Saturday, May 30, 1998
                        [Centre Daily Times Online]

                       Storm blows through Bellefonte

-------------------
By HAROLD GOODRIDGE
Centre Daily Times
-------------------

BELLEFONTE -- Rush-hour traffic was made more hectic for borough residents
Friday, as high winds during a severe thunderstorm filled the streets with
branches and brought down power lines. Reports of a tornado touching down
in Bellefonte at about 4:45 p.m. also are being investigated, said
AccuWeather meteorologist Tony Zartman. At about that time, the storm
created winds of 45 to 55 miles per hour that toppled trees and strewed
debris through several streets.

"Thunderstorms tend to be most severe during that time of the evening, and
this one came at the optimal time," Zartman said. The thunderstorm was
expected, but thanks to some cool Canadian air, it was severely
intensified, he added.

No injuries were reported in the area.

After fighting the traffic, Marlene Immel was greeted by Bellefonte
firefighters and police at her home. Yellow police tape blocked the road
leading to her house at 444 E. High St. "The officer said I couldn't drive
up because of some trees," she said.

She parked her car, walked to her house and saw two 40 foot maple trees
leaning on the three-story dwelling.

"I was in my back yard and I saw the trees fall on the house," said Immel's
neighbor, Sharon Bressler. "The wind was awful. It was terrible and scary."

"I had to fight to walk through the yard," said Barbara Lucas, another
neighbor. "It was really scary."

Bellefonte police officer Duane Dixon was taking his daily jog on Bishop
Street when the storm hit. "I never felt anything like it before in my
life," he said.

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                CDT Online | CDT SportsLine | CDT Features

                         © 1998 Centre Daily Times