and Kaci
Tedrow, 7, both of Waynesburg.
In the Junior Miss division,
Whipkey also won the photogenic,
Greene County Gazette
Page 4
notifying the state of the imminent
service reduction. After the funding
decrease, the county was left with
$866,357 to operate the MATP until
June 30, the end of the program’s
fiscal year.
Even with the adjusted program
allocation of $1.02 million, a
funding shortfall is still expected by
the end of June.
The county will continue to
implement state-approved costsaving measures it first established
in January, when the county began
reducing more long-distance trips
and reassessing each consumer’s
mode of transportation.
In
addition
to
mileage
reimbursement, the county also
coordinates and provides bus trips
to and from medical appointments
or for authorized medical services to
consumers who qualify for Medical
Assistance.
For more information, call the
Transportation office at 724-6276778 or toll-free at 1-877-3607433.
sportswear and formalwear awards,
as well as the Director’s Award
for raising the most money in
advertising sponsorships among all
contestants. Whipkey received an
additional trophy and will receive a
$500 savings bond.
Runner-up Micaela Ricco, 10, of
Carmichaels won the talent award.
Other Junior Miss contestants
included Jessi Blasinsky, 9, of
Carmichaels; Payden Policz, 10, of
Waynesburg; Shelby Burkett, 9, of
Rices Landing; and Eden Rogers,
10, of Sycamore.
In the Young Miss division, Ricco
also won the photogenic, interview,
sportswear, talent and formalwear
awards.
In the Teen Miss division, Chambers
also won the interview, sportswear,
talent and formalwear awards.
Runner-up Lakelyn Sheldon, 16, of
Crucible won the photogenic award.
Also competing was Rebecca
Conklin, 15, of Carmichaels.
Judges for the pageant were Adam
Deflorio, a DJ and musician; Matthew
Lydic, a former power lifting
competitor who has worked with the
Miss Fitness USA competition; and
Kathy and Melanie-Jo Smartnick,
co-directors of the Miss Laurel
Highlands Scholarship Pageant.
Assisting in the awards ceremonies
were the 2011 Miss Greene County
queens: Tiny Miss Annalise Willis of
Waynesburg, Petite Miss Valentina
Bruno of Waynesburg, Junior Miss
Delaney Lohr of Carmichaels,
Young Miss Stephanie Mitchell of
Carmichaels and Teen Miss Kendall
Lewis of Carmichaels.
Also assisting were Joanna
Allen, 2011 Miss Rain Day;
Erica Bristor, 2012 Miss Laurel
Highlands; Victoria Buchtan, 2011
Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal
Queen; and Aimee Gillispie, 2011
Jacktown Fair Queen.
The 2012 Miss Greene County
Pageant was sponsored by Consol
Energy, Inc., and the Greene County
Commissioners, with additional
support from Alpha Natural
Resources, Community Bank,
Energy Corporation of America,
McCracken Pharmacy and WalMart.
The pageant was presented by
the Greene County Department of
Recreation.
All proceeds from the 2012 Miss
Greene County Pageant will benefit
Department of Recreation programs,
such as Day Camp, which provides
free activities for county children
every summer.
For more information, call 724852-5323.
March 28, 2012
Page 5
Greene County Gazette
This Month in Greene County Government…
Board of Commissioners:
During the commissioners’ regular
board meeting on Thursday, March
8, a resolution was made to designate
Pam Snyder as sole authorized
signatory on all documents relative
to the 2012 CYS vehicle loan. The
commissioners approved a contract
with
INFOCON
Corporation
to replace the current support
agreement with online services
and support agreement, and a subconsultant engineering agreement
with Widmer Engineering, Inc.,
regarding County Bridge #99.
A supplement agreement with
PennDOT for reimbursement for
County Bridge #99 was approved,
and a contract with Altered Gas
Performance, LLC, for the Flashlight
Drags dates was accepted.
Commissioners
accepted
the
resignation of Kim Coles from
the Assessment Appeals Board
and appointed Bruce Wermlinger
to fill the vacant spot, and a
purchase of service agreement with
Westmoreland County for a secure
detention facility was approved.
Under Human Services, the
commissioners
approved
a
proclamation
for
Intellectual
Disabilities Awareness Month, and
approved the following for Children
& Youth Services: the revised
FY2010/2011 Act 148 Quarterly
Report of Expenditures; the
FY2010/2011 contract with Mars
Group Home, pending solicitor
approval; and the FY2011/2012
contract with Pressley Ridge,
pending solicitor approval.
The Greene County Tax Claim
Bureau received a bid of $100 for
control #6-879 located in Dunkard
Township.
During the commissioners’ regular
board meeting on Thursday, March
22, Pam Snyder was designated
as sole authorized signatory on all
documents related to Greene County
bridges. An unconventional gas well
fee ordinance was approved, and a
proclamation was made declaring
April 8-14 National Public Safety
Telecommunications Week.
The following amendments to
DCED contracts were made: Contract
38394 – security system; Contract
38986 – Mon View Roller Rink/trail
designs; Contract 38836 – Interstate
ramp beautification; Contract 38834
– building improvements repairs/
equipment; and Contract 31895 –
recycling center relocation phase 2.
The following contracts were
approved between the Greene
County Fair Board and:
•Barnyard Petting Zoo & Pony
Rides, LLC.
•Power Pulling Productions, LLC.
•Fullerton Sound Rental Service
•Dennis D. Beach Custom
Woodcarvings
•Croushore’s
Championship
Demolition Derbies
•Martins Mobile Starting Gate
Service, LLC.
•Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
Commissioners also approved
agreements with PennDOT for the
conveyance of property near the
Humane Society; with Caiman Gas
Gathering, LLC, for a pipe yard
on airport property; with Widmer
Engineering for design work for
County Bridge #97 in Washington
Township; and with PennDOT for
reimbursement of the Bridge #97
design work.
A change of voting location for
Dunkard Upper was acknowledged,
and $20,000 in recreational minigrants was approved: $2,000 each
for Waynesburg Community Center,
Dunkard Township Municipal Park,
Waynesburg Sportsman Association,
Cumberland
Township/King
Coal Girls Softball, Cumberland
Township Wana B Park, King
Coal Youth Baseball and Izaak
Walton League; and $3,000 each
for Clarksville Park and Center
Township.
Commissioners
accepted
the
resignation of Gertrude Busti from
the Assessment Appeals Board
and appointed Deanna Renner to
fill the vacant spot, and approved
39 agreements for the care and
maintenance of veterans’ graves in
Greene County cemeteries.
The Greene County Tax Claim
Bureau received a bid of $99
for control #5-4485 located in
Cumberland Township.
Prison Board:
During the Prison Board meeting
on Wednesday, March 21, the
commissioners agreed to continue
housing inmates from Fayette
County. Suicide prevention training
was held on March 5 for all staff.
The commissioners approved
that day-to-day maintenance will
be conducted by the Maintenance
department.
Deposits
totaling
$3,920 have been made with the
Treasurer’s office for work release
and weekend inmates. Fayette
County owes $32,200 for February
2012 inmate housing.
Salary Board:
During the Salary Board meeting
on Thursday, March 22, the board
accepted the following personnel
actions:
NEW HIRES:
•Glenn Davis, Laborer, Maintenance
(temporary full-time)
•Zabryna
Karnes,
GPATH
Homeless
Outreach,
Human
Services (temporary full-time)
•Alexander Lee III, Deputy Sheriff
Continued on Page 6
March 28, 2012
Page 6
Greene County Gazette
Easter egg hunt highlight of activities at Mon View
Mon View Park in Greensboro will
be the site of an Easter egg hunt
and other Easter-related activities
– including a visit from the Easter
Bunny – Saturday, March 31.
Admission for the day’s events is
$7 per child. Adult admission is free
when accompanying a child.
Sponsored by Greene Waste
Services, Elite Oil Field Services,
the Greene County Commissioners
and the Greene County Department
of Recreation, the event begins
at 1 p.m. with an Easter basket
decorating contest. Baskets should
be decorated ahead of time and
ready to be judged.
During the contest, from 1 to 1:30
p.m., magician R. Chad Davis of
Fairmont, W.Va., will perform.
At 1:30 p.m., Easter basket
judging will begin, and prizes will
be awarded for first-, second- and
third-place winners in five different
age categories.
Winners will receive certificates
for food from Hardees and Subway.
At 1:30 p.m., the Easter egg hunt
will begin in the park, and from 2
to 4 p.m., the park’s roller rink will
host a special Easter skate.
Spring skating hours at Mon
View are 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and
Saturdays. Regular admission is
27 Greene County
employees donate to
Central Blood Bank
1
Twenty-seven Greene County employees
donated more than 30 pints of blood during a Central Blood Bank drive held Friday, March 23, at the Greene
County Fairgrounds.
Employees who participated
in the blood drive were able
to earn points toward the
county’s employee wellness
program.
Pictured are county employees Ruth Thornberg and Gene
D’Antonio (1); Nick Wise (2);
and Becky Harris, Judy Rizor
and Amie Miller (3).
3
Meeting Recaps
$5 for all skaters, whether renting
skates or bringing their own, and $5
for non-skaters.
The Department of Recreation will
host several more “Skate & Dance”
events on Fridays throughout the
rest of the spring season at Mon
View. The dates are April 13 and 27
and May 4. The skate will run from
7 to 9 p.m., and the dance will be
held from 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is
$8.
Mon View is available to rent for
private parties at a rate of $120 for
two hours.
For more information, call 724943-3440, or 724-852-5323.
PROMOTIONS:
•Nicole McGrady to regular fullFrom Page 5 time Corrections Officer 1, Prison
•James Osborne to regular partI, Sheriff’s office
•Ryan Tyler, GPATH Homeless time Corrections Officer, Prison
Outreach,
Human
Services RECLASSIFICATIONS: N/A
RETIREMENTS:
(temporary full-time)
•Jeffrey Wilson, Forensic Re-Entry •Mary Blake, Maintenance
Specialist, Human Services (grant- •John W. McNeely, Recreation
RESIGNATIONS:
funded)
•Kenneth Ambrose, Van Driver,
RE-HIRES:
•Claudia Iams, casual Van Driver, Transportation
•David Bunnell, Van Driver,
non-CDL, Transportation
2
Transportation
•Richard Nicklow III, Prison
SEPARATIONS:
•John Paul Dytko, Sheriff Deputy
I, Sheriff’s office
Retirement Board:
During the Retirement Board
meeting on Thursday, March 22,
Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall announced
that the new financial advisors are
working out well and everything is
going smoothly.