Published: February 11, 2009 11:23 pm      

IN BRIEF | Storm knocks down trees, wires in region

The storm that spawned a deadly tornado in Oklahoma on Tuesday struck the Northeast on Wednesday, according to AccuWeather.com.

The rainstorm rolled through the Greater Johnstown region around 8:30 p.m., keeping fire companies busy handling reports of trees and wires knocked down by strong winds.

A tree came down onto a home on Belmont Street in Richland Township.

The branches broke through the roof and ceiling and went into a bedroom occupied by a young boy, said Paul Ellsworth, a Richland fire battalion chief.

“The child is fine,” Ellsworth said. “The boy was not hurt.”

There was no major structural damage to the home, he said.

Penelec had all available crews out working to restore power, said spokesman Dennis Platt.

As of 10 p.m., at least 435 customers in Greater Johnstown were without power, he said.

In Indiana County, 3,000 customers had lost power, he said.

Platt said that until the situation settled down, it was difficult to gauge the impact of the storm.



IUP student’s death under investigation

INDIANA – A coroner is investigating the death of a Bellefonte student in an IUP dorm, but campus police say they don’t expect foul play.

Campus police said they found the student dead in Shafer Hall around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday when they were asked to check on his welfare.

The student’s friends told police he had been sick and they last saw him on Monday.

University spokeswoman Michelle Fryling identified the student as 18-year-old Douglas James Haney. He was a first-semester student studying political science.

Indiana County Coroner Michael A. Baker said Wednesday that preliminary autopsy results did not reveal a definitive cause of death.

He said his office will rely on microscopic studies and toxicology results in the coming days for additional clues in the student’s death.

Shafer Hall is an eight-story dorm that houses men and women and is scheduled to be torn down in May to make room for new student housing.



Fire marshal probes Carrolltown blaze

CARROLLTOWN – A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed a Carrolltown area home early Monday.

The two-story home on Buck Road was destroyed by the time firefighters arrived, said Carrolltown fire Chief Ed Owens.

Damage was estimated at $200,000, he said.

Also responding to the fire were volunteers from Loretto and Patton.



Tanneryville fire ruled accidental

A fire that damaged a Tanneryville home on Tuesday has been ruled accidental.

West Taylor fire Chief Rick McPherson said the blaze at the two-story home on Masoryak Lane started in a pile of firewood in the basement and was caused by hot ashes.



Locust St. reopens, city mulls paving lot

A portion of Locust Street in downtown Johnstown has reopened as demolition of the Washington Street parking garage nears completion.

Though all traffic restrictions have ended, Earthmovers Unlimited Inc. continues to work at the garage site.

City officials are considering options for future use of the garage property.

In the meantime, City Council on Wednesday authorized City Manager Curt Davis to solicit cost estimates for paving the parcel and providing parking at the site.



Inmate sentenced for drug possession

Jorge Luis Pizarro Jr., 27, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at Loretto, has been sentenced in federal court in Johnstown to four months in prison and three years of supervised release on his conviction of possessing contraband in prison.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Kim R. Gibson.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Valkovci Jr., Pizarro possessed marijuana on Feb. 27, 2008.

U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan commended the Laurel Highlands office of the FBI and the Loretto prison’s special investigative staff for the investigation leading to Pizarro’s prosecution.



Scout organization offers blood screening

A community blood screening sponsored by Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow will be held from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturday at Westmont Presbyterian Church, 601 Luzerne St.

Screening prices are $25 for a 27-test blood screening and $35 for an optional PSA prostate cancer test.

The tests are being administered by Memorial Medical Center.

For an appointment, call 536-4924 any weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.



Wozniak’s offices collect for food banks

State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, is accepting donations for local food banks at his three area district offices.

Monetary donations and nonperishable food items can be dropped off at his offices, where staff will make sure the donations find their way to local food banks, Wozniak said.

The district offices are at 2307 Bedford St. in Johnstown, Front Street in Philipsburg and Church Street in Lock Haven.

The offices are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. .