Penns Valley names new superintendent, contractor faces fraud charges: Top stories
From a new superintendent in Penns Valley to a contractor facing fraud charges, Centre County saw a busy news day Wednesday. Below is a look at the top local stories.
- The Penns Valley Area School District school board voted 7-2 Tuesday to hire Shane Hazenstab as its next superintendent, marking the district’s first new top administrator in nearly 20 years. Hazenstab, who has led Johnstown’s Conemaugh Valley School District since January 2019, will officially begin Aug. 4, though some community members criticized the hiring process and pushed for an internal candidate.
- Centre County commissioners unanimously authorized staff Tuesday to pursue a flexible loan of up to $10 million from Juniata Valley Bank at a 4.73% fixed interest rate for 15 years to advance an $8 million expansion of the Public Safety Training Center. The project, a joint effort with the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, is slated for completion by the end of 2027.
- A Blair County contractor was charged Wednesday with five felonies after state police at Rockview said he took $8,000 from Rush Township homeowners but never performed renovations or delivered materials. Herman U. Lardieri III, 54, faces counts of home improvement fraud, theft, receiving stolen property and deceptive business practices, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 17.
- Verizon and Jersey Mike’s have signed leases at the former Bellefonte Rite Aid building at 821 E. Bishop St., joining a previously announced Dunkin’ planned to open in the second half of 2026. Cedar Cliff Properties purchased the building for $1.5 million in 2025, and two additional spaces — including one earmarked for a fitness center — remain available.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.