Mine Reclamation Project, Trail Addition Celebrated in South Fork
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SOMERSET COUNTY — Award-Winning Investigative Journalism — DELIVERED TO WWW.OURTOWNJOHNSTOWN.COM YOUR DOOR! madeinsomersetcounty.com WEEK OF Mine reclamation project, trail NOVEMBER 4 - 10, 2020 addition celebrated in South Fork FAMILY VALUES ANTI- BULLYING TRACKING SOFTWARE NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL SCHOOLS IN CAMBRIA Staff photo by Beth Miller COUNTY MacGregor (sixth from right) and other federal, state and local offi cials cut a ribbon to celebrate the completion of the Stineman Refuse Pile Project on Oct. 26 in South Fork. — B1 BETH ANN MILLER and creating jobs for small- [email protected] town America. “In towns like South Fork, SPORTS On a hillside above the we have proven that we can borough of South Fork, more produce energy, reclaim mine than 20 acres of land that was lands, restore their beauty and once covered in black and red their splendor and allow for coal refuse is now a broad green recreation and other uses of landscape that includes a multi- the land long after the energy use recreation trail to help project has ended. Today, promote tourism in the area. we are proving that we are On Oct. 26, the Cambria innovators by restoring this County Conservation & beautiful land for the people of Recreation Authority invited Pennsylvania and for other out federal, state and local of state visitors.” officials to see the results of As Mark Kohart, borough the Stineman Refuse Pile Staff photo by Beth Miller mayor, looked over the SHADE Project, an abandoned mine Kate MacGregor, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, looks reclaimed landscape, he towards the borough of South Fork while giving her remarks at the Stineman reclamation project that began remarked how the residents PANTHERS Refuse Pile ribbon cutting ceremony. nearly 18 months ago to remove of coal mining communities DEFEAT 216,000 cubic yards of waste like South Fork helped fuel the coal from the hillside. nation’s manufacturing and INDIANS, A sign at the project entrance transportation industries for EARN FIRST at 312 Maple St. explains more than a century. that the $2 million grant the “Where we stand is history WESTPAC authority received to reclaim because, in no small measure, the former Stineman Coal they helped build this country, VOLLEYBALL and Coke Co. site was paid for literally. That’s our heritage TITLE through Abandoned Mine Land and the heritage in which we Pilot Project funds from the are very proud,” he said. “I Department of the Interior’s have to believe that they are Office of Surface Mining all looking down now and are — B5 Reclamation and Enforcement, quite pleased that their children awarded through the state and grandchildren and great- Department of Environmental grandchildren have become Protection’s Bureau of such good stewards of the land Abandoned Mine Reclamation. – good stewards of their land. Other project partners were the This is where they labored, Department of Environmental where they lived their lives and Protection, Cambria we think that is a wonderful Submitted photo County, the Foundation for thing. WEEKLY This aerial photo, provided by the Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Pennsylvania Watersheds, “I truly believe that their RECIPE WINNER Minetech Engineers, Robindale Authority, shows the 20 acres of coal refuse at the former Stineman Coal and Coke Company site before reclamation work began. legacy, their labors, their lives, DARLENE Energy Services and Al Penn En their legacy did not end with TIFFANY Inc. the boney dumps and the sulfur Robindale Energy Services – A4 creek. Because of the work of removed the waste coal and people like yourselves, their used it to operate its Seward legacy continues to this day and Generation power plant, which to this beautiful place.” produces electricity for more Doug Benevento, acting than 650,000 homes in western deputy administrator of the ARE YOU DOWNSIZING? Pennsylvania. NEED MONEY FOR TAXES? Environmental Protection DID YOU INHERIT A In addition to cleaning up Agency, agreed. COLLECTION? much of the 27-acre site, the “I think it’s also important WE CAN HELP! Stineman Refuse project also to note what the mayor said: included the construction of a These minerals were pulled out WE BUY ALL COINS 1.6-mile addition to the Path GOLD-SILVER of the ground for a reason,” of the Flood Trail, a National he said. “They were pulled out PAPER MONEY Recreation Trail that follows of the ground to protect our JOHN PAUL SAROSI, INC. the path of the 1889 Johnstown freedom, to protect our country 106 Market Street ∙ Downtown Johnstown Flood from the South Fork Dam M-F 10-5 Eve/Sat by appt. and we should recognize that. 1-814-535-5766 ∙ 1-800-334-1163 to the City of Johnstown. Staff photo by Beth Miller “Now it’s our turn to do SO-889500-1 SINCE 1974 - WE PAY MORE! The Path of the Flood Trail, This photo shows the now-reclaimed landscape as taken from the Path of the our job, to clean up these Flood Trail, looking toward the site’s Maple Street entrance. as well as the Ghost Town Trail lands so that you all can and other trails managed by live in a community that is the authority, are open year- environmentally safe and round for running, walking, at the authority’s website, in both environmental and healthy.” hiking, cross-country skiing, cambriaconservationrecreation. economic benefits. Todd Coleman, president of snowshoeing, cycling and com. “You all have every reason Minetech Engineers, said he other recreational activities, Kate MacGregor, deputy to be proud,” she said. “This hopes that projects like this are Cliff Kitner, executive director secretary of the U.S. project is anticipated to bring helping to change old, negative of the Cambria County Department of the Interior, 75,000 visitors to the area every perceptions of the coal mining Conservation & Recreation said that the Stineman Refuse year. Together, we’re reclaiming industry. Authority, said. Information project has met the federal and beautifying our mine lands, on these trails is available SO-878089- government’s expectations strengthening our communities (See MINE, A4) A2 Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Our Town, Johnstown, Pa. OUR TOWN ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OPINION Becky Flyte bfl[email protected] LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY MULTI MEDIA SALES EDITORIAL CARTOON Our Town welcomes letters to the editor which express a MANAGER specific view on topics of general interest. Letters submitted Genna Smith for publication must be signed and contain the address and [email protected] telephone number of the writer. Letters should be limited to about 250 words. CIRCULATION Our Town reserves the right to edit all letters. Letters can- MANAGER not be returned. Letters may be mailed to Our Town at 334 Donna Riley W. Main Street, PO Box 638, Somerset, PA 15501. You may also [email protected] fax them to us at 814-444-5900 or email them to bruces@ ourtownjohnstown.com. EDITOR The following are additional guidelines: Bruce Siwy [email protected] • Letters from local writers and about local topics or races take precedence. WRITERS • Letters should be the original works of the authors. Just Beth Ann Miller clearly make your case for the candidates or topics of your choice, in your own words. LAYOUT/GRAPHIC • We will not publish form letters or letter-pushes. If we think DESIGNERS the letters are cut-and-paste, we won’t run them. Mindy Faidley • Letters must be 300 words or less and signed with the writ- er’s real name. Holly Pelliccione • Writers must provide an address and phone number for Joyce Brown verification. • Writers are limited to one letter per month. MEDIA CONSULTANTS Bruce J. Siwy Editor - Our Town Julie Frampton Kathy Shriner Zac Cooney Alyssa Goulding LETTER TO THE EDITOR 334 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 638, Somerset, PA 15501 Phone: When it comes to the governor, DePasquale 800.452.0823 Advertising Fax: is not an independent, neutral party 814.445.2935 To the editor: Assembly to request that the auditor general Congressional race. Editorial Fax: Way back at the beginning of the examine the process. Plus, Wolf and his wife maxed out 814.444-5966 coronavirus business shutdown, the Wolf The auditor general is an independently their personal donations to DePasquale’s administration allowed “non-essential” elected office in Pennsylvania. In theory, campaign. dailyamerican.com/ businesses to apply for shutdown waivers. this means that the auditor general is not This is as bad as it sounds. There is no way ourtownjohnstown For months, Gov. Tom Wolf refused to beholden to anyone who his office might that Republican members of the General Our Town is published by disclose who had applied for waivers. The have to investigate. Assembly will accept the audit at face value. Gannett Co., Inc. every Wednesday. Please direct comments, editorial administration also refused to provide a list That independence was thrown out It isn’t clear what options the General submissions, or suggestions to Our of those approved or denied. Wolf’s refusal the window by Auditor General Eugene Assembly has available at this point. Wolf is Town Editor, PO Box 638, Somerset, PA 15501. Our Town does not assume to disclose the waiver information extended DePasquale. unlikely to surrender the types of documents responsibility for any unsolicited contributions or communications. Our to not complying with a subpoena from the Although DePasquale is not on the the General Assembly would need to conduct Town reserves the right to edit any content submitted for publication. Pennsylvania Senate for the information. ballot for auditor general this year, he has another investigation, and the Supreme To submit press release or to suggest Eventually, the governor provided some reached his term limit and is currently Court has shown no interest in acting as a a story for an upcoming issue of Our Town, direct your email to of the information related to the waivers.