GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Big finish
Penn State’s football team closes out the regular season Saturday, Nov. 26, in the most anticipated finale in years. The Nittany Lions face Michigan State at Beaver Stadium, and with a little help from Ohio State, a win would mean a trip to the Big Ten championship game./Page 19
November 23-30, 2016
Volume 8, Issue 47
FREE COPY
Thompson excited about working again with Pence By MARK BRACKENBURY
editor@centrecountygazette.com
G. KERRY WEBSTER/The Gazette
A LARGE DONATION of turkeys and Thanksgiving trimmings arrived at the new storage room of the Philipsburg Food Bank last week just in time for the holiday. In March, the Central Pennsylvania Community Action office moved next door and utilized its former office space for food storage. Pictured is Robin Knepp, CPCA’s Centre County supervisor of family services, preparing to fill 50 Thanksgiving baskets for distribution this week. More than 3,000 individuals will be served by Centre County food pantries this holiday season.
County food pantries gear up for holiday rush By G. KERRY WEBSTER kerry.ccgazette@gmail.com
PHILIPSBURG — It’s going to be a busy few weeks for the employees and volunteers at the eight food pantries in Centre County. Robin Knepp, Centre County supervisor of family services at Central Pennsylvania Community Action, said all eight county locations are geared up and packages are being made for thousands of families. “It’s time for the Christmas program and it looks like we’re all ready to go,” said Knepp, who oversees the eight food pantries. “I haven’t heard from anyone that they are in need of anything, so I’m confident we’re ready for the holiday season.”
CPCA employees and volunteers will be busy over the next several weeks packaging Christmas baskets for families. Each basket will contain a turkey, ham or meat voucher, as well as all the sides and trimmings for a traditional holiday meal. “We have a lot of food to prepare over the next few weeks, and we’re still accepting donations,” said Knepp. “We just ask that you keep in mind when donating what you’d like to see on your holiday dinner table. Those are the kinds of items we’re seeking.” According to Knepp, more than 3,000 individuals are served at the local food pantries every month. The requirement is a family must be at 150 percent
STATE COLLEGE — Republican Donald Trump’s success in Pennsylvania, which helped propel him to an Electoral College victory, was no surprise to U.S. Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson. Thompson, R-Bellefonte, said in traveling the 5th district during the campaign, it was “very, very clear how lopsided” voter enthusiasm was for Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the race for president. Now, with a changed political landscape, Thompson sees some “exciting opportunities” in the new Congress, particularly on health care, tax reform and immigration policy. Representing a state that helped put Trump over the top, Pennsylvania’s delegation is “well positioned” with the new administration, he said. And what makes him particularly excited, Thompson said, is the opportunity to work with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, a friend from their days working together in Congress. “Mike is a good friend of mine — one of my mentors,” Thompson said Nov. 21 in an interview with The Centre County Gazette. “We did Bible study together.” The two served together in Congress from Thompson’s
first term in 2009 until Pence became governor of Indiana in 2013. Thompson said he expects that Pence “will play a large role” in working with Congress. “He’s an effective legislator, communicator and team builder,” said Thompson, who most recently spent time with Pence on Nov. 17 during a Capitol Hill meeting with GOP legislators. Pence, Thompson said, “warned us to buckle up; it’s going to be busy. I like that.” Thompson tackled a range of topics during an hour-long session with the Gazette.
TRUMP’S TRANSITION
“I think he’s done as well as anyone,” Thompson said of Trump’s actions since winning the election Nov. 8. “He’s reached out to President Obama.” While some of the presidentelect’s cabinet choices so far have generated controversy, “he’s building an effective team for the country.” Thompson said he’s talked to a couple of constituents who have done business with Trump, who noted that Trump’s leadership style is to “surround himself with very talented people” who bring a diverse set of skills to the table. Thompson , Page 5
Food pantries, Page 6
Assistance offered to flood victims By GEOFF RUSHTON statecollege.com
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Nov. 21 that it has declared Centre and Lycoming counties a disaster area in the wake of Oct. 20-21 flooding, allowing affected residents and businesses to apply for low-interest disaster recovery loans. Gov. Tom Wolf made the request last week to the SBA for a disaster declaration. He also he made a request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eligible for recovery funding for Bradford, Centre, Lycoming and Sullivan counties. The FEMA declaration rePolice Blotter .................... 2 Opinion ............................ 9
quires approval from the president. The overall estimated combined damages in the counties is $33.2 million. In addition to Centre and Lycoming counties, the SBA declaration also covers adjacent counties of Blair, Bradford, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga and Union. “After my trip there right after the flooding, I understood that the devastation in North Central Pennsylvania is more significant and wide-spread than we have seen recently in the commonwealth,” Wolf said in a statement. Flood victims, Page 8
Women’s Corner ............ 10 Health & Wellness .......... 12
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Education ....................... 14 Community .................... 15
Gazette Gameday ........... 19 Sports .............................. 23
IVE
Around & In Town ......... 33 What’s Happening ......... 35
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MARK BRACKENBURY/The Gazette
U.S. REP. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, R-Bellefonte, who visited the offices of the Centre County Gazette and Town & Gown on Nov. 21, said Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation is “well positioned” with the new Trump administration.
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Puzzles ............................ 36 Business .......................... 37