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.
