Published: June 19, 2009 12:00 am      

IN BRIEF | ‘Suspicious’ fire destroys garage in city

A fire termed “suspicious” destroyed a vacant, two-car detached garage at the rear of a vacant house in the 300 block of Beatrice Avenue on Thursday evening.

The garage, which was empty, was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, said Johnstown Assistant Fire Chief Bob Statler.

No utilities were connected to the garage, he said.

A state police fire marshal was asked to investigate the blaze. Johnstown police also are investigating the blaze, reported shortly after 7 p.m.

Witnesses told firefighters that at about 5:30 p.m. someone had set a pile of trash on fire about half a block away, Statler said. That fire was not reported.

The trash was soaked from the rain and burned itself out, he said.

Johnstown police also are investigating that blaze.

Teen charged with fleeing police

SOMERSET – A Markleton man was charged with fleeing police and reckless endangerment after authorities said he took off when troopers tried to stop his vehicle for an equipment violation.

Chad Kerns, 19, fled on Route 31 near Scott Avenue in Somerset about 3 p.m. Wednesday, state police said.

He was arrested after a brief pursuit, troopers said.

Kerns had two juvenile passengers with him, police said.

He was arraigned by District Judge Douglas Bell and lodged in the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.

Work to begin on Chickentown Road bridge

SOMERSET – Work will begin Monday on the Route 3017 (Chickentown Road) bridge, which carries the road over the west branch of Coxes Creek in Somerset Township.

A 9.4-mile detour will be in effect for the duration of the project.

Motorists will be rerouted from Route 3017 to Route 3015 (Water Level Road) to Route 3010 (Piedmont Road) and then back to Route 3017.

The bridge will be replaced with a new concrete box beam bridge. The contractor also will replace the tops of the bridge abutments, replace guiderails and do minor approach work.

C.H.&D. Enterprises Inc. of New Stanton is the contractor for this $390,592 project, which is expected to be completed by the end of August.

Upgrade to start on Route 219 near Sidman

SIDMAN – Work will begin Monday on a 5-mile stretch of Route 219 from Sidman to New Germany.

The $9.1 million job includes concrete patching, milling and resurfacing, guardrail updating and rehabilitating six sets of dual bridges.

PennDOT said no traffic delays are expected, though maximum road widths will be 11 feet.

Motorists with wide loads are asked to find an alternate route.

New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co. Inc. is the contractor.