GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Big Ten champions!
The Penn State wrestling team captured its fifth Big Ten championship in six seasons in dominating fashion at the conference championships in Iowa City. The Nittany Lions’ Zain Retherford was named Outstanding Wrestler./Page 18
March 10-16, 2016
Volume 8, Issue 10
FREE COPY
Fire severely damages Pleasant Gap home By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
PLEASANT GAP — A March 7 fire in the small community of Pleasant Gap took a family’s home, their pet and some of their prized possessions. Pleasant Gap Fire Company responded to the blaze at 133 Whitman Circle, but by the time fire crews arrived, flames had engulfed the rear of the structure. The attic and interior walls had to be exposed to extinguish the blaze. The home is owned by Mike Wenrick, who has lived there for 39 years. On March 8, he stood in his driveway and talked about the devastating fire. “We lost everything,” Wenrick said. “It’s heartbreaking. The stuff we lost … antiques, family things, photos, things like that.” However, the biggest loss was the family pet, Morgan, a 15-year-old yellow lab. “She was a very loyal dog. She tried to make it out, but she just didn’t make it,” Wenrick said. Wenrick and his fiancee, Angela Osborn, reside at the home with their children, Clayton, 17, Emma, 14, Legacy, 13, Lukus, 11, and Makenna, 7. According to Pleasant Gap Fire Company Chief Lou Brungard, the home was engulfed by the time fire crews arrived.
“There was heavy smoke showing from three sides of the building. There were flames evident out of what we would refer to as the ‘B’ side. That’s where we believe the majority of the fire had originated,” Brungard said. Damage to the home was significant, Brungard said. “There were two bedrooms that were totally damaged from the fire itself. The rest of the first floor has excessive heat and smoke damage,” Brungard said. “The second floor has significant smoke damage as well.” Brungard said that the home is unlivable, at least for now. “I think some of the house can definitely be renovated. Some of the house may actually need to be rebuilt,” he said. “I think a lot of the fire was contained to a portion of the house … the hallway and the bedrooms.” The state police fire marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire, according to Brungard. To help the family rebuild, a GoFundMe page has been set up for the Wenricks. The page has a monetary goal of $50,000. Wenrick said that the community has rallied around his family. “The support has been amazing. People I don’t even know are stopping by, offering whatever they can. We’re getting gift cards,
HEATHER WEIKEL/For the Gazette
DEVASTATING LOSS: Mike Wenrick and his fiancee, Angela Osborn, stand in front of their home at 133 Whitman Circle in Pleasant Gap. The house was ravaged by fire on March 7. anonymous gifts, food … there have been delivery cars here all day long. We’ve had such an outpouring from the community. We’re at a point where we don’t have any-
where to put things,” Wenrick said. For a small community, residents of Fire, Page 6
Hotline receives calls about abuse
CENTRE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
Fost dedicated to mission
By GEOFF RUSHTON StateCollege.com
HARRISBURG — About 150 calls have been made to a hotline to report information related to abuse by religious leaders in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane. The phone line, manned by investigators from the attorney general’s office, was established earlier this month after a 147-page grand jury report was released detailing child sexual abuse by dozens of priests over at least 40 years that was allegedly concealed by KATHLEEN KANE diocese leaders. The report included priests who served at State College and Bellefonte churches. “The victims need to be heard,” Kane said. “In many cases, they have waited years to speak about the abuse they suffered. We want to assure them that they will be taken seriously.” Abuse, Page 6 Opinion .................................. 7 Health & Wellness .............. 8, 9
By HARRY ZIMBLER
correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
helped to get a computer system to one of Sandratra’s relatives in her native country of Madagascar. Madagascar is roughly the size of Texas, and it is defined as the fifth poorest country in the world. The island nation is located off the east coast of southern Africa and has a population of about 22 million people.
STATE COLLEGE — Stephanie Fost can’t imagine life any other way. “I can’t imagine ever stepping out of the nonprofit world,” said Fost, executive director of the local chapter of the American Red Cross. “I will always work in a human services role.” Fost, who oversees the organization’s activities in several central Pennsylvania counties, is dedicated to the Red Cross mission of service to the community including organizing blood drives and STEPHANIE FOST responding to disasters.
Nonprofit, Page 5
Fost, Page 5
Submitted photo
REACHING OUT: Sandratra Kerr, of Bellefonte, leads children in an outreach event in Madagascar in November 2015.
Bellefonte couple creates nonprofit organization By G. KERRY WEBSTER correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — Who knew one computer would not only change the lives of a Bellefonte couple forever, but also the lives of thousands of people nearly 9,000 miles away? That’s exactly what happened seven years ago when Sandratra and Lance Kerr
Education ............................. 10 Community .................... 11-15
Family Matters ............... 16, 17 Sports .............................. 18-22
Spring Home Improvement 23 Around & In Town ......... 24-26
What’s Happening ............... 27 Puzzles .................................. 28
Business .......................... 29, 30 Classified .............................. 31