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lager; Creat = aE ee ! fe” fost BA2eET Ee. ) a | i. SV en /- 3f- 07 Jy -l- B &- WZ @ Uris Le. tyes) wn ewe LBK Ranch, a private hunting preserve owned by William Kuchera in Croyle Township, about 20 miles away from the Kuchera Defense Systems plant at Windder. Defense contractor raided by federal agents KUCHERA, FROM PAGE 8-1 The Kucheras, who both reside just over the border in adjoining Cambria County, have helped spur local busi- nesses large and small, Mimo's restaurant regularly sees a flow of Kuchera employees on lunch break. Likewise, Bob Rovder, a deliveryman for a Chinese restaurant in neighboring Richland, said the plant is a regular stop for him on Tues- days. “It houses a lot of jobs,” he said. “It was good for $40, $50 in food orders. I can’t think of anything bigger in Windber.” In fact, the local hospital, once a tiny affair that verged on extinction, has become a center for research as well as the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center, a federal earmark- backed facility named for the congressman’s wife. The med- ical complex employs roughly 450 people, according to Mr. Hollern. — Soft “That's the fishy part of it all. They put those signs up. Those signs say government test facility.’ — Norman Long, who runs a farm equipment While Kuchera Industries and related Kuchera Defense Systems were well-known to the locals, the LBK Ranch, named for Bill Kuchera and ‘his wife, Lena, in Cambria County came as a surprise to many. “I didn’t know about it until I read about it in the paper,” said Mr. Hollern. “I had no knowledge something like that existed.” The ranch originally was set up on 161 acres of wood- repair shop down the road from LBK fence dotted with signs read- ing “No Trespassing ... U.S, Govt. Test Facility.” Neighbors were at a loss to explain those signs. “That’s the fishy part of it all. They put those signs up. Those signs say government test facility,” said Norman Long, who runs a farm equip- ment repair shop down the road from LBK. Mr. Long said he used to hunt on the same tract when it was owned by John Costello, glimpse they had of the home William Kuchera remodeled and expanded on the site of the ranch was an aerial shot taken by a television news helicopter the day of the raid. The LBK Ranch was the scene of a political fundraiser for Mr. Murtha in August. Dennis McGlynn, an attor- ney for the Kucheras, said the brothers are unaware of any discrepancies in their books and had no idea what the authorities are looking for. “Kuchera Defense Systems Inc. and Kuchera Industries Inc. would like to assure its employees, customers and the community that they are fully operating and are fulfilling all of their contractual obliga- tions,” Mr. McGlynn said in a statement released after the raids. “In addition, the compa- nies will continue to cooperate land as a profit-making game local businessman who sold with the government.” preserve where well-heeled it to William Kuchera several visitors could pay to hunt and _—syears ago for about $800,000. Dennis B. Roddy can be shoot trophy game. Both Norman Long and reached at 412-263-1965 or drod- It is ringed by a high, green his son, Ray, said the first dy@post-gazette.com. IS fame 5 emmeso /- _ — SOW Tie Me ISSe ner TBMeSS Guess aos b6 = DROW wot woocmimra:.- Sam - mer SBE meses: See kiniiteldie titel ene ern ae be eee we —e- 1 i i