Published: August 08, 2009 11:58 pm      

Briefs: Two killed in Route 22 crash

GALLITZIN — A crash involving a car and a truck Saturday afternoon in Blair County killed two people and shut Route 22 westbound for hours, state police said.

Police said an eastbound tractor-trailer driven by Gregory Duane Nagy of Ruffs Dale, Westmoreland County, crossed the median and struck a westbound car driven by Gary J. Smith of New Bethlehem, Clarion County, head on.

Smith and a passenger, Tracey Y. Smith, were killed.

A second passenger, an 8-year-old boy, was taken to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment.

The crash ocurred about 3:50 p.m. a mile east of the Portage exit in Allegheny Township.

The highway reopened about 9:30 p.m., police said.

Railroad crossing closing for repairs

LISTIE – The CSX railroad crossing on Route 1003 in Listie in Somerset County will be closed from Monday through Friday so that repairs can be made.

Traffic should use the marked detour or other alternate routes around the work zone, and some delays can be expected.

The work is being done by AMSCO Service Inc. of Pittsburgh.

Blood drive scheduled for Beth Sholom

Julie Mercik, a student at Westmont Hilltop High School, has scheduled a blood drive with the Greater Alleghenies Region of the Red Cross as her senior project.

The drive will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Beth Shalom Congregation, 700 Indiana St., Westmont.

Driver hurt in Somerset wreck

SOMERSET – A Berlin man fell asleep while driving along state route 281 in Somerset Township and struck a utility pole, state police said.

Kyle Courtney, the driver, had only minor injuries from the late Thursday crash, troopers said.

Bicycle found in Indiana

INDIANA – State police at the Indiana barracks found a

21-speed bicycle on Center Street in White Township, troopers said. The owner may call the barracks, (724) 357-1960 to identify and claim the bicycle.

Fire association improving Web site

The Cambria County Volunteer Firemen’s Association is making improvements to its new Web site – cambriavolfireassn.webs. com.

The goal of the Web site is to provide fire departments, emergency responders and fire company auxiliaries with information such as training, legislative matters and meeting notices.

Music festival volunteers needed

Volunteers are being sought for the AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival to be held Aug. 21-23 at Festival Park in downtown Johnstown.

Individuals can volunteer before, during and after the festival. Everyone who helps will receive a free AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival T-shirt and schedule-on-a-string, and will not be asked for a donation at the gate on the day(s) they volunteer.

For more info about volunteering, contact Gwen Hartnett at ghartnett@jaha.org or at JAHA offices at 539-1889.

Groups can work with master concessionaire, Mom’s Food Service, to staff food booths in exchange for a portion of the booth’s proceeds. For more information about this opportunity, contact Shelley Johansson at JAHA, 539-1889, ext. 308 or

sjohansson@jaha.org.

Forest Hills plans middle school orientation

SIDMAN – Forest Hills Middle School will conduct an orientation program for new pupils at 9 a.m. Aug. 20 in the middle school auditorium, 1427 Frankstown Road.

The program is designed to familiarize students with the school’s rules, regulations, policies, programs, facilities and services.

All seventh-grade pupils and transfer pupils are encouraged to attend.

Papers: Woman bragged about sex with QB

RENO, Nev. – The woman suing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for alleged sexual assault has been accused of bragging about having consensual sex with him.

According to court documents filed late Friday, Angela Antonetti said the woman who made the rape claim “did not appear to be upset, stressed-out or nervous” about her time with the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback during a 2008 celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe.

Antonetti said her Harrah’s hotel-casino co-worker “appeared happy and boastful,” and later said she thought she might be pregnant from the encounter. Antonetti made the remarks in a sworn statement attached to a motion to move the case from Reno to Minden, Nev.

“Rather than indicating that she was afraid or apprehensive about this, (the woman) expressed to me that she was hoping for a ‘little Roethlisberger,” said Antonetti, who worked with the accuser at Harrah’s between 2006 and 2009.

Driver sentenced in collision with train

ALIQUIPPA – A western Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to five to 10 years in state prison for a collision with a train that killed a passenger in his truck.

Beaver County Judge John Dohanich convicted 38-year-old Jayson Hatton last month of vehicular homicide, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, drunken driving and other offenses.

Authorities said Hatton swerved around a closed rail crossing gate in Monaca as a train approached in April 2008. The pickup was destroyed in the collision, seriously injuring Hatton and killing 29-year-old Jesse Kownacki of Baden.

Witnesses testified during the nonjury trial that Hatton was the driver, although a defense attorney tried to cast doubt on that. Police said Hatton had a blood-alcohol level of more than 0.15 percent, well over the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent.