Supervisors give stamp of approval to 5k run fun walk

VALLEY VIEW - A new event is coming to the area and Hegins Township Supervisors have given the organizers their stamp of approval and are willing to help out anyway they can.

This year will mark the inaugural Hot Potato 5K Run/Fun Walk, hosted by Sterman Masser Inc. of Sacramento. The 5k will be held on Maple Street in Valley View on Saturday, June 8. All proceeds will benefit Tri-Valley Charities.

Dave Masser, President and COO of Sterman Masser Potato Farms, gave a presentation on the run/walk to the supervisors during their meeting held Monday evening.

"We are excited because this will be an annual event for all ages," said Masser. "It promotes a healthy lifestyle and it will benefit our local Tri-Valley Charities."

The run/walk will start and finish at Trinity Lutheran Church in Valley View. The race course will involve Maple, Walnut, and Gap Street.

"Our biggest challenge right now is parking for the volunteers and for those participating in the run/walk," said Masser. "We have been granted permission for the volunteers to park at St. Andrew's Church lot and we are now requesting that participants be allowed to park on the township's grass lot north of the township building. Dan Schwalm has also granted permission to use his lot as well."

Masser said the event will involve at least 40 volunteers who will help ensure the event runs smoothly, and they are expecting anywhere from 400 to 500 participants.

"We are looking to raise at least 20 to $30,000 for Tri-Valley Charities."

Persons who would like to volunteer their time for the event should contact Masser's. They would be required to attend a pre-race meeting.

Police Report

Hegins Township Police Chief Steve Lohr reported that a car was impounded last Friday evening, and a search of an apartment and a vehicle resulted in the confiscation of 15 items stemming from burglaries that took place in the last month and a half.

Lohr also noted that the department has received a check from the Valley View American Legion to upgrade flashlights. Chief Lohr said some of the lights are 10 years old and no longer keep their charge.

He also noted the donation of a $50 Redner's gift card for the department to use for supplies. He said the donor didn't want to be recognized.

Supervisor Chad Richards asked that Chief Lohr speak to the members of the Legion about replacing the flag at the township building.

Richards also thanked Sgt. Beau Yarmush for his work on the Tri-Valley Pharmacy burglary. He said he spent a lot of time on that and did a good job with it.

Since no bids were received for the old police trailer, the supervisors have authorized the township road crew to begin dismantling the building.

The supervisors announced they are planning to hold an open house later this spring so the public can come and see the new police station and the new headquarters for the township secretary. The date will be announced at a later meeting.

Windmill petition

Jeff Kline, president of the Hegins Valley Preservation Society presented a petition to the supervisors concerning the BP Wind Energy Farm proposed for the township. Kline read the petition and then presented it to the supervisors. Kline said there were approximately 270 signatures gathered.

Public apology

Mike Begis attended the meeting and requested a public apology from the Hegins Township Supervisors concerning the comments made by Supervisor Carl at last month's meeting.

"I was highly insulted and was bothered most for insulting my intelligence," said Begis.

Supervisor Carl said it was a miscommunication and that maybe he read the interview the wrong way and if he did then he's sorry for that.

"If it was a mis-communication we apologize for things said and done, we have no personal issues with you," said Richards.

Public comments

Timothy Koppenhaver reported to the township supervisors that he has been with the Hegins Fire Police for 17 years and was suspended on Sunday, Feb. 3. He said the problem is there are no rules to abide by and no rules that he broke were given to him and there was nothing in writing stating what he did wrong. He also told the supervisors he was unhappy about a person involved in the fire company that posed as a fire policeman who was not authorized to do so and nothing was done about it.

Koppenhaver also told the supervisors he was not happy about the way paperwork is handled with the fire police. He said he had a fifth heart attack and was unable to collect workmen's compensation because the proper paperwork wasn't filed by the fire police captain, first lieutenant or secretary.

Koppenhaver also noted he was disgruntled because he had to complete a background check in 2010 or 11, but yet there is a convicted felon involved with the fire company. He said he doesn't understand why some need a background check and others don't. He said the same person who is captain of the fire police is also president of the fire company and these issues never get resolved and it's a scary situation.

The supervisors did not respond to Koppenhaver's remarks during the public meeting.

Dates to remember

The next township meeting will be held Monday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at the Hegins Area Ambulance Building, Gap Street, Valley View.

The next food pantry will be held March 20, beginning at 8 a.m. at the township office on Gap Street.

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