IN BRIEF | Fire strikes structure on Ohio Street

The Johnstown Fire Department was at the scene of a structure fire in the 200 block of Ohio Street late Thursday.

Streets in the area were being barricaded and road crews were being called out to treat the roadways. City police also were at the scene.

The fire was reported around 9:10 p.m.

$300,000 on way for first responders

U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster,

R-Hollidaysburg, said Thursday that he has secured $300,000 in funding for first responders and public-service providers across northern Cambria County.

“I am pleased to play a role in helping first responders in northern Cambria County secure additional equipment to provide efficient and integrated public-safety services,” he said in a news release.

“Equipment upgrades are vital to helping small departments work with Cambria County’s recently upgraded

911 system.”

The upgraded system has greatly improved communications for police, fire, emergency medical services and other public-service providers, Shuster said. The improvements, however, haven’t filtered down to many of the smaller departments in northern Cambria County.

The $300,000 will close the loophole by enabling those de-partments to utilize mobile data systems that will allow them to plug into the services provided by the 911 center, he said.

Recovery act funds go to violence shelters

HARRISBURG – Nearly $240,000 is coming to domestic violence shelters in Cambria and Bedford counties.

The money is part of $3.4 million in federal stimulus funding coming to 21 agencies in Pennsylvania.

The purpose is to improve the response to violence against women and assist women who have been victims of violence, officials said Thursday.

Among the agencies receiving funding are:

• The Women’s Help Center in Johnstown, $79,000.

• Your Safe Haven in Bedford County, $157,000.

The money supports the STOP Violence Against Women grant programs of the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

“These federal funds will help victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors and judges work together to ensure that victims of crime receive the services they need and deserve,” said Walter M. Phillips Jr., chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Board approves budget for Conemaugh Twp.

EBENSBURG – Supervisors in Conemaugh Township, Cambria County, have given final approval to a 2010 operating budget totaling $394,000.

The budget was approved by a 3-0 vote, said John S. Peschock, secretary-treasurer.

The real estate levy, which is 10 mills, remains unchanged.

All other taxes remain the same as well, Peschock said.

Wreath-laying event planned at memorial

SHANKSVILLE – A ceremony will be held at noon Saturday at the Flight 93 Temporary Memorial to honor those who have lost their lives in service to the country.

Forty wreaths will be placed – one for each of the passengers and crew of Flight 93, which crashed Sept. 11, 2001.

Wreaths Across America and Wal-Mart will recognize veterans with a wreath-laying ceremony.

Wal-Mart is making a $150,000 donation to help Wreaths Across America buy, transport and lay 16,000 wreaths at the Flight 93 site and four other national cemeteries and memorial sites across the country.

Wreaths Across America began in 2006 as an offshoot of the Arlington National Cemetery wreath project.

Reservations due for NAACP meeting

The Johnstown Branch of the NAACP will hold its annual meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Grove Avenue United Methodist Church, 501 Grove Ave., Johnstown.

All committee chairs are asked to provide a written report on activities this year.

Dinner will be served.

Those planning to attend are asked to respond by Saturday by calling Dorothy Thomas at 539-6123.

Miss Merry Christmas pageant tonight

NORTHERN CAMBRIA – More than 40 girls, from infants to age 18, will compete in several categories today in the second annual Miss Merry Christmas Pageant.

The pageant will begin at

7 p.m. at Northern Cambria Middle School.

Ronnie Weaver of the Bridal Suite in Richland Township is the coordinator.

Mother-daughter class available

A mother-daughter growing up class will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 at Richard Kastelic M.D. & Associates, 322 Warren St., Johnstown.

The cost is $10. To register, call 288-4498, ext. 300.

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