March 11, 2009 11:26 pm
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WINDBER – Light tubes for Windber Area Authority’s new state-of-the art sewage treatment plant will cost more than $23,000 over the next two years.
The double bank of 140 ultraviolet light tubes is used to kill bacteria in the final stage of treatment at the plant, manager Dennis Mash told authority members at Wednesday night’s meeting.
Each tube costs $198.
Although less-expensive lights are available, the treatment system’s warranty is void unless tubes made by the manufacturer, Trojan Technologies, are used.
“It would be irresponsible to void the warranty,” Solicitor James Cascio told the authority members.
Sixty tubes will be replaced this year, and the remaining tubes will be changed next year, Mash said.
Turnpike closure planned during weekend
BREEZEWOOD – All four lanes of a 65-mile stretch of the turnpike between Breezewood and Carlisle will be closed late Saturday and early Sunday so that a contractor can demolish two bridges that carry roads over the highway, the state Turnpike Commission said.
Beginning at 11 p.m. Saturday, eastbound traffic will be diverted at Breezewood, and at 11:45 p.m., all westbound traffic will be diverted at the Carlisle Interchange in Cumberland County.
All four lanes will be reopened at 4 a.m. Sunday.
Motorists will be provided with a detour to follow.
Borough approves complex for elderly
NORTHERN CAMBRIA – A $3.6 million complex of 16 units of housing for the elderly was approved this week by Borough Council.
The project, planned by Northern Cambria Community Development Corp., will be located near the site of the former Miners Hospital and is part of the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
Ebensburg man running for mayor
EBENSBURG – Brandon Jacoby, 36, an Ebensburg Democrat, is running for mayor.
A graduate of Central Cambria High School and Landmark College in Putney, Vt., Jacoby is an employee of an electronics firm.
“We need a leader,” Jacoby said. “I want to be involved with council members, businesses and people all working together and revitalizing our downtown.”
Ebensburg’s longtime mayor, Charles Moyer, has announced that he will not run for re-election.
Tree, plant sale orders due soon
Cambria County Conservation District is taking orders through March 20 for its 37th annual tree and plant sale.
The district is offering a variety of seedlings, boxes for birds and – in cooperation with Somerset County Conservation District – rain barrels.
Proceeds will support local conservation efforts and environmental education programs.
Sale fliers are available by calling 472-2120 or on the Web at www.co.cambria.pa.us. Click on Government, County Departments, Conservation District, Tree Sale.
Orders must be picked up from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 9 at the Agriculture Building on the fairgrounds at Ebensburg.
Group opposes mine near Casselman River
GRANTSVILLE, Md. – A conservation group says it has hired a consultant to help it fight a proposed underground coal mine in western Maryland.
The Patuxent Conservation Corps, based in Glenelg, owns 48 acres along the Casselman River near Grantsville just south of 3,000 acres that Joseph Peles Coal Co. of Indiana, Pa., wants to mine.
The consultant will measure current air and water quality and noise levels for future comparison, said Steven Putman, executive officer of the conservation group.
The proposed mine could degrade the Casselman River and the quality of life in the area, Putman said Wednesday.
The Maryland Department of the Environment has scheduled a public meeting today in Grantsville on air-quality issues and a public hearing April 2 in Frostburg on the mine permit application.
Comcast offers local forum on TV
INDIANA – Cable provider Comcast is making it easier for area nonprofits, community groups and elected officials to reach the public by expanding its “Comcast Local Edition” production sites to include IUP beginning Friday.
The five-minute interview program on issues and events of importance to communities airs daily at 25 and 55 minutes past the hour on “CNN Headline News.”
The show will be produced in cooperation with IUP at the WIUP-TV studio in Davis Hall in Indiana. Erick Lauber, director of the Digital Media Institute, will serve as host.
The interviews will be available to customers in Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Indiana, Clearfield, Clarion and Jefferson counties. Those interested in appearing on the show can call (412) 747-6443.
Fugitive weatherman being held in N.Y.
EBENSBURG – Fugitive and former television weatherman James Patrick Holcomb, who was apprehended last week in the Ukraine, is being held in the Manhattan Detention Center in New York.
There is no word on whether he’ll fight extradition to Pennsylvania, District Attorney Patrick Kiniry said Wednesday.
Holcomb, 43, who used the name Jay Patrick on WJAC-TV, fled Cambria County in 2005 while awaiting sentencing on his no-contest pleas to five charges of sexually abusing a young girl. He also faces charges of escape, forgery, theft and receiving stolen property in Cambria County.
If Holcomb waives extradition proceedings, he could be returned here within a couple of weeks, Kiniry said. Otherwise, it could be months before he’s brought back.
Police: Suspect tried to swallow cocaine
A West Virginia man was jailed after Johnstown police said he tried to swallow five rocks of suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on Roosevelt Boulevard on Saturday.
In a court document, police said they stopped a red Oldsmobile at 3 a.m. after it crossed the center line.
They tried to question the passenger, Quadir Johnson, 26, of Charleston, but the man just mumbled, officers said.
When asked to open his mouth, Johnson tried to run away. Police said they tackled him and forced him to spit out the cocaine.
He was taken to Memorial Medical Center, where he was examined to be sure did not swallow any of the cocaine.
Johnson was arraigned by District Judge John Barron of Upper Yoder Township on charges of drug possession, tampering with evidence and resisting arrest.
Johnson was sent to the Cambria County Prison after failing to post $40,000 bond.
Family tries to stop demolition of home
EBENSBURG – The Parks family of Portage Township is making another attempt in the courts to keep alive their legal battle to stop demolition of their condemned house.
A month after county Judge David Tulowitzki suggested that the state Commonwealth Court should throw out their appeal because they failed to file a timely statement of legal issues, Donald Parks – one of the siblings - now has filed that statement.
Parks, who represents himself, makes 19 points alleging bias against the family by Tulowitzki, the township and the township solicitor.
The township had been ready to proceed with the demolition of the house, which was contaminated with dog feces, rats and garbage, until the Parkses filed an appeal to the Commonwealth Court in December.
After Tulowitzki ruled in February, the township filed a motion March 2 in the state court asking that the Parks’ appeal be thrown out.
Discussion groups forming for farmers
SOMERSET – Somerset County Cooperative Extension is forming discussion groups for county dairy farmers.
The first meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, 1222 N. Center Ave.
The groups will be organized based on common interests, goals and geographic location, said extension agent Miguel Saviroff. Groups will select their own discussion topics and meeting times and places. There is no charge to participate.
Farmers can indicate their interest and get more information by calling the extension office at 445-8911, ext. 7.
Online program to aid dairymen
SOMERSET – Somerset County Cooperative Extension is offering a free online series to help dairy farmers better manage feed costs.
Titled “Managing Feed Costs on Your Dairy,” the webinar will be presented in two parts.
Part 1, “Managing Risk During Difficult Times: Milk Fu-tures, Feed Costs and Nutritional Strategies,” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday.
Part 2, “Using Income Over Feed Costs as a Tool to Control Costs,” is set for 10:30 a.m. to noon March 20, 24 and 27.
A computer with a high-speed Internet connection is required. The webinars also are available at the county extension office at 6024 Glades Pike.
Information: 445-8911, ext. 144.
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