GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
ICE CREAM MONTH
July is National Ice Cream Month, fitting for the scorching midyear sun. See a directory of local shops offering frozen treats, as well as a piece from writer Connie Cousins on the different types of ice cream./Pages 16, 17
July 20-26, 2017
Volume 9, Issue 29
FREE COPY
Gambling expansion could bring casino to State College By SEAN YODER syoder@centrecountgazette.com
JAMES TURCHICK/For the Gazette
CENTRE CREST announced plans to build a new nursing home in Centre County. Rooms for residents, like the one pictured, will be 100 square feet larger in the new building. Pictured, from left, are board members Richard Wisniewski, Larry Bickford, Bill Rockey, Carl Raup, Al Jones and Betsy Boyer, Centre Crest administrator Andrew Naugle and board member Tom Charles.
Centre Crest to relocate to College Township By JAMES TURCHICK correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
COLLEGE TOWNSHIP — Centre Crest Nursing Home’s board of directors announced July 18 plans to construct a new nursing home behind the former Starlite Drive-In Theatre. The new facility, located between East College Avenue and Benner Pike, will sit on 30
acres and be completed in 2020. It is projected to cost $39 million to build and will have 240 beds. The added acreage will provide more space for residents — who feel cramped in the current Bellefonte facility — and the staff, said board president Betsy Boyer. Centre Crest, Page 6
STATE COLLEGE — Casino and gaming expansions are at the heart of budget and funding talks between Pennsylvania’s branches of government. Some lawmakers hope to use gambling expansion in the state as a source of revenue for the $32 billion state budget that was passed June 30, but without a plan to pay for it. The negotiators in the talks say the budget is about $1.5 billion out of balance, according to The Associated Press. On July 17, state senators were called to Harrisburg for closed-door sessions and were in public session briefly July 18. They were released without action, except a bill providing a grant program for statewide 211, a callin system that provides health and human services information to state residents. Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, said talks are continuing and proposals are being considered, but significant progress was not made early in the week. One of the proposals would be to allow for the 10 established casinos to build smaller satellite locations that would include slots and table games, and Corman said State College was being floated as a possible location. “It’s been suggested that State
“THERE IS talk of a location within the Centre Region but we have heard nothing official.” Tor Michaels
chief of staff, state Rep. Scott Conklin College would be a spot that somebody may want to locate one,” he said. He said he is trying to remain objective about casinos, despite previous apprehensions. “I’ve never been a gaming vote,” Corman said. “Having said that, I think a lot of the fears that many of us had when gaming first came into place have not come true. The casinos have operated as good corporate citizens, and as a form of entertainment it has not caused a lot of the social issues that many of us were concerned about. “So, as we look to possibly expand that entertainment to other areas of the state, I’m trying to be objective and see if there’s ways that it can be done in a responsible manner that can help some communities.” But, he also pointed out that the dominoes would have to fall in place for casino satellite expansions to be come a reality. Gambling, Page 6
Changing the world
FDA backs treatment that saved Emily Whitehead By G. KERRY WEBSTER editor@centrecountygazette.com
PHILIPSBURG — A miracle in the making since 2010 may save thousands of young lives should the Food and Drug Administration approve the first-ever treatment that genetically alters a patient’s own cells to fight cancer. That miracle is represented by 12-year-old Emily Whitehead, of Philipsburg. On July 12, Emily’s parents, Tom and Kari Whitehead, testified at a conference in Washington, D.C., to the life-saving treatment their daughter received. They wanted to tell their daughter’s story in an attempt to sway an FDA Police Blotter .................... 2 Death Notices .................. 6
panel to recommend the procedure for worldwide use. And, it worked. The panel approved the recommendation by a 10-0 margin. With the recommendation, which likely will be approved by the FDA, T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy, could be used in as soon as 60 days. “It was truly an amazing process and something I’ve been bugging them (the FDA) about for years,” said Tom Whitehead. “I wanted to speak at this hearing when the time came because I truly believe in the procedure. I’ve seen it work. When I was accepted to speak, it was truly one of the most inspirational moments in my life.” The FDA appointed a 10-member
Opinion ............................ 9 Health & Wellness .......... 10
panel, composed of doctors and industry experts with no financial stake in the procedure. For an entire day, Tom Whitehead said these panelists were grilled by industry leaders concerning the treatment. There was also a period in which patients were able to talk to the panelists about the success they had with the treatment. Whitehead used his opportunity to tell the story of Emily, and how her continued strength and faith, coupled with this innovative procedure, overpowered the cancer cells in her body. He also discussed the importance of making the procedure accepted by the medical community worldwide, and how it Whitehead, Page 8
Community .................... 12 Ice Cream ....................... 16
Sports .............................. 18 Around & In Town ......... 24
TRY OUR HOLIDAY STOMBOLI! CHRISTMAS IN JULY (7/24 thru 7/31)
What’s Happening ......... 27 Puzzles ............................ 28
114 Hetzel Street
State College: Sun-Sat 9AM - 3PM 106 North Spring Street
Bellefonte: Sun-Thu 9AM - 11PM, Fri-Sat 9AM - 12AM
JOHN DIXON/For the Gazette
AN EXPERIMENTAL cancer treatment was successful for 12-year-old Emily Whitehead, of Philipsburg, and soon the treatment could be used to help pediatric cancer patients around the world. Pictured with Emily are her mother, Kari, and father, Tom.
Business .......................... 29 Classifieds ....................... 31