Published: September 16, 2009 11:28 pm      

IN BRIEF | Man captured after wreck in stolen car

CLYMER – A Pittsburgh man who threatened a woman with a knife and then stole the car she was driving was injured when he was involved in an accident with the car around 1 a.m. Wednesday on Route 286.

Andre Lamont Hardy, 37, was listed in fair condition Wednesday at Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown.

State police said Hardy threatened Amber Luzier of Cherry Tree with a knife as he forced her to drive him to Pittsburgh. She escaped when they stopped for gasoline at a convenience store in Clymer, police said.

Hardy then stole the car and got into an accident southeast of Clymer.



State, Highmark tout anti-bullying initiative

HARRISBURG – State Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak and other officials are touting an initiative they say is reducing bullying in Pennsylvania schools.

About 200 schools are testing a pair of anti-bullying programs financed with a $2.3 million grant from the Highmark Foundation, a nonprofit arm of insurance giant Highmark Inc.

Zahorchak told a Capitol news conference Wednesday he hopes the programs help change the culture of public schools.

Matt Masiello of the Windber Research Institute said it found a reduction of as much as 15 percent in reports of bullying at participating elementary and middle schools. About a quarter of public school students say they’ve been victims of bullying, he said.

A detailed report is slated to be released at a conference in Pittsburgh in November.



First lady takes part in Constitution events

HOLLIDAYSBURG – Judge Marjorie O. Rendell, Pennsylvania’s first lady, toured schools Wednesday in the Hollidaysburg School District to learn about how the district is teaching civics and took part in a Constitution Day celebration at the Blair County Courthouse.

“Hollidaysburg School District is one of the top districts in the state for implementing a robust civics education program across grade levels,” Rendell said.

“What they are doing is a model for other school districts to emulate, and the Constitution Day program at the courthouse is only one example of how Hollidaysburg is making civics education a key part of their curriculum.”

She toured Hollidaysburg Area High School, Hollidaysburg Area Junior High, Charles W. Longer Elementary School, and Foot of Ten Elementary School.

She will speak via teleconference with students at Forest Hills High School today.

In conjunction with Constitution Day, Rendell is visiting schools and meeting with teachers, students and administrators from across the state to promote civics education.

Rendell encouraged students, educators and anyone interested in civics education to follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/CivicsFirst for updates on her “First Lady, Civics First” tour.



Football rivals will draw blood

Both schools are out for blood in the Windber vs. Portage high school rivalry.

School leaders are not hoping for injuries in Friday’s football game at Portage, but they are pushing supporters to come out today for the annual blood drive challenge in both districts.

Blood collections will run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Portage Elementary School, 84 Mountain Ave., and from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Windber Area High School, 2301 Graham Ave.

Last year the challenge brought 195 usable units of blood.

The principal of the losing high school this year has agreed to wear the opponent’s jersey.



Democrats making health reform calls

Organizing for America, a grassroots project of the Democratic National Committee, will host phone banks across the state today in support of health insurance reform.

Among the locations from which volunteers and senior citizens will call their friends and neighbors to discuss President Barack Obama’s reform message is the Pitt-Johnstown Living/Learning Center, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Other calling locations today include Erie, Wilkes-Barre and Bethlehem.



Recycling programs planned in region

PA CleanWays, in conjunction with sponsoring municipalities, will hold its annual appliance, tire and electronics recycling programs this month.

The local events will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Cambria Township Municipal Building and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 26 at Portage Township Municipal Building.

Costs are $12 for Freon-containing appliances, $6 for non-Freon appliances, $2 for off-rim tires, $3 for on-rim tires; $1 per inch for television and computer monitors; and free for other electronics.

For more information, call Cambria County Conservation District at 472-2120.



Group lists Murtha among ‘most corrupt’

WASHINGTON – Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has listed U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown has one of the “most corrupt members of Congress” in the group’s fifth annual report.

CREW’s list analyzes alleged unethical and sometimes illegal activities of 15 members of Congress who the group says betrayed the public’s trust.

Murtha chairs the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.

According to CREW, a nonprofit watchdog group, Murtha’s alleged ethics issues and violations stem from his ties to the PMA Group, a now-defunct lobbying firm under federal investigation; Kuchera Industries, a defense contractor under federal investigation; and defense executives and former military personnel convicted of skimming money from government contracts.

Also cited were actions Murtha may have taken to benefit his brother’s lobbying clients and his chief of staff’s alleged threats to a political opponent.

Murtha was included in CREW’s 2006, 2007, and 2008 reports on congressional corruption.



Vendors can apply for Dickens show

EBENSBURG – Vendor applications are now available for the craft show to be held during Ebensburg’s annual “Dickens of a Christmas” event on Dec. 5.

The craft show is held at Dauntless fire company hall, said Christine Strugala, the borough’s community development director.

“Due to the show’s popularity, we will also have crafters set up in the VFW this year,” she said.

Only vendors selling handmade items will be accepted.

The fee to participate is $30 for an 8-foot by 8-foot space, which includes one table and two chairs.

The application deadline is Oct. 16.

For more information or an application, go online to www.ebensburgdickens.com or call the borough office at 472-8780.