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Charges against a Hollidaysburg man accused of throwing an object through the window of the office of State Rep. Jim Gregory have been waived to Blair County Court. Joseph A Fox, 30, remains free on $10,000 unsecured bail after appearing before Hollidaysburg District Magistrate Paula Aigner on Feb. 24. Fox was arrested on Jan. 22 after Hollidaysburg Borough police were called to the office of State Rep. Jim Gregory to investigate an act of vandalism. According to the police, Fox threw a wooden cross at the bay window of Gregory’s Allegheny Stre...
Footprints in the snow led to the arrest of a Newry man on multiple burglary related charges. John T. Molliver, 39, is facing felony counts of burglary and criminal trespass along with misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking and possession of instruments of crime after police said he broke into a Hollidaysburg home on Feb. 18. According to charges filed by Hollidaysburg State Police, a trooper was on patrol when he observed a silver Town and Country minivan parked at the Hollidaysburg...
Mourning the loss of a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenge for families and funeral directors alike. Social distancing mandates have forced many to either alter or forgo the traditional funeral home visitation where family and friends gather to pay their respects to the deceased. Adapting to Changes William J. Helsel has been a funeral director for nearly 18 years. As owner of the John K. Bolger Funeral Home Inc. in Martinsburg and Williamsburg, Bolger has been...
Martinsburg and the entire Cove community is mourning the passing of the man former Martinsburg Borough Manager Randy Stoltz called "Mr. Martinsburg." W. Gene Henry, who passed away Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at age 88, leaves behind a legacy of philanthropy that not only made Martinsburg a better place, but according to Mayor Richard Brantner Sr., a safer place. "He has done so much as far as the community." Brantner Sr. said. "It's just staggering what it would have cost taxpayers if the...
A $10,000 reward is now being offered for information into the disappearance of a Claysburg woman nearly a decade ago. Fawn Marie Mountain was last seen in 2012. In June 2018, the Herald ran a story on Mountain's family's search for answers. A portion of the story appears below. From the Herald of June 28, 2018: A family is seeking the public's help in trying to find answers to what happened to their daughter and cousin. Fawn Marie Mountain, was 25 years old when she disappeared from her home...
A Roaring Spring man is behind bars after police said he assaulted a woman and 7-year-old boy. Shawn M. Aman, 43, was arrested after troopers with the Hollidaysburg State Police were called to a home on Kensinger Road, Taylor Township on Feb. 20 to investigate a report of a domestic incident. When police arrived, they found Aman in a bedroom allegedly holding a knife. Police said they ordered Aman to drop the knife which he eventually did and was taken into custody. Once Aman was in custody,...
A Claysburg man is behind bars after police said he assaulted his girlfriend, forcing her to seek treatment at a local hospital. Joshua S. Claycomb, 38, was arrested after police were called twice to investigate a domestic disturbance at his Claysburg home. According to charges filed by Greenfield Township police, on the afternoon of Feb. 12, the victim arrived at the Whitetail Court home she shares with Claycomb and found him lying on the front seat of her vehicle. The victim said Claycomb appe...
The North Woodbury Township Board of Supervisors welcomed a new member while saying goodbye to the man he replaces. In February, supervisors appointed James “Diamond Jim” Garman Jr., to serve out the term of James Brower who stepped down due to health reasons. Brower’s term runs through 2021. Garman will be on May’s primary ballot, seeking election to a full term. Brower’s wife, Sharon, long-time township secretary/treasurer and elected tax collector, announced she will not seek re-election to the post after having served for more than 30 y...
Long-time Martinsburg borough resident and community benefactor W. Gene Henry passed away on Feb. 17 at the age of 88. Henry, perhaps best known locally as owner of the Spring Dam and Stone Manor mobile home parks, was born in 1932 at Nason Hospital. He was a direct descendent of Martinsburg founders John Brumbaugh and Daniel Camerer and Williamsburg founder Jacob G. Ake, Sr. Henry was a 1950 graduate of Martinsburg High School and received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Penn State University. He was a teacher in...
News of Appvion's decision to close its Spring Mill plant in Roaring Spring has sent shockwaves through the community. Nearly four years after filing bankruptcy and three years after being sold in a "stalking horse" sale which saw the company sold to a group of its lenders, Appvion has notified employees that the Spring Mill plant will cease operations by the end of March, putting nearly 300 people out of work. While company officials have not yet publicly addressed its decision, employees said...
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout continued locally on Friday, Feb. 12, when 1,000 people received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Freedom Township Fire Hall, East Freedom. Conemaugh Nason Medical Center, in partnership with the Blair County Emergency Management Association, AMED, and the Hollidaysburg Ambulance Company administered the vaccine to individuals in the 1A phase of the rollout. Phase 1A consists of people 65 years of age or older and those ages 16 to 65 with high-risk...
News of Appvion's decision to close its Spring Mill plant in Roaring Spring has sent shockwaves through the community. Nearly four years after filing bankruptcy and three years after being sold in a "stalking horse" sale which saw the company sold to a group of its lenders, Appvion has notified employees that the Spring Mill plant will cease operations by the end of March, putting nearly 300 people out of work. While company officials have not yet publicly addressed its decision, employees said...
Almost four years after filing for bankruptcy and three years after being sold in a “stalking horse” sale that saw employees lose millions in retirement funds, Appvion is apparently set to permanently close its Spring Mill plant in Roaring Spring. While Appvion has yet to respond to the Herald's requests for confirmation, Spring Mill employees have posted news of the plant's closing on Facebook. According to one employee’s post, employees were told Monday morning that the mill would be shutting down by the end of March. According to Heral...
Time and temperature don’t stop them. No matter the weather or the hour, when the whistle blows, they leave their beds, dinner tables, or jobs to race to the scene of an accident or fire. We sometimes take our volunteer fire companies for granted because they are always there. Reliable and dependable, a call never goes unanswered. The Cove has been blessed, and a bit spoiled, by a terrific group of volunteer fire companies. We know they will be there if we need them, but do we really know what makes their presence possible? The short answer i...
The first-grade class at Spring Cove Elementary School put a new spin on the annual 100th day of school celebration by celebrating the 101st day with a nod to "101 Dalmations." Dressed up as dalmations are (front row, from left): Gabriel Garretson, Alex Dickerson, Dylan Makowiecki, Vincent Kagarise and Kaytlan Finega and (back row) teacher Lori Gochnour. In the second photo, some kindergarten students at Spring Cove Elementary School celebrated the 100th day of school by dressing up to look 100...
Parents of Northern Bedford School District students received a call Monday afternoon informing them that police have identified a person of interest in Monday mornings bomb threat. The threat, made through Safe2Say, said a bomb was to be placed in a bathroom at Northern Bedford High School. Superintendent Todd Beatty said state police and school administrators inspected the bathrooms and searched bags before students were let into the school. Police obtained a search warrant to identify the ISP address of the person who made the... Full story
An anonymous tip that a bomb was to be placed in the bathroom of the Northern Bedford High School delayed the start of school Monday morning, Feb. 8, while authorities secured the building. According to district Superintendent Todd Beatty, a tip through Safe2Say alerted officials of the threat. Parents were alerted via email and automated telephone calls at approximately 7:45 a.m. Beatty said state police and school administrators inspected the bathrooms in question prior to student arrival and searched bags and limited access to the building... Full story
A fascination with celebrity along with an appreciation for local history has led to an Altoona man to publishing his first book. "They Came from Blair County," authored by Blair County resident Eric Shields, profiles 31 Blair County natives who have achieved various levels of fame. From film star Janet Blair and gossip columnists Hedda Hopper of Hollywood's golden age, to MMA fighter Charlie Brenneman and model Typhani Russo, Shields covers the spectrum of accomplishments from people who got...
When Blair County District Attorney Rich Consiglio retired last April, First Assistant District Attorney Pete Weeks was named to replace him. Last Week, Weeks announced his intention to seek the office in his own right. Weeks, 41, is a 2005 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He has been with the District Attorney's office since 2007, becoming a first assistant in 2018. Weeks announced his candidacy on Jan. 26 at the U.S. Hotel and Tavern in Hollidaysburg and because of...
A Martinsburg woman who was charged last year with having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student while employed by the Spring Cove School District is now facing new, unrelated charges. Casey L. Naylor, 33, is facing misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of children by a parent or guardian, corruption of minors and furnishing liquor to minors after police said she provided alcohol and tobacco products to her underage son and a friend. On Jan. 13, Naylor was questioned by North Woodbury Township police and allegedly admitted...
The COVID-19 pandemic hit Pennsylvania restaurants on March 16 when Gov. Tom Wolf ordered restaurants in five counties to suspend in-door dining for an initial 14 days, and days later expanded the mandate to the rest of the state. This left restaurants which were primarily dine-in establishments with only two choices: transition quickly to carry-out or close the doors. In May, Gov. Wolf announced a three-phase threshold for reopening the state and counties who achieved the "green phase" were...
Two men are facing charges in connection with a home burglary in Freedom Township on Jan. 21. Giuseppe S. Amato, 28, of Woodbury, and Justin K. Brunner, 26, of Bedford, are facing charges after a traffic stop in Roaring Spring led police to the two men and the stolen items in Woodbury. According to a criminal complaint filed by Freedom Township police, officers were called to a home along Feathers Lane after the resident discovered her home had been broken into. When police arrived, they found the front door had been damaged and a gun safe had...
While fire crews battled a structure fire in Freedom Township on Jan. 20, Freedom Township police were making an arrest at the scene. Just before 6:30 p.m. fire crews were called to 351 Riverview St. to find the structure fully engulfed in flames. Crews battled the blaze at the unoccupied building for approximately three hours. The building was a complete loss, and no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, as firefighters battled the blaze, police were arresting a man who drove through the fire...
MARTINSBURG Martinsburg Borough Council at its Jan. 4 meeting named commissioners of their respective committees and named staff appointments for 2021. Appointment commissioner of their respective committees were Edward L. Bennett, safety and streets; Linda Smith, property; P. Robert Dickson, finance; and Durban D. Metzler, water/sewer. Kerry L. Hoover was re-elected chief of police, police department open records officer and fire marshal. Council promoted Justin Davis to lieutenant from police sergeant. Gieg Law Offices LLC, Altoona, will...
A Claysburg man is facing charges after an attempted traffic stop led to a vehicle chase through two counties. According to charges filed by Freedom Township Police, on Jan.12, an officer attempted to pull over Chris L. Steele, 48, after he was spotted in the area of Dunnings Highway and Woodbury Pike driving a vehicle with a broken brake light. The officer also noted that he was familiar with Steele and knew his driver’s license was under suspension. According to police, instead of stopping, Steele drove south on Dunnings Highway and turned w...
Cordell and Cara Ebersole didn't just buy a carpet store, they bought a piece of Martinsburg history. The Ebersoles opened Cove Flooring and Design in May after purchasing the business and its historic building at 200 S. Market Street from Chuck Shriver. While the flooring business is tailor-made for Cordell, a general contractor, and Cara, an interior designer, the added bonus of operating in a building that has been a Martinsburg landmark for more than 100 years adds not only a sense of...
The Nov. 21 murder of 27-year-old Tyler Slippy of Hollidaysburg was motivated by a romantic rivalry with a co-worker, according to Hollidaysburg Borough Police. On Friday, Jan. 8, police, along with the Blair County District Attorney’s office, released details of the investigation into Slippy’s murder. Slippy’s body was found in his Hollidaysburg apartment Police said Kenneth Kim, 39, of Ebensburg, a co-worker of Slippy’s at Stuckey Automotive, stabbed Slippy multiple times after gaining entry to his apartment with a passcode he apparen...
COVID-19 is now the leading cause of death in the United States with nearly 3,000 fatalities a day being attributed to the virus. As of Monday, Jan. 11, the federal Centers for Disease Control reported 373,167 deaths nationwide due to COVID. Help, in the form of the COVID-19 vaccine, is here, but how long it will take for the vaccine to reach everyone is uncertain. Currently, the first doses are being given to frontline workers who work in environments that put them at daily risk of exposure....
Freedom Township said goodbye on Friday, Jan. 8, to Daniel "Butch" Giarth Jr., a man who Pastor Ed Jeliff said "breathed life" into his community. Township officials, along with firefighters, family, and police officers from across the Cove, gathered at the Freedom Township Fire Hall to pay tribute to Giarth, a long-time Freedom Township supervisor and volunteer firefighter who passed away on Dec. 30 at the age of 61. Ed Bender served with Giarth as both a supervisor and a firefighter. Bender...
A Claysburg man is in jail after police said he sexually assaulted a woman multiple times in his home. Kenneth L. Wells, 43, is accused of assaulting the woman over several days after picking her up in Tyrone and transporting her to Claysburg. According to Greenfield Township police, the victim said she met Wells on Dec. 26 on the dating app Badoo. The victim told police that Wells traveled to Tyrone to “hang out” and that she agreed to go to Wells’ residence in Claysburg to spend a few days. The victim told police that on the morning of Dec....
A founding member of the Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company has passed away at the age of 85. Raymond "Roger" Snowberger, died at UPMC Altoona on Dec. 18. Snowberger, a long-time East Freedom resident, helped found the Freedom Township Volunteer Fire Company in 1955. Freedom Township Supervisor Ed Bender said the idea for forming the fire company came about due to a fire at his grandfather's house. "My grandfather's house burned down the week of Christmas." Bender said. "In the spring,...
A Roaring Spring man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after police said he had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Bailey K. Musselman, 22, was charged by State Police, Bedford, on Dec. 29 after police received information that Musselman was involved in a relationship with the minor and that he allegedly provided alcohol and other substances to minors in the Bedford area. According to police, the victim’s mother told them that Musselman was tutoring her daughter in her home. The mother allegedly told police she k...
Law enforcement agencies across the country have come under increasing public scrutiny. With headline-grabbing incidents of police shootings, 2020 saw a rise in protests, both peaceful and violent, against the police. The wave of anti-police movements that swept across the country has put law enforcement on the defensive, and with almost every move being questioned, more departments are turning to body cameras to provide a video record of their encounters with the public and eliminate a "he said...
The Claysburg Volunteer Fire Company is down its main fire fighting truck and is asking the community for help getting a new one. The fire company's 1994 International pumper truck has been out of service for weeks with transfer case and pump failure issues and given its age, the cost to repair it would be too high with no guarantee other issues wouldn't develop. Fire company President William Lightner said a new truck would be more cost-effective and reliable. "It's a major breakdown."...
President Donald J. Trump's visit to Martinsburg in October lasted just over an hour, but the day was much longer for the police and first responders who pulled together to make it a safe experience not only for the president, but the thousands of citizens who converged on the airport to catch a glimpse of the commander in chief. To prepare for a presidential visit, lots of details need to be worked out in a short amount of time and cooperation among the Secret Service, Pa. State Police, local...
A Queen woman pulled over in a traffic stop in Logan Township, Altoona, on Dec. 22, was jailed after police allegedly found drugs and paraphernalia in her vehicle. Lindsay M. Longenecker, 37, was pulled over at approximately 1:55 a.m. Dec. 22 along West Plank Road after a Logan Township police officer saw her driving with no headlights on. The officer noted that he was familiar with Longenecker from prior incidents and knew her driver’s license was suspended. A check with Blair County 911 confirmed the officer’s suspicion. When police que...
A long-time local farmer is being remembered as a man of God who went out of his way to make people feel special. Francis Larry Kulp, who owned and operated the Lar-Ann Dairy Farm in Martinsburg for 26 years before his retirement in 1999, passed away on Friday, Dec. 11, at the age of 77. A leader in the dairy farming community, Kulp also served the Cove community as a member of the Spring Cove School Board as well as a youth leader and Sunday school teacher at Martinsburg Mennonite Church....
Thanks to a community partnership between law enforcement and Professionals Auto Body of Altoona, four Martinsburg children got an early Christmas surprise when Santa showed up at their door bearing gifts on Monday afternoon, Dec. 21. Lindsay Maxwell and her children, Eelina, 9, Nieyah, 7, Abel, 6, and Lyrah, 4, met Santa and his police helpers on the front porch of their Allegheny Street home to receive gifts and to get to know the people who protect their community a little better. Jamie...
Blair County Coroner Patricia Ross reported last week that the death toll in Blair County due to COVID-19 reached 149. Ross said of those 149 deaths, 111 were Blair County residents. Ross said she expects the recent spike in cases to continue and said everyone needs to follow the directives aimed at mitigating the virus's spread. "We are in the worst of it right now." Ross said. "It is bad practice to not wear a mask and to not do social distancing at this time." Ross said people need to take...
Hollidaysburg Borough police are reaching out to the public for help as they continue to investigate the death of Tyler Richard Slippy, 27. Slippy's body was found in his residence, 515 Allegheny St., on Nov. 22. Hollidaysburg police, along with assistance from the State Police at Hollidaysburg, the Blair County coroner, the Blair County district attorney and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, are investigating Slippy's death as a homicide. Police are asking anyone within a two-block...
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf's recent mandate directing restaurants and bars to close for in-person dining is being met with resistance from some area eateries. Already running at half-capacity to comply with social distancing standards, area restaurants are struggling to earn much-needed dollars to stay in business and closing their dining rooms would mean lost revenue that they say cannot be made up. Valerie Wyland-Prough, co-owner of Mamies Restaurant in Martinsburg said closing their already...
Blair and Bedford counties have released nearly $4 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds to help business affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Blair County allotted nearly $3.3 million while Bedford County distributed $532,860 in its second round of awards. Bedford previously distributed $612,532 during its first round. While funded federally, the monies are distributed through each county’s County Relief Block Grant (CRBG). Businesses who applied and were awarded grants from Blair County include s...
A traffic stop in Freedom Township has landed a Duncansville man behind bars facing multiple felony charges. According to the charges filed by Freedom Township Police, on Dec. 1, a Freedom Township police officer was conducting a stationary patrol along Dunnings Highway and Commerce Lane when a vehicle driven by Dylan J. Skupine, 30, was flagged for having an expired registration. After pulling Skupine over, police discovered his license was suspended and that he was wanted on two criminal...
An altercation at the Roaring Spring Commons apartment complex has landed a Roaring Spring man behind bars on multiple assault-related charges. According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 30, Roaring Spring police were called to the parking lot of Roaring Spring Commons to investigate a report that a male, identified as Duane E. Morgan, 40, had pulled a knife on some people and was threatening their lives. When police arrived, they located Morgan at the apartment he was staying at. When police...
A Williamsburg man is facing charges after police said he stole, then forged checks belonging to his great-grandmother. According to charges filed by Hollidaysburg State Police, Brandon C. Breisacher, 23, stole numerous checks from his great-grandmother and forged her name on them. Police said Breisacher made the checks out to himself in amounts that totaled approximately $2,350. The investigation into Breisacher began on Nov. 14 when his mother arrived at the Hollidaysburg State Police Barracks to report that her son had stolen the checks...
As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise, local municipalities are again altering the way public meetings are held. Martinsburg Borough Manager Rich Brantner Jr., said he is going to ask council to conduct its next meeting, scheduled for Monday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. remotely. Martinsburg has been holding in-person meetings with the option to participate remotely. Brantner said anyone who wishes to participate in the council meeting should call the borough office for information on how to connect to the meeting. Roaring Spring Borough is...
Bedford County Correctional Facility Warden Troy Nelson and Deputy Warden Rocky Bernazzoli have been suspended with pay pending an investigation into prison operations by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Bedford County Commissioners Josh Lang, Barry Dallara and Deb Baughman issued a joint statement announcing the suspensions. “Based on information we received, we believed it was in the best interest of the county and BCCF employees and inmates that Warden Nelson and Deputy Warden Bernazzoli be suspended effective immediately,” the...
The coronavirus pandemic has put a squeeze on small businesses as those deemed nonessential were forced to close their doors while others had to alter the way they operate. Mandates passed down by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Gov. Tom Wolf outlined rules for businesses that remained open during the pandemic, such as social distancing and face covering requirements. These mandates put small business owners on the front lines of enforcement, forcing them to walk a tightrope between...
As the winter months approach, COVID-19 cases continue to rise throughout Pennsylvania. Statistics released Monday by the Pennsylvania Department of Health show 272,680 cases and 9,409 deaths in the commonwealth attributed to the virus since the pandemic began last March. Blair County has recorded 2,598 cases with 41 deaths while Bedford County reports 956 cases and 11 deaths since the pandemic began. Although exact numbers of local cases are not available, regional numbers provided by UPMC shows the virus has taken hold in the area. Danielle...
In the Sept. 5, 2019, edition of the Herald you will find the story of John Fisher. John was a Navy veteran, serving on the submarine tender USS Fulton during World War II. When I met John, I was 51 years old and he was 92. The generation gap meant nothing to us, and we became close friends. Although our time together was short, the impression he made on me will last the rest of my life. The first thing John said to me when I walked into his home was "I don't think I want to do this story." I...
