MARION CENTER – A Marion Center area man died in an accident in Rayne Township, south of Marion Center.
The body of David Frederick Biss, 54, was discovered by a passing motorist just before noon Monday, said Indiana County Coroner Michael Baker.
Biss’ northbound pickup apparently went out of control on Route 119 and struck a utility pole and several small trees before descending a steep embankment, he said.
State police said the accident happened between 10:30 p.m. Sunday and noon.
The embankment obscured the wreckage, Baker said.
An autopsy was scheduled today to determine if Biss had a medical problem while driving, Baker said.
Paralegal accused of acting as lawyer
SCHELLSBURG – A Somerset woman was charged with the unauthorized practice of law after she allegedly portrayed herself as an attorney and filed legal documents.
Lesa Kay Penrod, 42, of the 800 block of Main Street, is accused of filing a motion-to-dismiss brief with the office of District Judge Tonya Osman of Schellsburg in October.
State police Trooper Matthew Auker said Penrod filed the brief in an attempt to have bad check charges against her father dismissed. He was not named in court documents.
Auker said Penrod is a paralegal who practiced law by writing and signing the motion.
Jerome women charged with shoplifting
SOMERSET – Two women were charged with retail theft after state police said they passed merchandise between them and one walked out of Wal-Mart with a translucent case for an I-phone.
Jessica Wagner, 29, and Keri Wagner, 27, both of Jerome, made off with $120 worth of merchandise, police said.
Cross-burning investigation continues
NEW FLORENCE – Authorities have no new information on a cross burning that took place early Nov. 15 in the yard of the Walbeck family in West Wheatfield Township.
Trooper John Matchik said Monday that state police continue to investigate.
N. Cambria light up scheduled Friday
NORTHERN CAMBRIA – The borough’s Light-up Night will be held Friday at Fridman Park on Philadelphia Avenue.
The park will open at 6 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:30 with caroling, a live nativity and free hot chocolate.
New this year will be free horse-drawn “sleigh” rides from 6 to 9.
Everyone will receive a candle to light and a chance to win a prize. The grand finale will be the lighting of the park and town snowflakes at 7.
The Christmas pageant registration deadline is Monday.
Registration for the pageant, the decorating contest and the parade can be made at www.northerncambria.com or the borough office.
Members of the borough Christmas committee said they have raised only half of the money to fund these events.
Contributions may be made to the NC Civic Committee at the borough office, 1202 Philadelphia Ave.
Police planning seat-belt checkpoints
EBENSBURG – Police departments across Cambria County – including those from Ebensburg, Nanty Glo and Northern Cambria – will hold safety checkpoints Wednesday as part of Pennsylvania’s Operation Safe Holiday seat belt mobilization, which is taking place through Monday.
Special emphasis will be placed on motorists driving during the evening and overnight hours, when seat belt usage rates drop by more than 30 percent. For more information on Operation Safe Holiday, visit DriveSafePA.org.
Baltimore FBI office named for slain agent
BALTIMORE – The FBI’s field office in Baltimore was named Monday for a slain agent with ties to the Johns-town and Rockwood areas.
Thirty-three-year-old Special Agent Sam Hicks was fatally shot as he led officers on a drug raid at a home near Pittsburgh on Nov. 19, 2008.
Christina Korbe, the wife of the drug suspect sought, is jailed awaiting trial on charges she killed Hicks. She has acknowledged shooting Hicks, but said she thought he was an intruder.
Hicks’ widow, Brooke, and their son, Noah, 3, helped unveil a plaque inside the Sam Hicks Building.
Hicks was a Baltimore city police officer from 2002 until the FBI hired him in March 2007 and transferred him to Pittsburgh.
Hicks graduated from Pitt-Johnstown in 1999. His mother is a substitute teacher in Rockwood Area School District.
Local News
In brief | Man’s body found at site of truck crash
- Local News
-
-
COMMISSIONERS CORNER | Inside a budget: Numbers and lies
Tell someone what you want to prove, and a person can manipulate the numbers/statistics to prove it. So, why develop a budget?
-
Man accused of 101 counts of assault
A man from Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, faces 101 counts of indecent assault after police accused him of molesting a young girl numerous times.
-
Blogging with heart
I had a couple of interesting interviews over the past 24 hours. The first was with an ambitious Forest Hills High School junior who organized a Red Out across the district today in support of American Heart Association. Like many of those involved in Heart Association benefits, Spencer Ivock was inspired by his own family members' experience with heart disease.
-
Supreme Court explains rulings on redistricting
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Friday explained its reasons for rejecting the state’s legislative redistricting plan last week, and a justice who disagreed with the ruling said this year’s races will have to be held under the existing, decade-old maps.
-
In brief: Cresson man dies in pickup crash
A Cresson man who authorities believe lost consciousness while driving was killed late Friday afternoon when his pickup crashed on St. Joseph Street, about one mile north of Cresson.
-
Boil-water notice issued in Upper Yoder Township
A boil-water notice has been issued for a portion of Upper Yoder Township as crews work to repair a leak along Route 271. -
No NDIC jobs to stay in city
After years of political clashes and fiscal uncertainty, these are the facts of the National Drug Intelligence Center’s final days:
• 87: The number of employees losing their jobs as NDIC operations wind down this year.
• 57: The number of staffers, aside from those 87, who will be offered jobs in Washington, D.C.
• Zero: The number of NDIC-related jobs that will remain in Johnstown. -
Forest Hills junior puts his heart into Red Out
Forest Hills junior Spencer Ivock is “redding out” the schools today for his senior project.
-
Local pair accused of robbing home twice
A Johnstown couple has been charged with breaking into a Lower Yoder Township home twice in a four-month period – and then selling, for $103, some of the thousands of dollars in goods they alleged swiped.
-
Steel firm considers coal mine near Que
Cambria Somerset Authority officials plan to meet this week with representatives of an Ohio-based steel company about a plan that could put a coal mine south of the Quemahoning Reservoir.
- More Local News Headlines
-
COMMISSIONERS CORNER | Inside a budget: Numbers and lies
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
