Clearfield County Sheriff is forming volunteer...
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Vol. 135 - No. 253 Mostly cloudy. Contin- ued unseasonably warm with highs in the mid-50s. Full report, A2 22 pages Classified ......................... B8 Comics ............................. A8 Lifestyles ......................... A4 Lottery ............................. A11 Opinion ........................... A10 Public Notices ............... B8 Sports ............................... B1 $1.00 No obituaries reported today The Courier-Express newspaper office will close at noon Thursday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and will be closed Friday in obser- vance of Christmas. The Courier Express will not publish Friday. Regular office hours will resume Monday. The Tri-County Sunday will be published on its regular schedule. Budget includes tax increase The Clearfield County Commissioners approved its $28.8 million budget that includes a 1-mill tax increase — but left DuBois Regional Airport funding allocation up in the air at its meeting Tuesday. A2 Last-ditch budget bill Pennsylvania’s budget impasse is breaking the state’s record for futility, after the Senate sent Dem- ocratic Gov. Tom Wolf a last-ditch spending bill Wednesday without the tax increase he wanted to deliver a record boost in public school aid and close a long-term deficit. A6 Vehicle crashes into trolley Authorities say a stolen vehicle has crashed head- on into a trolley in Phila- delphia, leaving two teens in the car in critical condi- tion and at least two dozen people in the trolley with minor injuries. A11 C-E closing early Thursday Tomorrow’s Forecast Index Obituaries MORE INSIDE Page B1 DuBois Area United Way Executive Director John “Herm” Suplizio, center, is flanked by 2016 co-chairwomen Sarah Ignatius, left, and Becky Nesbit, right, as they proclaim that this year’s goal of $420,000 has been reached. (Photo by Nick Hoffman) By Nick Hoffman [email protected] DuBOIS — DuBois Area United Way officials ex- pressed their gratitude for the community’s support and generosity in enabling the agency to reach its 2016 campaign goal of $420,000. Reaching that pinnacle ensures continued support for the 25 member agencies that rely on DuBois Area United Way funding. This year’s effort was headed by co-chairwomen Becky Nesbit and Sarah Ig- natius. “People are so generous,” Nesbit said. “It’s nice.” “People stepped up,” Ig- natius added. “It is inspiring to see people and business come together.” She said seeing the vari- ous needs firsthand “makes you realize how much these agencies depend on us. Imagine if they weren’t here. It would be a different com- munity. It touches every- one.” The needs are even more acute this year as some agencies feel the impact of a state budget impasse that has shut off the flow of funds from Harrisburg. “What better way to say Merry Christmas and Hap- py New Year to the entire community,” United Way Executive Director John “Herm” Suplizio said. “This is definitely one of the nicest Christmas gifts that the less DuBois Area United Way reaches goal of $420,000 Students at DuBois Central Catholic Elementary School participated in the “Giving Trees” project which promotes helping others during the holiday season. Students shown by a patriotic tree they helped decorate by the third grade, from front to back, are Landon Wolf- gang, Kyan Peck, Ethan Gradowski and Sydney MacCready. They are shown with elementary Principal Gretchen Caruso. See story on Page A2. (Photo by Elaine Haskins) By Katie Weidenboerner [email protected] JOHNSONBURG — In dis- trict court Wednesday morning, in front of a crowd of his family - in- cluding four of his grandchildren - a Ridgway Township Supervisor and roadmaster who is alleged to have stolen $3,516 from the town- ship waived his right to a prelimi- nary hearing. Charges against John Gardner, 63, Ridgway, will now proceed to the Elk County Court of Common Pleas, with arraignment sched- uled for 3 p.m. Feb. 1. A felony charge of theft by de- ception and a misdemeanor charge of tampering with public records were filed Nov. 23 by the state police Bureau of Crimi- nal Investigation, following a probe into township re- cords. State police were tipped off by an unnamed source that Gard- ner was tampering with time cards to pad his wife and part- Ridgway Twp. Supervisor waives right to preliminary hearing By Jeff Corcino Special to the Courier-Express CLEARFIELD — Clearfield Coun- ty Sheriff Wes Thurston is forming the first Volunteer Clearfield County Sheriff’s Posse, according to a press release issued to the media. Posse members will assist the sher- iff and deputies when needed in the event of a catastrophe, natural disas- ter, missing children or endangered persons, information gathering and other non-emergency situa- tions. The sheriff’s depart- ment also recommends that posse members carry a firearm for their own protection. When asked why it is recommended that posse members carry a firearm Thurston said, “I think every- one should carry a firearm.” But he said it is not required that posse members be armed. Thurston did not say if a specific re- cent incident in the county prompted him to form the group. Chief Deputy Mike Churner has been designated as the posse com- mander. Thurston said the main purpose of the posse is to give him a pool of peo- ple who have already been screened that he can draw from in the event of an emergency. He also stated a posse could be used to search for lost per- sons or escaped prisoners. It will also give him a pool of ap- plicants in case he needs to appoint special deputies for a limited purpose according to the law. Special deputies are temporary paid positions appoint- ed for a specific task, Thurston said. The posse, in contrast, is a volun- teer organization and members are not paid. To become a member of the posse, interested persons must complete an application and have it notarized prior to submission to the sheriff’s office. All applicants will be screened for eligibil- ity. The number of posse members ac- cepted into the program will be lim- ited by county area. Thurston said he has divided the county into five large areas, and said there would be a maximum of 100 peo- ple per section for a total of 500 people. Thurston said he doesn’t know if any other counties in the state have similar organizations as the Clearfield County Sheriff’s Posse, but said there appears to be a lot of interest in serv- ing and he said he has already re- ceived some applications. Clearfield County Commissioner John Sobel said he was not aware that Thurston was forming a posse. “We didn’t know anything about it,” Sobel said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “(Thurston) is an elected official and he can do whatever he wants. This is the first I heard about it.” Thurston said no prior experience or training is required, but people who have served in the military or the po- lice would be given priority. He also said people who have a proven record in supervisory positions will also be given priority. A copy of the application, states pos- se members must be at least 21 years old, are not on parole or probation, and do not abuse alcohol or drugs. The affidavit portion of the appli- cation recommends posse members to own and carry a firearm openly or concealed with a valid state License to Carry Firearms unless disqualified by law for their own protection. It also states that posse members must provide at their own expense a black T-shirt and jacket and that a Sheriff’s Posse ball cap. The cap will be available for purchase with proof of posse membership. Posse members also must provide any equipment they wish to use. The affidavit states that posse members have no right of arrest other Clearfield County Sheriff is forming volunteer posse THURSTON See Posse, Page A11 GARDNER See Ridgway, Page A11 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015 See Goal, Page A11
Transcript of Clearfield County Sheriff is forming volunteer...
Vol. 135 - No. 253
Mostly cloudy. Contin-ued unseasonably warm with highs in the mid-50s.
Full report, A2
22 pages
Classi� ed ......................... B8
Comics ............................. A8
Lifestyles ......................... A4
Lottery ............................. A11
Opinion ........................... A10
Public Notices ............... B8
Sports ............................... B1
$1.00
No obituaries
reported today
The Courier-Express newspaper offi ce will close at noon Thursday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and will be closed Friday in obser-vance of Christmas. The Courier Express will not publish Friday.
Regular offi ce hours will resume Monday. The Tri-County Sunday will be published on its regular schedule.
Budget includes tax increaseThe Clearfield County
Commissioners approved its $28.8 million budget that includes a 1-mill tax increase — but left DuBois Regional Airport funding allocation up in the air at its meeting Tuesday. A2
Last-ditch budget bill
Pennsylvania’s budget impasse is breaking the state’s record for futility, after the Senate sent Dem-ocratic Gov. Tom Wolf a last-ditch spending bill Wednesday without the tax increase he wanted to deliver a record boost in public school aid and close a long-term defi cit. A6
Vehicle crashesinto trolley
Authorities say a stolen vehicle has crashed head-on into a trolley in Phila-delphia, leaving two teens in the car in critical condi-tion and at least two dozen people in the trolley with minor injuries. A11
C-E closingearly Thursday
Tomorrow’s Forecast
Index
Obituaries
MORE INSIDE
Page B1
DuBois Area United Way Executive Director John “Herm” Suplizio, center, is flanked by 2016 co-chairwomen Sarah Ignatius, left, and Becky Nesbit, right, as they proclaim that this year’s goal of $420,000 has been reached. (Photo by Nick Hoffman)
By Nick Hoffman
DuBOIS — DuBois Area United Way officials ex-pressed their gratitude for the community’s support and generosity in enabling the agency to reach its 2016 campaign goal of $420,000.
Reaching that pinnacle ensures continued support for the 25 member agencies that rely on DuBois Area United Way funding.
This year’s effort was headed by co-chairwomen Becky Nesbit and Sarah Ig-natius.
“People are so generous,” Nesbit said. “It’s nice.”
“People stepped up,” Ig-natius added. “It is inspiring to see people and business
come together.”She said seeing the vari-
ous needs firsthand “makes you realize how much these agencies depend on us. Imagine if they weren’t here. It would be a different com-munity. It touches every-one.”
The needs are even more acute this year as some agencies feel the impact of a state budget impasse that has shut off the flow of funds from Harrisburg.
“What better way to say Merry Christmas and Hap-py New Year to the entire community,” United Way Executive Director John “Herm” Suplizio said. “This is definitely one of the nicest Christmas gifts that the less
DuBois Area United Way reaches goalof $420,000
Students at DuBois Central Catholic Elementary School participated in the “Giving Trees” project which promotes helping others during the holiday season. Students shown by a patriotic tree they helped decorate by the third grade, from front to back, are Landon Wolf-gang, Kyan Peck, Ethan Gradowski and Sydney MacCready. They are shown with elementary Principal Gretchen Caruso. See story on Page A2. (Photo by Elaine Haskins)
By Katie Weidenboerner
JOHNSONBURG — In dis-trict court Wednesday morning, in front of a crowd of his family - in-cluding four of his grandchildren - a Ridgway Township Supervisor and roadmaster who is alleged to have stolen $3,516 from the town-ship waived his right to a prelimi-nary hearing.
Charges against John Gardner, 63, Ridgway, will now proceed to the Elk County Court of Common Pleas, with arraignment sched-uled for 3 p.m. Feb. 1.
A felony charge of theft by de-ception and a misdemeanor charge
of tampering with public records were filed Nov. 23 by the state police Bureau of Crimi-nal Investigation, following a probe into township re-cords. State police were tipped off by an unnamed
source that Gard-ner was tampering with time cards to pad his wife and part-
Ridgway Twp. Supervisor waives right to preliminary hearing
By Jeff Corcino
Special to the Courier-Express
CLEARFIELD — Clearfi eld Coun-ty Sheriff Wes Thurston is forming the fi rst Volunteer Clearfi eld County Sheriff’s Posse, according to a press release issued to the media.
Posse members will assist the sher-iff and deputies when needed in the event of a catastrophe, natural disas-ter, missing children or endangered persons, information gathering and other non-emergency situa-tions.
The sheriff’s depart-ment also recommends that posse members carry a fi rearm for their own protection.
When asked why it is recommended that posse members carry a fi rearm Thurston said, “I think every-one should carry a fi rearm.”
But he said it is not required that posse members be armed.
Thurston did not say if a specifi c re-cent incident in the county prompted him to form the group.
Chief Deputy Mike Churner has been designated as the posse com-mander.
Thurston said the main purpose of the posse is to give him a pool of peo-ple who have already been screened that he can draw from in the event of an emergency. He also stated a posse could be used to search for lost per-sons or escaped prisoners.
It will also give him a pool of ap-plicants in case he needs to appoint special deputies for a limited purpose according to the law. Special deputies are temporary paid positions appoint-ed for a specifi c task, Thurston said.
The posse, in contrast, is a volun-teer organization and members are not paid.
To become a member of the posse, interested persons must complete an application and have it notarized prior
to submission to the sheriff’s offi ce. All applicants will be screened for eligibil-ity. The number of posse members ac-cepted into the program will be lim-ited by county area.
Thurston said he has divided the county into fi ve large areas, and said there would be a maximum of 100 peo-ple per section for a total of 500 people.
Thurston said he doesn’t know if any other counties in the state have similar organizations as the Clearfi eld County Sheriff’s Posse, but said there appears to be a lot of interest in serv-ing and he said he has already re-ceived some applications.
Clearfi eld County Commissioner John Sobel said he was not aware that Thurston was forming a posse.
“We didn’t know anything about it,” Sobel said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “(Thurston) is an elected offi cial and he can do whatever he wants. This is the fi rst I heard about it.”
Thurston said no prior experience or training is required, but people who have served in the military or the po-lice would be given priority. He also said people who have a proven record in supervisory positions will also be given priority.
A copy of the application, states pos-se members must be at least 21 years old, are not on parole or probation, and do not abuse alcohol or drugs.
The affi davit portion of the appli-cation recommends posse members to own and carry a fi rearm openly or concealed with a valid state License to Carry Firearms unless disqualifi ed by law for their own protection.
It also states that posse members must provide at their own expense a black T-shirt and jacket and that a Sheriff’s Posse ball cap. The cap will be available for purchase with proof of posse membership. Posse members also must provide any equipment they wish to use.
The affi davit states that posse members have no right of arrest other
Clearfield County Sheriff is formingvolunteer posse
THURSTON
See Posse, Page A11
GARDNER
See Ridgway, Page A11
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015
See Goal, Page A11
