Fall opening for Tioga center

Stepping over small piles of sheetrock and ducking under exposed electrical wires has Randall Pederson beaming. The CEO of Tioga Medical Center presents the construction of the new clinic attachment with the pride of a new father.

"We're a little bit behind the schedule, but all in all I think we're pretty satisfied with where we're at," he says.

The clinic, an $8.5 million project that began in June 2014, should wrap up construction by August and be ready for use shortly after, Pederson says.

The expansion project faced early setbacks when construction crews encountered a diesel tank spill that had spread farther than expected. Cleanup costs threatened to cut funding to other aspects of the project, but local companies stepped in to help.

Earlier, citizens of Tioga approved a half-cent sales tax to help cover costs of the project.

"We just really appreciate the support that the citizens of Tioga offered us with that sales tax and their continued support for our clinic and our hospital," said Pederson, who considers the project a necessity for the community.

-- Tioga Tribune