MILITARY Pa. residents join Vienna base effort

MERCER, Pa. -- Although it is in another state, the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, Ohio, is a major employer of Mercer County residents.
So county commissioners added their voice Thursday to those trying to make sure that the Vienna base will not be one of the 25 percent of the nation's military infrastructure to be closed. The bases to be cut will be announced in fall 2005.
Commissioners passed a resolution at their meeting Thursday to support the efforts of Operation: Save Our Airbase Reservists (O:SOAR), a group dedicated to keeping the base open.
Commissioner Michele Brooks and former commissioner Gene Brenneman are on the Penn Northwest Development Corp. of Mercer County's O:SOAR committee. Other members are: PNDC's Mercer County coordinator Brad Erhardt; Sharpsville Mayor Ken Robertson; Wheatland Mayor Tom Stanton; John Mastrian of Black, Bashor & amp; Porsch, Sharon; and Larry Reichard, PNDC executive director.
Brooks said about 400 Pennsylvanians -- including about 140 Mercer County residents -- work at the base, earning an estimated payroll of $7.5 million. She said all local legislators have been contacted as part of the effort.
Commissioner Olivia Lazor said that while a group has been trying since 1995 to keep the base open, the state line has been a barrier, making it difficult for Pennsylvania to promote industry in Ohio.