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Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
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Most every child has that one possession that means the world to them. Whether it's a toy, a blanket, or stuffed animal, it's a prized possession that brings them comfort and security, and even the thought of losing it causes great sadness. For four-year-old Preston Strait of Martinsburg, his most valuable possession is a dog tag commemorating his late father, but unfortunately it was lost on the last day Cove Carnival on Saturday, and his mother, Kristy Strait, is reaching out to the community...
With the Cove Carnival kicking off this week and two nights of fireworks scheduled, area residents could be in the mood to extend their Fourth of July celebration. But if you decide to break out any leftover fireworks and set them off, you will be breaking the law in most Cove-area municipalities. Following state law, with few variations, local municipalities have adopted ordinances regulating where and when fireworks can be set off, and although fireworks are available to purchase year-round, there are only a handful of days they can legally...
Businesses and homes along Nason, June, and Hillcrest Drives in Roaring Spring pay property taxes to the borough but may be surprised to learn that those roads belong to Conemaugh Nason Hospital, and Nason CEO Tim Harclerode wants to give them to the borough. Harclerode spoke to Roaring Spring Borough Council at its July 10 meeting and said that although the hospital was annexed about eight years ago and has been paying the borough property taxes, the three roads remained under hospital ownership, which leaves the burden of maintaining them up...
The Arby's and Dunkin' restaurants under construction in Roaring Spring should be ready for customers this fall after supply chain issues pushed back the initial opening target date. It has been nearly two years since officials of Snyder's Gateway of Breezewood announced the purchase of the former Bickel's Surplus property along Route 36 and Nason Drive, and one year since construction began on the restaurants which were initially slated to open in fall 2022. According to Michael Miller,...
New security measures at the Bedford County Courthouse went into effect on Monday, July 3. According to a release from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, visitors to the courthouse will now be required to use a security entrance where security officers will screen each person and their belongings using a magnetometer, x-ray scanner, and metal detection wands. Bedford County President Judge Travis Livengood said the courthouse is “the center of government and the justice system for Bedford County,” providing services from iss...
The Huntsman Bowling Center at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park is undergoing renovations that will allow it to retain its United States Bowling Congress (USBC) certification. According to bowling center manager Dave Shadle, all 10 lanes are being replaced, work that involves more than simply laying a new floor. Shadle said the issue started when he noticed one of the lanes was beginning to buckle up and his first thought was to put some screws in it to level it down. However, because the lanes must...
Eleven members of the Friendship Volunteer Fire Company in Roaring Spring recently completed Firefighter-One certification at Cambria County Fire School. According to Friendship Chief James Musselman, the Firefighter-One certification is additional training beyond the four-module firefighting essential training that is required for a person to be able to actively fight fires. Musselman said the firefighting essentials training consists of approximately 250 hours of combined classroom and field...
Two afternoon accidents on Friday, June 16, caused traffic delays during one of the heaviest traveled times on Woodbury Pike just north of Roaring Spring. According to Friendship Fire Chief James Musselman, the first call for a three-vehicle accident in front of New Enterprise Stone & Lime came in at 3:07 p.m. While on scene, Musselman received a call about a four-vehicle accident a few hundred yards away in front of Yerty's Auto Service. Musselman said both accidents were the result of stopped...
The Claysburg-Kimmel School Board voted unanimously to pass the 2023-24 budget with a 3-percent tax increase. Claysburg’s 2023-24 Act 1 limit for a tax increase is 6 percent, but district officials were able to find a workable budget that required an increase of half the allowable limit. The increase brings Greenfield Township’s real estate taxes to 9.05 mills, and Kimmel Township’s to 10.87 mills. The increase will generate $93,000 in revenue for the district and will cost households an average of $23. When first proposed in April, the budge...
Youth soccer is coming to the Cove. While Spring Cove has had a junior and senior high team since around 2008, there were no recreational leagues for area elementary age kids. That is about to change with the completion of the soccer field at Memorial Park in Martinsburg. Park Manager Chuck Gojmerac said the soccer field is part of the park's strategic plan to bring youth sports venues to the park. "We have developed a three-year, five-year, ten-year plan on various projects," Gojmerac said....
A Claysburg man who was arrested two years ago after an investigation by Hollidaysburg State Police led to more than 60 child sexual assault-related charges was found guilty in Blair County court of 49 felony and three misdemeanor counts including possession of child pornography, photographing or filming sexual acts of children, rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated assault of a child, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and corruption of minors. Richard Scott Sensibaugh, 37, opted...
A Roaring Spring man is facing child endangerment charges after police said a 4-year-old child he was responsible for was found wandering alone on a busy Roaring Spring Borough Street on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 7. According to the charges filed by Roaring Spring Police, Aaron Devers, 23, was babysitting the boy but left him alone in his East Main Street apartment while he walked to Turkey Hill to purchase vapes. Police said at approximately 5:30 p.m., a passerby saw the young boy walking in the middle of East Main Street with no adult...
A Martinsburg man who was arrested by North Woodbury Township police in 2020 for helping a former Kulp Family Dairy Farm employee steal cattle was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay restitution of $3,023 after pleading guilty to third degree felony theft of movable property in Blair County Court on May 8. Paul A. Tremmel, 67, was in court for jury selection but a plea agreement was reached instead. Felony counts of receiving stolen property, theft by deception, and conspiracy, were dismissed in a plea deal accepted by Blair Co...
When Lance Morris was hired last November as Officer in Charge of the North Woodbury Township Police Department, he was faced with the task of rebuilding an almost empty department that had been running with one part-time officer since parting ways with its police chief six months earlier. On Thursday, June 1, the North Woodbury Township supervisors removed the Office in Charge title from Morris's business cards and replaced it with Chief of Police, an expected promotion following a six-month pr...
A Claysburg man will spend six to 15 years in state prison for causing the death of his brother in 2021. Bedford County court records show that Larry M. Claar, in a plea agreement with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, pleaded guilty on May 26 to a first-degree felony count of voluntary manslaughter in exchange for the negotiated sentence. Felony charges of first- and third-degree murder and aggravated assault along with misdemeanor counts of tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse were dismissed. Claar was charged in July 2...
A smoldering pan and a confrontation with police earned a Williamsburg man a perp walk through town on Tuesday morning, May 23. According to the criminal complaint filed by Williamsburg Borough police, it was just after 7:30 a.m. when residents of an apartment building on the 300 block of E. Second Street flagged down an officer and told him there was a “smell” in the building. After arriving at the building, police determined the smell was something burning and that it was coming from the basement apartment occupied by Richard L. Lear Jr. Pol...
A Martinsburg man with a history of gun violations is in Cambria County Prison under federal custody after being charged last month in Western District Court of selling “ghost guns” and “hit kits.” Federal prosecutors allege that multiple guns seized had no identifying serial numbers Harry E. Miller, 47, is charged with dealing and manufacturing firearms without a license, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon, conspiracy to deal and manufacture firearms without a license and engaging in business as a firearms manufacturer or deal...
On Monday morning, May 22, two area fire departments were called out within 10 minutes of each other for a vehicle into a building report. The Friendship Volunteer Fire Company didn't have far to travel for the 9:25 a.m. alarm of a vehicle crashing into the front of CenClear Counseling on East Main St., Roaring Spring, across the street from the fire station. According to Friendship Chief James Musselman, the silver in color vehicle had pulled out of the CenClear parking lot and turned left...
Former Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins was confronted in a store by a man he had once prosecuted, leading him to file a private criminal complaint which was quickly dismissed by a judge because Higgins did not follow proper procedures. According to court documents, on April 1, Higgins and his teenage daughter were at the Bedford Township Sheetz store when Charles Horsh, 32, began yelling at Higgins in a threatening manner. Court records show that when Higgins was Bedford County’s DA, he prosecuted Horsh for a June 8, 2011, fire...
If you compared the week the Martinsburg Volunteer Fire Company had to a relief pitcher, the crew would be well on their way to the Hall of Fame with one loss and eight saves in the span of seven days. Of course, the stakes are much higher when firefighters are called on, and with lives and property being their balls and strikes, the Martinsburg crew were able to knock down a fire that had claimed the building by the time they arrived on scene and turn around and save the lives of eight ducklings stuck in a drain. On Sunday, May 7, crews were...
Taxpayers in the Claysburg-Kimmel School District will see an increase, but only half of what it could have been. At its Wednesday, May 10 meeting, the Claysburg-Kimmel School Board voted to approve the 2023-24 proposed final budget with a 3-percent tax increase, half the 6 percent Act 1 allowable limit. The increase will cost households an average of $23 and is expected to raise about $93,000 in revenue for the district. The increase brings Greenfield Township's real estate taxes to 9.05...
Since 1894, the Friendship Volunteer Fire Company has been serving Roaring Spring, but company officials say that service could come to an end unless it receives public funding beyond donations and fundraiser support. Citing the rapidly rising costs of operating an efficient fire department, Friendship officials are asking the borough for a 1-mill property tax increase to help fund the borough’s fire protection. If council votes for the increase, it will amount to about a $100 tax increase per $100,000 assessed value on a property, or an a...
As construction on the Clayburg-Kimmel Athletic Project continues, the district has set up a way for residents to keep up with its progress without traveling to the site. With two cameras overlooking the fields, the district is livestreaming the progression of the construction. Business Manager Dena Burket said the live stream is accessible through the district's website, cksdbulldogs.com, where there is an "Athletic Project" link. "There are two different camera views where you can see the fiel...
The Claysburg-Kimmel School Board meeting on Wednesday, April 12, attracted 34 people, including faculty, parents, and teachers, to make a public comment in support of music teacher Matthew Stombaugh, who the board is considering for furlough as it explores eliminating one music instructor position. The district has publicly stated that it does not intend to eliminate any music programs. The board voted to table the furlough for further discussion. In other action, the board voted to approve Dena Burket and Paula Ickes to the Blair County Tax...
A burglary at the Claysburg Area Public Library caused nearly $500 in damages but netted the thief or thieves very little return for their efforts. According to Library Director Jane Knisely, when she opened the library on the morning of Wednesday, April 26, she was greeted by shattered glass on the floor and the window facing the side parking lot broken. "It's a double-pane window so whatever was used to break it had to hit it hard. I found glass in the middle of the library, so it flew pretty...
A Roaring Spring man is in jail accused of breaking into a Roaring Spring business two times in less than a week. Harley Sims, 21, is being charged with breaking into the Puff Super Value on April 16, and again on April 19. According to Hollidaysburg State Police, troopers were first called to the business at around 11:15 p.m. on April 16 for a report of a shattered front door. When police arrived, they discovered that someone used a chair to break the glass door and stole vape products and tobacco. On April 19, at approximately 2:20 a.m.,...
Former U.S. Rep. Bud Shuster, who earned the nickname “King of Asphalt” for the highways he helped build as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee died at his Everett home on Wednesday, April 19, at age 91. Born Elmer Greinert Shuster on Jan. 23, 1932, Shuster was first elected in 1972 to what was then the 9th Congressional District and served 14 full terms before abruptly retiring at the beginning of his 15th term in 2001 after losing his committee chairmanship due to term limits on committee chairs. Following his...
The job description of a police officer could arguably be summed up in three words: expect the unexpected. A fast-moving and faster changing society has forced police officers into roles far beyond just chasing the bad guy, and to keep up with the demands for its service, police departments are beginning to anticipate a public need by acquiring equipment to help perform an unexpected duty. North Woodbury Township Police Officer in Charge Lance Morris was scrolling through social media one night...
As an unrelenting but warm wind swept through the Conemaugh Nason Medical Center campus on Wednesday, April 12, Barb Ritchey stood in front of the flagpole and talked about the need for organ donation. As the nursing administrative assistant and liaison to the Center for Organ Recovery and Donation (CORE), Ritchey has stood on this spot for seven Aprils to raise the flag commemorating National Donate Life Month, a CORE initiative to draw attention to the need for and importance of organ,...
Cove voters heading to the polls on May 16 won’t have much to think about when it comes to municipal offices, as the number of candidates don’t outnumber the open seats in most local municipalities, so barring a write-in victory, the results seem to be a foregone conclusion. Freedom Township has two seats on its Board of Supervisors up for election with incumbent Republicans Timothy James and Nate Caldwell facing no opposition and no Democrats seeking a spot on November’s ballot. Current Republican Tax Collector Kim Bender and first-time candi...
Citing increased costs, dwindling contributions, and equipment that is going to need replaced sooner rather than later, the Friendship Volunteer Fire Company asked Roaring Spring Borough Council for a one mill property tax increase that would go to help fund the borough's fire protection service. "We are at a critical time," said Friendship Chief James Musselman. "Costs are going up on everything and that is making it harder to make money." Musselman cited the rising cost of food that has cut...
With 86,000 miles of streams, Pennsylvania is second only to Alaska in freshwater streams. It is estimated that 18,000 miles of those streams are impaired with some level of pollution. Jerry Green of Roaring Spring, a member of the John F. Kennedy Chapter of Trout Unlimited, works to preserve the state's cold-water streams while taking his message of conservation to area schools. "Our mission statement is protecting, conserving, and restoring Pennsylvania's cold-water sources," Green said. With...
Eight new candidates, including a former district superintendent, are vying for one of five seats up for grabs on the Spring Cove School Board while current board members Brian Gahagan, Troy Wright, and Samantha Snowberger look to retain their seats. Gahagan, current school board president, was appointed to the board in 2014 and is seeking his third term. Wright was first elected in 2015 and is also seeking his third term. Snowberger is seeking her first full term after being appointed to the board in December following the resignation of James...
With Republican Bruce Erb not running for another term as Blair County Commissioner, there will be at least one new face at the commissioner’s table, but with all three seats up for election, that number could increase. Traditionally, Blair County voters have elected two Republicans and one Democrat to the board, and the May primary ballot reflects that trend with four Republican candidates vying for two seats and two Democrats seeking one seat. On the Democratic ticket, incumbent Laura Burke is seeking a second term. Burke is facing a c...
A Roaring Spring man is facing multiple felony counts of trafficking after an investigation by Roaring Spring police and Blair County Children Youth and Families (CYF) led to allegations of furnishing drugs and alcohol and engaging in sex acts with minors. Marlin Jasper Wilson, 45, was arraigned last week by Martinsburg Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger on felony charges of trafficking in individuals, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse on persons less than 16 years of age, corr...
When a group of investors, known collectively as Roaring Spring Park LLC, purchased the former Appvion Paper Mill site, the new owners said their intention was to identify the best use of the facility, not ruling out restarting the paper mill. "We see potential for this paper mill and are actively working to bring in new owners with the expertise needed to resurrect the closed facility," investor David Muslin said at the time. Roaring Spring Borough Council President Rodney Green met the news...
A Gallitzin man was jailed after an altercation with Freedom Township police resulted in one officer getting kicked. According to Freedom Township police, an officer was on patrol when he spotted a vehicle parked near the intersection of Dunnings Highway and Municipal Street and two men standing outside the car. When the officer stopped to question the men, he discovered they were both “extremely intoxicated.” When the officer requested the men to sit in the back of his cruiser to get them off the roadway, one man complied but the other, ide...
A Claysburg man is behind bars after police said he tried to suffocate his girlfriend’s two-year-old child. According to Hollidaysburg State Police, on March 7, troopers were called to an apartment on Edgewood Street, Greenfield Township, for a report of a male smothering a two-year-old child and discharging a firearm. Police said the resident of the apartment contacted police from a neighboring apartment to report her boyfriend, Robert D. Short, 22, had shoved the child’s face into the couch cushions. Police said the woman told them that Sho...
Ethan R. Colpetzer, 30, a janitor at Claysburg-Kimmel Elementary School who was arrested last week on multiple felony counts of sexual abuse of children after it was discovered that he was leaving notes and candy on the desk of an 11-year-old student, allegedly told police he was told the student “doesn’t have a good home life,” and he thought it would be nice to leave her candy and notes. However, a search of Colpetzer’s phone allegedly turned up 74 photos of child pornography. According to police reports, the investigation of Colpetz...
The Claysburg-Kimmel School Board met Wednesday evening, March 8, and welcomed a new member. Joe Musselman took the oath of office and took the seat vacated by last month’s resignation of board Vice-President Geri Mock. This is Musselman’s second time on board, after a previous stint ended six years ago. Musselman is expected to run for a two-year term when the seat comes up for election. Because Mock was board vice-president, a vote to name a new VP was taken with votes being cast for Jeremy Knott and Amy Claar-Gill. Knott was elected to the...
A Roaring Spring man with a history of drug arrests is behind bars after police executed a search warrant on his home and said they found enough fentanyl to fill 500 bags of heroin. According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 24, the Blair County Drug Task Force executed the search warrant on the Bloomfield Street apartment of Andrew Berkheimer, 38. Police said Berkheimer was in the bedroom of the apartment and after being read his rights, agreed to speak with officers. Police said they asked...
Rugby has been played for about 200 years and during that time has evolved into one of the world's most popular sports. And while it has been played in the United States since the mid-19th century, it hasn't gained wide-spread popularity here, but that seems to be changing. With more than 2,600 rugby union clubs and 900 collegiate teams, rugby is catching on in the United States and a local club is contributing to its growth. In 2014, Andy Haines wanted to bring his passion for rugby to local...
Cove-area fire companies have received nearly $73,000 from the state’s Fire Company and Emergency Services Grant Program. The grants are awarded annually to volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services, and rescue squads through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. The grants can be used for equipment, training, debt reduction and construction or upgrades to facilities. The Claysburg Volunteer Fire Company received $15,000. Chief Scotty Eicher said the money will be used to upgrade the lighting on the tanker. Eicher s...
Roaring Spring Borough officials are expressing concern with New Enterprise Stone & Lime’s plan to deepen its Taylor Township quarry by about 250 feet. NES&L filed an Industrial Minerals Mine Permit with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and presented its plan to the Blair County Planning Commission last week for review. The commission will now send its review to DEP along with comments presented at the meeting. While Taylor Township officials voiced no opposition to the plan, Roaring Spring officials are wary. R...
The fire that ripped through Pleasant View Farms in Martinsburg on Thursday, Feb. 23, was ruled accidental, according to a Pennsylvania State Police public information release statement. According to Martinsburg Volunteer Fire Company Chief Randy Acker, crews were called out at around 4 a.m. and arrived to find the farm's offices and part of its milking barn fully involved. "When we pulled in, the front of the barn was totally engulfed in fire," Acker said. Acker said the area on fire contained...
A Martinsburg man who has been already serving a three to six-year sentence for burglary-related crimes at the State Correctional Facility at Camp Hill was sentenced last week in Blair County Court to two to four years, to be served at the same time as his current sentence after pleading guilty of felony receiving stolen property David A. Snyder appeared via video in front of Blair County Judge Jackie Bernard who also ordered Snyder to make restitution of more than $223,000 to the victims of his crimes. Snyder was arrested and charged with...
A Sproul man was jailed after police said he entered a residence in Claysburg while holding a gun. Mark J. Keller, 32, is facing felony charges of burglary, criminal trespass, and carrying a firearm without a license as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and possession of a weapon. On Feb. 9, Greenfield Township police were contacted by the homeowner who said he was awakened by a noise in his kitchen and when he went to investigate found Keller standing inside the door...
Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Roaring Spring has taken the saying, “Home is Where the Heart Is” quite literally over the past five years by making the hospital a place where local residents can receive heart-related diagnosis and care while staying close to home. On Friday, Feb. 17, Conemaugh officials cut the ribbon on the new Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, and with February being designated as National Heart Month, Conemaugh Nason CEO Tim Harclerode said the opening of the center was more meaningful. “When I think about the many ways...
The Claysburg-Kimmel School Board lost a member to resignation at its Feb. 8 meeting. With two years left in her term, Vice-President Geri Mock informed the board that she is stepping down effective immediately. The board will begin accepting applications from people interested in serving on the board. Whoever fills Mock’s seat will serve until December and can run in November’s election to fill the remainder of Mock’s term. In other action, the board voted to open all supplemental athletic positions for the 2023-2024 school year and accep...
Less than one month after facing harsh criticism from a judge for her handling of recent cases, Leslie Childers-Potts stepped down as Bedford County district attorney on Friday, Feb. 10. Childers-Potts has served as the county’s elected DA since 2019, after a year as interim DA after the resignation of Bill Higgins following his arrest on obstruction and other charges related to abusing the power of his office. Childers-Potts had previously announced that she would not seek another term but elected to leave her position before her term e...
