DAMAGE CONTROL OR NEW REVELATION? The Armstrong County commissioners James Scahill (left), Rich Fink, and Patricia Kirkpatrick will hold a press conference later this afternoon, according to Chief Clerk George Skamai (right).
A press conference has been scheduled for this afternoon by the Armstrong County Commissioners with the media and the county’s Information Technology director James H. Venturini.
This comes on the heels of a Thursday public meeting when commissioners, through a Pittsburgh attorney, revealed pornography was found on county-owned computers used by Armstrong County Coroner Robert Bower.
Although not mentioned in a request made by Chief Clerk George J. Skamai, it is presumed the meeting will offer reaction to last Thursday’s announcement.
“[The commissioners] want to make it clear that the news conference will involve the Board of Commissioners, the media, and our IT director Jim Venturini. Nobody else will be permitted into the room for this event,” Skamai said.
Bower has accused the commissioners of political posturing by purposely not placing their attorney on the agenda.
“I get a copy of the agenda. If I had seen his name on there, I would have been at that meeting.”
Bower said the revelation that surfaced in April 2009 was not to be made public since there was no basis for criminal charges. He said the decision to go public now was to discredit him.
“They know that during the last commissioner’s race, I had a petition ready to go. I was going to run for county commissioner. I chose not to. They know I was going to run in two years. I am sure that they do not want to be in a position to have anyone run against them, especially someone who is already in an elected capacity.”
Bower has been the Coroner for the last 24 years and denies that he was the person who visited sexually-explicit Internet sites.
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Armstrong County Housing Division Director Adrienne Commodore says the township must be over 4,000 residents to continue to qualify for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).
by David Croyle
Manor Township supervisors are concerned about losing funding from the state and federal government if their population decreases during the current census.
According to Armstrong County Housing Division Director Adrienne Commodore, the township must be over 4,000 residents to continue to qualify as an entitlement community for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).
“The population count was 4,231 persons in 2000,” Commodore told supervisors last week. “That is how close you came last time. It must not go below 4,000.”
As an entitlement community, Manor Township is eligible for as much as $100,000 each year to make improvements in the township.
“We are really pushing Armstrong County residents to complete the census because it has a bearing on the amount of grant funding that comes into this municipality and the county. It is based on numbers. We can only get correct numbers through a census,” Commodore said.
“It was at 5,030 when I came on as Supervisor in 1976,” Supervisor Howard Jack told Commodore.
“Talk to neighbors, family members, or anybody who lives in Manor Township to let them know how important census is,” Commodore urged. “If numbers do not stay at 4,000 or more, you could be in jeopardy of losing designation.”
“It is about getting appropriations to people who need it most,” Armstrong County Commissioner Rich Fink explained at a separate meeting. “Everyone should participate. Whether it is federal or state, the census will play an important part.”
Commissioner Patricia Kirkpatrick agreed. “CDBG looks at the numbers. For entitlement communities, it is critical to have the numbers to see how much dollars can be received. It is up to us for elected officials to get word out.”
Commissioner James Scahill said attrition rates are well established. “We have slowly lost population. We are one out of four that are age 60 or above. We are aging. The average age in housing is 47. There are pockets of growth and stable communities, but some are losing. If you are an entitlement community, you get an extra pot of money.”
A census short form of ten questions will be mailed in March.
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A group of Mary Jane Crownover's ninth-grade students at Kittanning High School were involved in making the blankets. for needy families in our area.
by Nathan Lasher
Kittanning High School Family/Consumer Science teacher Mary Jane Crownover and a group of her ninth-grade students created 42 blankets which they intend to donate to needy people in the area.
“The blankets are made out of fleece, and they fit a double size bed,” said Crownover. “The colors and patterns were completely created by the students.”
Crownover and her students were able to manufacture the blankets during a two-day project provided through an ARIN Intermediate Unit homeless project. The project occurred during Crownover’s classes on Friday, January 29 and Monday, February 1.
“It took us two days to complete the project,” said Crownover. “Over the course of seven periods, a total of roughly 140 students worked on the blankets. Some of the blankets will be distributed in Armstrong County based on need. So far, some have been given to fire victims; one was given to a little boy who had surgery on both his legs; one went to a young woman with a brain tumor; others went to homeless people in Kittanning. We are compiling a list. My students are allowed to come in and say that they know someone with an issue. In the end, we will select who has the greatest need.”
Two ARIN representatives, Maureen Bourke and Robin Fiedler will come to KSHS after school on Monday to pick up the blankets that are left over for distribution to the needy.
“The PA Homeless Children’s Initiative (HCI) Program helps to make sure that any and all homeless students receive the services they’re entitled to,” said Bourke. “Some examples include free breakfast and lunch at school, transportation to the school where they attend, and helping to provide necessary school supplies. My co-worker, Regional Coordinator Andrea Sheesley, and I work with all of the school districts in each county as well as all of the shelters, including domestic violence, emergency shelters, and others in each county. Andrea came up with the idea of the blanket project last year and it was so successful that she wanted to try it again this year. I’m happy to say it’s become even more popular this year.”
Students were not only able to sharpen their blanket-making skills during this project; they also learned a few things about becoming involved in their community. “I thought the program was fantastic,” said Crownover. “I used to work through the homeless program myself, and I really think it was helpful to the students to be involved in something that went beyond the doors at Kittanning High School. It raised the consciousness of basic needs. That’s one of the first things we try to teach in ninth grade.”
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