Indiana County receives donation for new veterans transport van

Oct. 24--The newly opened Veterans Administration Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in White Township'sRegency Mall has received a boost from an Indiana businessman, who, with the help of his three daughters, made a contribution to help veterans get to the clinic.

At their Oct. 15 meeting, the Indiana County Commissioners accepted Chris Evans' donation of $15,000. The money will be used to add a third van to a fleet the county Office of Veterans Affairs will have at its disposal to help veterans get to their appointments at the new clinic.

An open house is slated 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.Oct. 24 at the new clinic, located in the former Rex appliance store.

"What's unique about the clinic is the fact that it's going to draw veterans into a health care situation from a remote to a local status," said Rodney Ruddock, commissioners chairman. Before the local site opened, he noted, most local veterans had to travel to Altoona or Pittsburgh to reach the nearest veterans clinic, and the county Office of Veterans Affairs had always made vehicles available to veterans to travel those distances.

The opening of the clinic in White Township has drastically cut back the need for veterans to travel great distances to receive health care. It is within walking distance of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where it's estimated more than 700 veterans are enrolled.

But some veterans still require transportation assistance to get to the clinic. When Evans saw that need identified, he said, he wanted to do something to help.

Evans, who is an Air Force veteran, made the donation in honor of his father, Theodore "Ted" Evans. His two brothers also served, all following in the footsteps of their father, a retired career military man who served as a unit administrator for a local Army National Guard unit.

"With my family's military background and my certain, complete respect for Rod (Ruddock, his former principal while a student in the Indiana Area School District), "I saw a great opportunity to help out for the better," said Evans.

Each of Evans' daughters -- Brooke, Brittany and Christine-- presented a $5,000 donation to county on behalf of the respective companies their father named after them -- Mystic Brooke Development, Britt Resources and Christine Marie Exploration.

The commissioners also approved the sale of coal located under 7.3 acres of county-owned land in Center Township. Rosebud Mining Co. of Kittanning was the high bidder for the coal and will pay to the county royalties of $1.50 per ton of marketable extracted coal, or 4 percent of the selling price, whichever is greater.

The county has received $5,000 from Rosebud as advance payment for the coal. The agreement, which is for 10 years, could net the county between $30,000 and $50,000.

"This will not affect any of the surface at all," Ruddock said. "It's all underground."

The commissioners also recognized a small southeastern Indiana County village as it celebrates its 100th anniversary as a town.

"Indiana County obviously has a number of small communities that have risen above the status of excellence into the status of extraordinary," Ruddock said as he presented a proclamation for the coal-mining town of Charles. Located in East Wheatfield Township, it was founded in 1914 by the Cramer Coal, Coke and Stone Co. and has a current population of 123.

A few of its residents were on hand to receive the proclamation on behalf of the town -- including Michael Sank, who, along with his brother Joseph, has compiled a history of Charles.

"It's wonderful," Charles resident Janet Rengh said of the history volume. "It's a tribute to our grandparents and our parents who gave us our start."

In other business, the commissioners:

--OK'd several non-placement and placement provider contracts and a data-sharing agreement for the county's Children and Youth Services for the 2014-15 year;

--Approved a change order of $1,792.38 for work to replace an ignition module on a rooftop unit, raise a condensing unit and install an air regulator at the Diamond Drug Repack Project in White Township;

--Signed an agreement with the state for a 2013 competitive community development block grant award of $370,000. The funding will be used to help bring the Arcadia water treatment plant into compliance with federal and state regulations for safe drinking water. The county already has allocated $196,500 of its 2013 block grant funds to the project;

--Amended a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant contract for the Windy Ridge Business and Technology Park in White Township, extending the termination date to Oct. 31, 2015;

--Appointed J.P. Habets of Blairsville to the Career T.R.A.C.K. board, replacing 14-year board member Ron Carson;

--Appointed four people to the official count board for the Nov. 4 general election -- Republicans Darla Coble and Phyllis Spicher and Democrats Margaret Karp and Margaret Preite;

--Announced that Tuesday is the final day to apply for an absentee ballot in the county;

--Proclaimed Oct. 20-24 National Business Women's Week in the county.

The next meeting of the county commissioners will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Gina DelFavero is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-459-6100, ext. 2915 or gdelfavero@tribweb.com.

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