Oct 4, 2014 7 min read

A look back at some of the headlines gracing the pages of the Observer-Reporter and Waynesburg Republican this week in Greene County history:

Looking to attract new business

WAYNESBURG – With Greene County’s property tax abatement program due to expire, commissioners are thinking about adding additional tax breaks to attract large businesses to the area.

Commissioners plan to renew the program, which offers temporary tax breaks on commercial and residential improvements, before it expires at the end of the year.

However, county leaders are mulling whether they should extend the abatement period for any Greene County business that employs a large number of workers and makes a significant investment in its operation.

“We haven’t decided anything yet, but what we’re trying to do is to attract employment here,” said Commissioner Archie Trader.

At their meeting today, commissioners are expected to direct Chief Clerk Gene Lee and Solicitor David Pollock to investigate the issue and advertise the proposed ordinance for public comment. Commissioners could adopt the ordinance at their Nov. 19 regular meeting.

Tax abatement has been available in Greene County since 1989. It is supposed to encourage businesses and potential residents to build here.

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Training America’s future miners

RUFF CREEK – It was a historic day for mining in Greene County Thursday as the inaugural mine safety and training event kicked off at the Mining and Technology Training Center in Ruff Creek.

Just miles away from the locations of mining disasters at Mather Mine in 1928 and Robena Mine in 1962, the MTTC is breaking valuable ground in the heart of coal country.

“This place was built to train the next generation of America’s miners. There is a huge experience gap developing in the coal industry,” said Clemmy Allen, executive director of UMWA Career Centers Inc. “Really, the main concern we have is the experience gap developing on the mine rescue teams.”

That experience gap, based on attrition due to age, according to Allen, is one that leaves a lot of skilled positions open in the field of mining. He recognized the need for the training center with foresight and worked for several years to secure the funds and land to address the safety issues that this gap would lead to in the long run.

The inaugural event brought out representatives from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the United Mine Workers Career Center and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, among several other agencies in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Agency representatives helped to facilitate, train and judge the six mining safety groups that participated in the first safety competition.

“We hope we never have to use any of these skills,” said Joe Sbaffoni, Pennsylvania’s director of deep mine safety. “But, if we have to use them, we are prepared.”

Area organizations coordinate efforts to aid flood victims

WAYNESBURG – Nearly three weeks after the remnants of Hurricane Ivan flooded many parts of Greene County, victims continue to rebuild and charitable organizations and government agencies continue to help.

Many of the groups met Wednesday to coordinate their efforts.

“The idea is to set up a system so the proper people get the proper aid, and to help organizations work together to make that happen,” said Karen Bennett, director of human services for Greene County.

Initially, The Salvation Army’s Greene County Service Center provided flood victims with immediate needs such as shelter, clothing and food. Now, the focus has shifted from helping victims survive to helping them get their lives back to normal.

The Salvation Army has been replacing or repairing furnaces, hot water tanks and other appliances that were damaged or destroyed in the flood. The need has become more urgent with overnight temperatures dipping into the 30s.

“A lot of people lost everything,” said Bonnie Smouse, director of the service center. “Their refrigerators, furnaces, all that was under water in some people’s homes.”

Smouse said she was heartened to see so many people respond with donations and by volunteering after the flood. To date, about $15,000 has been raised to specifically help those affected by the flood in Greene County. All but about $4,000 has been spent.

“Sometimes it takes a tragedy like this to really see the goodness of people,” Smouse said.

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Covered bridge stands as tribute to late history buff

CARMICHAELS – A Carmichaels couple’s plan to do something nice for the community, keeping with their interest in history, has resulted in the construction of Greene County’s newest covered bridge.

Though not a full-scale bridge, the 8-foot wide by 12-foot long structure was erected Thursday over a small creek at Wana B Park in Cumberland Township.

Patterned after the Carmichaels Covered Bridge in the Old Town section of Carmichaels, the new bridge will provide easy access to the park grounds, which are frequented most mornings and evenings by walkers.

The bridge also will serve as a memorial to one of the people who helped come up with the idea, Betty Jamison.

Lee Jamison of Carmichaels, who is paying to have the bridge erected, said he and his wife visited the park frequently.” We used to come down here all the time to walk, and we always talked about having a little resting place for people,” he said.

After his wife of 44 years died Jan. 6 from complications following a liver transplant, Jamison decided to go ahead with the project. He and his wife had always been interested in history, and Betty Jamison had been active with Greene Academy of Art in Carmichaels.

The love of history had also led Jamison and his wife to make a film focusing on the history of the county’s covered bridges.

Jamison brought his idea to J. Allen Blaker, director of the county’s parks department. “I thought it was a pretty neat idea,” Blaker said.

Church attracts 94 following story in O-R

CARMICHAELS – Apparently most of the excuses were covered because the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at Carmichaels had almost doubled its usual amount oif worshipers this Sept. 24.

The pastor, the Rev. David Mansfield, and a special committee announced last week there would be no excuse not to attend church.

Cots were provided for those who like to sleep late and blankets and fans were available for those who complained it was either too hot or too cold. There was even a nurse on duty for those who just didn’t feel ell. Ear plugs and hearing aides were there for those who said the preacher was too loud or didn’t talk loud enough. “It went very well,” the pastor said. “We had 94 in church Sept. 24 but we still managed to hear excuses we didn’t have covered.

Usually, the attendance is around 50.

The majority of the new faces were member who had not been to church recently. Others came out of curiosity after reading an account of “no excuse Sunday” in Sept. 23’s edition of this newspaper.

Borough council may fill post of manager soon

Waynesburg Borough Council took action last Thursday to fill the position of borough manager – a post which has been officially vacant since George K. Stennett resigned in March 1968 to become executive director of the Greene County Industrial Developments, Inc.

Council voted to offer the position to John W. Cornell of Coudersport at an annual salary of $8,900.

It was indicated that Clarence Dean, who has been acting borough manager since Stennett’s resignation, would return to his permanent post as supervisors of the maintenance department upon Cornell’ acceptance.