Published: November 05, 2009 11:05 pm      

IN BRIEF | Shade Twp. finalizes fire service contract

CAIRNBROOK – With little fanfare, an ordinance allowing Shade Township to enter into a contract with Richland Township and its volunteer fire department was adopted Thursday by the Shade supervisors.

An ordinance is necessary for any intermunicipal agreement.

Shade passed firefighting responsibilities to Richland after the Somerset County township was unable to reach an agreement with neighboring Central City firefighters.

The Richland agreement is a five-year deal for $23,700 per year.

Some of the 20 residents who turned out asked if either township will bill them for fire protection.

“Richland Township does not bill for fire service,” Shade Supervisor Chairman John Topka said. “We don’t have the authority to bill.”

The ordinance ends, at least for now, Shade’s dispute with Central City firefighters, who had provided the township with fire protection for more than 80 years.

But residents remain concerned their insurance rates will rise because the Richland firefighters must travel farther than the Central City company did. Central City is located in Shade.



Jury selected for ex-supervisor’s trial

EBENSBURG – A jury of nine women and five men was selected Thursday in Cambria County Court for the trial of a former Susquehanna Township supervisor on charges that he had child pornography on his home computer and that he had unlawful contact with a girl on the computer.

Allen David Stossel, 44, of the 100 block of Ridge Road, Hastings, is charged with having unlawful contract with a minor, criminal use of a computer and offenses related to the child pornography.

Testimony is scheduled to begin Nov. 16 in the courtroom of Judge David Tulowitzki.

Agents of the state Attorney General’s Office alleged that the incidents took place between 2002 and 2007.

Stossel, who is out of jail on $75,000 bond, served as a township supervisor for four years before losing in 2005. He had worked as an information technology administrator in the Greater Johnstown School District.

Stossel is represented by Pittsburgh attorney Stan Levenson.

The case is being prosecutor by Deputy Attorney General Michael Sprow.



Cause undetermined in mobile home blaze

SOMERSET – A state police fire marshal was unable to determine the cause of a fire that caused $3,000 in damage to a mobile home last month.

The fire broke out about 4 p.m. Oct. 20 at 151 Cherry Lane in the borough. The mobile home was rented by Melissa Budzina.



Funeral homes collecting sweaters for vets

Hindman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. has teamed with Veterans & Family Memorial Care for “Operation Sweaters for Veterans.”

Through Veteran’s Day, the funeral home is collecting new or gently used sweaters and gloves to donate to veterans in VA hospitals or those who live in veterans homes.

The items can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Hindman’s homes at 1521 Frankstown Road or 146 Chandler Ave. in Johnstown.

For more information, call 535-4018.



Retired officer to speak at veterans tribute

ALTOONA – Hollidaysburg native and retired Lt. Gen. Ed Soyster will be the speaker at a Veterans Day tribute at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Ramada Inn. The event is being sponsored by the Van Zandt VA Medical Center.

Soyster retired as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and was an adviser to Dick Cheney when he was secretary of defense and to retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf.

A color guard from the Marine Corps unit in Ebensburg will be featured. The event is free to the public.



Veterans in Business workshop scheduled

The Young Professionals of the Alleghenies will host a Veterans in Business Workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday at Hiram G. Andrews Center, 727 Goucher St., Upper Yoder Township.

Among subjects to be discussed are educating employers of soldiers, the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, family support programs, hiring a veteran and U.S. Department of Labor ADVET information. Refreshments will be provided.

The public is invited. Preregistration is advised because seating is limited to the first 75 registrants. Donations of at least $10 will be required for those who preregister or $15 at the door.

Proceeds benefit the John B. Gunter Leadership Class Veterans Project.

To register, go to youngpa.org.

YPA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of young professionals who live in Johnstown and the surrounding areas through social, business networking and community service activities.