GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
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Grange Fair begins!
The 142nd Grange Encampment and Fair has begun. Inside, find out everything you need to know about entertainment, camping and admission. The Gazette’s annual guide to the Grange has you covered./Pages 17-24
August 18-24, 2016
Volume 8, Issue 33
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Former PSU fencer captures bronze medal By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
UNIVERSITY PARK — She did it. Former Penn State fencer Monica Aksamit, a member of the United States women’s fencing team, captured a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio. Her squad routed Italy, 45-30, to clinch third place Aug. 13. According to Aksamit, even several days later, it still hasn’t sunk in. “It’s truly amazing. However, most of the time, I don’t really believe it to be honest,” Aksamit said from Rio. “I frequently check the drawer that I keep it in to make sure that it really happened.” Aksamit is the second former Nittany Lion fencer to win a medal at this year’s Olympics. Miles Chamley-Watson was part of the bronze medal-winning men’s foil team. For Aksamit, the road to an Olympic medal was not an easy one. Everything had to break perfectly for her to get to the medal stand. “I came into this as an alternate. I wasn’t actually an Olympian. Going into the day, I only hoped that I would be subbed in at some point so that I could become an Olympian. Had we had a close match
against Italy, I’m not sure that it would have happened,” Aksamit said. Aksamit said that she came to Rio with high hopes, but was really just soaking it in along the way. “All that I wanted from these Olympics was the experience. I didn’t want to set any expectations, as that opens the door for disappointments.” As she received her bronze medal, Aksamit said that she was overcome with emotion. “I asked myself if this was all really happening. I also tried really hard to fight back tears, and ultimately failed. But I just thought about my journey to get her and how grateful I am that things turned out how they did.” With the bronze around her neck, Aksamit let it all soak in. “I felt a lot of emotions. I was in disbelief that I was standing up on the podium at the Olympics. I felt relief, that all of the money, time and hard work that I’ve put into all of this through the years wasn’t for nothing. Someone pointed out that I took a deep breath after they put the medal on me. And that was kind of a ‘I did it’ breath.” Fencer, Page 8
ANDREW MEDICHINI/AP Photo
BRONZE LADIES: Former Penn State fencer Monica Aksamit captured a bronze medal as a member of the United States’ women’s fencing team. Pictured, from left, are Aksamit, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Dagmara Wozniak and Mariel Zagunis. They won the medal during the women’s team sabre fencing competition in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 13.
Karch Auto offers full line of services
WHITE HOUSE VISIT
By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — They say big things come in small packages. That’s definitely the case with Karch Auto in State College. At first glance, the shop, located at 827 S. Atherton St., looks like a relatively small operation. But Karch Auto has 37 employees and offers a wide variety of services.
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Submitted photo
STUDENTS FROM Park Forest Elementary School visited the White House on Aug. 16 to receive the Presidential Environmental Youth Award. Pictured, from left, are Park Forest Elementary school principal Donna Stoicovy, Robert Rothrock, Elijah Snyder, Adam Cooper and Adam Lieb.
First and foremost, Karch Auto is a full-service garage, offering everything from oil changes to transmission, engine repair and body work. It also offers towing, roadside assistance and detailing services — just to name a few. The location originally housed
CHRIS MORELLI/The Gazette
IN CHARGE: Brad Karch owns and operates Karch Auto, which is located at 827 S. Atherton St. in State College. The full-service garage employs 37. Walk’s Service Center. Roy and Angie Walk owned what many people simply referred to as Walk’s. Brad Karch purchased the business nearly four years ago. The name Karch Auto de-
buted in fall of last year. “We’re a full-service garage,” Karch said. “We do it all. We just swapped an engine for someone. Karch, Page 4
Commissioners spread awareness of suicide prevention By G. KERRY WEBSTER kwebster@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — There are approximately 15 confirmed suicides in Centre County each year, and in an effort to bring awareness to the issue, the Centre County board of commissioners officially Opinion ................................. 9 Health & Wellness ............... 10
proclaimed Saturday, Sept. 10, as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day and the month of September as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. Marisa Vicere, president and founder of the Jana Marie Foundation, and Al Vicere, vice president, visited the commissioners Aug. 16 to discuss the problems fac-
Education ...................... 11, 12 Community ................... 13-16
Grange Fair .................... 17-24 Sports ............................. 25-30
ing young people in Centre County and to raise awareness for a problem that is the second-leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24 in Pennsylvania. “Ninety-five percent of suicides are preventable,” said Marisa Vicere. “We need to continue bringing this issue to light, and Fall Home Improvement ... 31 Around & In Town ........ 32-34
do what we can to preserve the young lives here in Centre County.” She said a number of initiatives are under way in Centre County to promote mental wellness in an effort to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and Awareness, Page 4
What’s Happening .............. 35 Puzzles ................................. 36
Business ......................... 37, 38 Classified ............................. 39