Fayette County commissioners voted Thursday to support Fay-Penn Economic Development Council’s partnership in creating a Fayette-Washington Keystone Innovation Zone. Commissioner Vince Vicites said the collaboration of local companies and colleges will benefit the county, while board Chairwoman Angela Zimmerlink lamented that similar programs funded by state grant tend not to work. Commissioner Joe Hardy did not give his opinion about the topic during the public meeting. A Keystone Innovation Zone offers grants through the state Department of Community and Economic Development to generate job growth through the tech fields. The county will not be on the hook for any matching funds, although the two-county program could land almost $250,000 in grant money. Barry Seneri, the council’s manager of economic development, said a KIZ helps companies that are start-ups or less than eight years old. Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus, California University of Pennsylvania and Washington & Jefferson College are among the partners, as well as 12 Fayette companies and about 17 in Washington County, Seneri said. Commissioners also approved a contract Thursday with Campbell Transportation, of Charleroi, for an inspection of the Fredericktown Ferry. Fayette will split the $57,000 cost with Washington County. Each county pays half of the cost to operate the century-old ferry, which crosses the Monongahela River. Ridership surveys have shown the ferry has been a popular mode of transportation for employees of Fayette’s State Correctional Institution at Luzerne Township since its opening in August 2003. Drug charges are pending Fayette County Drug Task Force members said charges are pending against a Uniontown man whose Whiteman Avenue residence was raided around 9 a.m. Thursday. Authorities seized about 1 ounce of cocaine, about 4 ounces of marijuana, a gun and $1,000 cash, District Attorney Nancy Vernon said. An officer said charges against the suspect likely will be filed later this week. PennDOT roadwork plan PennDOT District 12 announced a tentative work plan for next week, weather permitting. = Deck repairs will begin to the bridge on Route 3013, Palmer Road. = Signs will be updated, downed signs will be replaced and work orders will be addressed on various state routes throughout Fayette County. = Erosion control for bridges will occur on various routes throughout the county. = Widening and base repairs will take place on Route 4040, Navaho Hollow Road; Route 4042, Hamer Road; and Route 4019, Redstone Church Road in the Washington Township area. = Drainage work is scheduled on Route 381, in the Farmington area, and on Route 21, in the Masontown area. = Bridge flushing operations will occur on various routes in the Connellsville and Cloverleaf areas. = Oil and chip activities are scheduled for Route 3009, Route 3012, Route 3015 and Route 3017 in the High House area. Motorists should drive with caution through all work areas and be alert for work zones requiring motorists to use headlights. PennDOT has a 24-hour toll-free number for residents to report road maintenance concerns or to report dead deer on state highways. The number is 800-FIX-ROAD (800-349-7623). Visit www.penndot12.com for more information. Latrobe Seats to Orlando booked A crowd of nearly 400 Disney fans and travelers who turned out at an open house Thursday night at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport made it clear there is considerable interest in Boscov’s Travel’s first nonstop charter flight to Orlando, Fla., scheduled for December. At least 30 of the 135 available seats for the maiden excursion were booked Thursday during an open house. Guests were invited to enter a drawing to win a trip for four to Orlando on the Dec. 9 flight valued at $2,500.

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