— Richland Township police are continuing their search for a masked man who attempted to rob a store at the Richland Shopping Center on Scalp Avenue on Friday.

Police are looking for a white male about 6 feet tall with a thin build.

He entered Johnstown Gold Buyers at 3:40 p.m. and pointed a gun at the clerk. Police said the clerk thought it was a joke and then pulled out his own handgun and pointed at the robber. The robber then fled empty-handed toward Valley Dairy restaurant.

Anyone with information may contact authorities at (800) 281-1680.

Driver hurt in crash

NEW BALTIMORE – A Bedford County man was taken to the hospital Friday after his car crashed in Allegheny Township, Somerset County, authorities said.

Joshua Z. Mitchell, 29, of Bedford, was operating a 2001 Subaru Forester northbound on Route 1017, also known as New Baltimore Road, when he lost control of the vehicle at 5:20 p.m. and struck an embankment, state police in Somerset said.

Mitchell was taken to UPMC Bedford Memorial with moderate injuries, troopers said.

New Baltimore Volunteer Fire Department assisted state police at the scene.

Stores report bogus bills

 SOMERSET – State police in Somerset are asking the public’s help in finding the person who passed several counterfeit $10 bills at two stores on Friday.

Troopers said someone passed the bogus bills at the Dollar General store on Glades Pike and the Dollar General store on North Center Avenue. The serial number on all the bills was “IG 79212392 A,” troopers said.

Anyone with information may contact state police in Somerset at 445-4104.

Fire damages apartment building

INDIANA – Fire caused $100,000 damage to an apartment building in Indiana County, authorities said.

The fire broke out at 5 a.m. on Thursday at a building on Rustic Lodge Road in White Township, state police in Indiana said.

The fire was contained to one apartment.

Everyone inside got out safely. The fire started when a kitchen stove was left on, troopers said.

Route 219 coalition to meet

MEYERSDALE – The North-South Appalachian Highway Coalition will hold its

2nd annual meeting in Meyersdale beginning at 9 a.m. Friday. The meeting will be held at the Morguen Toole Co., 130 Center St. The public is invited.

The coalition is a three-state collection of nonprofits, businesses and county and local governments focused on the development of Route 219 from Somerset to the Maryland line.

It also supports Route 220 from the

Cumberland, Md., area to Appalachian Corridor H in West Virginia.

The coalition has more than 150 members.

David Moe, a coalition coordinator, said, “Our members will hear progress updates from three state transportation officials.”

The group also is encouraging Congress to reauthorize toll credits in a new transit bill, which could enable the completion of four-lane 219 from Somerset to Meyersdale.

Charity run scheduled

Wings of Hope, a Hooversville area charity whose mission is fighting cancer, will holds its annual Great Santa Run on Nov. 18 in downtown Johnstown. The event aims to provide help during the holidays for those battling cancer and their families.

The two-mile run or walk will begin at 5:45 p.m., just minutes before the annual Christmas parade.

The cost for registering by Nov. 10 is $15 per person. Thereafter and up to the time of the race, the cost is $18. For children age 12 and younger who register with an adult, the cost is $5.

In addition, participants are encouraged to bring a new toy to help with a toy collection for local children.

Registration will be held from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. at the train station on Walnut Street.

For more information, visit http://wingsofhope.vndv.com.

Girl Scouts receive $20G grant

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania recently received a $20,000 grant from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in support of the organization’s Healthy Living Special Initiatives for girls throughout Cambria County.

Healthy Living Special Initiatives, for girls in grades kindergarten through eight, responds to the unmet needs of girls by providing supportive and fun programming that sparks an interest in learning.

The programs are designed to teach girls the aspects of a healthy lifestyle while providing experiences related to exercise, self-esteem, positive thinking, teamwork and overall happiness and wellness.

GSWPA offers Healthy Living Special Initiatives in Cambria, Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Clearfield, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Warren and Washington counties.

HEROES conference slated

LORETTO – Windber Medical Center will hold its second annual John P. Murtha HEROES (Health Education Related to our Exceptional Servicemen, Servicewomen and Veterans) conference Nov. 4 and 5.

This year’s conference is called “Unfinished Business of Coming Home: Challenges and Opportunities.”

It will address the overarching concept of meeting the needs of veterans from psychosocial and mental health perspectives with an emphasis on post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

The conference will be held at the DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness on the St. Francis University campus.

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