2017 in Review: The Year in Local News

It’s been an eventful 12 months in the State College area, a year marked by notable firsts and lasts, triumphs, debates, changes and tragedy.

We take a look back on 2017 with some of the year’s most notable and most read local stories.

The Death of Timothy Piazza

A 19-year-old Penn State student and fraternity pledge from Lebanon, N.J., Timothy Piazza died on Feb. 4, the result of brain injuries and internal bleeding sustained two nights earlier when he fell multiple times during and alcohol fueled bid acceptance event at Beta Theta Pi fraternity. His tragic death was the beginning of case that had far-reaching implications — for his grieving family, the university community, more than two dozen fraternity brothers facing criminal charges, and fraternity life nationwide.

In the wake of Piazza’s death, Penn State instituted sweeping changes to Greek life — changes Piazza’s parents, Jim and Evelyn, and outgoing Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller say are not enough.

The criminal case has had numerous twists and turns over the past year. In May, 18 former members of the now-banned fraternity chapter, as well as the chapter itself, were charged in the case. After a preliminary hearing that spanned the summer, the most serious charges, including aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter were dismissed, only to be refiled in the fall. Additional charges were filed after surveillance video from the houses’s basement that was allegedly deleted by a former brother was recovered by the FBI.

A total of 27 defendants now are charged in the case.

Whether changes to fraternity life at Penn State and elsewhere will have a substantial impact on hazing and overconsumption of alcohol remains to be seen. Where the criminal case will go from here is uncertain.

After nearly a year, perhaps the only thing that’s certain in this case is that Tim Piazza’s life ended far too soon. His final hours at the fraternity house, as recounted in a grand jury presentment and seen in surveillance video excerpts, are difficult to contemplate, his condition worsening throughout the night as signs of peril were missed, misunderstood or ignored. His death was a tragedy that, regardless of whether or not anyone is criminally liable, never should have happened, and left grieving family, friends and a community searching for answers. 

State College Sets a World Record

On a chilly night in February, the 100 block of South Allen Street was filled with 5,226 ice luminaries, cup-shaped structures made entirely out of ice that hold a light inside. Co-organized by The Make Space and Centre Foundation, Light Up State College brought a festival atmosphere on a winter’s night in downtown State College and set an official Guinness World Record, shattering the previous mark of 2,561 held by Vuollerim, Sweden.

THON Raises $10 Million

Penn State students once again raised millions for Four Diamonds and the fight against pediatric cancer. THON capped its year of fundraising with a total of $10,045,478.44. The annual 46-hour Dance Marathon in February, meanwhile, featured special guests including Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey and a surprise performance by Joe Jonas and DNCE.

National Issues, Local Action

The political divide at the national scale reached Centre County, with residents raising their voices on a number of issues throughout the year. Constituents rallied multiple times for Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard Township, to hold a town hall to address their concerns on a range of topics. They even held a few in his absence. Thompson did eventually hold a town hall at WPSU in August.

There were protests over President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration and Penn State leadership calling for the president to reverse the travel ban. State College Borough Council passed an immigration enforcement resolution, which did not create ‘sanctuary city’ status but stated council’s belief that immigration enforcement is a federal, not local, responsibility.

Residents voiced their concerns about the future of health care and the federal tax reform bill, as well. With the contentious political atmosphere at the national level, it’s a safe bet that local residents will continue to make their voices heard in 2018.

Some Chapters Close, but Sandusky Case Lingers

It’s now been more than five years since Jerry Sandusky was convicted on child sexual abuse charges and received what amounted to a life sentence. While some legal aspects related to the case came to a close in 2017, others continue on into a new year.

On March 13, former athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz ended a long legal battle when they pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child for their handling of a 2001 report by Mike McQueary about Sandusky with a boy in a locker room shower. Former Penn State President Graham Spanier, though, went to trial and on March 24 was convicted on the same charge while being found not guilty on felony child endangerment and conspiracy charges.

Starting in July, Curley served about two and a half months in the Centre County Correctional Facility and Schultz about two months. Both were to serve four months of house arrest following their confinement. Spanier faces two months in jail, but has not been required to report while he appeals his conviction.

In civil cases, Spanier’s defamation lawsuit against Louis Freeh was dismissed September. His breach of contract suit against the university continues on, though a judge dismissed Penn State’s counterclaims in that case.

McQueary, meanwhile, settled his defamation and whistleblower suit against Penn State for an undisclosed amount. Damages totaling more than $12 million were awarded in his favor following an October 2016 trial, but Penn State was appealing until both parties reached a settlement.

Penn State has settled with 33 Sandusky accusers since 2012, but is still fighting at least two. In November, a Philadelphia judge scheduled a February trial date for one of those cases. To date, Penn State has not gone to trial on any of the lawsuits related to claims of abuse by Sandusky. 

As for Sandusky, his bid for a new trial under the Post-Conviction Relief Act was dismissed in October. He is appealing the decision.

Penn State Wrestling Wins National Championship

The Nittany Lions fell short of a Big Ten Championship and heading into the national tournament, it was uncertain if Penn State wrestlers could pile up enough points for an NCAA title. Those doubts were erased by the final morning of the tourney on March 18. Penn State had the team title — its second consecutive and sixth in seven years — sewn up before the championship round and five Lions won individual championships, tying the NCAA record.

A Historic Season for Penn State Hockey

Five years after the first ever game in Pegula Ice Arena, the Penn State men’s hockey team had a season of firsts. There was the stunning run to a Big Ten Tournament title, marked by comebacks and double overtime wins and capped by a a double OT victory against Wisconsin for the championship. Then came the Lions’ first NCAA tournament bid, a spectacular run finally ending in the regional final against Denver on March 26. The Nittany Lions’ performance last season officially announced their arrival as a formidable force in NCAA hockey

Houserville, Lemont Named Among Best Places to Live in U.S.

State College often pops up on lists of America’s best college towns, but in April two College Township communities were listed among the best places to live anywhere in America. Houserville ranked No. 3 and Lemont No. 11 in the 2017 Best Places to Live in America rankings by Niche, a website that analyzes public data to provide rankings and ratings of schools and neighborhoods.

Changes at the Courthouse

Stacy Parks Miller was elected in 2009 as Centre County’s first female district attorney and four years later she ran unopposed. During her tenure built a reputation as a victims’ rights advocate and for aggressively pursuing cases involving drug dealing, violent crime, sexual assault and animal cruelty. But by the time she was up for reelection in 2017, controversy had followed her for three years. She clashed with district judges on occasion. Some viewed her as seeking overly punitive sentences. There was the fake Facebook page to check on suspects and allegations of ex parte communication with judges — both of which led to a still-to-be held disciplinary hearing. Accusations that she forged a judge’s signature led to a state grand jury investigation that ultimately recommended no charges. It also spurred a series of lawsuits involving county officials and defense attorneys.

One of those defense attorneys was Bernie Cantorna, who challenged Parks Miller in May’s Democratic primary. After an often heated campaign, Cantorna won with nearly 70 percent of the vote while also securing the Republican write-in nomination. He will be sworn in to office on Friday.

That’s not the only big change coming to the courthouse though. Judge Thomas Kistler announced at the start of the year that he would be retiring after 20 years on the bench. Judge Pamela Ruest was sworn in to Kistler’s previous role as president judge in September, and attorney Brian Marshall defeated Ron McGlaughlin in November’s election for the open Court of Common Pleas judge position.

A Concert First, and One That Never Happened

A long-talked-about possibility finally happened in July when Beaver Stadium hosted a major event other than football for the first time. Happy Valley Jam brought some big country stars to town on July 8 for a daylong concert event capped by headliner Blake Shelton, who was preceded by Adley Stump, David Ray, Big & Rich and Chris Young. Of course a tailgate atmosphere filled the stadium lots, and, notably, inside the stadium beer was offered for sale at general concession stands.

Another concert first for the area never got to the stage. The Karoondinha Festival was major three-day music festival planned for July 21-23 at Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park in Centre Hall, and was expected to feature big-name acts like John Legend, Chance the Rapper, Paramore, Odesza, Sturgill Simpson and the Roots, to name a few. But as costs soared and ticket sales stagnated, organizers announced on June 27 that Karoondinha was called off.

A High Rise Opens, with More on the Way

The Metropolitan, the 12-story high-rise at the corner of West College Avenue and South Atherton Street, opened in August for its more than 500 residents to move in following four years of planning and construction. A restaurant and fitness center were later announced as tenants for its commercial space.

It’s the newest high-rise in a wave of completed and planned new construction locally. The Fraser Centre opened in 2016, with Hyatt Place Hotel and Federal Taphouse opening in the building this year. The Rise, a 12-story building with commercial and residential space,is under construction and expected to open in 2018. A seven-story mixed use building is under construction at 260 E. Beaver Ave. and another is planned nearby at 138 E. Beaver Ave.

In July, State College Borough Council approved a conditional use permit for The Residences at College and Atherton, a 12-story, 455,000 square foot building across Atherton Street from The Metropolitan. The mixed-use residential and retail high-rise would occupy nearly the entire block of West College Avenue between South Burrowes Street and South Atherton Street.

And in November, developers submitted preliminary plans for a new mixed-use high rise for the current site of the Garner Street Parking Lot.

In Patton Township, meanwhile, supervisors established an advisory committee to address zoning and development for the proposed mixed use Patton Crossing on 30 acres at the site of the former Penn State Mobile Home Park.

Success and Disappointment for Penn State Football

The Nittany Lion football team came into the 2017 season with high expectations after a 2016 resurgence that saw excitement, a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl appearance. Penn State looked the part of a contender early on, dominating six opponents and pulling off a thrilling, last-second win at Iowa on their way to a 7-0 start and a ranking of No. 2 in the nation. Saquon Barkley, meanwhile, looked to be the favorite for the Heisman Trophy for at least the first month and a half of the season.

But then came back-to-back stumbles on the road. At Ohio State, Penn State had the lead, but the Buckeyes staged a furious comeback for a 39-38 win. The following week at Michigan State, in driving rain and with a long lightning delay, Penn State again had the second-half lead but fell 27-24 on a last-second field goal. Barkley, meanwhile was still the most exciting player in the nation when he had room to run, but Penn State’s offensive line couldn’t hold up against defenses that keyed directly on the junior running back. He couldn’t pick up the stats, and though he was a consensus All-American at the end of the year, Barkley finished fourth in Heisman voting.

There was no Big Ten title this time, no College Football Playoff, but another 10 or more win season and another New Year’s 6 bowl game showed just how far Penn State has come since the sanction era. A special group of players will lose some of its main cast, and offensive mastermind Joe Moorhead is gone to coach Mississippi State. But the team’s on-field success and James Franklin and Co.’s highly ranked recruiting classes point to a bright future.

A New Mayor

State College Mayor Elizabeth Goreham announced in February she would not seek a third term and Don Hahn emerged from a field of four Democratic candidates in the primary. The attorney, who previously served for 12 years on borough council, did still face general election opponents as business owner and Democrat Michael Black won the Republican nomination on write-ins and Ron Madrid entered as an independent.

Hahn, however, won with 54 percent of the vote and will take office in January. He said that town-gown relations will be a priority for his tenure.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Comes from State College

The star attraction at one of the world’s most famous holiday displays came from right here in Centre County. Rockefeller Center announced on Oct. 30 that the tree had been selected from the State College area. On Nov. 9, the 75-foot, 12 ton Norway spruce was removed from the College Township property of Jason Perrin, seven years after it was first spotted as a possibility by Rockefeller Center’s head gardener. It arrived in midtown Manhattan two days later and, adorned with 50,000 multi-colored lights and topped with a Swarovski crystal star, was lit up during a nationally televised event on Nov. 29. It will remain until Jan. 7, and after it’s taken down will be cut into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Rathskeller, Spats to Close

After 84 years, the longest continually operating bar in Pennsylvania will close, at least in its current incarnation. Owners Duke and Monica Gastiger announced in December that the All-American Rathskeller and the adjacent Spats Cafe, which has been open for 30 years, would close in January after the Herlochers, the new owners of the Foster Building at the corner of Pugh Street and College Avenue, had not offered them a new lease and had leased the space to new tenants.

The decision drew outrage and sadness from Penn State alumni and local community members. The Herlochers said they tried unsuccessfully to work out lease issues and that they and the new tenants are committed to ‘maintaining the character of the location.’ They added that they bought the building in order to preserve it and that for the Skeller space the new tenants’ ‘vision is to continue operating it the way you’ve always known it.’

Jan. 27 will be last call at the Skeller.

Changes Coming to State College Schools

State College Area School District students will see a change to their school days starting with the 2018-19 academic year. On Dec. 18, the school board approved a plan that’s been developed over two years to lengthen the elementary school day by 44 minutes and push back the start time for middle and high school students by a half hour. The changes are intended to increase instruction time at the elementary levels while aligning secondary times with sleep research recommendations for adolescents.

The district also finalized design plans for major renovations and new construction for three elementary schools, projects that will begin construction in 2018. And the first phase of the State High project moved toward completion this year with students expected to move into classrooms in the new South Building in January.

Penn State Finalizes Land Sale to Toll Brothers

After years of planning, as well as protests and legal action, Penn State on Dec. 22 completed the sale of 45 acres of land along Whitehall Road in Ferguson Township to developer Toll Brothers, which intends to build a luxury student housing complex on the site.

A group of residents known as the Nittany Valley Water Coalition sought to block development on the site over concerns that stormwater and construction runoff will harm Slab Cabin Run and the nearby Harter-Thomas well fields, the source of drinking water for the majority of homes served by the State College Borough Water Authority, which provides water to the Centre Region.

The coalition went to court to have the 2015 land development approval overturned, with the state Supreme Court ultimately denying their petition for a final appeal in November. Members camped out on the site in protest for 124 days throughout the summer and early fall until they were evicted by the university on Oct. 4. They also attempted to negotiate an alternate site, with Toll Brothers making an offer to Penn State for a different parcel on West College Avenue, but Penn State declined to sell it.

More legal action may still be in the offing. The coalition vowed to sue the university if the sale closed.