On Centre: Philipsburg

Singer pursues dream

By Lori Falce

Philipsburg-Osceola has always been a school where sports were appreciated, but not to the exclusion of the arts. Despite jocks who went on to play some serious college, minor league, and even big-time athletics (we're looking at you, Oakland Raider Jon

Condo), there have always been many more alumni making a living through music, theater and art.

And that’s why Fred Myers is no surprise.

When we were in school in 1989 (yes, thanks, we will have our 20th class reunion later this year), he was Fred Hockenburry. The stage name (picking up his wife’s maiden name) was part of an ongoing pursuit of the music he loved. That music is starting to pay off with industry recognition.

Myers will start his summer on his usual track. There will be concerts at the Wagon Wheel Amphitheatre in Philipsburg and appearances at festivals such as Houtzdale Days in July. But a planned appearance at Heritage Days will have to wait, as the Penn State employee turned country singer takes a trip south to finish recording his CD.

He’ll work with producer Mark Olevarius, who has been behind the boards on projects with the likes of Lorrie Morgan, Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks.

Four of the tracks are already recorded and have been test marketed in a small way (available at Varner’s Farm Market in Osceola Mills). Six more tracks will be cut next month.

It’s something that Myers has worked toward for years, but he wanted to do it in a way that would work for his family (wife, Lisa, sons Fred III and Jordan, and stepdaughters Nicole and Christine Chicko). Ten years ago, he was offered a six-year contract with a Nashville label.

“The kids were just too little then,” Myers said. Now the whole family is eager to see him become an overnight success 20 years in the making.

Walk for a good cause

Philipsburg has sported its own Relay for Life event for several years, a spinoff of the Clearfield County events. On Saturday and Sunday, cancer survivors, their loved ones and those working against the disease that claims too many lives every year swarmed the Geisinger clinic parking lot.

A walking track, ringed by team booths, welcomed visitors and Relayers alike, as organizers and participants tried their best to do Philipsburg’s part in the American Cancer Society’s largest annual fundraiser.

While the event fell short of its goal of raising about $75,000, it still raised tens of thousands of dollars — an exact figure wasn’t available Wednesday — and organizers were pleased with the support, given the economic climate.