Fatal Fire

I was the only reporter to visit the scene of this fatal fire. It really struck me that someone had died here just the night before. There was still smoke and steam rising from the ashes and I saw charred furniture everywhere. It was gruesome. The rest of the local media covered this from the police report, but I went to the station and was lucky enough to get to talk to a few witnesses while they were waiting to be interviewed. It really helped make this the best coverage of this event.

By ALAN FOSTER
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A mixture of alcohol and teenagers left one teen dead and another charged with criminal homicide and arson at a home near the Somerset county community of Confluence.
Charles J. Burnsworth,19, died in the fire and charged in the death was Michael J. Mitchell, Jr. 18.

"There were four teens in the home that evening. There was drinking, and the fire started," Somerset County coroner Wilbur Miller said. Other sources said there may have been as many as eight teens in the house during the evening before the fire. Miller said there was a high level of carbon monoxide in Burnsworth's blood and he died from smoke inhalation. Based on the state police investigation and evidence at the scene he ruled the death a homicide.
The body was found in a hallway near the basement door. While the blood alcohol level of the deceased was not available, Miller speculated it too would be high. He refused to provide further details due to the ongoing nature of the investigation,
Sources close to the investigation said the fire was started when gasoline was lit on the living room floor.

The home was owned by Donald Rugg, who resides in South Carolina, and was known to be a haven for transients and partying teens. The state police had visited at least twice in the last year and this was the third fire at the home in the last seven years. This according to Confluence fire officials.

Neighbors said that while the death was unfortunate the house would not be missed. One neighbor characterized it as, "the closest think to a crack house we have around here."
The is the second fire-related incident to rock this sleepy, farming community. Last year in nearby Markleton a resident was convicted of killing his wife and disposing of her body by burning it on a backyard burn pile.

What to do with an old caboose?

This is a good example of a reporter generated story. I covered the West Hanover Township supervisors for several months one summer and behind the township building was this rusting caboose. I wondered what the heck it was doing there, so I asked and this is the result.

BY ALAN FOSTER
The Patriot-News

The caboose. Drawn by elementary school children everywhere. The object of pulp fiction, and depression era lore. The vehicle dedicated to the crew of industrial America on the move. All pleasant images, but what do you do when the cabooses’ time is through?

West Hanover Township has such a problem. A decade ago it acquired a caboose from the now defunct Pennsylvania Railroad and, after much fanfare, it is still there. The display got some help from Rep. Ron Marsico when he used some of his WAM (Walkin’ Around Money) aka. Legislative initiative grant (also now defunct) to build a display, a sign, deck and later repaint the rusting shell.

From the outside it looks pretty good, a deep maroon with sharp white letters proudly stating its origin. The inside is another story. It has become a haven for bees and spiders, and the child size holes in the floor would make a personal injury attorney drool.

Looking at the galley and table with small benches, and closets do make you wonder where this caboose has been. How many quick naps it accommodated. How many poker games took place on payday and all the stories that floated in the room. It really is history. It really is a piece of Americana.

As is the case with most municipal projects it comes down to choices and money, but more that is the lack of a shared vision. Most members of the Parks and recreation board would rather have a community center than spend more on the old caboose.

This past summer the Board of Supervisors decided enough time had passed and it was time to say goodbye to the landmark, and instructed Township Manager Michael Rimer to explore numerous options for disposal. The top of the list is to sell it or E-bay it. “My mission is to find a good home for it. We don’t want to scrap it,” Rimer said.

“Our township pledged we would take care of this vehicle. If we turn our backs on it, it would be a real shame,” Eric Bugaile said. Bugaile is a member of the West Hanover Parks and Recreation board and was instrumental in acquiring the caboose back in the early 90s. He wants it used as a “static display” and not discarded. “There is not much maintenance and it does not hurt anything by sitting there,” he said. He is concerned that no one on the current board shares the dream of those who brought the car to the Township in the first place. As recently as 2002 Bugaile prepared an options plan for the board that detailed almost 30 different uses for the car that included everything from a place for birthday parties to a concession stand.

The fate of the caboose behind the township building is still uncertain. It may reside where it is for a while, it may end up somewhere else. It may end up as part of a frame on the 2006 cars that GM produces.

Rimer summed up the experiment this way, “It was the little caboose that could, but just didn’t.”

I Wanna be a Football Star

One of the few pieces I wrote that drew hate mail.I got a letter critical of the story saying I had been duped. Who knows. I use this one because I used a song title in the lead to make a point and it works here.

By ALAN FOSTER
Daily American

There was a band in the 80’s, one of those one-hit wonders called Timbuck3. They had an easy song with a line in it that said, “The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”
Matthew Streng needs shades.

Streng was the senior starting quarterback on the Somerset High football team and, while the team did not do so well (3-6), Matt has the statistics that just might put him on television in a few years.

On the field he looks much smaller, but he is 6’2”, 195 pounds, can do a 4.4 forty and has a solid arm. He has something else that make college coaches smile, a 3.0 grade point average and he scored 1050 on the SAT. It’s a winning combination that has big schools like West Virginia and little ones like East Stroudsburg giving him a second look.

Being an actively recruited high school athlete is a blessing and a curse.
“At first I liked the calls, but I’m getting a little tired of it now. It was slow at first, now it is hectic. I get called six or seven times a night,” Streng said at a recent interview at the Somerset Eat n’ Park.

Among the colleges taking a look at Streng are; North Carolina, WVU, Maryland, Lafayette, Tennessee, University of Buffalo, Northwestern, Cincinnati, The Naval Academy, East Stroudsburg and Rhode Island. He has already ruled out Northwestern and Navy. The Rose Bowl team because he didn’t like the coaches and the academy because of the six-year commitment after graduation.

If he could go anywhere, it would be Florida State, but he says that is just a fantasy, because they aren’t interested. He says he will look closer at Lafayette in Easton, Pa, and the University of Buffalo because they are close enough for his parents, Terry and Fran Streng of Somerset Township to see him play now and then. And they are also the most interested. He is scheduled for official visits to both schools next month.

“I liked Buffalo. The head coach in Craig Cirbus, is a former assistant at Penn State,” Streng said. He also said he would get to play earlier at Buffalo and the school is scheduled to move to division one in two years.

“I want to go where I feel the most comfortable and where I can play ,” Streng said.
The recruiting process starts when players get a look from scouts and are then listed is recruiting guides, a little like tip sheets at the race track. One place scouts visit are football camps. Streng went to football camp at West Virginia University and North Carolina. The school then calls for film and after they take a look, they either call again, or if there is no call the player knows the school is not interested. This happened to Streng with the University of Pittsburgh and Tulane. Players are then encouraged to make an unofficial visit to get a look at the school. In January players are called for official visits. These visits are paid for by the schools and they include travel, meals, lodging and a banquet for the players parents. Players who are asked for official visits can usually expect some kind of offer, either a partial or full scholarship. He hopes to play football and study education or pre-law. The national letter of intent signing day is in early February.

The recruiting process is not all locker rooms, coaches and meetings.
“Some schools have coeds show you the campus. And they (the girls) are very friendly,” Streng said. He said he heard from players that they are even friendlier on official visits. It’s probably good that mom and dad will be along on these official visits next month.

Streng was not pushed into football.

“If not for my mom, I would never have played football. She suggested I try it and I enjoy it. Dad taught me to be a quarterback. There has been nothing new at the camps that he didn’t already show me,” Streng said.

Streng is confident, yet realistic about his college football chances. He might end up in a big stadium or 1,500 seat field, either way he will play, get a degree, and move on to the next challenge.

Keep those shades handy.

History Reborn in Bedford, Pennsylvania

I had visited this resort in 1988 just before it closed for almost two decades. It was a grand place, but on a steep decline and now it's back and I hope it is a success.
A few things that struck me that did not make the story were the fact that the staff did not know there was a listing about the resort on Wikipedia; it was a first stop for me just to get a little information. Another thing, for a project that used a lot of public money to create jobs in a depressed area, I saw about a dozen Mexicans hard at work on the golf course. What was that about? Lots of pick-up trucks with license plates from Texas and Florida, not Pennsylvania. That said, what a place to stay, it would be worth the trip. This is a recent story from June, 2007.


By ALAN FOSTER
Daily American

There are ghosts in the halls. Not the scary kind, but those channeled spirits you might want to spend some time with while you are there. This is a place that has been around for 200 years and has high hopes for 200 more. That place is the Bedford Springs Resort just south of Bedford, Pa in the mountains of western Pennsylvania. Formerly known as the Bedford Springs Hotel the massive 2,200 acre property has seen a $126 million makeover that was true to the design of the original owners. Its new slogan is “History Reborn.”

George Washington strolled the woods nearby. Aaron Burr and his grandson were among the first guests. Maybe that was him on a rocking chair on the second level porch. Maybe he was thinking he might have found a better way of working things out with Alexander Hamilton. The musty smell of the old hotel has been replaced by the newness of drywall and fresh paint, but the presence of history remains. Was that Andrew Jackson in the dining room? He was there. Imagine bumping into Zachary Taylor or Daniel Webster in the lobby. They were there too. What would you ask Dwight Eisenhower or Ronald Reagan if you saw them on the golf course? They were guests.

It is this presence that makes the resort kin to places such as Monticello to the south and Falling Water to the west. Or Independence Hall in Philadelphia to the east. The knowledge that history was made here. That leaders enjoyed the fresh air and the solitude of the mountains and contemplated what was going to happen in the United States and the world.

While there is hope that future presidents and leaders will visit the resort will be home to large meetings and conferences. “We want to attract senior level executives of Fortune 500 companies for meetings,” Todd Gillespie, resort sales and marketing director said.

In addition to meetings and conferences the restored facility has luxury spas, a wedding grotto, indoor and outdoor pools, world-class dining, tennis, and a redesigned golf course. The golf course is among the oldest in the United States and first opened in 1895. The spa facility alone would be the envy of ancient Rome. Off the dining room etched in the glass are the initials of couples who were married at the springs. The carvings were made by brides with their new rings and it is a tradition the resort will carry on.
Local real estate agent Lacy Fitch said property values are going up and that there is not enough property available for buyers these days. “We have been wanting it to happen. It (the resort) is the best kept secret in Pennsylvania. The golf course is amazing,” Fitch said.

Some amenities not available to nineteenth century visitors, but available today are wireless internet in every room, large flat-panel televisions mounted on the wall, double sinks, and imported water-fall showers.

The facility does not expect to compete with the yodeling, alpine theme park that is Seven Springs, but more with the upscale destinations such as Nemocolin Woodlands which is only about 60 miles away. Rooms will be $279 on weekends and $249 during the week with special rates for large groups.

“As to the impact on tourism, I’m glad it’s there because a lot of people are betting it will go. It’s super. We have already had lots of inquiries about staying there and dining there. I’m delighted they breathed new life into the place,” Dennis Tice, director of the Bedford County Visitor’s Bureau said.

The restoration has been a boom to the Bedford economy creating many new construction jobs, but many jobs went to out-of-state firms. The local economy will benefit initially from the hiring of 160 new workers in 2007 and that number will expand to 250 be the end of 2008.

According to Bedford County Commissioner Steve Howsare the payroll will be a major boost to the region. He also said the restoration will benefit farmers too. “I know the chef has met with area farmers to match his needs with what they can provide, “ Howsare said. He said he expects to see strong growth in the County’s hotel room tax. “Right now we collect $160,000 and after the facility is up and running we expect to collect over $300,000 per year.” He explained the project has been a dream of his, but said his predecessors in the commissioners office have been working on it for more than 20 years. “I’m very happy to see it come to fruition,” Howsare said.

He discussed the tangle of financing the huge project, saying most of the money, about $100 million was from private investors, while another $26 million came from the state moved along by former State Sen. Robert Jubilier. On the federal side Rep. Bill Shuster obtained $8 million for the road built behind the hotel which provided easier access. Howsare stressed the state money was not a grant , but a reimbursement that had to be reviewed and approved after completion.

The resort will open on June 27 and WQED the public television station in Pittsburgh is planning a special on the history of the facility due within the next year. For more information the web address is : BedfordSpringsResort.com.

Ron was dead, or at least he thought he was?

I've known this guy for a long time and decided to do a story about him for the Daily American in Somerset, Pa. I like these mystical stories. Researchers say the near-death experience is all a rush of chemicals as we struggle to keep a hold on life. Hey, don't tell Ron that.
Also, I made a nasty editing error on this story and what you see below is not exactly how it appeared in print. What did I do wrong?

By ALAN FOSTER
Daily American

Some people die and go to heaven. Ronald Nicodemus died and went back to work at PennDOT.

By his own account, and his doctor’s, the 57-year old maintenance manager was dead; only a fast-acting emergency medical team, and a jolt from a defibrillator brought him back.
At 9:00 p.m. on March 31 of this year he complained to his wife Hope of chest pain.
“I felt like I was being hit by a sledge hammer or there was an elephant sitting on my chest, “ he said during an interview in his Somerset office. “My wife wanted to drive me to the Bedford emergency room, but I told her to call 911 and they were at our house in just over ten minutes”
At the hospital emergency room, Nicodemus, who weighed 400 pounds, was being transferred between stretchers when his heart stopped. It was then that he saw the bright light.
“When I died I saw the bright light. It was calm, pleasant and strong coming toward me in soft angles. There was no tunnel, no throne room and I did not rise out of my body. It was very quiet. When I woke up I remember looking up at Dr. Fleming’s face, bald head and beard and he said, “Ron, you had a massive heart attack. You died and we brought you back.”

Dr. George Fleming explained that Nick was very lucky.
“When he coded (his heart stopped) and we used the defibrillator he had bitten his tongue and we could not give him a clot buster.” Fleming knew Nick needed a coronary care unit and contacted Altoona and Conemaugh who could not handle the case, but finally Allegheny General in Pittsburgh gave the go ahead to have him flown there by Life flight helicopter. As he left he said to his wife,”Hun, I’m not going to make it,” and she said, “I love you, you fight for me.”

In Pittsburgh Nick was operated on by Dr. Peter A. Sukas,32, a pioneer in the use of a “stint” technique as a supplement to angioplasty (use of a balloon to open a clogged artery) which is a standard procedure in these cases. A stint is a device, when properly used, which will act as a new liner of a damaged artery.

While angioplasty saves lives, many times it is only a temporary solution. The artery will reclog causing another attack or force the patient into bypass surgery. The stint is designed to be a more permanent solution to the blockage problem.
Nick had two blockages that were small, but had stopped the flow completely.
“When the road is closed, the road is closed,” the PennDOT worker said.
Fleming said a normal heart will squeeze 50-70 percent of blood that passes through it with each beat. An Olympic athlete may get to 80 percent. Most cardiologists will not do a bypass on a patient who has less that 20 percent heart function. Nick was at 15-20 percent. Less than 10 percent and the patient is a cardiac cripple. Someone who has difficulty breathing or walking even a few steps. Many of these patients die while awaiting a transplant.
Nick’s road to recovery has not been an easy one. He was weak and felt miserable. He said there were times he woke up at night in tears. Both Nick and his doctor feel his attitude contributed to his ability to regain 40-45 percent of his heart function.
Fleming said a person’s attitude will keep the immune system active and can change the outcome when fighting diseases. On the other side major depression makes us more susceptible to ailments.

Nick is optimistic about life.

“I credit God’s healing power, my instinct for survival and my Marine Corps training for my getting through this,” Nick said. He said he found out recently Rev. Russell Kessler of the Heritage Baptist church had been praying for him. Kessler is also the chaplain of the Marine Corps League. He is also thankful to physical therapists Frank Hammond and Roger Arnold for getting him into “the right mode” and teaching him how to breathe and exercise. “They were the best DI’s (drill instructors) I have ever had,” he said.
Also, exercise and watching his diet have become greater concerns. He has lost almost 100 pounds since that day in March.
“I finished my rehabilitation on November 10 and still walk a couple of miles a day. I use a treadmill, a home gym, a bike and follow the National Heart Association’s diet which calls for no more than 30 percent fat and 1,800 calories,” He said. In the six months since the close call he has doubled his endurance.

While he insists it is not the case his weight did have something to do with the event of March 31. Another contributing factor was the stress he felt from his work. He has been with PennDOT since 1978 and in charge of the Somerset district since 1985. Even while he was in rehabilitation he was thinking about his work.
“My staff and crews are so good, I have nothing but praise for them. Everything went through (during the summer) because we have a good team at Somerset County maintenance. he said. “I think I’m still here to help people and to do a good job. We are as good as any contractor and I think people should take a good look at us. We give good service.”
Ronald P. Nicodemus had no fear of death before this brush with the grim reaper and this experience has enhanced that attitude.

“It is even easier now. I don’t think about it (death). I know I’m okay,” he said. ”All days are good, but some days are better than others. Maybe there is still a little time, as the Masons say, to do good deeds for others.”

Coal Mine Museum Opens

I felt very close to this story because my father hauled house coal in the 60s and 70s and my grandfather was killed in a coal mine when he was only 39. He left a wife and four children, ages four to 14.

By ALAN FOSTER
Daily American

Not long ago coal was king. Men worked on their knees deep underground to bring it to the surface. The wages they made fed their families. The black diamonds powered a nation. Some of those men heard a timber crack and it was their last sound. They never came out. Mothers raised children alone. The dust got many with the black lung. But while the work was hard and the conditions difficult, at the end of the day they knew who they were what they had accomplished and went back in again the next day, proud to be called a coal miner.

There is a new place to see this story in Windber. On Saturday the Windber Coal Heritage Center was dedicated with politicians, speeches, flags and a high school band. The 2.2 million dollar facility boasts a large map of a Berwind-White mine, similar to the electric map at the Gettysburg battlefield, walls filled with memorabilia of 100 years of Windber area mining, and a gift shop. The lower-level has black walls and is reminiscent of going into a deep mine. "Notice the change in temperature as you go down to steps," Chris Barkley, site manager said. It is a little cooler, but not much different from the first floor. The most compelling feature of the mine level are videos of miners telling their story. With the touch of a button you see living history and anecdotes of life and work underground. The third floor houses community rooms.

"Coal and steel workers should feel good about this museum. We have had a real impact on the world because of our industrial might. The heart of the industrial revolution was right here," Congressman John Murtha said at the dedication. Murtha said tourism is the biggest business in the world these days and the new museum was part of several sites designed to bring tourists to southwestern Pennsylvania. "People who have never been in a coal mine can get a better understanding of what it is like. From here they can go to the Johnstown Flood Museum, Horseshoe Curve or the Saltzburg canal," Murtha said.

"Last week the Somerset Historical Center honored its first 100 years. The early farmers worked the glades and today we honor that second wave of immigrants who worked the mines," Somerset County commissioner David Mankamyer said.
The museum is part of a 13-site assembly of attractions that can be seen with a reduced rate "passport" which allows visitors two or four days to visit All of the sites.