Published: September 22, 2009 11:09 pm      

In brief: Save Westy group to meet tonight

The Save Westy Action Committee, a citizens group fighting a proposal to change zoning to commercial from residential on a section of Goucher Street in Westmont Borough, has scheduled a meeting today at 7 p.m. at the Westmont Hilltop Middle School to discuss the issue.

Speaking at the meeting will be the Johnstown attorney the committee has hired, Michael W. Sahlaney. Candidates running for Westmont Borough Council in November’s election also have been invited to tell residents where they stand on the issue.

“During Save Westy’s campaign to gather petition signatures from folks against the rezoning, we found that many folks are uninformed about the rezoning petition,” said Save Westy President Art Smith about why the meeting is being held. “We also realized that some folks were formulating their opinions on the issue based on erroneous information.”

Charges filed in high-speed chase

A St. Michael resident is facing a host of charges after state troopers said he led them on a high-speed chase Sunday evening.

State police said Corey Lee Varner, 36, of 920 Locust St., was driving in a reckless manner on Route 219 and fled two state police units.

The pursuit went on for three miles before Varner crashed at the Sidman exit.

Police said Varner was taken to Memorial Medical Center for injuries sustained in the crash. He was treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Varner faces counts of fleeing police, reckless endangerment, DUI and numerous traffic offenses.

Trike-a-Thon raising money for St. Jude’s

The day-care children at the Greater Johnstown Christian Fellowship,

3429 Elton Road, are participating in the St. Jude Trike-a-Thon event all this week.

The event will help teach the children to ride safely while raising money for

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a top center for research and treatment of childhood cancer and other diseases.

Trike-a-Thon participants will learn bike-riding safety through lessons from characters Pedals the Bunny and Bikewell Bear. On Friday, the children will bring their tricycles or other riding toys and practice the safety lessons they have learned.