Published: June 09, 2008 11:59 pm      

In brief

City police arrest robbery suspect

Johnstown police captured the suspect in an armed robbery at Rite Aid Pharmacy, 507 Main St., within five minutes of the holdup Monday.

The robber, armed with a kitchen knife, failed in his try to get money from the pharmacy department and fled empty-handed, police said.

No one was injured during the robbery attempt, reported at around 8:40 p.m., police said.

Officers took the suspect into custody without incident a couple of blocks away in the area of Vine and Bedford streets.

The suspect was to be arraigned early today.



Man charged with beer theft

BERLIN – A Meyersdale man was accused of stealing a case of beer from a Berlin Borough sports bar.

State police said Keith Randall Kyle, 22, of Thomas Street, entered Mountain Sports Grill, 1310 Main St., at 5:40 p.m. Sunday, removed a case of beer from the cooler, left by a back door and drove away in an orange Chevy coupe.

He was arraigned by on-call District Judge Susan Mankamyer of Boswell on charges of criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

Kyle was released on $10,000 unsecured bond.



Search for swimmer continues at Ohiopyle

OHIOPYLE – Police at Ohiopyle State Park say they are again searching for a 26-year-old man who was swept over a 20-foot waterfall while wading in the Youghio-gheny River.

The park is known for its whitewater rapids, and witnesses say the man appeared to get caught in a swift current and was unable to get back to shore Friday afternoon.

Park manager John Hallas said police and volunteers have searched a seven-mile stretch of the river every day since then to no avail. Teams have been searching along the river’s banks while boats and cadaver-sniffing dogs have been patrolling the water.



Highland library lures young readers

Highland Community Library, 330 Schoolhouse Road in the East Hills, will present “Catch the Reading Bug!” this summer.

The reading program will explore the amazing world of bugs. It is offers programs, prizes, story hours and more for children ages 3 to 12.

Registration for the summer reading program begins Saturday with a visit from the Johnstown Spiderman from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, call the library: 266-5610.



Flag, street signs missing in Cassandra

CASSANDRA – State police are looking for whomever stole street signs and an American flag in Cassandra during the past month.

The 2-by-3-foot flag and its flagpole were taken from a utility pole.

The streets signs taken were those of Cedar Street and Short Street.



Two jurors selected for Clark murder trial

BEDFORD – Two jurors, a man and a woman, were chosen in Dauphin County on Monday during the first day of jury selection for the retrial of an Everett man charged with kidnapping and murder.

Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins said nine prospective jurors were interviewed Monday. The selection process will resume this morning.

Joseph W. Clark, 49, of Everett, was charged in 2005 with the kidnapping and death of Holly Christine Notestine, a 25-year-old mother of two.

His first trial ended in a mistrial when jurors couldn’t reach a verdict.



Somerset extension gathers insect reports

SOMERSET – Somerset County Cooperative Extension at 6024 Glades Pike has been designated as the first point of contact for anyone reporting invasive insects this summer in 35 Pennsylvania counties.

The number to call is 445-8911. Survey crews will be dispatched to investigate reports deemed credible, the extension office said.

Several state and federal agencies, in collaboration with Penn State Cooperative Extension, will be on the lookout through August for invasive insects.

Among insects being targeted are the emerald ash borer, longhorned beetle, metallic wood-boring beetle, bark beetle and Sirex wood wasp.



NDIC employees raise $6G for Learning Lamp

The National Drug Intelligence Center Employee Community Outreach Association raised $6,200 for The Learning Lamp with its spring basket raffle.

The Learning Lamp is a Johnstown-based nonprofit that offers supplemental programs to help children succeed in the classroom.

In addition to the basket raffle, the NDIC association raised money through eBay auctions featuring donated merchandise and gift certificates.