Thanks in part to a Howard man, the Penn State dairy cattle judging team recently became the cream of the crop.
Isaac Haagen, 19, led the team to first places overall and in team reasons in the Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at the 2012 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.
Haagen, a sophomore majoring in animal sciences, took top individual honors and second place in reasons. He earned first in judging Brown Swiss, second in Holsteins, third in Ayrshires and fourth in Guernseys and Milking Shorthorns.
Also on the team were Arial Taxdal, of Bel Air, Md.; Rebecca Shaw, of Williamsburg; and Dustin Gates, of Warriors Mark. All four team members earned All-American honors by finishing in the top 25 overall individuals.
Dale Olver, a dairy and animal science instructor, coached the team. Nineteen teams competed, with the University of Wisconsin finishing second, followed by Iowa State and Minnesota.
By now, Penn State is used to being the big cheese at contests. Last month, the team placed second high team overall and first in reasons at the Eastern States Exposition.
Police call
Studying for a law enforcement career, Brock Fisher learned about violations and penalties — the hard way.
Fisher, 23, of Milesburg, recently graduated from the Mansfield University Municipal Police Officer Academy. As part of the 20-week program, he underwent daily uniform inspections. The punishment for a belt out of line or scuffed shoes?
Pushups.
“It was rough at first,” Fisher said.
But he persevered, absorbing different trainings, including the finer points of driving and shooting — though, unlike in cop shows, not simultaneously.
Fisher, the son of Todd and Temmy Fisher, already had some law enforcement knowledge under his correctly aligned belt. He studied criminal justice at South Hills School of Business and Technology and did an internship with the Bellefonte force.
Now, armed with his degree, he’s looking to join the Bellefonte, State College or Penn State departments and start patrolling the streets.
“I like being around people and helping them,” he said.
Meal appeal
Moshannon Community Center’s volunteers may make tables sag so their roof doesn’t.
On Saturday, the volunteers will cook and serve roast beef and turkey dinners loaded with sides and trimmings to raise money for their building along state Route 144.
“It’s time for a new roof,” said Sharon Hall, of Moshannon.
From 4:30 to 6 p.m., dinners will include green beans, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, noodles, stuffing, desserts and drinks. Takeouts are available.
Dinners will cost $10 for adults, $8 for youth 13-18 and $5 for children 4-12.
Bridging generations
One pen stroke will rename a Snow Shoe Township bridge and honor local veterans.
Legislation to create the Clarence Bridge of Freedom for All Veterans along Clarence Road is bound for Gov. Tom Corbett after passing in the state House of Representatives and Senate.
State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Lock Haven, who initiated the proposal with House Bill 1906, said the new designation is “only fitting” because the township has had “many veterans who have served and died for our country and many of them have passed over the bridge.”
Chris Rosenblum writes a weekly column about news in the Upper and Lower Bald Eagle valleys. If you have news to share, email crosenbl@centredaily.com or call 231-4620.
