Man guilty of theft
in $280G bank error
ALTOONA – A man has been convicted of theft for not returning more than $280,000 mistakenly deposited into his bank account.
First Commonwealth Bank has also sued 58-year-old Herbert Starbird, of Altoona, a retired physicist with the National Institutes of Health.
Starbird spent much of the $280,276 he found in his account – but only, his attorney said, after the bank initially told him the deposit in
October 2007 was not a mistake.
Starbird has since paid the bank $5,500 but still owes more than $157,000.
A Blair County jury convicted Starbird on Tuesday.
Defense attorney Tom Dickey said Starbird “just doesn’t believe he is guilty of anything.”
He faces 9 to 16 months in prison when he is sentenced May 13, though prosecutors say they don’t oppose probation.
Probe continues
into fatal fire
PATTON – Authorities are continuing their investigation into a fatal fire Tuesday afternoon that destroyed a St. Lawrence area home.
The body of James Paul Tirpak, 55, was found by firefighters battling the blaze.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by Cambria County Coroner Dennis Kwiatkowski.
Tirpak, who along with his wife owned Hubcaps Grill, located across the street from Cambria Heights High School, was the only one at home.
The home, located in a remote area about 300 feet off St. Lawrence Road was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, said Patton fire Chief Patrick Wood.
Watershed group
receives grant
WINDBER – The Paint Creek Regional Watershed Association is among seven conservation organizations that are sharing $42,000 in grants from the Coldwater Heritage Partnership.
Melissa Reckner, vice president of the Paint Creek association, said the $6,000 grant will be used to study Little Paint Creek and create a coldwater conservation plan for its watershed, threatened by resource extraction and urban development.
A $1,000 grant from the Dominion Foundation also has been received to support the project, which will be a collaborative effort between the Paint Creek association, the Somerset Conservation District, the Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and others, she said in a news release.
Participants sought
for green energy fair
Area state lawmakers will again host an energy fair in Johnstown to bring together constituents with experts on energy efficiency.
The event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. May 13 at Pasquerilla Conference Center, 301 Napoleon St.
Organizers are still seeking companies, groups or agencies involved in the green energy effort to participate.
The event is free to qualified exhibitors.
The deadline to apply as an exhibitor is May 7.
Anyone interested in being an exhibitor at the fair may call Chelle Martin at 226-2277 or visit senator-wozniak.com to download the registration form.
State Sen. John Wozniak and Reps. Gary Haluska, Frank Burns and Bryan Barbin are hosting, as they did last year.
Residents are invited to visit the fair to find out more about saving energy, landing jobs in the green energy field and helping their communities preserve the environment.
Fairgoers also can learn more about Pennsylvania’s Energy Independence Strategy, a series of bills signed into law that will provide loans and grants for businesses and homeowners to upgrade appliances, heating systems and insulation.
The fair is free and open to all.
GED test scheduled
in Johnstown
The General Educational Development test will be given at 7:30 a.m. March 20 at East Side Elementary School,
220 Messenger St., Johnstown.
The cost is $50 for all sections and $10 per section.
Preregistration is required.
Information: 533-5650.
Local News
Local briefs 3/11/10
- Local News
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Two Cambria district judge offices to be cut
Two of Cambria County’s 10 magisterial districts could be eliminated as President Judge Timothy Creany looks at realigning boundaries to cut costs while taking into consideration caseloads of the district judges and population changes.
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Westmont couple inseparable, even in death
People who knew James and Marjorie Landis of Westmont said the two were nearly always together.
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Company buys valuables from people ready to unload
Jan Hagerich’s buffalo nickel was “healthy” – which was unhealthy for her finances.
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Blogging with heart
I was feeling overwhelmed yesterday, so today, I’m organizing my work. I have talked to probably a couple dozen people for Heart Month stories and I have pages and pages of notes.
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Special Olympics return to region
More than 300 athletes eager to show off their skills, along with 135 coaches, will be coming to the region to take part in the 2012 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games.
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Special Olympics Schedule
Here is a list of events related to the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Winter Games through Tuesday at venues across the region:
Saturday
• Laurel Highlands Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics; Quemahoning Reservoir near Boswell; registration at 9:30 a.m.; plunge at 1 p.m. -
Water rates going up to pay for line project
An estimated $9 million Windber Area Authority transmission line project will likely head toward construction late this summer.
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Citizens eye cost-cutting measures
A total of 16 members of a concerned citizens group volunteered to serve on a committee to develop cost-saving ideas that will be presented to the Westmont Hilltop school board.
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Critz co-sponsoring bills that support emergency responders
U.S. Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, said he is co-sponsoring several bills that support emergency responders.
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IN BRIEF | Police investigating shooting of city man
State police in Indiana County are investigating the shooting of a Johnstown man late Tuesday or early Wednesday, authorities said.
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