Published: November 17, 2008 10:48 pm      

Motorcyclist hurt in wreck dies

Motorcyclist hurt in wreck dies

SHANKSVILLE – William Parry, 70, an Indian Lake motorcyclist who was injured critically in a motorcycle-pickup accident Wednesday, died Monday.

State police said Parry was eastbound on Stutzmantown Road. The driver of the pickup, Eliazer Manuel, 33, of Frostburg, Md., was southbound on Coleman Station Road. After stopping at the stop sign, Manuel pulled into the intersection without yielding to Parry, police said. Parry was not able to stop in time and struck the truck.



Windber discussions will focus on cancer

“Hot Coffee and Conversation” will focus on cancer prevention and detection at 6 p.m. today and for the next two Tuesdays at the Windber Public Library, 1909 Graham Ave.

Tonight’s program will be presented by Jennifer Saylor and focuses on prostate and ovarian cancer.

Other programs will focus on skin cancer, Nov. 25, and colorectal cancer, Dec. 2.

Presented by Windber Research Institute and Fox Chase Cancer Center, the series is free to the community through a grant provided by the state Health Department.

For additional information call 467-4950.



Pedistrian injured when hit by car

A Moxham man was injured in a car-pedestrian accident around 8 p.m. Monday on Central Avenue near Ohio Street.

Joseph Gwinn, 22, was taken to Memorial Medical Central for a cut to the back of his head and bruised ribs, Johnstown police said.

Gwinn was crossing Ohio Street and Brian Figura, 42, of Moxham, was driving outbound on Central Avenue when the accident took place, police said. Neither saw the other coming, police said.



Area drama teams earn honors

Two local high school drama teams received top honors in the Pennsylvania High School Speech League’s one-act play regional competition held Saturday at Westmont Hilltop High School.

Students from Bishop Carroll High School were awarded first place for “Emotional Baggage,” and the Westmont Hilltop team came in second with “Adaptation.”

Both teams earned places at the speech league’s state competition to be held Dec. 12-13 at Susquehanna University.

Bishop Carroll and Westmont Hilltop will represent western Pennsylvania in the competition, which also will include two teams each from the central and eastern regions.



Military police company honored

Members of the 28th Military Police Company were honored by the Army National Guard for their service in Iraq.

The 28th Military Police is headquartered at the armory along Walters Avenue in Richland Township.

Four members were honored for serving a third tour of duty in Iraq, 42 for a second deployment and 50 for a first deployment.

The Freedom Salute event was held Sunday morning at Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center.

Paul and Jackie Pritt of Windber received an Outstanding Center of Influence Award for sending multiple packages of needed items to the soldiers while in Iraq. Elizabeth Talko of Cresson received a Distinguished Center of Influence Award for providing help and support for their family members at home.

Principal speaker was Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, Pennsylvania National Guard adjutant general.



UPJ group hosting Russia-Georgia lecture

Pitt-Johnstown Student Council on World Affairs and International Studies will host a public lecture by Mahnaz M. Harrison titled “Russia’s Military Intervention into Georgia – A Georgian Perspective” at 7 p.m. today in 138 Blackington Hall on campus.

Harrison is honorary consul at the Embassy of Georgia.

For additional information, contact Reinhard Heinisch, director of international studies, at 269-2977.



Nanty Glo council approves budget

NANTY GLO – Borough Council approved a tentative $529,000 budget for 2009 at Thursday’s special meeting.

The budget does not reflect a tax increase, Borough Manager Samuel Sulkosky said.

The preliminary budget will be on display for 30 days.

“I expect council to pass it at our next meeting,” Sulkosky said.

The budget reflects a 25-percent tonnage increase in the cost of road salt, which is purchased through a state-backed program, COSTARS.

“We just got our first shipment of salt, so we’re good for the next couple of storms,” Sulkosky said.



Boro expects OK on flood prevention

NANTY GLO – The borough’s flood protection system is expected to receive a passing grade from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

DEP inspected the levee last month, and the preliminary report was favorable, Borough Manager Samuel Sulkosky said.

The final report is expected to be received by the end of the year.

Sulkosky said borough crews addressed a few minor issues such as tree encroachment to satisfy inspection standards.

Routine maintenance also helped to ensure the system would pass inspection.

“We did a lot of work with prison labor from SCI-Cresson,” Sulkosky said, adding that inmates cut grass and weeds.

“We actually do this about twice a year to keep up with it,” he said. “The street crew worked on cleaning debris from the pipes and floodgates.”

Lack of a satisfactory flood-protection grade would mean borough residents would not be eligible for emergency funding if flooding occurred as a result of levee failure.



Molestation suspect faces trial

A Johnstown man accused of sexually assaulting a girl when she was 12 years old was ordered Monday to stand trial.

Joseph George Peles, 42, of William Penn Avenue, was held for court following a preliminary hearing before District Judge Mary Ann Zanghi of Vinco.

Cambria County detectives charged Peles with two counts of rape of a child and four counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault and indecent exposure.

Authorities said Peles allegedly had sexual intercourse with the girl while he was baby-sitting for the mother, who was at work. The incidents took place in 2002.

Peles is being held in the Cambria County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bond.



City man jailed in dispute over shotgun

A Johnstown man was jailed Monday after a domestic dispute over a shotgun.

Geistown Borough police said Joseph Ryan Bestvina, 24, entered his father’s house on Churchill Street to search for a shotgun, saying he had been in a fight at the Orchard Hotel.

Bestvina’s father wrestled the weapon away from him, police said. When Bestvina’s sister tried to intervene, the younger man allegedly grabbed her by the hair, threw her to the ground and struck her in the head.

Bestvina was arraigned by District Judge Leonard Grecek of Roxbury on charges of simple assault and harassment.

The defendant was sent to Cambria County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bond.



Bank robbery suspect nabbed

ALTOONA – Altoona police, with the help of residents, said they captured an armed man who held up the Mainline Bank on 6th Avenue shortly before 11 a.m. Monday.

Joshua Clifford of Duncansville fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash and headed in the direction of Broad Avenue and 31st Street, police said. Police and residents were able to track him to that area, and officers apprehended Clifford in a resident’s yard.

Clifford was found in possession of the gun and the cash, police said.



Voting deadline for farmers’ rep nears

EBENSBURG – Farmers in townships in the southern third of Cambria County are voting to elect a representative to Farm Service Agency’s Local Administrative Area 3.

Ballots must be returned by Dec. 1 to the agency office at 171 Lovell Ave., Suite 203, Ebensburg, Pa. 15931.

The candidates are Robert L. Beyer, Shelly Craft and Elwood Hoffman.

Administrative Area 3 takes in Adams, Conemaugh, Cresson, Croyle, Jackson, Portage, Richland, Stonycreek, Summerhill, East Taylor, Middle Taylor, West Taylor, Washington, Lower Yoder and Upper Yoder townships.

FSA elections are open to all farmers, whether owner, landlord, tenant or sharecropper.

For more information, call 472-5501, ext. 2, or go to www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA under the News and Events tab.



State hosts Web site on long-term living

HARRISBURG – The state Office of Long-term Living has updated its Web site to better serve those seeking information and resources about long-term living services.

The revamped Web site is at www.ltlinpa.com.

The site is arranged to help consumers understand the many options available. Caregivers can find information about helping others and where to turn if they need help themselves. Another special section dedicated to providers includes information on licensure and locating provider services.



ACLU sues boro on church’s behalf

PITTSBURGH – The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania has accused a western Pennsylvania borough of violating a church’s religious beliefs by refusing to allow it to shelter homeless people.

The First Apostles’ Doctrine Church in Brookville has allowed homeless people to stay at the parsonage for the past few years. The Rev. Jack L. Wisor said the church, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, is following the Bible’s teaching to care for the poor and homeless.

The borough recently cited the church for violating zoning regulations by operating a group home. The church has appealed the citation, and the ACLU asked that it be allowed to resume sheltering the homeless, but the borough refused earlier this month.

The ACLU is seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction ordering Brookville to let the church to resume housing homeless people.



Men illegally traded with Iran, Feds say

PHILADELPHIA – Two immigrants used a Pennsylvania company to unlawfully sell fuel-cell technology, centrifuges, computer equipment and other materials destined for Iran, federal prosecutors said in an indictment Monday.

Mohammad Reza Vaghari, 41, of Broomall, and Mir Hossein Ghaemi, 42, of Edgewood, Md., are accused of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. There were no charges related to terrorism, said Patricia Hartman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Philadelphia.

The men, who are originally from Iran, were arrested at their homes on Monday, Hartman said. Vaghari’s passport was seized and he was released from federal custody; Ghaemi remained in custody Monday pending surrender of his passport.

Conducting business under the name Saamen Company LLC, the two men conspired to export goods that included electrical, laboratory, medical and computing equipment; ultrasonic liquid processors; fuel cell technology; automobile parts; and centrifuges, the grand jury indictment said.

Between 2002 and the present, the two shipped the goods to unknown conspirators in the United Arab Emirates, knowing that they were eventually destined for Iran, authorities said.