FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2011

WINTRY WEATHER

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS POSTED FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON. 4 TO 6 INCHES IS POSSIBLE TOMORROW AND PENNDOT SECRETARY BARRY SCHOCH SAYS MORE THAN 22-HUNDRED TRUCKS AND 54-HUNDRED OPERATORS WILL BE READY TO TACKLE WINTER’S WORST. OVERALL, PENNDOT PLOWS NEARLY 40-THOUSAND MILES OF ROADWAYS. INTERSTATES AND EXPRESSWAYS ARE THE PRIMARY FOCUS DURING STORMS.WHEN DRIVING ON SNOW- OR ICE-COVERED ROADS, MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN…INCREASE THEIR FOLLOWING DISTANCE…AND NEVER TEXT WHILE DRIVING. OFFICIALS SAY LAST WINTER, THERE WERE 393 CRASHES RESULTING IN 3 FATALITIES AND 214 INJURIES ON SNOWY, SLUSHY OR ICE-COVERED ROADWAYS WHERE AGGRESSIVE-DRIVING BEHAVIORS SUCH AS SPEEDING OR MAKING CARELESS LANE CHANGES WERE FACTORS IN THE CRASH. DRIVERS SHOULD ALSO HAVE A MECHANIC INSPECT THEIR VEHICLE’S BELTS, HOSES, BATTERY AND BRAKES…AND MAKE SURE THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER ARE WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT THE WIPERS DO NOT STREAK.

ALTOONA FAMILY HOMELESS

THE RED CROSS IS ASSISTING THE SEAN AND CAITLIN NEDIMYER FAMILY AFTER A FIRE LAST EVENING AT 21-10 13TH AVENUE IN ALTOONA. AUTHORITIES SAY THE COUPLE AND THEIR CHILD WERE OUT TRICK OR TREATING WHEN OILY RAGS NEXT TO A RADIATOR IN THE KITCHEN CAUGHT FIRE. 2 OF THE NEIDMYER’S DOGS DID NOT SURVIVE. FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO STOP THE FLAMES FROM SPREADING TO NEARBY HOMES.

INSURANCE WORKER CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING

39 YEAR OLD BRENDA KAY HANZIR OF TYRONE IS FREE ON UN-SECURED BAIL, ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING ABOUT 37-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE KELLY WIKE STATE FARM INSURANCE OFFICE AND BILKING AN 85 YEAR OLD TYRONE WOMAN INSTEAD OF PAYING HER BILLS UNDER WIKE’S POWER-OF-ATTORNEY. HANZIR WAS THE OFFICE MANAGER WHEN THE MONEY WAS TAKEN BETWEEN AUGUST 2009 AND AUGUST OF LAST YEAR. SHE IS THE WIFE OF OUTGOING TYRONE BORO COUNCILMAN STEVE HANZIR. A PRELIMINARY HEARING IS SCHEDULED NOVEMBER 15TH.

DRUG DEALER CONVICTED

A BLAIR COUNTY JURY YESTERDAY CONVICTED 39 YEAR OLD GENE “SHORTY” CARTER OF ALTOONA OF BEING ONE OF THE LEADERS OF A 1-MILLION DOLLAR HEROIN AND CRACK COCAINE RING. PROSECUTORS SAY HE TEAMED UP WITH MICHAEL SERRANO OF PHILADELPHIA TO BRING DRUGS INTO THE ALTOONA AREA. SERRANO WAS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED. CARTER IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED JANUARY 12TH.

POST OFFICE COULD CLOSE DUNCANSVILLE FACILITY

THE U-S POSTAL SERVICE IS FACING A MAJOR DEFICIT AND CONSIDERING CONSOLIDATING THE DUNCANSVILLE AND JOHNSTOWN SORTING FACILITIES AT THE JOHNSTOWN LOCATION. ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE TURNED OUT LAST NIGHT TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE PLAN WHICH WOULD COST 9 JOBS BUT SAVE THE POST OFFICE ALMOST 1-POINT-4 MILLION DOLLARS. OFFICIALS SAY JOHNSTOWN FITS BETTER LOGISTICALLY BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE THEY COULD TAKE IN MORE MAIL FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE AND MARYLAND.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG COLLECTION

AREA RESIDENTS CAN DISPOSE OF UNWANTED AND UNUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TOMORROW FROM 10 TO 2 AS PART OF “NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY” SPONSORED BY THE FEDERAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. COLLECTION POINTS INCLUDE THE HOLLIDAYSBURG, HUNTINGDON, AND ROCKVIEW STATE POLICE BARRACKS…THE STATE COLLEGE BORO POLICE DEPARTMENT...THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE AT MAINLINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES ON 9TH AVENUE IN ALTOONA…JOHNSTOWN’S GALLERIA MALL…AND WEIS MARKET IN PHILIPSBURG.

PINE NUT RECALL

WEGMAN’S SUPERMARKET…WHICH HAS A STORE IN STATE COLLEGE…IS RECALLING ABOUT 5-THOUSAND POUNDS OF TURKISH PINENUTS, SOLD IN THE BULK FOODS DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A MULTI-STATE OUTBREAK OF SALMONELLA INFECTIONS. THE NUTS WERE SOLD IN PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, VIRGINIA, AND MARYLAND BETWEEN JULY 1ST AND OCTOBER 18TH. CONSUMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THE NUTS SHOULD DISCARD ANY THAT HAVEN’T BEEN EATEN AND VISIT THE SERVICE DESK AT WEGMANS FOR A FULL REFUND.

ANOTHER BIG WINNER

A 500-THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH 5 LOTTERY TICKET WAS SOLD FOR MONDAY’S DRAWING AT LINDA’S LITTLE GENERAL STORE IN HOPEWELL, BEDFORD COUNTY…AND NOW LOTTERY OFFICIALS SAY A 225-THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH 5 TICKET FROM WEDNESDAY’S DRAWING WAS SOLD AT MARTIN FOODS ON EAST CHESTNUT AVENUE IN ALTOONA. THE STORE WILL RECEIVE A 500-DOLLAR BONUS FOR SELLING THE WINNING TICKET. CASH 5 WINNERS HAVE ONE YEAR FROM THE DRAWING DATE TO CLAIM PRIZES.

HALLOWEEN PARADES

THE PHOENIX VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY’S ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARADE IS TOMORROW EVENING IN DOWNTOWN HOLLIDAYSBURG. IT MARCHES OFF AT 6PM FROM MONTGOMERY AND GARBER STREETS…AND CONTINUES ON NORTH JUNIATA, ALLEGHENY, UNION, AND MULBERRY STREETS. DONATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE WORKERS HOLLIDAYSBURG FOOD CORPS.

THE STATE COLLEGE HALLOWEEN PARADE BEGINS AT 7 SUNDAY NIGHT AND MOTORISTS CAN EXPECT SOME DELAYS. THE PARADE ROUTE WILL BE CLOSED FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR STARTING AT 6:30. IT INCLUDES PORTIONS OF NORTH BURROWES ROAD… WEST COLLEGE AVENUE…SOUTH ALLEN STREET…AND FOSTER AVENUE. THE PARADE ENDS AT MEMORIAL FIELD. TRAFFIC ON BEAVER AVENUE WILL ALSO BE PERIODICALLY INTERRUPTED.