Published: September 30, 2008 10:20 pm      

In brief: City couple charged with cash theft

Couple charged with cash theft

A Johnstown man and woman were charged Monday with stealing $1,185 from a neighbor’s purse.

City police said the victim had the money in a bank envelope in her purse on the kitchen counter when neighbors Justin Bell and Michelle Leigh Felton asked to borrow laundry detergent.

The woman went into the basement and returned with a cup of detergent and the couple left, police said.

She later discovered the money was missing.

Bell, 19, and Felton, 22, both of the 900 block of Central Avenue, were charged with theft, receiving stole property, and criminal conspiracy to commit theft.

Bell and Felton have yet to be arraigned.

Ferndale Bridge to close Thursday

PennDOT announced that the Ferndale Bridge will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday until 7 a.m. Friday to facilitate bridge replacement work. The bridge will remain open to pedestrians.

Traffic will follow a 10.8-mile detour.

The overall project consists of replacing the bridge deck and rehabilitating the existing single-span through truss structure over the Stonycreek River. In addition, the project will include roadway approach repairs, guiderail upgrades and the replacement of curbs and sidewalks.

Brayman Construction Corp. of Butler County is the contractor for the $3 million project that is expected to be completed by July.

CamTran has made arrangements for

Route 14 which will be affected by the closing.

Riders are encouraged to ask their driver or call 535-5526 for additional information.

Painkiller robbed from pharmacy

BLAIRSVILLE – State police are looking for two men who robbed the Rite Aid Pharmacy at the Resort Plaza of an undisclosed amount of OxyContin.

Police said the pair entered the store about 10:45 a.m. Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.

Credit cards stolen from vehicle

JONES MILLS – Thieves broke into two vehicles and stole money, purses and credit cards while the owners were hiking on a trial in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County.

Christine Marie Stecnkircher, 36, of Somerset, and Emily Yards, 22, of Camp Hill were hiking Saturday on a trail along state Route 31 a few miles east of Jones Mills, state police in Greensburg said.

Then they returned to their vehicle, they discovered windows had been broken and their purses containing money, credit cards, and an iPOD were taken, troopers said.

Nonprofit holding open house

CRESSON – Skills of Central Pennsylvania Inc. will host an open house and dedication ceremony to launch a new sensory stimulation program at 9 a.m. Friday at Skills Adult Training Service, at 831 Keystone Ave. Cresson.

Skills received a $17,326 grant from Lee Initiatives to buy the specialized equipment and program materials needed for both its Cresson and Johnstown ATSs.

The grant also funded training from a sensory consultant who helped staff identify the best use of sensory stimulation and sensory integration for each individual receiving adult training.

Founded in Bellefonte in 1960, Skills is one of the oldest and largest private, nonprofit human service organizations in central Pennsylvania.

Skills’ mission is to create opportunities and provide support for individuals who need specialized services to acquire the skills to participate in all aspects of life with dignity and respect.

Currently, Skills serves 1,150 individuals with disabilities in 14 counties and employs

900.

School bus surveillance mulled

PITTSBURGH – Bus companies and school districts would be allowed to record audio on school buses under legislation that would modify the state’s wiretapping and surveillance law and, supporters say, help deter unruly student behavior.

Some buses already use silent video cameras, but questions have arisen about whether recording sound violates the law, which requires the consent of the person being recorded.

State Rep. Don Walko, D-Allegheny, said his legislation would allow school boards to authorize audio taping while requiring notification of students and parents and placing signs on buses stating audio taping is taking place.

“There is a lack of consistency among district attorneys throughout Pennsylvania, so again what we are doing is clarifying what we believe should be the law and putting in the safeguards,” Walko said at a House judiciary committee hearing Tuesday in Pittsburgh.