TODAY'S NEWS: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS COULD BE CUT

THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE IS WAITING TO RECEIVE ITS FINAL BUDGET FIGURES FOR THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. IN 2010 THE CITY RECEIVED OVER $400,000 IN FUNDS, BUT THIS YEAR THE PROGRAM COULD BE CUT SIGNIFICANTLY. THE REPULICAN HERALD REPORTS THE LACK OF FUNDING WILL DELAY PLANS TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT 12TH AND WEST MARKET STREETS, A $250,000 PROJECT. IF CDBG FUNDS CONTINUE TO BE CUT, FUTURE DEMOLITION AND SIDEWALK PROJECTS WILL ALSO BE DELAYED. HAVING A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 4,000, POTTSVILLE IS ONE OF NINE OF THE 67 MUNICIPALITIES IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TO RECIEVE ENTITLEMENT FUNDS THROUGH THE FEDERAL PROGRAM.

NESQUEHONING MAN MEMORIALIZED AT STATE CAPITOL

A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER AND EMPLOYER IN CARBON COUNTY WAS HONORED AT THE STATE CAPITOL AFTER HIS PASSING IN JANUARY. REPRESENTATIVES DOYLE HEFFLEY AND JERRY KNOWLES HAVE CO-SPONSORED A HOUSE RESOLUTION ON HONORING JOHN J. “SONNY” KOVATCH, FORMERLY OF NESQUEHONING. HOUSE RESOLUTION 151, A CONDOLENCE RESOLUTION, PASSED THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12. KOVATCH WAS A WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND OWNER OF KOVATCH MOBILE EQUIPMENT AND THE KOVATCH ORGANIZATION, WHICH HAS EMPLOYED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN CARBON COUNTY THROUGH THE YEARS.