TyronePA.com

Some 100 local residents turned out at the Tyrone Area High School auditorium last evening to listen to and gather information regarding Gamesa’s proposed 10 to 15 turbine wind farm on Tyrone Borough’s watershed property on Ice Mountain.
The over three-hour public forum was driven by Save Ice Mountain spokesperson Dr. Stan Kotala, which featured four speakers, experts in their related fields, and testimonies from two residents from the Blue Knob area where the operating Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm is located.
The evening was filled with information regarding the negative impacts of wind power development on the Allegheny Front, which includes Ice Mountain, misconceptions of wind power generation, and the lack of stringent regulations and guidelines that the wind power companies have to follow while constructing and siting a wind farm.
Every speaker last night made it clear that none of them were against wind power development, but were opposed to the irresponsible siting of wind farms. Blue Knob area residents Clair Chappell and Dr. Todd Stull spoke about their first-hand experiences of having a group of wind turbines close to their homes.
Chappell and Stull were told that the wind turbines made “no noise” when the two men first heard about the wind farm construction near their properties. Stull told the crowd that “nobody from Gamesa has ever come to my house about our complaints.”
Stull said that the wind turbine noise is especially loud at his house, by which he compared it to a jet aircraft constantly flying overhead. He said the noise isn’t there every day, but when it is there, it is very noticeable.
Chappell agreed with Stull’s noise complaints. Both residents attend Juniata Township municipal meetings on a regular basis to voice their concerns, but as Chappell stated, now that the wind turbines are built, “we’re going to have to live with it.”
“There’s very little integrity in some of these wind farm owners, and I think Tyrone needs to do their homework,” said Chappell. “Don’t follow what we did at Blue Knob. The local township supervisors were overwhelmed by the project and how it just swooped in.”
Both of the Blue Knob residents felt that turbines placed 2,000 feet away from homes was not far enough. Chappell said he believed it was the wind company’s idea to have the set back 2,000 feet from the homes at Blue Knob.
Chappell also talked about the Tyrone Borough watershed property and the value of water to the area. He said that he knows “that we shouldn’t tamper with our water supply.”
“What’s your foresight for the next generation?” asked Chappell to the crowd. “Your forefathers purchased that land to preserve that water supply.”
Other speakers at the forum last evening included professional botanist, wildlife biologist, ecologist and natural resources policy analyst, Dan Boone. He spoke about the importance of the location of wind farms, and if the value of wind power generation in Pennsylvania is worth the destruction of the ridge tops.
Boone said that Pennsylvania would need 4,000, two megawatt, wind turbines to generate an annual amount of electricity equivalent to 10 percent of PA’s projected demand in 2030. He also stated that a big myth of wind energy is its impact on U.S. oil dependency.
“Only three percent of all U.S. oil consumption makes electricity,” said Boone.
He also said that the U.S. needs electricity the most in the summer months, and that’s when wind energy output drops off.
“I think communities are wise to wait on wind development, because the wind will always be there,” added Boone.
Laura Jackson, former science educator and present chairperson of Save Our Allegheny Ridges (SOAR), gave a presentation on “Wind Turbine Turmoil.” She said that energy companies are constructing wind turbines on Pennsylvania’s mountains, which fragments the forests, destroys wildlife habitats, and kills birds and bats.
Jackson informed the forum attendees of the social and human health issues of wind farms, such as wind projects taking away hunting grounds, the dangers of ice throws and noise issues.
She said there is much concern for wildlife also, such as rattlesnakes, song birds and wood rats.
“Wind will make hardly a difference in the fight against global warming,” said Jackson. “Let’s protect our forested ridges, it’s what we have left. We need to protect the resources that we have.”

The 18th annual Tyrone Day was held at the Vineyards Country Club in Naples, Florida, on Saturday, February 23.
Sixty persons attended who have their roots in Tyrone. Festivities began at 11 a.m. with registration, followed by a social hour, luncheon and program.
Judie Black welcomed the group after the social hour and introduced Neil and Nancy Smith. Neil was the principal of the Tyrone Area High School from 1973 until his retirement in 1994. Neil’s wife, Nancy, is the president of the Tyrone Area Historical Society.
Nancy distributed the 2008 calendars, published by The Daily Herald, which pictured photos of Tyrone from yesteryears. She shared valuable information regarding the work of the Tyrone Area Historical Society. The main purpose of the organization is to preserve the history of the Tyrone area and ensure that present, as well as future generations, can share in and understand their rich heritage.
The folks attending Tyrone Day enjoyed the Tyrone Trivia questions that were placed at their tables. Who was the first man to set up housekeeping in Tyrone around 1850? Who were the doctors that made house calls in the 1940s and 1950s? What were the three shoe stores in Tyrone during the 50s? What group represented Tyrone at several Presidential Inaugural Parades in Washington DC? What Tyrone business did columnist Dorothy Kilgallen write about in the Good Housekeeping Magazine in 1953? What was the name of the man who walked the streets in order to dig up news for the Tyrone Herald? These and many other questions stimulated conversations, competition and laughter.
A large picture of the THS Class of 1939 was exhibited as well as a 1957 Tyrone Centennial banner and a photo that pictured Fred Waring flanked by the THS Sr. Girls’ Ensemble. Fred Giles won a prize for identifying every girl on the picture. Many other door prizes were awarded.
An appeal was made for donations towards the upkeep of Tyrone’s Grandview Cemetery and appreciation was expressed to Gardners Candies for the Peanut Butter Meltaway favors on the tables.
The history of Tyrone Day began in the early 1960s. Many Tyrone natives migrated to Florida around that time, and they reached out to one another to create an “old hometown” get-together. The gatherings usually took place as covered dish suppers in a park. As years went on, the parties grew and included family members from the North who came to Florida for winter vacations. As the number of participants increased, Bill and Velda Kanour moved Tyrone Day to the Vineyards Country Club.
The Kanours are largely responsible for the continuation and success of Tyrone Day. After the death of Bill Kanour, Velda passed the torch to some of the “girls” from the Tyrone Area High School Class of 1960 who now live in the Naples area. These women have kept the event going, and are trying to stimulate interest within the new generation of retirees who have a Tyrone connection.
Those in attendance were: Gayleen and Dennis Barone, Judie Black, Annis Bonsell, Carol and Jack Branter (who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary), Bonnie and Jim Crawford, Gretta Czap, Cheri Dow, Beverly and Dave Fisher, Grant Gault, Fred Giles and daughter Megan, Esther and Jimmy Grimm, Lois and Bill Harris, Bonnie and Charles Houser, Jim Irvin, Rodney Irvin, Mary Ellen Jones, Velda Kanour, Mary Ann Keel, JoAnn and Don Kobak, Patricia and Bob Kustenbauder, Rosanna Lower, Dolly Lucas, Sherry and Norman McCall, Evelyn and Clair McClellan, Carol and Russell Miller, Mary Jane and Jim Morrissey, Mary and Jim Philage, Beverly and Chaney Reese, Barbara Sampson, Sue and Tony Singer, Nancy and Neil Smith, Florence and Max Spicer, Maddie Talasky, Jennie Tobin, Maureen and Ray Trenary, Jean Trybus, Jossie Trybus, Peggy and Larry Walker.
Anyone who is interested in attending the Tyrone Day in Naples, Florida next year, please contact: Barbara Sampson: 6145 Reserve Circle, No. 1702, Naples, Florida 34119, phone: 239-353-6564, email barbara1702@comcast.net.
Tyrone Day is always held on the last Saturday in February. Everyone is welcome.

The members of Cub Pack 300 visited WTRN and recorded a historical skit about how the railroad came to Tyrone. Complete with sound effects and voices of the immigrants who came and brought their families, the tape will be broadcast on Saturday morning, March 29 at 10:10 a.m. From left: Logan McKernan, Cooper Williams, Devin Goldenbaum, John Diller and Matthew Coleman. (Courtesy photo)

The Hamilton-Gibson Choir, of Tioga County, is singing in the 11:15 a.m. worship service this Sunday, March 30 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 1650 Clay Avenue, in Tyrone.
People from around the area are invited to participate in the worship service, led by the One Heart Praise Team. The Hamilton-Gibson Choir will sing several selections throughout the service.
Hamilton-Gibson Choir began in 1996 with 18 singers in grades 4-8. Founded by Thomas Putnam and accompanist Kay Galloway, the choir has expanded to include 55 singers in the Choir TOO (grades 2-5), Children’s (grades 5-8), Young Men’s and Young Women’s Choirs (grades 9-12). The community choirs have performed throughout the Twin Tiers of PA and NY for civic and community events, and toured in New York City, Harrisburg, Washington D.C., and Toronto. In March of 2003- the day after the US entered Iraq- singers from grades 4-12 traveled to Prague for a goodwill performance tour. In the spring of 2006 the choirs toured Brazil.
The choir was designated Tioga County’s Singing Youth Ambassadors, and Pennsylvania’s Singing Youth Ambassadors in 2001 by the Pennsylvania State Legislature. In 2000 they performed Copland’s Old American Songs with both Mansfield University’s Orchestra and Williamsport Youth Orchestra. They were invited to sing the National Anthem at the Little League World Series with President and Mrs. Bush in attendance; and have sung at every World Series since. In April of 2002, they performed Carmina Burana with the Mansfield University Festival Choir under the direction of Peggy Dettwiler.
Thomas Wells Putnam (director) is director of Hamilton-Gibson Productions, a community performing arts group. Early training in music began with his parents, choral directors and music educators George and Jean Putnam in Michigan. Further training included extensive work with Gilbert Jackson and degrees from Mansfield and Bucknell Universities.
Katherine Brennan (director) directs the Young Women’s Choir and the Choir TOO, received her BME from Valparaiso University and MA from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Brennan has taught choral and general music in Indiana, Illinois and Oklahoma, and works presently with H-G and Trinity Lutheran School, Wellsboro. She has been the director of Mansfield University Summer Youth Music Camp, 1999-present and has been a guest clinician/adjudicator in Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana. She is a member of MENC and ACDA.
Kay Galloway has been the accompanist for the H-G Choirs since its inception. Her degrees include Bachelors of Organ Performance from Tulsa University, and Masters in Musicology from Catholic University. She has been a church organist and accompanist for over 40 years.
This year the choirs are celebrating THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. The entire repertoire for the year is comprised of songs that are either directly focused on or mention animals. This tour beginning in Pittsburgh on Saturday kicks off their 67 INITIATIVE, a plan to perform in every county in Pennsylvania.

The Tyrone Junior Varsity Baseball Team opened its 2008 campaign on Wednesday afternoon at home against Philipsburg. Along with the Varsity squad, this team is very young with nearly all ninth graders in the starting line-up. On the other hand, Philipsburg’s JV team included a majority of 10th graders in its line-up.
After scoring one run in the first inning, Philipsburg capitalized on two Golden Eagle errors and a walk in the third inning to score three runs increasing their lead to 4-0 through 3 innings.
Jared Templeton scattered just two hits while striking out six and walking only two batters for the Eagles over the first three innings.
Austin Barefoot came in to relieve Templeton in the fourth inning and did not allow a run during the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, the Eagles came alive with the bats after Templeton’s fly out to left field, Austin Barefoot singled, then Derrick Dasher doubled to left field scoring Barefoot. Then A.J Welsh singled to right center scoring Dasher. Matt Romano came in to pinch run for Welsh and on the next pitch stole second base. Ian Murray then singled down the third base line to plate Romano. Murray then stole second on the next pitch and scored on an error from a ball hit by Korry Cowher to the Philipsburg 3rd basemen. At the end of the fourth inning it was all tied at a score of 4-4.
In the 5th inning, the Mounties pounded out five hits and had two walks to plate an additional six runs making the score 10-4. Drew Bryan, the Mounties shortstop, had one of those hits and for the game went 3-for-4. In the bottom half of the inning, the Eagles did not score a run and stranded two base runners. In fact, for the game, the Eagles left 12 men on base.
In the sixth inning, Trevor Jackson came in to relieve Barefoot on the mound for the Eagles. Jackson finished off the game facing seven batters in two innings, striking out four with no runs scored.
The Eagles managed to score one run in the sixth inning with Jordan Faretta scoring on Jeremy Miller’s triple to Left -Center Field and another in the seventh on Zachary Cothard’s single to Right Centerfield plating Robbie Marlette. The final score was Philipsburg 10 and Tyrone 6.
Colton Wrye earned the pitching victory on the mound for Philipsburg.
“ We stranded 12 base runners and managed to only pound out six hits,” commented voluntary head junior varsity coach Mark Jackson. “We were unable to get much going offensively with the exception of the 4th inning. With the exception of the 6-run 5th inning, our pitching was pretty good. I was really happy with the fact that our boys never quit. Even though we made several errors early, our defense was pretty good as well. In addition, we had several solid relays from the outfield to third base.”
“Many of the teams we will face this year will obviously have more 10th graders in their line-up than we will, but we feel very good about the talent pool that we have on this team and for that matter the entire program. I am sure we will face many challenges this year, but each game will make us better than we were before. We actually had nearly 50 boys in total out for both JV and Varsity baseball to start practice at the beginning of March. I personally attribute much of the increased interest in the program to the success of the VFW Teener League Program over the past several years.”
The JayVees next game is at Bellwood on Friday at 4:30 p.m.