FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010
3RD TIME NOT THE CHARM
3 MURDER TRIALS…AND NOW 3 CONVICTIONS FOR ANDREW CALLAHAN. A CLEARFIELD COUNTY JURY YESTERDAY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER FOR SHOOTING MICAH POLLOCK BACK IN 1997, WHEN THEY WERE BOTH 16 YEARS OLD.THE FIRST 2 CONVICTIONS WERE THROWN OUT BECAUSE OF IMPROPER JURY INSTRUCTIONS. CALLAHAN RECEIVED LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE. HE HAS 30 DAYS TO FILE AN APPEAL.
DRUNK BOATER GETS JAIL TIME
THE FAMILY OF 12 YEAR OLD VALERIE HEIDT OF HUBLERSBURG, CENTRE COUNTY…AND THE CLINTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAY IT’S NOT LONG ENOUGH. YESTERDAY A JUDGE SENTENCED JOHN ENGLERT THE SECOND OF LOCK HAVEN TO 5 TO 11 YEARS FOR BOATING WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL OF POINT-22 PERCENT LAST SUMMER. HIS BOAT SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER BOAT ON THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, KILLING HEIDT WHO WAS RIDING IN THE SECOND BOAT. ENGLERT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ARRESTED FOR D-U-I 3 TIMES. D-A MICHAEL SALISBURY AND VALERIE’S MOTHER PLAN TO PETITION LAWMAKERS TO CHANGE LAWS, SO SENTENCES FOR SIMILAR CRIMES CARRY HARSHER PENALTIES.
ACCUSED RAPIST WAIVES HEARING
KEVIN HINISH SENIOR OF BREEZEWOOD WAIVED HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING YESTERDAY IN BEDFORD COUNTY AND WAS ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL ON MORE THAN 100 SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES. POLICE SAY HINISH REPEATEDLY RAPED A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM 2008 UNTIL LAST MONTH. HE REMAINS IN THE COUNTY PRISON.
LANDLORD CHARGED WITH RAPE
ALTOONA LANDLORD JEREMY HAZLETT OF 322 6TH AVENUE IS FREE ON BAIL…ACCUSED OF BREAKING INTO THE APARTMENT OF HIS TENANT BACK IN MAY, DEMANDING RENT MONEY, AND RAPING HER. POLICE TELL THE ALTOONA MIRROR HAZLETT ALSO FORCED THE WOMAN TO WRITE A NOTE SAYING THE SEX WAS CONSENSUAL AND THREATENING HER WITH ANOTHER ASSAULT IF SHE REFUSED. HAZLETT’S PRELIMINARY HEARING IS WEDNESDAY.
CONMAN OUT OF JAIL
55 YEAR OLD FRANK SOLENSKY OF WINDBER POSTED 10-THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL YESTERDAY AND WAS RELEASED FROM THE CAMBRIA COUNTY PRISON TO AWAIT SENTENCING SEPTEMBER 1ST. EARLIER THIS WEEK, A JURY CONVICTED SOLENSKY OF SWINDLING OVER 600-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM A 94 YEAR OLD WESTMONT WOMAN SINCE 2000. SOLENSKY FACES UP TO 16-YEARS BEHIND BARS.
MAN SPENT BANK’S MONEY…NOW APPEALING
HERBERT STARBIRD OF ALTOONA IS SERVING ONE YEAR OF HOUSE ARREST FOR SPENDING MORE THAN HALF OF THE 280-THOUSAND DOLLARS ACCIDENTALLY DEPOSITED INTO HIS FIRST COMMONWEALTH BANK ACCOUNT IN 2007…NOW HE’S APPEALING. THE ALTOONA MIRROR REPORTS THAT STARBIRD HAS ASKED BLAIR COUNTY COURT TO ORDER PENNSYLVANIA BANKING OFFICIALS AND THE ALTOONA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE RECORDS HE CAN GIVE TO THE STATE SUPERIOR COURT. AFTER HIS HOUSE ARREST, STARBIRD WILL SPEND 6 YEARS ON PROBATION.
LOCAL SCHOOLS HONORED
ALTOONA, BELLWOOD-ANTIS, AND TYRONE AREA HIGH SCHOOLS ARE AMONG ONLY 70 SCHOOLS IN PENNSYLVANIA TO BE RECOGNIZED AS “AMERICA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOLS” BY U-S NEWS AND WORLD REPORT. MORE THAN 18-THOUSAND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE ANALYZED ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS INCLUDING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THE 3 LOCAL SCHOOLS EARNED BRONZE MEDAL STATUS.
