Published: May 16, 2008 11:32 pm            

In brief

Bedford man arrested

on drug-dealing charges

BEDFORD – A Bedford man suspected of being a major source of heroin in the county was arrested Friday morning.

Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins said that Mark Crawley, 24, was arrested and jailed along with Sarah Guinn, 20, Bedford.

They face a variety of drug charges, Higgins said.

Police and the Bedford County Drug Task Force seized two laptop computers,

3 grams of heroin, packaging material, syringes, scales, $337 and other items Higgins said are consistent with drug trafficking.

Higgins said his office has received countless calls to the Drug Task Force Hotline from the community regarding Crawley and Guinn.

More information will be released when the investigation is concluded, officials said.

Gas prices prompt police department to use bicycles

HOLLIDAYSBURG – High gas prices are prompting police in one Blair County borough to resume daily bicycle patrols.

Hollidaysburg police Chief Jeffrey Ketner says the bike patrols could save eight to 10 gallons a shift and that adds up when bikes are used several times a week.

The department hasn’t had daily bike patrols in about 12 years, but it’s been using them for activities such as parades and sporting events.

Two women hospitalized

after accident

A two-vehicle accident Friday morning sent two women to Memorial Medical Center for treatment, Sgt. Martin Dean of the Upper Yoder Township Police Department said.

In the 8 a.m. accident, Cindy Croyle, no age available, of Nanty Glo was traveling on Goucher Street when she turned onto Warren Street, near the Giant Eagle. Police said Croyle turned into the path of a vehicle driven by Cathy Jackson, 42, of Franklin Street, Johnstown.

Many of the women’s injuries came from scrapes caused when the air bags deployed in their cars, Dean said.

The front end of both vehicles were heavily damaged, Dean said.

No charges are anticipated.

Police probe

school’s vandalism

BEDFORD – Officials of the Tussey Mountain School District continue to calculate the damage done by vandals to the Defiance Elementary School and the Snyder Busing Co. on Thursday.

State police said Friday that someone damaged a number of items inside the school and rummaged through the playground, upsetting a number of items at the Broad Top Township school.

A van belonging to the bus company was damaged and items were taken.

Church celebrating

300th anniversary

SOMERSET – The Western Pa. District of the Church of the Brethren is holding a 300th Anniversary Celebration Service in honor of the founding of the denomination at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Somerset Church of the Brethren.

Historical reflections, hymn singing and the Somerset Church of the Brethren’s bell choir will participate. Jonathan Shivley will be the featured speaker.

Shivley is director of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership until June 30. He will then serve as executive director of Congregational Life Ministries for the Church of the Brethren General Board, Elgin, Ill.

Married 17 years to Kim, together they parent three children. The Shivelys live in Richmond, Ind., and are members of the Richmond Church of the Brethren.

Child-advocacy group

receives $10G grant

Beginnings Inc. has received a grant of $10,000 through the Robert Waters Charitable Trust to implement the Court Appointed Special Advocates health referral tracking system.

Court Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers who speak up in court on behalf of the interests of children in need, trying to assure they are fit with safe foster homes.

To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, call Cambria County CASA Beginnings at 539-1919.

Senior safe driving program set for next week

A Seniors for Safe Driving program will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at The McCullough House, 500 Cheney Oak Drive, Southmont. The highway safety education program is for people 55 years of age and older.

Completion of the PennDOT program makes seniors eligible for a 5 percent discount on auto insurance.

Rockwood man pleads guilty to child porn possession

A Rockwood man pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Johnstown to possessing child pornography. Andrew L. McCormick, 30, of Middlecreek Road, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kim R. Gibson.

Authorities said that, on Jan 16, 2007, McCormick possessed five compact discs containing photos in individual computer graphic files of minors engaging in sexual acts.

McCormick faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Sept. 10.

Man denies creating

racist MySpace page

UNIONTOWN – A defense attorney says e-mails prove his client didn’t create a MySpace page that included threats against black students at Uniontown High School.

Kevin Andrew Burd, 21, of Uniontown, is charged by state police with terroristic threats, identity theft, reckless endangerment and harassment.

Police say Burd used a 16-year-old student’s name and photo to create the bogus MySpace page in 2007. The page includes slurs against blacks and a threat to “bring a gun to school someday and kill them all.”

But attorney Simon John wants prosecutors to trace e-mails between Burd and another individual. John says in a court motion that the e-mails show the other person claims responsibility for creating the page.

        

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