Published: October 30, 2009 11:10 pm      

In brief: Congress OKs memorial funding

JOHNSTOWN — Congress has passed an appropriations bill that includes $725,000 in federal funding for the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville.

The funding is contained in the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010, which passed the House and Senate on Thursday. The bill will now be sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Teen charged with drug possession

BOSWELL – A Somerset County teen was charged Friday with drug possession after authorities said he showed up at North Star High School noticeably under the influence.

Kyle Hartman, 18, of Hooversville, was observed by several teachers to be impaired and state police from Somerset were called.

Several prescription pills were found on him during a search, police said.

Charges were filed at the office of District Judge Susan Mankamyer in Boswell.

Judge stands firm on razing cottage

EBENSBURG – Judge David Tulowitzki on Friday refused to reconsider his denial of a stay on demolition of the crumbling Braemar-Jones Cottage in Cresson Township.

The township, which wants to raze the historic building because of its deteriorated condition, has said that it was holding up the razing with an appeal by the Cresson Area Historial Association to the state Commonwealth Court in the cottage dispute.

On Thursday, the association said that it has collected $10,000 to post as a civil bond to cover any costs the township may occur as a result of a delay in the demolition. The association collected the money in the hope of obtaining a formal court-ordered stay pending the outcome of the appeal. With the appeal pending in the state court, the association now apparently will have to petition there for a stay.

The cottage was built as a summer home in the late 1800s by a Pittsburgh steel executive.

Kring Street bridge to reopen

Work on the Route 4041 (Kring Street) bridge over the Stonycreek River has been completed and the 4.3-mile detour is scheduled to be lifted Monday.

The closure affected traffic in Richland and Stonycreek townships in Cambria County and Conemaugh Township in Somerset County.

Brayman Construction Corp. of Saxonburg was the contractor on the $1.8 million project, which began in March.

The project was fully funded with state money.