Gazette The Centre County
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Hitting the links
It’s that time of year again! Time to dust off the golf clubs and get out on Centre County’s golf courses. This week, the Gazette takes a look at the exciting changes to Mountain View Country Club’s layout./Pages 16, 17
April 9-15, 2015
Volume 7, Issue 14
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Commissioners vote to hire more counsel By GREGG KOHLHEPP correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — Centre County commissioners voted unanimously to approve additional independent legal counsel with regards to pending Right-to-Know litigation as well as current and future Right-toKnow requests. Attorney Craig J. Staudenmaier, of the Nauman, Smith, Shissler & Hall law firm, has been retained by the commissioners, offering his legal expertise with lawsuits brought by members of the judiciary and the district attorney along with current Right-to-Know requests made of the county. He is a recognized authority on Right-to-Know and media law in the commonwealth.
Centre County is currently being represented in the lawsuits by Mary Lou Maierhofer from the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool, or PCoRP, a statewide insurance program. Looking toward the pending litigation, the commissioners made the move to add legal counsel, since Maierhofer primarily represents PCoRP and its interests and indirectly represents the county. Commissioner Chris Exarchos felt that the county’s legal needs may extend beyond PCoRP’s interests and monetary damages. “Up to this point, our interests are identical,” said Exarchos, “but we can foresee a circumstance where our interests might diverge.” Commissioner Michael Pipe agreed, saying that the county may not need
Conference scheduled in Sandusky appeal By MICHAEL MARTIN GARRETT StateCollege.com
BELLEFONTE — Jerry Sandusky’s new appeal is underway, but its unlikely that that the public will be privy to most of the details. Prosecutors for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and defense attorneys for Sandusky will hold their first status conference on Sandusky’s new appeal at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, according to court documents. Judge John Cleland, who also presided over Sandusky’s 2012 trial, signed an order April 6 scheduling the conference. The order specifically states that the conference will “be held in (judge’s) chambers and not in open court.” The conference is being held in private to accommodate Sandusky’s appeal, which will be based on sealed grand jury JERRY SANDUSKY testimony. Attorneys for Sandusky asked the court for permission to file under seal last week, which the court approved later that same day. Sandusky, a former Penn State defensive coordinator, was convicted on 45 counts of child sex abuse and was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in state prison in 2012. This latest appeal may be Sandusky’s last chance at overturning or lessening his sentence. The motion filed last week notes that Sandusky previously attempted to appeal his conviction to both the Superior Court and the state Supreme Court — both of which failed. The new appeal seeks “post-conviction relief,” which must be sought within one year of the day a criminal judgment becomes final. Sandusky’s attorneys notified the court of their intent to seek relief on April 1 — one day before the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to reject Sandusky’s appeal.
Boyde, the county has several Right-toKnow requests pending. Staudenmaier will be able to offer legal assistance on these and future requests brought before the county. Exarchos made it clear that the county, not PCoRP, will be responsible for legal fees that accumulate from Staudenmaier’s services. The commissioners approved the $300 hourly rate for Staudenmaier, with lesser fees for other associates within the law firm. With the first meeting of the month, the county commissioners also issued three related Centre County proclamations. April was proclaimed Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month as well as
Staudenmaier in the courtroom but instead use him as a consultant. “Maierhofer may contact him (Staudenmaier) for advice or for assistance,” said Pipe. Centre County is facing lawsuits from Magisterial District Judge Kelley GilletteWalker and Judge Jonathan Grine and Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, with regards to Right-to-Know requests that were processed through county offices. Exarchos explained that Staudenmaier will also serve immediately as counsel for current Right-to-Know requests. “We need our staff to have access, on a daily basis, to an expert because we continue to get requests,” Exarchos said. According to county administrator Tim
Commissioners, Page 6
Retirement hasn’t slowed down Bellefonte’s Wetzler By CHRIS MORELLI
editor@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — John Wetzler might be retired, but for those who know the man, it certainly doesn’t seem like it. He’s a substitute teacher and coach in the Bellefonte Area School District. He knows a lot of people, and a lot of people know him. He’s been a part of the Bellefonte community for more than 40 years now. He grew up in Milesburg, but moved to Bellefonte when he was 21. “I’ve lived here pretty much my whole life. Officially, my parents lived in Milesburg and I went to that other school nearby,” Wetzler said with a chuckle. The other school, of course, is Bald Eagle Area — Bellefonte’s archrival. Make no mistake about it, Wetzler is homegrown. Grew up in Milesburg, attended Lock Haven University, from which he graduated in 1972. After graduation, he worked as a substitute teacher before getting a full-time teaching job in 1973. John and his wife, Mary Ann, had two children, Rebecca Jo (B.J.) and Jeffrey. They lost B.J. in 2006 following a battle with melanoma cancer. She was 27. Losing a child is a parent’s worst fear. But that heartbreak gave John another purpose in life — raising money in her honor. Every spring, Wetzler organizes the annual B.J. Wetzler Memorial Golf Tournament. The tournament raises money for a scholarship that is awarded to a member of
CENTRE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
TIM WEIGHT/Gazette file photo
MAN ON A MISSION: Bellefonte’s John Wetzler is well-known in Bellefonte for being a coach and substitute teacher. Although he’s retired, he’s busier than ever, helping to coach softball and football.
the Bellefonte Area High School softball team. Being such a big part of the Bellefonte community has afforded Wetzler the opportunity to watch the golf tournament grow into exactly what he envisioned when he started it several years ago. “It really helps,” Wetzler said of being well-known in the community. “We are very pleased, proud and humbled by the response we’ve gotten to that activity.” The Wetzlers have six grandchildren, all of whom live in Bellefonte. Needless to say, he’s thrilled that they’re in such close proximity. He and his wife make as much time Wetzler, Page 6
Brother’s Pizza in Zion celebrates three decades By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
ZION — Right near the Y in Zion, there’s a pizza shop located in a small plaza of stores. Blink and you’ll miss it. Apparently, not many people blink — because not many miss it. Brother’s Pizza in Zion celebrated its 30th anniversary on April 6. There were signs and streamers, balloons and cake. And, of course, there were customers. Plenty of customers. For Elvia Sagastume and her family, the pizza shop is home. Her family has owned it for all of its 30 years. “We’ve had the help of the Lord. That’s first,” Sagastume said. “I treat my customers
with all my heart. We try to give them the best food and the best service for the best price.” Of course, pizza is a customer favorite. However, Sagastume said that they sell an awful lot of hoagies and strombolis, too. “Pizza, hoagies and strombolis are most popular,” she said, “because of the homemade bread.” The shop is truly a family affair. Sagastume and her husband, Miguel, own the shop. They get help from their daughter Lindsay and their sons Michael and Yancy. Sagastume said that the secret to their success isn’t the food alone. The staying power, she said, comes from treating people well from the moment they walk in the door.
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
TIM WEIGHT/For the Gazette
FAMILY AFFAIR: The Sagastume family runs Brother’s Pizza in Zion, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. Pictured, from left, are Miguel, Michael, Elvia, Lindsay and Yancy Sagustume. Opinion ................................... 7 Health & Wellness ............... 8, 9
Education ........................ 10, 11 Community ..................... 12-15
Centre Spread ................. 16, 17 Sports ............................... 18-23
Spring Home Improvement . 24 Arts & Entertainment ..... 25, 26
Brother’s Pizza, Page xx
What’s Happening .......... 26, 27 Puzzles ................................... 28
Business ........................... 29, 30 Classified ............................... 31