GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Sweet summertime
From arts festivals to carnivals and everything in between, the Gazette’s Summer Festivals and Events Planner has you covered. The section contains lists of happenings from May through August./Pages 18-23
May 19-25, 2016
Volume 8, Issue 20
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County working to prevent overdoses By G. KERRY WEBSTER correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — In 2014, there were 2,497 drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania, and, although the numbers are not in for 2015 or 2016, local officials said they can guarantee the numbers will be larger once those reports come out. In Centre County, the number of overdose deaths caused by abuse of prescription medication has doubled, and heroin overdose numbers have tripled. The county has had enough, and thanks to a push from Centre County Commissioner Steve Dershem and a dozen other local organizations, work has begun to create a Centre County Coalition Against Overdoses. On May 17 in Bellefonte, the Centre County board of commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding for this coalition, which seeks to eliminate substance abuse, drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths in the county. “It’s getting to epidemic proportions,” said Gene Laurie, director of criminal justice planning in Centre County. “Pennsylvania ranked ninth highest in the country
in overdose deaths last year. In fact, 18.9 deaths per every 100,000 in Pennsylvania are because of drug overdoses. It’s a big problem that needs to be fixed, and its going to to take several organizations all working together to make a significant change in what’s occurring in the community.” Although the coalition is still in its infant stages, Laurie is working with law enforcement officials, members of the EMS community, health care providers and drug treatment organizations, bringing all the groups together in an attempt to curb the problem. “And, we’re going to need to reach beyond those groups,” he said. “We want to bring as many from the community in on this as possible. It’s a community problem, and it’s a community problem that’s only growing. If we don’t start taking steps now, we’re going to see these kinds of deaths continue to rise.” He said the coalition will soon reach out to the faith and business communities, the school districts and even people who have had life experiences with drug overdoses. “To make a difference we have to be
proactive, and that’s what the partners in this coalition will be,” he said. Laurie said the group will continue to seek members and will report to the commissioners its progress. In other business, the commissioners: ■ Proclaimed May 2016 as Clean Water Counts Month in Centre County. ■ Approved a memorandum of understanding between the county and Cambria County to house youthful offenders between the ages of 15 and 18 who are criminally charged and adjudicated as adult offenders. The rate is $85 per day per inmate. ■ Approved a contract between the county and Schaedler/Yesco to upgrade the hardware/software of the current security system. The contract total is $184,710 until the work is completed. ■ Approved the purchase of a 2016 Ford Transit van from Tri-Star Ford of Tyrone to replace the current sheriff prisoner transport van. The total cost is $36,999. ■ Approved a three-year service agreement between the county and Voiance Language Services LLC to provide overthe-phone interpretation services when the public safety telecommunicators need
the services. This service will be billed monthly at 75 cents a minute when the service is being utilized. ■ Placed a contract addendum between the county and the ARC of Centre County on the consent agenda for vote next week. This addendum will allow for money to provide mental health community employment services in the amount of $6,000. This increases the contract maximum amount from $136,363 to $142,363. ■ Placed a memorandum of understanding on the consent agenda for the final land development plan for the Pennsylvania State Police, Rockview Barracks, to be located in Benner Township in the Benner Commerce Park. This memorandum will be used to satisfy the requirements specified in the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code Act 247. ■ Placed a memorandum of understanding on the consent agenda for the final land development plan for the Jersey Shore State Bank, to be located in Potter Township. This memorandum will be used to satisfy the requirements specified in the PA Municipalities Planning Code Act 247.
Port a familiar face in Bellefonte By JODI MORELLI
correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — Almost any day of the week or any time of the day, Joan Port, of Bellefonte, can be found at her family’s business, providing customers with whatever they might need or lending a helping hand with whatever needs to be done. Port, 77, is a familiar face at Port’s Sports Emporium, a Bellefonte sporting
CENTRE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
goods institution for more than 30 years. She has been active in the business since it first started in 1966 as a body shop. She continued to be just as involved as the store developed into a well-known sporting goods business in 1986. “We started as a body shop and just kept adding stuff. We all are part of it. It’s a family-run business,” Port said. Port, Page 6
CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/AP File Photo
RIO BOUND: Former Penn State wrestler Frank Molinaro is headed to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Molinaro’s road to the Olympics was riddled with peaks and valleys By ANDY ELDER Special to the Gazette
UNIVERSITY PARK — For Frank Molinaro, May 11 and Mountain View Country Club will be forever linked to his Olympic wrestling memories. That was the day and the place Molinaro, the 27-year-old Penn State assistant wrestling coach, found out that his rollercoaster ride to the Rio de Janeiro Olympic games had just crested another summit. Molinaro had more ups and downs in a Police Blotter .................... 2 Opinion ............................ 9
month’s time than most athletes can cram into a lifetime. He won the Olympic Trials at 65 kilograms/143 pounds on April 10 as the No. 9 seed. But because the United States hadn’t qualified that weight for the Olympics, Molinaro had to place in the top three at a tournament in Mongolia on April 24 or in the top two at tournament in Turkey on May 8. He went 1-1 in Mongolia, but bounced Molinaro, Page 6
Health & Wellness .......... 10 Education ....................... 11
Community ............... 12-17 Summer Planner ....... 18-23
Submitted photo
FAMILY FIRST: Bellefonte’s Joan Port has always put her family first. Pictured, from left, are Tim Port, Russ Port, Roger Port, Joan and Fuzz Port. Sports ......................... 24-30 Around & In Town .... 31-33
What’s Happening ......... 34 Puzzles ............................ 35
Business .......................... 38 Deeds .............................. 39