Looking back
A look at some of the headlines gracing the pages of the Observer-Reporter and Waynesburg Republican this week in Greene County history:
County proposes increasing
funds for tuition programs
WAYNESBURG – Greene County commissioners propose allocating additional money this year for a program that helps pay tuition costs for county residents enrolled in classes at Westmoreland County Community College.
The county each year allocates $50,000 to the program, which pays half of county residents’ tuition costs for college-credited courses.
The commissioners agreed to consider for approval providing a one-time additional allocation of $11,000. The increase is needed because of the growth in enrollment at the college.
Enrollment by county residents in the college’s courses has grown 12 to 15 percent each year, said Nancy Davis, the center’s work force development coordinator. The allocation this year fell short about $14,000. The Westmoreland College Community College Foundation agreed to cover the remaining $3,000.
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Coal company asks court
for ruling on noise ordinance
WAYNESBURG – Foundation Coal has asked Greene County Court to exempt the company’s mining operations from provisions of the Wayne Township noise ordinance.
Foundation Pennsylvania Coal Co., Pennsylvania Land Holdings Corp., Pennsylvania Services Corp. and Cumberland Coal Resources LP filed the action for declaratory judgment Thursday with the court.
Foundation Coal claims the ordinance will prevent its Cumberland Mine from mining coal in the township.
It maintains surface mining activities including airshafts, portals and core drilling, all necessary for its underground mine, are regulated by the state Department of Environmental Protection under the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act.
Sections of the mining law “preclude Wayne Township, as a matter of law, from regulating surface mining activities …” the company said.
“If the township were to enjoin Cumberland mine’s ventilation or drainage activities, Cumberland would be prevented from mining the Pittsburgh seam of coal, which mining is presently authorized by Cumberland’s validly issued DEP permit,” it said.
Foundation Coal also claims the township ordinance is discriminatory. During consideration of the ordinance, the township recognized other private and commercial activities will violate the noise levels set forth in the ordinance, it said.
The township “purposely” implemented noise level exceptions pertaining to private and commercial activities, the company said. The exceptions make the ordinance inapplicable to most private and commercial activities, “except for surface mining activities that Wayne Township knows must occur within its borders,” the company said.
Wal-Mart to build store in Greene Co. complex
After years of speculation, it’s finally become official: Wal-Mart is coming to Greene County.
A Wal-Mart Super Center has become the first tenant to commit to a major retail complex that will be developed on property in Franklin Township adjacent to the Greene County Airport, it was announced Wednesday.
The project is being developed by McHolme/Waynesburg LP and the DeBartolo Property Group on 115 acres of land behind the Kiwi Fence building that the companies agreed to purchase from the county.
“This has been one of the county’s top development priorities, and Wal-Mart’s intention to locate a 145,000-square-foot store here makes this project a reality,” said Norman McHolme of McHolme Construction.
“Residents of the county will soon have new retail shopping options available to them,” he said.
Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2004, with the grand opening tentatively slated for early summer 2005.
The store will include 36 general merchandise departments ranging from a garden center to an automotive tire center as well as a supermarket, said John Bisio, director of corporate communications for Wal-Mart.
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Firm wants to expand
Spraggs water project
JEFFERSON – A water line being constructed along Route 218 to serve the village of Spraggs in Wayne Township possibly may be extended an additional 9,000 feet at the request of CONSOL Energy Inc.
CONSOL is mining in the area where the extension is sought.
Joe Simatic, manager of Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority, told the authority board Thursday that it will prepare an agreement with CONSOL to complete the engineering design for the extension.
Under the agreement, the authority’s engineer will design the project and submit specifications to CONSOL, which can then bid the work, he said. The company will pay the engineering fees as well as the costs of line construction.
Simatic told the board that by having the authority’s engineer complete the design, the authority will ensure the line is being built to proper specifications.
Money crunch forces county
to initiate spending freeze
WAYNESBURG – The Greene County commissioners ordered a spending freeze for the next 30 days in a continuing effort to bring the county back to financial stability.
Inc addition, the commissioners agreed to approach Community Bank for an extended line of credit of $200,000. Although the money is not particularly needed at this time, the commissioners felt the money should be available should it be needed in a hurry.
The action was taken shortly after Steve Love, county business manager, announced, “We are in a money crunch.”
A few monents earlier, Robert Elliott, county treasurer, told the board the county was $51,000 in the red.
During the spending freeze, only payroll and contracted services such as utilities will be paid.
Waynesburg stores
destroyed by fire
The job of cleaning up is still under way following a fire that destroyed two business establishments in downtown Waynesburg.
State Police Fire Marshal Richard Craig and Waynesburg Fire Chief L.H. Tennant said their investigation definitely indicated that the blaze broke out in one corner at the rear of the basement under Meighen’s Shoe Store, 74 West High Street.
The shoe store was completely gutted by the blaze, as was a second-floor apartment over the shoe store. The Singer Company Store, adjoining the shoe company, escaped fire damage but sustained heavy water and smoke damage.