Published: April 01, 2009 11:17 pm      

IN BRIEF | Woman hurt in kitchen fire

NANTY GLO – A woman was taken to Memorial Medical Center on Wednesday with minor burns she received when a fire erupted on her stove while she was cooking.

Firefighters were called to a home in the 1000 block of Shoemaker Street just after 6 p.m., said Nanty Glo fire Chief Joe LaMantia Jr.

It is believed the woman was burned while trying to extinguish the flames, he said.

Firefighters were able to douse the flames shortly after arriving.

The fire caused minor damage to the kitchen, LaMantia said.



Police seeking driver of white van

DAVIDSVILLE – Police in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, continued an investigation Wednesday into an incident they were told happened Monday near Davidsville.

A woman told police she was driving south on Route 219 from Richland Township when she came upon a white van that appeared to be stopped on the roadway. When she began to go around the van, she said the driver began to follow her closely and tried to force her off the roadway.

Chief Louis Barclay said the woman provided a limited description of the van and driver. She said the van was white and had several rust spots on its exterior but could only describe the driver as a white man with a scruffy beard.

The incident was reported shortly after 6 p.m. Monday, Barclay said.



Area schools take part in discussion with gov

HARRISBURG – In an online discussion with high school students across the state, Gov. Ed Rendell on Wednesday explained how his tuition relief proposal will make obtaining a college education more affordable while helping Pennsylvania’s work force compete in the global economy.

Richland and Penn Cambria were among the 11 high schools that took part in the event.

“Pennsylvania is the sixth most expensive state in the nation for college costs, and those high costs mean fewer students can afford to earn a degree,” Rendell said during an interactive discussion using Classrooms for the Future technology.

“Last month, the unemployment rate for Americans without a college education was nearly double what it was for those who hold a bachelor’s degree.”

Under the Tuition Relief Act proposed in February, qualifying students who are newly enrolled in state-owned universities or community colleges this fall would see reduced tuition – some paying as little as $1,000 a year.

Pennsylvania families earning less than $100,000 would be eligible.

For more information on the Department of Education’s initiatives, visit pde.state.pa.us.



Incline riders can name their price

The Johnstown Inclined Plane will offer a “pay-what-you-like” deal to ride the incline from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

This is a first for the 117-year-old incline, which usually costs $4 round trip for an adult and $2.50 for a child.

“If you have a large family, Saturday will be the perfect day to bring them to the incline because you can pay the price you like for your whole family to ride,” said CamTran Executive Director Rose Lucey-Noll.

In addition to the pay-what-you-like promotion, the incline will host the Easter Bunny from noon until 2 p.m. Children will receive free gifts from the bunny.



Pitt-nic at Point to be held Saturday

Picnic food will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Pitt-Johnstown’s second annual PITT-nic at the Point at Johnstown’s Point Stadium.

A baseball game featuring the Mountain Cat team against Wheeling (W.Va.) Jesuit will be played at 1 p.m.

Admission to the game and picnic is free.



Ebensburg council seeks junior member

EBENSBURG – Chris Vella’s term as Ebensburg’s junior council member will expire at the end of May, and council is searching for a replacement.

The applications are due May 8.