—The Daily Collegian Thursday, Aug. 26, 1993 Consolidation efforts By DAVE MAURO Collegian Staff Writer The prospect of a unified Centre Region government, tossed about for at least a decade, may be starting to collapse under its own bureaucratic weight. Acting in its role as the county elections board, the Centre County Board of Commissioners rejected a proposal last Tuesday to place a consolidation referendum question on the Nov. 2 general election bal lot. The question, which would have appeared on the ballot in State College Borough and Patton and College townships, asks voters to authorize the formation of a commission to undertake an extensive consolida tion study. "As much as I want to accom modate the request, I'm not allow ed to do it. It's pretty simple," said Commissioner Denny Sciabica, chairman of the elections board. The board does not have the authority Preliminary hearings By SCOTT HILLMEYER Collegian Staff Writer A 22-year-old York man was ordered yesterday by District Justice Robert May to stand trial on charges stemming from a November 1992 car accident that claimed the life of a University student. Erik Hoheneder, who was also a University student at the time, was charged with one count of to place nonbinding referendums on ballots, he said. The Centre Region Government Study Phase II Report, issued last May, recommended the borough and the region's five townships —Col lege, Ferguson, Halfmoon, Harris and Patton —increase cooperation in municipal services and begin moving toward becoming a single munici pality. The county's rejection signals another setback for consolidation advocates. Halfmoon Township withdrew from the study last August while the Phase II report was being pre pared. Both Ferguson and Harris townships recently chose not to pursue the referendum. For some elected officials in the Centre Region's other municipali ties, the referendum was nec essary to gauge public support on consolidation talks. "I see little chance that without input College Township will pro ceed," said Fred Smith, chairman of homicide by vehicle, two counts of driving under the influence and one count of tampering with or fab ricating physical evidence. Sara Louise Ristey, a passenger in Hoheneder's car, died in the accident, which occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 15, 1992. According to court records and testimony, Hoheneder was driv ing north on state Route 26 near the State Correctional Institution at Rockview when he allegedly got into ALL NEW WEIGHTS & EQUIP * Over 10,000 lbs of York Free Weights * 12 Olympic Power Bars * Only CAMBER Bench Press Bar In Towi * 8 Bench Press Stations * Olympic Powerlifting Platform * 51b-120Ib Dumbbell Sets * Body Master Multi-Station Jungle * Body Master Squat Racks * Body Master Abdominal Machine * Body Master Chin & Dip Station • PRO SHOP • LOUNGE • A 4 0 ‘ -" 1• - Conveniently located close to: State College Park * Heritage Oaks 234-1510 * Aaron Village * Park Forest Apartments 1510 MARTIN ST. (REAR). BEHIND GIANT FOOD PLAZA MN 234-1510 may be collapsing College Township Council. The township didn't want to simply form a new consolidation study group without a referendum because enough time has already been wasted by not knowing how the public really feels about consolidation, he said. Smith said he thinks the refer endum is worthwhile even if it doesn't exactly fit the state guidelines for referendums. "In principle, it's the type of question that should be on (the ballot)," he said. State College Borough Council President R. Thomas Berner said he believes the board's decision only slows the process down. "Everyone agrees we're going to consolidate someday, it's just a question of when," Berner said. Commissioner Keith Bierly sup ported the municipalities' right to put the question on the ballot. "I didn't think it was legally prohibited and our solicitor said that much," said Bierly, a former dis a high-speed race with another car Hoheneder's car allegedly skidded off the road and into a tree, causing a beer keg and tap that were in the back seat to strike Ristey in the head, killing her. The keg and tap, which were found about 300 yards from the accident, were covered with blood. DNA tests confirmed it matched Ristey's blood, according to court records. ~~~ Answering Machines $29.99 MELIMiIHIIII S STUDENT STORE - PENN STATE ROOM 414 E. College Avenue (Across from South Halls) Open 7 a.m. -- 12 midnight conserve energy 3 3 SEMESTER s io 9 SPECIAL a trict justice in Centre County for 12 years. He said the referendum could be a useful tool for measuring public opinion, rather than immediately asking the public whether they want to consolidate. "This isn't an effort by me to push consolidation, it's an effort to let (local leaders) feel the public pulse," Bierly said. Commissioner Vicki Wedler opposed placing the referendum on the ballot. She said several court decisions since 1990 have limited the county's authority to approve ref erendums for ballot use. Wedler said municipal leaders know they want a study commit tee, but the public doesn't know what it wants. The future of the recent round of consolidation discussion remains uncertain. "It's going to evolve as it will with a region that enjoys increased growth. Where it's going to end up, I wouldn't even guess," Sciabica said. Centre County District Attor ney Ray Gricar said Hoheneder wrecked the car and allegedly hid the tap and keg in order to keep from being charged with a crime. Trooper Edward A. Davis of the Rockview State Police testified he arrived on the scene at about 1:45 a.m. Davis testified that Hoheneder's blood-alcohol con tent was measured at 0.12 about 2.5 hours after the . accident at Centre Community Hospital. .11/1 ow THE n Ider G BEACH TODLI.EYB& PICKUP GAMES & TEAM TOURNEYS Three-car accident kills two Two people were killed early yes- inos, and Donald G. Foust, 72, of terday morning in a three-vehicle Centre Hall, were injured. Cris accident on state Route 45 in Pot- singer, who was taken by heli ter Township, Rockview State Police copter to the Hershey Medical Center, said. was listed in critical condition last James S. Guisewhite, 79, of Centre night, a hospital spokeswoman said. Hall, and Wade E. Brosious, 20, of Foust was listed in serious con- Sunbury, were killed when a vehi- dition at Centre Community Hos cle driven by Guisewhite crossed into pital last night, a hospital the opposite lane, striking the oth- spokeswoman said er two vehicles, police said. James M. Crissinger, 20, of Pax- OBICS & CARDIOVASCULAR EQUIPMENT * Absolutely "The Best" Aerobics Program In State College * 2 HUGE Mirrored Aerobic Studios w/windows * 'HOT' Classes including: • Step Reebok • Low Impact • High Impact • Abdominal: * 4 New Stairmaster PT 4000's * Computerized Bikes * Schwinn Air Dyne Bikes * NEW Gravitron 2000 • FREE PARKING • JUICE BAR • compiled from staff reports
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