In the News

Seeking and securing grant fundings can be a challenge, whether it's for a nonprofit organization, government agency, municipality, church or small business.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson gathered officials from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) program, the USDA's Rural Development Agency and the Small Business Administration's Pittsburgh District Office to offer details about available federal funding.

Pennsylvania dairy farmers have been under continuous pressure of decreasing fluid milk consumption in the country and tight markets met by production surpluses and tariffs. Congressman Glenn Thompson led a summit at Mount Aloysius College in Cambria County Monday, reassuring producers and farmers that a handful of new policies would offer meaningful assistance to the industry.

Dairy farmers have never had an easy job, but it's no secret that life has been particularly hard the past few years.

Low prices. Cost cutting. Bad weather. Sleepless nights.

It's enough to make a dairy farmer lose hope, and indeed, thousands have decided that the best path for their family is to sell the cows.

But dairy farming hasn't gone the way of the dinosaurs.

There are still 12,800 dairy farms in the Northeast, more than twice the number of Walmarts in the entire U.S.

The annual Showcase for Commerce trade show brings exposure and connectivity to our region's business community.

The defense industry expo also brings a lot of dollars for local companies.

As our Mark Pesto reported, among the contracts announced Friday were these:

• $7.5 million for JWF Defense Systems to produce support equipment for strategic defense program for Lockheed Martin Space; and $1.5 million award from BAE Systems to JWF Defense Systems for work on an armored-vehicle project, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Increased Crew Protection Cab program.

Area farmers are making sure their voices are heard in the nation's capital.

Two local farmers, both Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members, were among a group that visited Washington, D.C. Feb 26-28.

"Pennsylvania Farm Bureau believes it is critically important for farmers to travel to Washington D.C. to meet face-to-face with lawmakers who represent them on national issues," spokesman Mark O'Neill said.

EAST FREEDOM — Every seat in the East Freedom Fire Hall was filled Saturday morning by hunters, about 300 of them, hanging on every word spoken by a scientist who promised a long-awaited cure for chronic wasting disease.

The chronic wasting disease vaccine that ecologist and biologist John Eveland spoke of seemed so close but still far off — at least five years and a few thousand to a million dollars away.

"We are facing a biological and human health catastrophe," Eveland said.

RIDGWAY — The Ridgway Area School District convened the entire student body and staff on Friday to honor the Ridgway Area High School staff and students for earning the National Blue Ribbon Award for Exemplary High Performance.

Rep. Glenn Thompson, state Rep. Matt Gabler, members of the school board, the Elk County Commissioners, Johnsonburg Area School District representatives, the county district attorney and sherriff, the Ridgway Main Street program manager, Ridgway borough manager and members of the Ridgway steering committee all joined in the celebration.