JOHNSTOWN — Robert A. Gleason Jr., head of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania, was unanimously re-elected Saturday as chairman of the Cambria County Republican Committee.

The morning meeting was held at the local GOP headquarters at 450 Luray Ave. in Richland Township, said Ann Wilson, party vice chairwoman.

Gleason, who has been chairman for 14 years, now will be in office for at least four more. He received 36 votes at the meeting and another 39 by proxy.

“Our immediate goal is to be successful this fall in the November election,” Gleason said Saturday, voicing support for the candidacies of Pat Toomey for U.S. Senate, Tom Corbett for governor and Tim Burns for Congress, among others.

“I think we offer the people some great candidates who will be responsive to their concerns,” Gleason said. He also will be looking to increase party registration and to get those already registered more involved in the party.

Gleason and his wife, Jeanne, of Westmont, are the parents of four married children. They also have seven grandchildren.

Gleason’s father was the longest-serving county chairman in Pennsylvania, perhaps in the country, having been in office for 50 years.

Man acquitted of wildlife charge

A Geistown man who, along with his wife, nursed a fawn for 11 days has been acquitted of unlawful possession of game or wildlife.

Gregory Joseph Pavlosky, 48, of the 100 block Clayton Drive, was found not guilty Thursday by District Judge Max Pavlovich of Richland Township.

Pavlosky and his wife found the fawn May 22 on the Route 56 Expressway.

The state game commission, which filed the charges, had told The Tribune-Democrat when the incident came to light that it had taken action because Pavlosky didn’t return the fawn as requested to the area where it was found.

Pavlosky told the newspaper he had followed the request and put the fawn off to the side of the road but later received a call from a friend that the animal was on the expressway again. Pavlosky said he took the fawn for fear it would be killed by a vehicle or cause an accident.

Backhoe worth $45,000 stolen

BRUSH VALLEY – A $45,000 backhoe was stolen from a mine site on Oneida Mine Road in Brush Valley Township, state police in Indiana said Saturday.

The yellow JCB model 214S backhoe – serial number 903294 – was stolen between 5:30 p.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. Friday, troopers said.

The owner is Robindale Energy Services of Armagh.

Anyone with information on the theft may state police in Indiana at (724) 357-1960.

Laptop, other items stolen from car

PENN RUN – Someone broke into a Toyota Sienna at Yellow Creek State Park and stole a laptop computer, GPS systems, power cords and fishing rods.

Troopers in Indiana said the theft occurred between

11:30 p.m. Wednesday and 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

The victim is Loretta Hoglund, 53, of Pittsburgh.

Crisis program to hold open house

An open house for Footsteps Crisis Diversion Acute Stabilization Program will be held from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The program and the co-occurring program, Acute Partial Hospitalization Program, are at 114 and 118 Carwyn Drive in Richland Township at the former Richland Inn.

Footsteps is offered as an additional mental health resource for adult mental health consumers in Cambria County. It offers a step down from inpatient and a step up for more traditional mental health resources.  

Those with mental health needs who do not require inpatient care can come to the short-term program for psychiatric and nursing care; individual, family and group therapy; case management; and peer support.

Holiday Inn scoops up

ice cream fundraiser

The Holiday Inn Downtown Johnstown is taking part in Ice Cream for Breakfast, the national fundraising and awareness campaign for Give Kids The World.

The ice cream social will be held at noon Thursday at the hotel at 250 Market St.  

For a donation of $5, those who attend will be able to build their own sundae.

The ice cream is being

donated by food provider C.A. Curtze.  

Those who participate will also have the opportunity to dunk the hotel’s general manager, Tom Lear, in a dunking booth outside of the hotel.

Proceeds of the ice cream social will go to help Give Kids The World fulfill its mission of providing dream vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses.

To learn more, go to www.givekidstheworld.org.

Conservation district schedules Family Days

ST. MICHAEL – The Cambria County Conservation District’s 10th annual Family Days will be held July 27 and 28 at the Disaster’s Edge Environmental Center at the 1889 Park in St. Michael.

Each day’s program will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Interactive education stations will include programs on mushrooms, archery lessons with state game commission representatives, a tour inside the state’s WoodMobile and classes on poultry.

Second-day activities offer instruction on how to navigate using a compass and map and a look at bats and reptiles.

There also will be a drumming workshop and a visit with alpacas.

The cost is $1 per person, per day. Participants should bring a lunch but snacks will be provided.

The deadline to register is July 19.  For more information or to register, call 472-2120.

Jackson Township Festival starts Friday

VINCO – The annual Jackson Township Festival will be held on the grounds of the township’s senior center from Friday through July 18.

The event will include bingo at 2 and 4 p.m. both days, a train room and 50/50 chances.

Last year’s festival was a fundraising success and organizers are hoping for an equally successful 2010 event.