Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
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On April 12, 1861, the union of the United States of America dissolved. It would take four years, and the loss of about three percent of the population, to bring an end to the conflict and reunite a fractured Union. When the first shots of the war were fired at Fort Sumpter South Carolina, then President Abraham Lincoln put out a call to arms and by the time the war ended, an estimated 2 million men served in the Union Army, with about 360,000 of them coming from Pennsylvania, the second most...
The Northern Bedford community is mourning the loss of a longtime assistant football coach. Robert B. “Rob” Reed passed away September 8 at the age of 56 from complications of COVID-19. For more than a decade, Reed worked with the Northern Bedford football program as well as junior high baseball and basketball. Former Northern Bedford head football coach and current athletic director Jeff Batzel was friends with Reed since childhood. “I knew Rob since we were little,” Batzel said. “Our fathers coached together in the 60s and 70s at NBC and o...
School districts across the commonwealth continue to grapple with the fallout of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s mask mandate. The mandate, requiring all students and staff in public and private schools to wear face coverings went into effect on Sept. 7, setting off a wave of protests from some parents and students who say wearing a mask is a choice that should be made by them, not the government. After the mandate was announced, Spring Cove, Claysburg-Kimmel, and Williamsburg Community school districts announced they would follow the state m...
Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks has issued a statement regarding the Acting Secretary of Health's mask mandate for students and staff of the commonwealth's public and private schools. Weeks said his office has been contacted by several local law enforcement agencies and school boards asking about possible prosecution of parents, students and school directors who do not follow the mandate. "This office will not prosecute any criminal citations for alleged violations of the Department of Health's school masking mandate," Weeks said....
Freedom Township set 13 flags and 13 empty chairs at the township memorial in honor of the 13 military service members who recently lost their lives in Afghanistan....
Will Fitzgerald's third- and fourth-grade class at St. Patrick Catholic School in Newry honored the victims of the September 11 attacks by lowering the American flag to half-staff and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance....
With chants of "No more masks," more than 50 students and parents of the Williamsburg Community School District gathered in front of the high school on Tuesday morning, Sept. 7, to protest the district's decision to require students to wear a mask in school. Tuesday was the day the mask mandate from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and the Department of Health went into effect. Organized by junior Bailey Detwiler, the students said they were there to fight for their freedom of choice. "They are...
Last week’s heavy rainfall from Hurricane Ida kept Cove area crews busy closing roads and pumping basements. More than six inches of rain fell on the Cove Sept. 1, once again overwhelming storm drains and causing wide-spread flooding throughout the area. In Freedom Township, Asst. Fire Chief James Lang said fire crews pumped water from at least 10 basements, working until almost midnight. Lang said other than a few small trees uprooted, no major damage was reported in the township. Martinsburg Borough Manager Rich Brantner said the fire company...
In early August, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said his administration would not issue a mask mandate for schools, saying it would be left up to individual districts to make the call. But as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to spread across the state, Wolf walked back his earlier statement and ordered all public and private schools to require students and staff to wear face coverings. The mandate, which took effect Sept. 7, has once again put school districts square in the middle of a battle between pro and anti-mask people, a fight that saw...
An investigation by North Woodbury Township police has led to the arrest of a Claysburg man who police said indecently assaulted a minor on several occasions in 2019. Evan K. Dively, 21, faces multiple felony charges relating to the sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl. According to the affidavit of probable cause, North Woodbury Township police were contacted by Blair County Children, Youth and Families about a possible sexual assault that occurred in the township in 2019. According to police, the victim told caseworkers that Dively had...
A tip from the Altoona Police Department led to the arrest of an Altoona woman who was wanted by Roaring Spring police. On Aug. 12, a Roaring Spring police officer was notified by Altoona police that Ashley E. Avery, 33, along with her companion, John Giselman, were at the Roaring Spring laundromat. Roaring Spring police held an active felony warrant for Avery and Giselman was wanted by both the Altoona police as well as the Blair County Sheriff’s Office. When police arrived at the laundromat, Giselman was sitting in a pickup truck and Avery w...
Two former employees of the Puff Super Value store in Roaring Spring are accused of stealing money from the business. Jocelyn Paige Maxwell, 32, of Roaring Spring, and Sarah Dawn Harpster, 28, of Claysburg, are facing theft related charges after an investigation by Hollidaysburg State Police showed the pair allegedly stole thousands while working at the store. According to the charges, the owner of Puff Super Value contacted police on July 15 and told them that Maxwell, who was the manager of the store, had stolen $9,787.62 in cash from the...
It’s OK to feed the birds again. The recommendation that the public put away their bird feeders and bird baths while officials investigated the mysterious illness that has killed a large number of songbirds has been lifted, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The game commission issued the recommendation on July 1 after songbirds in 27 Pennsylvania counties and parts of the United States were found dead from an unknown disease. At the time, officials wanted to take away the places where birds congregate until they could do further s...
A storm that dropped almost four inches of rain in less than an hour left parts of Williamsburg underwater and officials working on plans to upgrade its stormwater system. According to Williamsburg Mayor Ted Hyle, apart from one home, damage was minimal with a few flooded basements and debris on the roads. The biggest casualty of the Aug. 18 storm was a home on West First Street where flood waters washed away the foundation, leaving the home uninhabitable. Hyle said Williamsburg is prone to...
Residents along the road from the Cove Forge Behavioral Health facility have plenty of experience when it comes to dealing with walk-offs. People who live along Covedale Road are often approached by clients making the nearly three mile walk into Williamsburg who ask to use their phone or for a ride into town. While the sight of Cove Forge clients has become common, it is an issue that has put some on edge. At a town hall meeting earlier this month, Williamsburg Borough officials asked Cove Forge to work on a plan to curb the number of...
Roaring Spring is a step closer to getting two new restaurants to be built on the site of the former Bickel’s Surplus building on Nason Drive. A hearing before the Roaring Spring Zoning Board was held on Wednesday, Aug. 8, and the board gave unanimous approval for a special exemption permit, paving the way for work to progress in bringing the two eateries to town. The Bickel’s building had sat empty for nearly 10 years before being purchased by Snyder’s Gateway Inc. of Breezewood with plans to construct an Arby’s and Dunkin' Donuts. Althoug...
A Williamsburg man pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to a charge of possession with intent to distribute multiple schedule I and II controlled substances. Jesse Daniel Ginter, 40, entered the guilty plea on July 23 before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson. According to U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman, on March 12, 2018, Homeland Security agents executed a federal search warrant on Ginter’s home and recovered numerous controlled substances, including furanyl fentanyl, methoxyacetyl fentanyl, cyclopropyl fentanyl, U-47700, A...
Martinsburg Borough Police Chief Kerry Hoover is warning the public to be on the lookout for fake money after a counterfeit $1 bill was passed at a local business. Hoover said the bill has "Replica" printed on it but at a quick glance looks real. "The bills are prop money used in movies," Hoover said. "They look real but have a different feel to it and unless you are looking closely, they can easily be mistaken for real money." Hoover said there is no evidence the bill was passed deliberately...
The push to make Blair County and its 24 municipalities a second amendment sanctuary took a step to reality when volunteers collected enough signatures to get two referendums on November's general election ballot to restrict government's ability to confiscate the guns on citizens. According to Rhonda Holland, president of the Blair County Tea Party, the two referendums – one that covers the entire county and one specific to each municipality – will enable voters to decide if government can con...
Clients walking away from the Cove Forge Behavioral Health Center near Williamsburg has residents on edge and Mayor Ted Hyle concerned for the safety of the town. A town hall meeting with Cove Forge officials on Aug. 4 to discuss the walk-off problem offered little solution, with company officials admitting there is little they can do to keep clients from leaving the facility. “We are trying to mitigate walk-offs but none of us can make them stay here,” said Security Consultant James Wolstrom. The issue isn’t just about clients walking away...
A Roaring Spring man is facing charges after police said he was prowling around a home he previously owned. According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 11:30 p.m. on July 17, Roaring Spring police were called to a home on Franklin Street for a report of man walking around the house and attempting to gain entry. When police arrived, they found Roy S. Ebersole, 44, standing beside a garage door. When police questioned Ebersole, he allegedly told them that he bought the house and then said he just “did a business deal” with the property....
A Greenfield Township man is headed to Blair County Court to face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to the alleged sexual assault of at least five underage female members of his extended family dating back to 1997. After a preliminary hearing last month, Martinsburg Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger found enough evidence to send all charges against David Cory Dobrowolsky, 64, to the Court of Common Pleas. According to Hollidaysburg State Police, the investigation into Dobrowolsky began on March 10 when the parents...
A Claysburg man has been arrested for killing his brother and burying his body on a Kimmel Township property. Larry M. Claar, 41, is accused of shooting his brother, Michael Claar, 46, of Claysburg, at 298 Picnic Road, Kimmel Township, Bedford County, and transporting the body to a property along Mountain Penny Lane, Kimmel Township and burying it. According to Bedford State Police, on July 24, police were called to the Picnic Road residence just before 8:30 p.m. after a friend of Michael Claar requested police check on his welfare. Police said...
Two people are in jail after an altercation at a Fransktown Township residence led to a man being taken to the hospital after being struck with a car. Caleb L. Lanzendorfer, 30, of Roaring Spring, is facing felony counts of criminal attempted homicide and aggravated assault, as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, defiant trespass and driving while suspended, while Teri K. Brantner, 38, of Hollidaysburg, is facing a felony count of hindering apprehension and a misdemeanor count of tampering with...
News that the former Appvion plant in Roaring Spring has been sold is being met with cautious optimism by borough officials. It was announced last week that a group of four buyers, collectively known as Roaring Spring Park LLC, purchased the plant with plans to find a buyer and identify potential uses for the plant that could breathe new life into the facility that closed for good in April. "We see potential for this paper mill and are actively working to bring in new owners with the expertise...
A Roaring Spring man has been arrested after police said he failed to pull over for a traffic stop and led police on a pursuit. According to Greenfield Township police, on the evening of July 12, an officer was parked along Dunnings Highway and Lawn Drive when a motorcycle that police said was operated by Scott M. Davis, 28, passed by at a high rate of speed. Police said the motorcycle did not have an attached registration plate. When police activated the emergency lights and siren, Davis allegedly sped up. Freedom Township police joined the...
In March 2020, the onslaught of COVID-19 suddenly and dramatically changed the routines of our lives. From the way we shopped for groceries, educated our kids, went to work, or worshipped, adjustments had to be made as officials frantically searched for ways to mitigate the spread of the virus. As efforts to reopen the world from the pandemic’s grips continue, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown have announced that the exemption from the obligation to attend mass on Sundays and Holy Days has been lifted. According to a statement released by B...
An inmate at the Blair County Prison is facing additional charges after police said she smuggled heroin packets into the prison. According to the charges filed by Hollidaysburg Borough police, on July 5, Samantha Jo Miller, 36, of Hollidaysburg was observed in her cell digging into her underwear. When a correction officer asked her to show her hands, police said a heroin packet fell to the floor. A female corrections officer took Miller to another room and performed a strip search and allegedly found a bag containing numerous packets stamped wi...
Summer 2021 has a lot to make up for. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to most traditional summertime activities including fairs, festivals, and farm shows, but now that most restrictions have been lifted, a full slate of area traditions are resuming. Some local events have already taken place and all indications are that people are ready to get out of the house and resume enjoying the summertime festivities. Martinsburg's annual J4 celebration brought record crowds this year after a CO...
Roaring Spring Park LLC, a newly formed group of four buyers, has purchased the Appvion paper mill plant in Roaring Spring with plans to bring life back to the recently closed facility. William Firestone, president of Capital Recovery Group (CRG) released a statement announcing the purchase of the plant and said efforts are underway to identify the best use of the facility, which could include restarting the paper mill. Along with CRG, Big Shoulders Capital, Rabin Worldwide and Calbag Metals Company round out the new ownership group. “We see t...
Justin W. Mitchell, 33, of Claysburg, is facing misdemeanor counts of defiant trespass, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property after police said he stole a truck cap out of his neighbor’s yard. According to Greenfield Township police, on June 24, a woman on Bedford Street reported a pickup truck cap was stolen from her yard and was now in Mitchell’s yard. Two witnesses told police that they saw Mitchell drag the truck cap from the victim’s yard to his. Mitchell was arrested at the scene and was taken to the police station for q...
Roaring Spring Borough has received a $263,200 grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT's) Green Light-Go program. Green Light-Go grants are provided as reimbursement to municipalities to improve efficiency and operations of existing traffic signals. Borough Council President Rodney Green said the grant will be used to upgrade the traffic lights at the Five Points as well as improve the sidewalks and curbs around the area to make it handicap accessible. Green said...
Bedford County Coroner Rusty Styer has identified the victim in last week's fire that destroyed the Woodbury Post Office on Main Street. Cynthia L. Albright, 64, died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, according to Styer. Albright lived in a first-floor apartment and according to neighbors, was mostly bedridden. Fire crews were called to the post office at around 6:30 p.m. on July 4 to find flames as high as 20 feet shooting from the top of the structure. Southern Cove Volunteer Fire...
As most of you know, there was a Pride March in Roaring Spring last month and the Herald, or more specifically, me, covered the event. Approximately 40 people marched without incident, leading me to believe that either people just were not interested in the event, or they took a “it’s none of my business” approach. I was wrong. The story hit newsstands and mailboxes on July 1, and almost immediately calls and emails came in condemning the Herald and me for covering this event. Comments ranged from, “This is not news” to, “How can you support th...
A Roaring Spring man is facing felony and misdemeanor assault charges after police said he attacked a coworker on a borough street. Tyrone M. Lowery, 19, is accused of punching the victim several times, causing numerous injuries and forcing the victim to seek treatment at the hospital. According to the charges filed by Roaring Spring police, the victim told police he was out for a walk on the evening of June 17 and as he walked along Poplar Street, Lowery approached him and “got in his face.” The victim told police he did not want to fight and...
A Claysburg couple is facing a single felony charge each of endangering the welfare of a child by parent or guardian after their three-month-old baby was found with bruises and a head injury. Seth A. Dicken, and Jamie L. Ellis, both 21, were arrested on June 29 after a months-long investigation by Greenfield Township police concluded that they were responsible for the injuries to the child. According to police, on Nov. 3, Ellis took the child to an Altoona pediatrician to be treated for diaper rash. Police said while examining the baby, the...
A mysterious disease is causing the deaths of songbirds in Southeast Pennsylvania and parts of the United States including Washington D.C., and until officials can determine what is causing it, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is recommending people remove bird feeders and baths from their property. According to the game commission, the unknown condition has been reported in 27 Pennsylvania counties. Species affected so far are blue jays, European starling, common grackle, American robin,...
What started out as a relaxing July 4 holiday for neighbors Carol Baker and Phil Logue of Woodbury turned into a nightmare as they watched firefighters battle a blaze at the Woodbury Post Office, which sat between their two homes. Logue and Baker were in the back yards of their homes at a little after 6:30 p.m. when Logue's wife spotted smoke coming from the downstairs apartment of the post office building. Around that same time, Logue said, a nurse had come to visit a bedridden female occupant...
An early evening fire on Sunday, July 4, destroyed the Woodbury Post Office and claimed the life of a woman. Fire crews were called to the post office, located at 143 Main St. Woodbury, Bedford County, at around 6:30 p.m. and arrived to find flames reported to be at least 20 feet high coming from the building. Southern Cove Volunteer Fire Company Chief Darl Ritchey said the first tanker arrived on scene within five minutes of the call and due to the intensity of the fire, crews took a defensive...
A Michigan man is in jail after being arrested by Freedom Township police on suspicion of attempting to steal more than $2,000 worth of merchandise from the Freedom Township Walmart. According to police, on June 18, a Walmart loss prevention officer said that three black males, one of whom was later identified as Roshia Harris, 19, had attempted a “cash, cash” fraud which entails a suspect making a purchase using a card but advising the cashier to use the cash button, enabling the individual to exit the store without paying for the items, but...
If you drove through Roaring Spring on Saturday afternoon, June 26, chances are you came across a group of nearly 40 people walking through town waiving rainbow flags in honor of Pride Month. June has been designated the month where members of the LGBTQ community gather across the world to celebrate LGBTQ culture and to draw attention to issues the LGBTQ community still face. Leading the parade of marchers through the borough was 26-year-old Roaring Spring resident Derek Brown. Brown, who said...
It appears Roaring Spring will be getting two new businesses in the near future. Although details have not been released, borough council President Rodney Green confirmed that the Bickel’s building on June Drive has been sold. While information on the buyer was not available, Green confirmed that the building was sold and will be torn down and that plans to construct two express-type fast food restaurants on the grounds have been submitted. Green said a special exemption hearing before council will need to take place but has no timeline for w...
When the Roaring Spring Borough Council met in May, more than 50 people attended to voice their concerns over a rumor that council intended to close off access to Plum Creek Mountain. While no member of council has expressed a desire to close off the mountain to public use, a decision on what to do with it is looming as council weighs the desires of the community against possible costly liability issues. An increase of ATV traffic and concern that an increasing number of people from outside the borough are using the land has spurred council to...
As the country begins emerging from pandemic enforced isolation and businesses try to get back to pre-COVID-19 routines, an unexpected barrier is blocking the way back to normalcy as businesses across the country are finding it difficult to attract employees. With not enough employees, businesses have been forced to reduce operating hours, and in some cases, close for a day or two during the week. Help wanted In the Cove, lack of employees has had a negative impact on local businesses trying to...
A Martinsburg woman is facing criminal charges after police said she stole money from an elderly man she was employed to take care of. According to charges filed by the Altoona Police Department, Tara S. Delvin, 45, is accused of forging checks from the victim’s account for her personal use. Police said Delvin was employed by a home healthcare agency and was assigned as a personal aid to the victim. Police said while working in the victim’s home, Delvin removed two checks from his checkbook. Police allege that on April 9, Delvin cashed a che...
By proclamation of the mayor, and the unanimous approval of council, Martinsburg Borough has designated June 29 as W. Gene Henry Day. Henry, who passed away on Feb. 17, 2021, at the age of 88, was a beloved community fixture known for his generous support of the borough. Henry’s philanthropic acts included the purchase and demolition of the former Benson Elementary School to make way for a new borough building. Henry also donated the land and a significant portion of the funds to erect an ambulance building in town. Henry’s love of Mar...
Fire tore through a Greenfield Township barn on Friday evening, June 11. More than 10 fire departments, including Blue Knob, Claysburg, Freedom Township, Martinsburg, Roaring Spring, Duncansville and Hollidaysburg responded to the 8 p.m. blaze at 423 Sarah Drive. Aided by a large amount of hay and straw in the barn, the structure was fully involved when firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported but three heifers died in the blaze. According to the Blue Knob Volunteer Fire Company, 16...
Part of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package that was signed in March included an estimated $168 billion “American Rescue Plan” for schools. Pennsylvania schools are in line to received around $13 billion, with a reportedly nearly $8 million earmarked for Cove-area schools. While the expected money will help districts that saw a decrease in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials caution that it is not a windfall that will significantly impact their budgets. The Northern Bedford School District is set to receive around $...
A traffic stop has led to drug charges against a Roaring Spring Man. Kelton E. Ferry, 60, is facing multiple and felony and misdemeanor charges after a search of his vehicle allegedly turned up drugs and paraphernalia. According to the charges filed by Roaring Spring police, Ferry was pulled over just after midnight on May 26 for not using his turn signal. When an officer approached Ferry’s vehicle, he allegedly saw a glass pipe in plain view. Police said Ferry denied them permission to search the vehicle, so it was impounded until a search w...
A Saxton man is behind bars after a traffic stop in Newry Borough led to a foot chase and the discovery of drugs. According to charges filed by Freedom Township police, on May 30, an officer pulled over a vehicle driven by Eric M. Simpson, 38, due to an expired registration. While running Simpson's information, police discovered he had active warrants for his arrest out of Blair County. While processing the information, police noticed that Simpson exited his vehicle which was parked in front of...
