Top Johnstown Area Local News Stories
Source: MedleyStory
People in Somerset County can now breathe a sigh of relief.
It was back in December 6 News told you about a rash of burglaries throughout the Hooversville and Stoystown areas of Somerset County. Police said they now know the man involved for breaking into those homes, and he's already in jail.
Derrin William Campbell of Hooversville was arrested back in December, charged with theft, trespass and assault
Police said he broke into a home in Friedens, threatened the homeowner and got away with credit cards, keys to a safety deposit box and more than $15,000 in cash.
Police said Campbell was also involved in a burglary that happened within Stonycreek Township, Cambria County.
On Friday, he was arraigned again for two more incidents. In each, police say he broke into homes in Somerset County and removed several firearms and cash.
Police said they received their information from Kenneth Hummel, a man also involved in the burglaries. Police said he's facing similar charges.
A judge set Campbell's bail at $50,000 for both incidents he was arraigned on. That's in addition to the $150,000 bail he hasn't been able to post from his previous case. Police said he also has detainers in Cambria County for violating a prior probation.
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:42:01 -0500
WINDBER, Pa. --
The Windber Area School District is facing a projected $1.6 million shortfall for the next school year.
Superintendent Rick Huffman said changes will have to be made and the school is concerned about the possibility of even more cuts in the future. But the one thing he said school officials won't do is complain.
This isn't the first time the district has seen a $1 million cut.
"All of our teachers all of our administrative staff and a portion of our support staff all took pay freezes last year and that was a $1 million deficit with that in place," Huffman said.
Now the district is faced with a higher deficit -- $1.6 million -- and there are several reasons why it's gone up.
In addition to state money decreasing, the district hasn't raised its school taxes in years. Huffman said that's because of Act 1.
"Act 1 formula is based on the taxes you already have in place, so if my tax structure is real high, I could raise taxes by a larger margin. Here, because it's so low, you could only increase it if you really, really wanted to by a minuscule amount," he said.
Huffman said the $1.6 million may be a change in their budget, but it won't change the quality of the district's education.
The cut means the district will look at extracurricular activities and programs that it may have to eliminate or combine.
Stay with 6 News, WJACTV.com and WJACTV.com Mobile for continuing coverage.
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:33:54 -0500
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. --
A driver was injured when the gasoline tanker truck he was driving overturned and exploded in Centre County.
The crash happened around 6:30 a.m. Friday at the Grey's Woods exit off-ramp of Interstate 99 in Patton Township. The exit ramp was closed for several hours.
Emergency crews said the tanker was hauling about 8,500 gallons of gasoline.
The driver, whose condition was not released by noon Friday, was taken to Mt. Nittany Medical Center.
Hazmat crews were at the scene cleaning up the site. Stay with 6 News, WJACTV.com and WJACTV.com Mobile for continuing coverage.
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:07:08 -0500
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. --
Police have made an arrest in connection with a late-night shooting near a bar in Ashville Borough, Cambria County.
Philip Paul Gaida, 33, of Cresson, was arraigned at a district court in Cambria County accused of aggravated assault. He released on bond.
In a news release, Pennsylvania State Police said the incident happened Thursday around 11:15 p.m. at the Ashville Inn.
Troopers said the victim, Jeremy Culp, of Ashville, was transported to Altoona Hospital for treatment of wounds and is in stable condition.
Investigators said Gaida and 25-year-old Edward Leroy Lebo, of Gallitzin, were at the Ashville Inn when they got into an argument with Culp and his friend. The bartender separated the people, then Culp and his friend avoided Gaida and Lebo and left the bar.
Troopers said Gaida and Lebo followed Culp and started an argument with him as Culp walked to his vehicle. The argument escalated into a physical altercation and Culp punched either Gaida or Lebo in the face. Another witness broke up the fight.
Culp and the witness were walking away when Lebo told Gaida, "Phil, you got your gun. Shoot him," according to the PSP release.
Gaida allegedly pulled out a .40-caliber automatic pistol from his waist and shot Culp in the buttock. Culp fell to the ground then Gaida and Lebo fled the scene in a silver Ford Taurus.
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:20:48 -0500
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. --
Special Olympics of Pennsylvania says it has received about $80,000 donations in memory of the late Penn State coach Joe Paterno.
Paterno died Jan. 22, less than three months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, his family had requested donations be made to Special Olympics or the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, which benefits pediatric cancer research and care. That event begins Friday.
Special Olympics president Matt Aaron said this week some donations to his charity came from other schools, while others came from individuals in the amount of $61, in honor of the number of years Paterno worked at Penn State.
Paterno's wife, Sue, is one of the lead organizers for the Special Olympics' Summer Games in June, held on the Penn State campus.
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:19:06 -0500
About a dozen friends and family members of Maria Boyd, who is accused of killing her infant son in June 2010, attended a hearing in Huntingdon County on Thursday.
Authorities arrested the 23-year-old mother in December on first-degree murder charges, after a 17-month investigation that determined Boyd was responsible for the death of her 6-week-old son, Andrew.
At the conclusion of the hearing, a judge said it would take an additional hearing to determine if the county or the defendant should pay for expenses of a private investigator and pathologist, which also further delays the preliminary hearing.
An autopsy said Andrew Boyd suffered from a fractured skull, had alcohol in his blood system and died from blunt-force trauma to the abdomen.
Several friends, including Canda Keiser, wore green T-shirts in the courtroom to show their support for Boyd.
“I believe in Maria’s innocence, and I’ll continue to support her until the end. We love you, Maria,” said Keiser.
Ariel Gratta told 6News that she believes other people that were inside the Smithfield Township home are responsible for Andrew’s injuries and that the charges against Boyd will eventually be dropped.
“She is just such a nurturing and loving person,” said Gratta. “One day, she will get her justice and she will be set free and she will get her children home with her, where they belong. Unfortunately, Andrew will have to be up in heaven waiting for us when we all pass. Right now we all just love him. We just know that this, this is wrong; this is not true. Maria didn't do any of this."
Defense attorney Tom Dickey said he filed a habeas corpus motion and asked the judge to consider dismissing the first-degree murder charge.
“If you look into the criminal complaint, it doesn’t have any allegation which we believe shows first-degree murder. That’s the only time when you can’t have bail,” said Dickey.
Huntingdon County District Attorney George Zanic told 6News that several prosecution experts determined that Boyd was responsible for the death of her son and that additional evidence will likely surface at the preliminary hearing.
“We have thousands of thousands of documents. We’re ready to proceed with the case,” said Zanic. “We wouldn’t have charged her if we didn’t think that she did it.”
Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:31:33 -0500
What do you do when you're asked to make a donation? When you get a flier in the mail? Or a sales call?
It can be tough to recognize phony solicitors, but to avoid getting scammed out of hard-earned cash, people need to be alert and know the difference between what's legitimate and what's not.
Officials with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said they've seen many letter marked with flags or eagles that appear to be from the government, when in fact they're a scam.
To avoid being defrauded, residents should know where the offer comes from and who they are dealing with. Never send money to an organization or someone who you don't know.
Fraud should also immediately to the Federal Trade Commission. That information helps law enforcement bring scammers to justice.
In addition, people should register their phone numbers on the Do Not Call list and opt out of all junk mail and solicitations.
On the computer, keep security programs up-to-date and immediately delete emails that look suspicious.
Brookville Police Chief Ken Dworek said people fall for scams every day. In one case he investigation, a couple lost $21,000.
"It's in epidemic proportions. Almost as bad as prescription drugs," Dworek said.
He said his department handles two to five cases a week because there is much money to be made in mass marketing fraud. International crime rings reach out to people by phone, online and through mail. According to the FTC, the deceptive crime costs the U.S. $1 billion a year and catching con artists is very difficult.
Dworek said, "It's frustrating because everybody, every law enforcement agency that has any bearing -- State Police you name it -- is putting out warnings. You get nothing for nothing and nothing is free."
For more information about how to enroll in the Do Not Call list, opt out of mass mailing and more, visit:
--The Federal Trade Commission website (ftc.gov)
--The Pennsylvania Attorney General's website (attorneygeneral.gov)
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:30:00 -0500
Penn State's tuition has skyrocketed in the past decade, but Pennsylvania's governor said its not because of funding cuts.
When Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his proposed budget last week, it indicated state-owned universities could see a 30 percent cut in funding. That means a loss of $41 million for Pitt, $42 million for Temple and $62 million for Penn State. Penn State's tuition has increased steadily steadily over the years. In 2001, the yearly tuition bill for a freshman at Penn State's University Park campus was $7,000. In 2006 it jumped 41.8 percent to $10,000. And last year, it was up 51.1 percent to more than $15,000.
With Corbett's proposed funding cut of 30 percent, many expect tuition to rise once again.
When asked on Thursday of the response he's had from alumni, Corbett told reporters he hasn't seen much. In fact, he said, communication to his office is down considerably this year, compared to last. But from the alumni he has talked with, Corbett said 8 out of 10 agree with his proposal, saying that universities need to learn how to control their costs.
Corbett said it troubles him when universities, like Penn State, immediately start talking tuition increases when the state proposes to cut their funding.
"I talked about this last year, so I 'll talk about it again and I'm on the board of trustees there. ... Penn State, 10 years prior, received $3 billion dollars and increased tuition 110 percent," said Corbett. "Obviously giving them money, didn't keep tuition down, did it?"
Corbett has also proposed cutting the state agency offering financial aid by 6 percent, and that, mixed with the potential rise in tuition, makes many fear enrollment at state owned universities could drop significantly.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:29:16 -0500
Gov. Tom Corbett spent some time in Johnstown on Thursday, where he discussed his budget proposal with the employees of a local manufacturing company. His message: Raising taxes is a bad idea
Corbett toured the facility at Lockheed Martin Aeroparts, Inc., where he praised the company for its growth.
Each employee at Lockheed Martin has a specific job and together they assemble the components responsible for putting major aircraft in the sky. The headquarters of the company is in Texas, but they've had a base in Johnstown since 1987.
According to the plant manager, the company has grown significantly over the years, starting with just 100 employees and increasing to now over 400.
Corbett used the company as an example of why he's still against raising taxes.
"I did not want to do it on business -- I still don't want to do it on business, 'cause they're providing you the jobs, and they're coming to Pennsylvania and we're growing the business section here in Pennsylvania and that provides jobs... It's not that we want to cut, it's not that we want to reduce the spending. But when the money's not there, you have to make hard choices."
With a deficit of over $4 billion, Corbett has proposed some steep cuts in his budget on things like universities and public welfare. Again on Thursday he stressed that we all need to live within our means and not spend money we don't have.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:26:58 -0500
ALTOONA, Pa. --
A Blair County man has been ordered to stand trial on more than 400 child pornography and child-sex counts alleging he abused a 6-year-old girl while a 3-year-old girl watched.
Prosecutors allege 50-year-old David Pulcine made the girls prance around in skimpy, sparkly outfits as part of what he told them was the "fashion model game."
According to The Associated Press, Pulcine was ordered to stand trial after a 90-minute preliminary hearing on Thursday.
Police said they found the images in a file called "Delete Davey's Account" on his computer when they arrived at his home with a search warrant last June. They said Pulcine was trying to hide the images moments before the raid.
The pornography investigation led police to the alleged abuse of the girls in 2008 or 2009.
Pulcine has pleaded not guilty.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:17:05 -0500
SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. --
Firefighters from across the area gathered on Thursday to remember one of their own.
John Bracken, known to everyone as "Chief," died earlier this week at age 89.
Bracken was a member of the Krings Volunteer Fire Company in Somerset County for 50 years.
Those who served with him called him a mentor.
Bracken was also a World War II veteran and received a Purple Heart.
He will be laid to rest at Grandview Cemetery.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:59:43 -0500
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. --
Johnstown police are looking for the culprits after a rash of vandalism in the city' west end.
A viewer first alerted 6 News to graffiti that was spray painted on a Dollar General building in the city's west end.
Police have responded to the store before because of damage done by graffiti, and some residents said they're not surprised because they see activity going on outside the store at night.
Residents who live near the store said they believe more than one person is responsible for the graffiti, which was discovered Thursday.
They also said a nearby store in an alley near D Street had similar graffiti.
Johnstown Police Capt. Andrew Frear said he can't confirm if there is a connection but said police will continue to keep an eye on both areas.
Frear said, "People have to pay to have that (damage) taken care of, so we're treating it very serious, and patrols are on at night and during the evening to look for that activity."
Anyone with information about the vandalism or who might be involved is asked to call police.
Stay with 6 News, WJACTV.com and WJACTV.com Mobile for continuing coverage.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:26:57 -0500
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. --
Employees at the National Drug Intelligence Center in Johnstown were given pink slips on Wednesday.
Every Department of Justice worker at the downtown office was given a reduction in force notice, a source told 6 News.
The notices were handed out in advance of the official closing of the center.
The notices become effective in June.
The source said very few people have been given new assignments, although it is believed that there will more reassignments.
Stay with 6 News, WJACTV.com and WJACTV.com Mobile for continuing coverage.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:37:26 -0500
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. --
Cambria County may eliminate at least two magisterial district judges because of a drop in population.
On Wednesday night, the public was given the opportunity to ask county officials about the plan.
Cambria County is hoping to eliminate the two seats through attrition; two magistrates in the county plan to retire soon.
President Judge Timothy Creany said, "Looking and comparing our numbers to other counties, we realized we probably had to reduce by two districts to come into parity with what every other county our size has."
Public meetings are scheduled in Vinco, Ebensburg, Cresson, Portage and Hastings over the next week.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:30:10 -0500
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. --
A burglary call sparked a standoff scare in Centre County around 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Officials said the incident started with a 911 call about a suspected break-in at a home near the intersection of Panormama Drive and Warnock Road near Boalsburg.
The Centre County Tactical Response Team and Mobile Command Center were called out. Police sprayed a chemical agent inside the home, but by 2 a.m. Thursday, they determined no one was inside.
Police said they believe the home was burglarized and someone fled before police had a full perimeter.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:21:57 -0500
Following months of speculation and concern, Bedford Area School District officials told parents that a local elementary school will likely close if enrollment doesn’t rebound within three months.
Dozens of parents and residents packed the auditorium of the Hyndman-Londonderry Elementary School on Wednesday night, but only a handful of people spoke about concerns of closing the building.
During a presentation, Superintendent Dr. Allen Sell said that only 38 students were currently in attendance, and that if 100 or more children weren’t enrolled for the 2012-2013 school year by mid-May, he would recommend that district officials close the school and possibly demolish the building and sell the land.
“We have to make that decision by our May board meeting, because if you have to furlough staff to make a change in a district alignment, you have to inform staff in a timely fashion.,” said Sell.
During a public comment session that was transcribed by a court reporter, mother Heather Blocher said that she’s proud that her three children attend Hyndman-Londonderry and that she’s disappointed that a newly opened charter school is dividing the tight-knit community.
“We need to pull together as a community once more and look out for everybody, instead of drawing a line,” said Blocher.
Bob Willison told school officials that the district should find a way to keep the building open to the community, even if the elementary school is dissolved.
“Don’t tear it down and sell the property. I can’t believe you’d even think of doing something like that,” said Willison.
Residents told 6News that after the local middle school closed last year and was replaced by Hope for Hyndman Charter School, many parents of Hyndman-Londonderry Elementary students grew concerned that their school would be dissolved and abruptly uprooted their students and transferred them to the charter school.
Sell said that about 40 students are currently attending Hyndman-Londonderry, which has cost the district nearly $1.3 million to keep open this school year.
Hope for Hyndman Charter School Principal and CEO Malynda Maurer told 6News that more than 340 students enrolled for the school’s first year of classes, but that it was premature to comment about the fate and future plans for Hyndman-Londonderry Elementary School.
"We feel this is a community decision, and we would like to hear from the community just as much as the Bedford Area School District would want to,” said Maurer. “We do not want to influence one way or another."
District officials that public comment on the elementary building will be accepted until the May 15 Bedford Area School District board meeting, when a decision about the fate and future of the school would likely be decided.
Published: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:49:08 -0500
The Johnstown Fire Department met with council for one last time to try and persuade them to get the jobs back they lost last year.
The union was first to speak in Wednesday’s city council meeting. They told council this was a golden opportunity and that it was slipping through their fingers, but council said it’s not financially feasible.
"To just turn down a window of opportunity of a free two years of increased fire protection; to me, it just seems ridiculous,” Union President Randy Novosel said.
"The hesitation is on several fronts that the city has to be able to manage its workforce and it can't have restraints put on onto the city because we don't know what unforeseen circumstances shall come,” City Manager Kristen Denne said.
The Johnstown Fire Department put in its last ditch effort to put more on its roster with a federal grant through FEMA. The grant was created after the 9/11 attacks to maintain manpower, but the city said they still can’t afford it.
"We run in a city that's 50% non-profits. We have a dwindling tax base, and I cannot put the city into a situation where it would jeopardize having to raise taxes on the residents once again,” Denne said.
"Yes, they're living within their means right now, but at what cost? The cost of public safety,” Novosel explained.
The city said there’s more of a cost than what the grant covers.
"It's not just the salary costs. You also have a benefits cost, you also have a pension cost, you also have FICO, workman's comp, I mean it increases sufficiently. It’s not as easy as just benefits and salary,” Denne said.
"Down the road after the two year period is up, they could re-evaluate if there was a need to make changes at that point, obviously, if there is a need to do so,” Novosel said.
The window of opportunity may look good now, but when the grant runs dry, the options could be limited.
"Yes, it covers for those two years, but what happens after those two years to the individuals? Would we have to raise taxes to cover those individual's working gear?” Denne questioned.
"We'll keep looking, and we'll keep trying to do what's out there to try and keep everyone safe, the citizens and the firefighters,” Novosel said.
The department said after tonight’s meeting it’s not expecting the city to apply, and its efforts may be at a standstill for now, but there’s always next year.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:15:51 -0500
For the last 15 years, Clearfield-Jefferson Mental Health/Mental Retardation has been providing services at the Clearfield and Jefferson County jails.
Bill Mendat of Clearfield-Jefferson MH/MR said it recently received a grant for more than $496,000.
Mendat said that the grant will help launch a new program called "March to start."
Mendat said that this program is similar to the "Right turn program," it has been offering for some time.
Clearfield-Jefferson MH/MR has provided services to those incarcerated at county jails.
Mendat said that MH/MR provides services to people who have recurring substance abuse. MH/MR also treats those who are incarcerated or who have mental illnesses.
Mendat said that all of its clients that are incarcerated go through a screening that determines whether they can be helped.
As "March to start" gets ready to kick off, Mendat said that this program will also provide housing for inmates once they are released back into society.
Mendat said that often inmates don't have a family to turn to and don't have a place to stay after they serve their time.
This grant from the Department of Justice will provide housing and it will also help reduce recidivism in the county, said Mendat.
Mendat said he expects the program to initially help 20 people who are incarcerated. He said that they will screen for 10 inmates at each the Clearfield and Jefferson County jail.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:41:05 -0500
The Department of Welfare is just one of many departments that has faced cuts statewide.
For Fayette Resources, every year it is figuring out ways to work with what it has.
And what it has, seems to be decreasing every year.
Regis Lizor, director of programming at Fayette Resources, said that when Gov. Tom Corbett was campaigning for office he said that his priority was to continue to provide help for those with disabilities.
Employees at Fayette Resources said that they still have not seen any help, rather, just more cuts.
Fayette Resources provides services throughout Clearfield, Jefferson, Elk and Indiana counties.
They provide services solely to people with multiple disabilities.
Throughout the four counties, they have 21 group homes, four day programs, 38 life-sharing families and nearly 200 employees.
Lizor said that their services help those that need help.
Most of the people that use their services live at home, and coming to something such as the day program gets them out and about daily.
Lizor said that in November 2011 they were told that they would be facing 6 percent in cuts. When it actually went into effect, they saw 11 percent cuts to their budget.
As Corbett weighs his options for the next budget, Lizor said that he and other employees at Fayette Resources are worried.
To provide adequate services, and to stay in compliance with state regulations, one staff member can help six disabled adults.
Lizor said that the need for assistance is growing, so its organization has a staff of nearly 200 employees that work throughout the four counties.
Lizor said that if they see any more cuts, they are looking at major setbacks. He said that those setbacks may include letting go some employees, or even turning away people that need help.
In Clearfield County,there are three, day programs that help dozens of disabled adults.
The day program in Dubois sees an average of 20 adults Monday through Friday.
The other two programs across the county also see a few dozen adults. One employee added that its program in Punxsutawney caters to 43 adults daily at its facility.
Lizor explained the need to continue to provide services is important.
He and another worker added that for some of these adults, this is the only time they get to go outside. It is also the only time they get to interact with others with similar disabilities.
Lizor said that day programs also enable family members that take care of the disabled a chance to have a break during the day.
Fayette Resources is hoping that it can sway Corbett's decision in possibly announcing more cuts.
Lizor and Fayette Resources encourages neighbors to contact local officials and state legislatures voicing concerns.
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:34:21 -0500
The flames were intense as they swallowed an apartment building in Portage at the end of last month. Main Street has been closed since the fire as officials decided what to do with the building.
On Wednesday, demolition crews took their first hit at those buildings and it appears that they're finally on their way down -- but not before creating a huge inconvenience for residents and businesses in the borough.
6 News was there last month when fire ripped through three buildings along Main Street in Portage borough. But two weeks later, the road is still closed. A detour takes traffic around the town, not only causing an inconvenience for drivers, but also for residents.
"People are going to end up in accidents for sure," said David Hayes, who lives along the detour. "Just thetraffic, just trying to get around here is ridiculous."
And local businesses tell 6 News the detour is hurting them.
"Come Wednesday morning when the road was shut down, my lunch crowd hadn't showed up and we just lost a lot of business the last two weeks," said Craig Mazzarese, owner of Mazz's Pizza. "It's been a rough couple of weeks."
Mazz's is located in the heart of it all. Mazzarese said traffic has been so bad, he's put up signs. He also said he's afraid someone is going to get hurt.
"The traffic just comes down the ally nonstop," said Mazzarese. "You can't get people to slow down. My customers are afraid to pull in and out, afraid their vehicles will be damaged or run over by a car."
According to Portage Borough Manager Robert Koban, there are several steps to follow before beginning a demolition and that's why it's taken so long.
"Fortunately or unfortunately, it just takes time," said Koban. "But I would like to note that every party involved, including the property owner, insurance companies, even the demolition company, as of today, has been working very diligently to make this process happen."
On Wednesday, after two weeks of waiting, crews started to tear the buildings down. As residents gathered to watch, they told 6 News they couldn't be happier.
Koban told 6 News it should only take a few days before the buildings are knocked down, but it's the cleanup that could take a couple more weeks.
He said Main Street will reopen as soon as it's safe to do so
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:42:18 -0500
PattonPennsylvania.com
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS