Region in brief

The Tribune-Democrat

May 08, 2008 11:03 pm

— Small fire causes evacuation at Cozumel
A malfunctioning electrical sign at the new Cozumel Mexican restaurant in Richland Township is being blamed for starting a small fire Thursday night.
It was the first day of business for the restaurant, owner Vincente Leon said.
Leon is hopeful he will be able to open the restaurant today.
Richland Township fire Chief Todd Shaffer said a malfunction in the sign started a fire in the roof area.
Leon said he smelled smoke just before 9 p.m. and evacuated his customers.
Turnpike crash injures Johnstown resident
BEDFORD – Homer Brown, 83, of Johnstown, was injured in a three-vehicle accident at 1:25 p.m. Wednesday on the turnpike in Fulton County, said state police at Everett.
He was taken to UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital and then transferred to Altoona Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition Thursday.
Police said Brown was the driver of a car heading west.
The accident happened as he came upon the left and center lanes that are closed because of construction.
His car struck a trailer being towed by a pickup and then struck the pickup, police said. A state police cruiser was struck by the trailer’s wheels as the accident with the car took place.
The pickup driver was identified by police as Jason Houtz, 22, of Mifflintown, Juniata County. The driver of the cruiser was listed as Harold Goodwin, 30, of Bedford They were not injured, police said.
DEP, town meetings set in Indian Lake
INDIAN LAKE – The Indian Lake Service Corp. will hold its annual meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Shanksville-Stonycreek High School cafetorium.
Representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection will discuss permitting requirements for boat docks and boathouses.
After the session, Indian Lake Borough Council will hold a town meeting to update residents on the status of the dam remediation project, the hiking and biking trail and other issues.
Attorney appointed in murder case
EBENSBURG – A lawyer who formerly represented Norris Collins Jr. has been appointed by President Judge Gerard Long to represent Collins in a Johnstown murder case.
Attorney John Kasaback said he plans to meet with Collins to prepare for a preliminary hearing in the case.
Collins, 19, of Johnstown, is charged with first-degree murder and related offenses in the shooting death of Cortez Jordan early April 27 outside the Solomon Homes.
Collins was arrested May 1 in Pittsburgh and brought back to Cambria County to face the charges. He has been held in the county prison without bond.
District Attorney Patrick Kiniry said he has assigned Kelly Callihan, one of his assistant prosecutors, to handle the case.
A new preliminary hearing date has not been set by District Judge Leonard Grecek.
Due to conflicts with schedules and vacations, the hearing might not be held until July, Kasaback said.
West End group to sell seedlings with history
A volunteer organization in Johnstown’s West End hopes a neighborhood landmark could help fund present-day activities.
West End Improvement Group plans a Saturday fund-raiser that will include the sale of flowers and oak seedlings.
Those trees, available for $10, were grown from acorns shed by a well-known, long-lived oak tree at Bheam School playground.
Marie Mock, the group’s secretary/treasurer, said, “It’s a little bit of the West End for wherever you live.”
The sale is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the West End Beer Mart parking lot, 119 Fairfield Ave.
Police arrest suspects in jewelry theft
SOMERSET – Two people were jailed after they were accused of stealing jewelry from a Springs residence and selling the items for cash.
Amber Beachy, 19, and Tyler Shoemaker, 20, whose addresses were not available, were charged with theft and receiving stolen property, state police in Somerset said.
Troopers said the two were taken into custody after pawning off the items at Beeghly & Keim Inc. in Somerset on Monday.
Beachy and Shoemaker were arraigned by on-call District Judge Arthur Cook of Somerset and sent to the Somerset County Jail after each failed to pay $3,000 bond.
Information available on foster parenting
HOLLIDAYSBURG – Individuals or families interested in becoming foster parents are invited to attend an orientation from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at NHS Canal Ways Center in Hollidaysburg.
Information on foster care services and how to become a licensed foster parent will be provided.
To register or receive more information, contact Randy Potter, NHS Canal foster parent recruiter trainer, at 695-7180, ext. 239 or e-mail him at rpotter@nhsonline.org.