— Laurel: Congratulations to Dr. Bruce E. Duke III, this year’s recipient of the prestigious local Apollo Award. Duke is a Westmont Hilltop graduate and served his internship at Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital. He later served 11 years in the Navy medical corps. He has been a local surgeon since 1975 and active in medical, community and sportsmen’s groups. His daughter, D’Arcy, is one of his surgical partners. The Apollo Award is especially meaningful because the winner is nominated and voted upon by the recipient’s peers, co-workers and other professionals.

Barb: How sad. Paint Township police say a mother used her 8-year-old daughter to carry out a scam victimizing at least 30 Paint-Windber area residents. “(The girl) was walking around the neighborhoods getting money to give to her mother,” police said, telling people she was collecting funds for the Windber Pee-Wee Cheerleaders, American Cancer Society or another cause. It wasn’t true, police said. Those who believe they were victimized have been asked to call the police at 467-8444 or (800) 362-5060. We’ll be following this case closely.

Laurel: How fortunate our area is to have the Peniel Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center. Last weekend, 49 people graduated from the West Taylor Township facility’s 13-month inpatient program and hopefully embarked on a drug-free existence. It was the 29th graduating class for the center, which offers a Bible-based treatment program attracting patients from several surrounding states. While patients range in age from 18 to senior citizens, most are 18 to 30 years old, administrators said. Good luck to the new graduates.

Barb: We’re glad officials have made arrests in last November’s shocking cross-burning in the West Wheatfield, Indiana County, yard of a black teenager, a United High School athlete. Arrested were two Robinson, Indiana County, young men and a 22-year-old man from Bolivar. All three are charged by federal officials with conspiracy to interfere with the housing rights of another, interfering with the housing rights of another, and using fire in the commission of a felony. One of the defendants lived just a few houses away from the Bolivar area home where the incident took place. What a shame.

Laurel: After a long and successful run, Dr. Robert Hartnett has decided to step aside as director of the Johnstown AAABA League. Listing health reasons – he’s had three major surgeries in the past year – Doc announced last week that it was time to go after heading the AAABA League and its predecessors for 30 non-consecutive years. Most people who have worked with Hartnett-led leagues would agree with his assessment that “it’s been a fun ride. We’ve had our good days, and we’ve had days that were not so good, but the good days outnumbered the not-so-good days.” Hartnett’s life-long participation in sports has also resulted in his being named to the AAABA Hall of Fame (2001) and Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame (2010). Thanks, Doc.

Barb: One case raises eyebrows. How about at least six? Police last week said a man has been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a first-degree misdemeanor, after leaving his two children in the car while he played blackjack at a suburban Philadelphia casino. The         34-year-old Bensalem man was the sixth parent this summer who is alleged to have left children in cars while playing slots or table games at the casino. The state Gaming Control Board last month warned the casino to do a better job of addressing the problem. The casino has responded by banning permanently players involved in such incidents. Add this to the list of things that go wrong with gambling and casinos.