Published: June 25, 2009 11:53 pm      

IN BRIEF | Senate panel OKs Flight 93 funding

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey on Thursday announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved federal funding for several Pennsylvania projects, including the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville.

The bill includes $725,000 for the Flight 93 memorial to fulfill the federal funding obligation and help ensure the memorial will be dedicated by the 10-year anniversary in 2011.

In 2002, Congress authorized the memorial to honor the 40 innocent passengers and crew members of United Airlines Flight 93, who gave their lives to save others on Sept. 11, 2001.

Four hijackers aboard the jet also died when it crashed.

The projects are contained in the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

“This funding will help Pennsylvania to improve and maintain important infrastructure programs, as well as enrich future generations by preserving Pennsylvania’s rich natural heritage,” Specter said.

The bill must be approved by the full Senate and the House and signed into law by President Obama before funding is final.

The legislation also includes $300,000 for the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. for sewage replacement in the Westmoreland Business and Research Park. The project will build a pump station extending a sewer line that will permit closing of the inadequate sewage treatment plant that now services the business park.

Meyersdale man charged with rape

MEYERSDALE – State police in Somerset on Thursday charged a Meyersdale man with rape after he allegedly had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl who sneaked out of her home to participate in a drinking game.

Shannon Keith Bowker, 21, of the 100 block of Salisbury Street, was charged with rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, furnishing alcohol to minors and related charges.

In a court document, troopers said the girl slipped out around 1:30 a.m. and was picked up by Bowker, who drove her to his father’s house where five people were playing drinking games.

The girl said she was in the bedroom when she was raped.

Bowker was arraigned by District Judge Susan Mankamyer of Boswell, the

on-call magistrate, and was released on $10,000 unsecured bond.

Kimball to host 5K charity fundraiser

EBENSBURG – L. Robert Kimball & Associates will hold the first Kimball 5K Challenge at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the company’s headquarters in Ebensburg.

All proceeds will benefit Engineers Without Borders, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that partners with developing communities worldwide to implement environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects.

Participation is free to

Kimball employees, $15 for children ages 6 to 15 and

$25 for adults.

T-shirts and prizes will be awarded.

For more information, visit www.kimballcorp.com/5KChallenge or call 472-7700.

For more information on Engineers Without Borders, go to www.ewb-usa.com.

Police seek tips in Somerset holdup

SOMERSET – Police in Somerset Borough are asking the public’s help in solving a robbery.

A man in his 20s or 30s held up another man at gunpoint Sunday in the 800 block of East Main Street, police said Thursday.

The victim said he was robbed of $200 and two cellular telephones.

The robber was last seen wearing a striped shirt, blue jeans and brown boots.

Anyone with information about the crime may contact the police at 445-4596.