A.M.BRIEFING: Wednesday

East College Avenue Pizza Hut closes

After 30 years of serving pizzas at 2609 E. College Ave., ARC Restaurants, owners of the Pizza Hut, have closed the restaurant’s doors.

The company chose not to renew a lease for the property, which has expired, said Roger Gates, ARC president and general manager.

Instead, the company will focus its attention on its Pizza Hut franchises on 1074 E. Bishop St. in Bellefonte and 760 S. Atherton St. in State College.

“We appreciate all of our loyal customers over the years,” Gates said.

ARC, based in DuBois, purchased the restaurant in 2003 from Pizza Hut Inc. The company operates nine Pizza Huts in a five-county region.

Gates said most of the restaurant’s employees have been transferred to the company’s other locations.

Work planned this week on Beaver Avenue

Road work is scheduled to begin Thursday on Beaver Avenue (state Route 26) through State College, the state Department of Transportation announced.

The project area is in a 1.5- mile stretch from Buckhout Street to High Street. The work beginning Thursday will be in the first phase, from Atherton Street to Garner Street.

The work will include concrete patching, joint cleaning/ sealing, pavement markings, grinding, inlet grate replacement and asphalt paving. HRI Inc. is the contractor on the $1.2 million project. Drivers are asked to be alert for lane restrictions and delays during daylight hours. Work zone restrictions will change along Beaver Avenue as the work progresses.

The project is slated to be finished in early September.

Rep. Hanna to hold office hours in Milesburg

State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Lock Haven, will hold constituent hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 5 at his Milesburg office, and from 2:30 to 4 p.m. that day at the Snow Shoe Township Building.

To arrange an appointment with Hanna, contact his Milesburg office at 353-8780 before June 3.

County OKs budgets for aid programs

The Centre County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved budget plans for two county assistance programs that help low-income residents.

Commissioners renewed a Human Services Development Fund budget of $221,200 for the upcoming fiscal year to provide for various services, including transportation aid and basic needs case management.

Also renewed for the fiscal year was a Homeless Assistance Program budget of $489,719. The program supplies bridge housing, rental and mortgage assistance and housing case management programs.

The county Office of Adult Services runs both programs with state money.

Commissioners also agreed to renew a contract with Interfaith Mission to make the agency the county’s sole provider of rent, security deposit and mortgage assistance. The state-funded contract totals $221,196.

Bob Ott, director of the Adult Services office, told the commissioners that having one provider rather than two, as was the case for many years, saves $22,119 that can be used to help clients.

Speed display signs set up on Route 322

At the request of local officials, the state Department of Transportation has placed two radar-controlled speed display signs along U.S. Route 322 in Centre County.

One sign is on Route 322 in Potter Township, about one mile west of the intersection with state Route 144. The second sign is on Route 322 in Harris Township, about one mile east of the intersection with Bear Meadows Road.

The signs, which register and display the speeds of oncoming vehicles, will remain at the locations indefinitely, according to PennDOT.