Laurel: High school sports teammates usually remain friends long after their playing days are over. But no one should doubt that “Meatball” and “Hero” have probably bonded for life. After all, Jesse McQuillan (nickname “Hero”) is being credited with possibly saving the life of Corbin Nulton, who was choking on – what else? – a meatball (thus, the new nickname). The two are members of the Westmont Hilltop wrestling team and the life-threatening situation occurred while they were hanging out after a recent practice. Corbin began choking while eating a meatball hoagie and Jesse successfully administered the Heimlich maneuver. The buddies are laughing about the matter now – and hopefully will for many years to come.

Barb: Pity the poor bus driver. A CamTran driver refused to allow a 20-year-old woman a free ride after noticing that her pass had expired. In retaliation, the woman reportedly hit the driver with a snowball. She and an 18-year-old companion apparently are the only ones “hurt,” thankfully. Both face several charges, including disorderly conduct and harassment. We’d also ban the woman from using CamTran services.

Laurel: Forest Hills elementary pupils know that every penny counts. For the sixth consecutive school year, Forest Hills placed first in the Million Pennies Campaign of the Cambria/Somerset Division of Easter Seals. The Sidman school collected $2,410 in this year’s effort, conducted from Nov. 1 through mid-December. Way to go, Rangers!

Laurel: Speaking of awesome, the Cambria County Bar Association was hoping to start a wonderful tradition – Lawyers With A Heart. As part of the program, about 40 lawyers on Feb. 5 stayed away from their offices and the courthouse and spent volunteer hours serving food, painting walls, cleaning or organizing activities at human service agencies throughout the county. Both younger and older members – and judges, too – participated. It should be pointed out that members of the association volunteer in other projects throughout the year, too. Thank you.

Barb: Duh! You would think that adults would know that taking property that does not belong to them is breaking the law. Not so, say two men, 40 and 37 years old, who city police caught allegedly taking aluminum siding and rainspouts from an abandoned house in Kernville. “They were not aware that they could not remove the aluminum,” police said in a court document. The plan, the police were told, was to sell the items at a scrap yard. The men, from Somerset and Johnstown, face multiple charges, which could include stupidity.

Barb: Speaking of not acting in one’s best interests. A Bedford County man lost nearly $17,000 last month in what state police describe as a clearinghouse scam. The man, from Bloomfield Township, sent four money orders to the Philippines between Jan. 12-14 and never received any lottery winnings. Imagine that! The man was notified by telephone that he had won a lottery and was given instructions on how to collect, police said. He thought he was paying taxes on his winnings. Scams sometimes do work, unfortunately. That’s why thieves stay in business.

Laurel: Hats off to the Pitt-Johnstown Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2010. There are very familiar names among the six picked. To be inducted during an April 17 ceremony are Jody Gault, head women’s basketball coach, 1982-2007; Robert Hartnett, men’s basketball, 1954-56, and meritorious service; Dave Hoff, baseball, 1978-82; Rich Ragan, men’s basketball, 1974-78; Patty Ritter-Sharbaugh, women’s gymnastics, 1980-84; and Lee Schickel, wrestling, 1991-96. Additionally, UPJ’s 1996 NCAA Division II championship wrestling team will be recognized as the first Mountain Cats team to win a national championship. Congratulations to all for their well-deserved honors.