CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Terrance Bean, president of Misty Isle Bridges, Inc., in Clarion, is retiring at the end of September, and the family-based counseling services company will close at the same time.
“I’m retiring, and business is closing because I’m retiring,” Bean confirmed to exploreClarion.com late last week. “I’m really not sure why it’s that big of news.”
Bean, 63, said that he was not aware of anyone interested in taking over the Grant Street business.
A letter was sent from Misty Isle Bridges to families in family-based counseling notifying them that as of September 30, the company would no longer be offering those services. Approximately ten families would be affected by the decision.
“The families were not given a reason in the letter,” said Alicia Blice, currently a masters-level therapist at Misty Isle Bridges.
“What the employees were told was that they could no longer operate the business.”
There are only two family-based licenses available in Clarion County. Misty Isle Bridges has one and Shamrock Solutions, also located in Clarion, has the other one.
Debi Jones, owner of Shamrock Solutions, said she is aware of the situation, and it is being reviewed.
“We are taking it on a case-by-case basis to see what makes the most sense, given where (the families) are in treatment,” said Jones. “We are at least talking about it to see what does make sense. I do believe some will transfer, but some may be referred on to other services. If they are near the end of their treatment, it really wouldn’t make sense.”
Employees at Misty Isle Bridges will no longer have a job as of September 30, but Blice said her job would probably end on September 15. Approximately seven employees are affected.
Bean appeared in district court on September 5 on charges related to the alleged failure to contribute to an employee’s retirement fund.
Bean is accused of a second-degree felony count of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds. Bean waived his preliminary hearing. Bail was set at $10,000.00 unsecured.
According to a criminal complaint filed on April 25 by Clarion-based State Trooper Huffman, the victim, a former employee of Misty Isle Bridges, had a retirement account set up in which Bean agreed to deposit $100.00 on a bi-weekly basis.
On February 17, the victim went to the Clarion-based State Police barracks and reported that she discovered no money had been deposited by Bean between October 2011 and February 2017, the complaint states.
Court records indicate that the victim is still owed $6,500.00.
The case against Bean has been transferred to the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas.
It is currently working its way through the court system.
According to the company’s website, Misty Isle Bridges, Inc. began as Family Links, a provider of a variety of services to assist families in making change. The company offers “home-based family counseling” and “a variety of behavioral health services to assist families and children through changes in their lives.”
