CLARK TORNADO Schweiker steers funds

Two municipalities may be in line for some community revitalization funds.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Gov. Mark Schweiker didn't have any money for the tornado cleanup effort in Clark and South Pymatuning Township when he came to town, but he did have some encouraging words.
"We have some ideas, but some conditions have to be met" for securing state aid, Schweiker told The Vindicator after a press conference in Sharon in which he announced a $500,000 grant for an industrial redevelopment project.
Schweiker said he hadn't seen the damage caused by the Nov. 10 twister that killed one person and injured 18, destroyed a dozen houses and damaged 108 more. He said he has seen pictures and has been briefed and met briefly with officials from the two municipalities before the press conference.
"It's an out-and-out disaster, regardless of scale," the governor said, adding that his heart goes out to those who suffered loss, particularly the family of Charles E. Templeton, 81, who was killed.
It won't get a federal disaster designation that could have led to federal cleanup funds because individual homeowners are covered by insurance, Schweiker said.
Grant applications
However, he and Sen. Robert Robbins of Greenville, R-50th, are working at getting some capital budget community revitalization money to help pay for the cleanup work, he said.
The two municipalities have filed state grant applications for cleanup help, with Clark seeking $100,000 and South Pymatuning asking for $40,000.
Robbins said he's working on the Senate side to get community revitalization money allocated to the effort and noted that state Rep. Michael Gruitza of Hermitage, D-7th, is doing the same in the House.
The senator said he "feels comfortable" that they will be able to come up with the $140,000 requested within a month or so.