March 13, 2009 12:01 am
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The Conemaugh Valley school board on Thursday night elevated the assistant high school principal to replace Superintendent William Rushin, who will retire June 30.
David Lehman Jr., 37, will step into the superintendent’s office July 1.
His five-year contract calls for a salary of $92,000 the first year followed by increases of $3,000 the second year,
$3,100 the third, $3,200 the fourth and $3,300 the final year.
Rushin said the board also hired James Fisher as head varsity football coach. Fisher’s one-year contract calls for a salary of $5,000. Fisher replaces Tom Marshall, who resigned.
In other action, the board added four days to the school calendar to make up for four snow days. The final day of classes now will be June 2, which is also graduation day for seniors.
The board accepted retirement notices from four high school teachers and three elementary teachers. Rushin said the teachers, who will retire at the end of the school term, will be replaced.
Fire settlement costs Penelec $200,000
HARRISBURG – Electricity provider Penelec must contribute $200,000 to a low-income aid program under a settlement stemming from a fire at a home where it had shut off the power.
The Public Utility Commission approved the settlement by a unanimous vote Thursday.
The case involves a residence in Indiana County that was sold in the summer of 2007.
There was confusion over who should pay for electricity consumed before a new occupant moved in.
Penelec cut off the power two days before a fire seriously injured an occupant of the home.
Under the settlement, Penelec also agreed to change procedures for notifying customers of an impending shutoff .
Police: Injured driver was trapped in car
STOYSTOWN – A Hollsopple man was injured badly in a one-car accident on Plank Road in Quemahoning Township, authorities said.
Joseph E. Blank, 38, was taken to Memorial Medical Center with what state police described as a major injury.
Blank was trapped in his vehicle and was not found until about 8:30 a.m. Thursday when a passing motorist noticed the accident, police said.
Police said Blank was northbound when his car went off the roadway after rounding a curve.
The vehicle then traveled over the guardrail and down a 30-foot embankment before coming to rest on its roof.
Former resident admits robbing local bank
A former Johnstown man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to robbing a city bank Feb. 13, 2008.
George Douglas Alston, 42, of the 300 block of W. Earlham Terrace, Philadelphia, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines told the court that Alston robbed First Commonwealth Bank at 217 Franklin St. of about $721.
Past stories in The Tribune-Democrat said Alston was living in Johnstown at the time of the robbery.
Man pleads guilty to child porn charge
A northeastern Cambria County man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to possession of child pornography.
Russell Albright, 48, of the 200 block of Lark Lane, Flinton, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines told the court that on March 27, 2007, Albright knowingly possessed DVDs containing images of child pornography that had been mailed.
Windber authority sues for gas-drilling money
WINDBER – The Windber Area Authority is suing a Pittsburgh-area energy investment company for failing to pay the $378,000 advance on a gas-drilling agreement.
Tri-Energy Inc. of Sewickley agreed in July to a five-year lease on 315 acres around the Ingleside plant at $240 an acre, plus royalties on any gas produced.
“We are in a lease with them, and they haven’t paid us,” authority Solicitor James Cascio said at the authority’s meeting Wednesday.
Flood-protection work receives state grants
Flood-protection projects in three local communities are among those receiving state grants, Gov. Ed Rendell announced Thursday.
Johnstown Redevelopment Authority will get a combined $22,740. That is directed toward the installation of safety fencing on Cheney Run and the purchase of “specialized flood-monitoring and telecommunication equipment” for Elk Run and St. Clair Run, officials said.
Nanty Glo Borough will receive $35,133 to purchase a boom mower and install a maintenance-access ramp at the Blacklick Creek flood-protection project.
Somerset Borough will receive a $15,600 grant to help remove sediment from Coxes Creek.
Former junior council member makes bid for Ebensburg mayor
EBENSBURG – Cecilia Houser, 21, Ebensburg Borough’s first female junior council member, is running for mayor.
A Republican, Houser is a senior at Penn State-Altoona, where she is working toward a bachelor’s degree in communications.
She was a junior council member in 2003 while she was a junior at Bishop Carroll High School.
Houser, the daughter of Timothy and Marianne Houser of Ebensburg, said she wants to bring a “fresh approach” to the office.
“I believe that as a young mayor I have much to offer our residents of every age group. I realize that the youth and college age, as well as young families and the elderly, have concerns specific to their needs within the borough,” she said.
“I’m prepared to listen and be a representative voice for all the residents of Ebensburg.“
St. Francis plans science/tech career fair
LORETTO – St. Francis University will hold a Science/Technical Career Fair from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday in the John F. Kennedy Student Center lounge.
The event is free and open to the public.
The university career services department, biology department, chemistry club and the employer sponsor, Penn State Outreach, will sponsor the event.
Majors represented will include biology, chemistry, health care, preprofessional, computer science, math, management information systems, information technology, management, marketing, accounting, finance and liberal arts.
Employers will provide information about full- and part-time jobs, summer employment, internships, volunteer opportunities, potential careers and graduate school. A list of the employers can be found at www.francis.edu/career.
For more information on the fair, contact the university’s career services department at 472-3019 or careerservices@francis.edu.
House scholarship applications available
PATTON – Applications are available for the 2009-10 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Scholarship, said state Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Patton.
The scholarship is open to Pennsylvania high school seniors who plan to attend an in-state college, university or professional training school full time. Applicants are judged on academic record, extracurricular activities, leadership and commitment to community.
Applicants must have a 3.0 grade point average and are required to submit an essay on the following topic: “On Jan.1, 2009, Pennsylvania’s new Open Records Law took effect, bringing greater transparency to government at all levels in the commonwealth. Openness in government is key to democracy, and it is expected that the effect of the new law will be widely felt. Discuss the impact and substance of this law favoring broader public access to public records.”
Scholarships will be awarded to four high school seniors and can be renewed for each of the students’ four years of higher education as long as they continue to qualify. The amount of the scholarship is based on the cost of tuition at a State System of Higher Education university but can be used at any accredited public or private post-secondary school in the state.
For more information and a scholarship application, go to www.pahousescholarship.com online or www.pahouse.com/Haluska.
The application deadline is April 1.
IUP offering online criminology degree
INDIANA – Starting in September, students will have the opportunity to complete IUP’s master’s degree in criminology entirely online.
This is IUP’s second online graduate program.
Students will complete coursework as a group of 25.
Coursework will include two courses per term for five semesters.
In addition to meeting the requirements for admission, a student must be able to demonstrate an understanding of criminological theory and the criminal justice system – generally satisfied by a bachelor’s degree in criminology, criminal justice or a related field; or have experience within the justice system; or have specialized training or graduate or undergraduate studies in a related field.
Applications are due April 15.
For more information or an application, visit the IUP admission Web site at www.iup.edu/admissions, e-mail crim-online@iup.edu or call (724) 357-2720.
Scholarships available in health care
Applications are available for the Lee Auxiliary “Emily Lee” Scholarship Fund.
The longtime scholarship program recently was renamed to honor the vision and spirit of Emily Lee, wife of Dr. John K. Lee, after whom Lee Hospital was named.
She bequeathed money from her estate to be used toward the founding of a homeopathic hospital in her husband’s name.
Dr. Lee was a victim of the 1889 Johnstown Flood.
Eligibility is open to the community, but all applicants must be pursuing a major related to health care. Graduating high school seniors and currently enrolled postsecondary students may apply.
The number of scholarships and the amount of each is to be determined annually by the Lee Auxiliary Scholarship Award Committee. Awards usually range from $500 to $1,000.
A total of $5,000 in scholarships was awarded last year.
An application can be found at www.leeinitiatives.com.
Applications must be received or postmarked no later than noon April 27.
Group seeks sponsors, appraisers for benefit
Appraisers and sponsors
are needed for an antiques and collectibles appraisal fair host-ed by the NDIC Employee Community Outreach Association.
The event is set for June 20 at The Grove in Westmont.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Johnstown office of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Central Pennsylvania, which provides programs and services to children and adults with epilepsy/seizure disorders as well as to their families, schools and employers.
Experts are needed to evaluate sports collectibles, coins, art, antique and fine jewelry, glassware, furniture and other items.
Basket raffles and food will be available at the event.
Sponsors also are needed for food and beverage service, printing needs and event promotions.
Sponsorships are available at all donation levels.
Potential appraisers or businesses seeking additional information may contact Judy at 532-4645 or ndicecoa@atlan-ticbb.net.
Traffic stop yields robbery suspect
BREEZEWOOD – A woman stopped on a traffic violation Tuesday afternoon was arrested after state police found out she was wanted in the Lancaster area on charges of robbery and related offenses.
State police said Ashley Santana Smith, 22, was taken into custody after being stopped on the turnpike.
She was placed in the Bedford County Jail in lieu of $100,000 straight cash bond.
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