Oct 18, 2014 4 min read

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

PennDOT, politicians mark opening of Greene Co. span

POINT MARION – Dozens of residents from both sides of the river gathered in Fayette County Thursday to witness the ribbon cutting of the new $21 million Point Marion Bridge that joins Fayette and Greene counties.

The bridge replaces the 79-year-old Albert Gallatin Memorial Bridge that had fallen into disrepair. Construction on the new span began in January 2008. The contractor for the project was Swank Associated Co. Inc. of New Kensington.

State Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler congratulated everyone involved in the bridge project.

“We have the highest number of bridges of any state in the U.S. We have 5,830-plus and counting that are in need of replacement or repair. Today, we get to check another off that list,” Biehler said. “We are thrilled to be able to do that with this structure.”

Biehler acknowledged the state Department of Transportation’s District 12, which is responsible for the bridge, and for working diligently to make the project happen and seeing it to the end.

“District 12 has been recognized with a national award by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials. That says a lot about the work that they are doing, to be recognized nationally,” Biehler said.

State Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, said this bridge is important to commerce between the two counties and to the social lives of the people there for shopping and visiting with family and friends across the river.

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WG administrators get raises

ROGERSVILLE – Four West Greene administrators will see 3 percent raises after the school board renewed their contracts Thursday.

The board voted 7-2 to approve three-year contracts with the three principals and Victor Antill, director of facilities. Directors Regina MacDowell and Mike White dissented on the measures.

Middle-senior high school Principal Anthony Paull will now earn $72,100 a year; elementary Principal Donald Painter, $67,980; assistant middle-senior high school Principal Jason Pappas, $63,000; and Antill, $55,800.

The base salaries represent 3 percent increases over last year.

Administrators typically receive cost-of-living raises every year as determined by the Consumer Price Index. The index indicated the cost of living decreased this year, but 3 percent is the minimum raise, according to contract and Act 93, the state law that governs administrators’ compensation.

EverGreene gets ‘pivotal’ $2.5 million state grant

WAYNESBURG – Monday will go down as “a pivotal point in the county’s history,” Greene County Commissioner Pam Snyder said in response to the $2.5 million grant, announced by state politicians.

The money, which will come from the state’s capital budget, will be used to build infrastructure at EverGreene Technology Park, the proposed business center near the county airport.

At a press conference at the airport, State Rep. H. William DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, hailed EverGreene as having the potential to make Greene County “a dynamic link between Pittsburgh and Morgantown, W.Va.” When complete, EverGreene promises to bring as many as 750 new jobs to the area, including about 250 jobs from the park’s anchor tenant, defense contractor R.J. Lee Group of Monroeville.

“This $2.5 million will be a strong impetus for growth in the heartbeat of our county,” DeWeese said, referring to the Interstate 79 interchange in Franklin Township.

Before work can begin on the park, natural gas transmission lines that crisscross the property will have to be moved. Don Chappel, executive director of Greene County Industrial Development Authority, which has overseen the EverGreene development, isn’t sure when construction will begin.

25 years ago

Yellow Jackets gain revenge, beat Bluffton

WAYNESBURG – The Waynesburg College football team didn’t forget the last time they played Bluffton College. And after Saturday’s game at College Field, the Beavers will probably remember the Yellow Jackets fir a long time.

Last year, Bluffton embarrassed Waynesburg, 34-0. This year, the Beavers were ranked 23rd in NAIA Division II and averaging 430 yards total offense per game.

But the Beavers left Greene County with a 42-20 loss and the Yellow Jackets got what they wanted most – a win and revenge.

“The kids seemed flat in pregame but it was all stored up,” Waynesburg head coach Ty Clarke said. “There was a lot of frustration from the year before. We just felt like they stuffed it down our throats last year and the kids wanted to return the favor.”

County’s financial position on course

From all indications, Greene County will wind up 1969 at least as good a financial position as was anticipated when the budget was adopted last January.

In reporting to the county commissioners on the status of county finances following the first nine months, Chief Clerk William Meighen said hat revenues and expenditures ae pretty much in line with budget estimates with the exception of a few areas.