Testimony describing brawling crowds and shootings outside of the New Wave Club in Monessen was presented to a state Liquor Control Board arbiter Wednesday as the club's owner argued that he should be able to keep his liquor license. The license was scheduled to expire June 30, 2002, but the LCB challenged a renewal because of what it calls "egregious activity and abuse of licensing privileges." Until a ruling is made, the New Wave Club can continue operating. Police responses to violent incidents at the club prompted the case. "We've been called there numerous times," said Mark Gibson, Monessen's police chief. Five Monessen officers, including the chief, testified yesterday, each describing one or two incidents. Detective Lt. John Bachinski said a shooting Feb. 8, 2002, remains an open case. He said police were called to a parking lot near the club after a report of shots being fired, but there was nobody in the immediate area. Bachinski said the police were informed by phone calls from two area hospitals that two people had been wounded. One person was shot in the knee; the other was shot in the foot. He said the victim shot in the knee was in the club that night but did not identify the shooter. Police don't know whether the gunman was in the club that night. Officer James Quattro Jr. testified that he and four other officers were dispatched to the club at 1:16 a.m. Dec. 30, 2000, to break up a large fight. "We found numerous altercations taking place inside and outside the establishment," he said. Three nearby departments were called in to assist, Quattro said. After about 25 minutes, the crowd was under control and 14 people were arrested. The club at that time was under different ownership, though, he added. Current owner Jonathan Huston said he took over in February 2001. Gibson said Huston has worked with police to help preserve order at the club. Aside from operating the business, Huston, a 32-year-old Monessen native, works as a counselor and behavior specialist with a nonprofit social service organization in McKeesport. Describing himself as a "self-made man," he testified that he bought the club as an investment in the community, to show that hard work can lead to success. Huston said the club, located at 529 Sixth St., isn't in the nicest of Monessen's neighborhoods. Several nearby residences are known as drug houses, he added. "It's pretty bad. It has some problems and a lot of vacant property," Huston said. "And I'm trying to make a good club, too." He said he has banned some troublemakers since taking over, and he has never been cited with a liquor code violation. Gibson said he has scheduled officers to watch over the club during its busy hours. Huston said he has hired security guards as well. James Maher, the LCB hearing examiner who oversaw yesterday's proceeding, said he will develop an opinion to send to the three-member board in Harrisburg for a vote on whether the license should be renewed. Molly McGowan, a spokeswoman for the LCB, said the opinion must be submitted to the board within 30 days. The board likely will vote within four to six weeks after the submission is received. The renewal, if granted, would extend the life of the license by two years. But McGowan said the term would be retroactive, meaning the license would be good only until June 30, 2004. If the renewal is turned down, the case may be appealed to the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas.

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