— Twenty-four freight-rail projects across Pennsylvania, including one in Somerset County, will receive a nearly $18.6 million state investment, Gov. Tom Corbett’s office announced Friday.

In Somerset County,  Johnstown Industrial Development Corp. will receive $338,723 to rehabilitate a bridge and track leading into Que Industrial Park.

Prayer rally planned for Wednesday

A “Save Our Town and Our People” prayer rally is planned for Wednesday at Johnstown Grace Brethren Church on the corner of Napoleon and Dibert streets in the Kernville section of Johnstown.

The ecumenical event has been scheduled in response to recent violent crimes occurring in the area. It will last from 5:30 to 6:30. p.m.

 Contact the Rev. Sylvia King, 244-2737, or the Rev. Reginald C. Floyd, 361-2393, for more details.

Rec authority to maintain environmental site

EBENSBURG – Cambria County commissioners approved a memorandum with the Adams-Croyle Township Recreation Authority that will pay the authority $1,000 annually to continue maintaining the county-owned Environmental Education Center site.

The board, which unanimously approved the deal, said the recreation group has handled upkeep for years at the property, which is at the 1889 Park near the National Flood Memorial.

Commissioners schedule more road trips

EBENSBURG – Cambria County commissioners will take some of their meetings on the road again next year.

The board, which held select board meetings at local schools this year, said the evening meetings likely will be held at senior centers next year.

The board said a recent meeting at Greater Johnstown High School generated a good crowd and plenty of interaction with residents.

Sheetz offers free lunch for veterans

Sheetz convenience stores will offer all military veterans a free hot dog lunch on Monday.

Veterans will be served from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at all Sheetz locations.

Veterans will receive two free hot dogs with their choice of toppings and a 22-ounce fountain drink. Active duty or retired veterans must present a valid military identification card, be in uniform or show other proof of military service.

Mount Aloysius hosting open house

Mount Aloysius College will host an open house for  prospective students and parents at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast at the Health and Physical Fitness Center.

Those who attend can sign up for a private consultation with the college’s financial aid experts. Admission staff will also take attendees through the admissions process at the school. Participants will have the opportunity to meet their admissions counselor and take a student-run tour of the campus.  

A complimentary lunch, complete with live music, is a prelude to a “Student Activities, Health Services and Athletics Fair.”

Any student applying to the college during the event will enjoy a waived fee.  

To pre-register for the open house, call (888) 823-2220 or visit the college’s website at www.mtaloy.edu.

Cards collected for service members, families

From Sunday through Nov. 30, American Red Cross blood donors also may participate in the organization’s seventh annual “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program.

The Red Cross collects and distributes cards to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families.

Local blood drives will feature cards for blood donors to sign.

Following each blood drive, the Red Cross will collect the signed cards and work with Pitney Bowes Inc. to get the cards to their destination.

For more information, go to redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS.

Chamber seeking help with luminaries

The Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce is seeking interested groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth groups, 4-H, school groups and other organizations to help with the Christmas luminary project.  

Luminaries will be placed and lighted every Friday and Saturday evening from Nov. 23 through Dec. 22.

For additional information or to volunteer, contact the chamber office at (724) 238-4200. 

  

DAR raffles quilt to help vets

Members of the DAR, Joseph Schantz chapter of Johnstown, made a quilt that will be chanced off to raise money for disabled veterans in the Johnstown and Altoona region.

The quilt is on display at The Quilt Shop in Ebensburg’s mini-mall.

Chances will be sold during Johnstown’s Veterans Day parade at 4 p.m. Monday.

Biology Club hosts presentation

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College’s biology club will host a presentation on Critter Camp Wildlife Rehabilitation at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday in the auditorium of the Richland Campus, located at 101 Community College Way.

Licensed wildlife rehabilitator Ayn Van Dyke will share her knowledge on the growing threat that habitat destruction has on local wildlife. She also will bring some animals with her that she is caring for after they were injured or orphaned in the wild.

She will discuss how she helps animals return to their natural environment and what we all can do to help keep animals safe.

For additional information on the club, contact the adviser, Jill Mitchell, at 262-6487 or email jmitchell@pennhighlands.edu.

The event is free and open to the public.

Concrete dye turns creek blue

CONNELLSVILLE – The state Department of Environmental Protection is all about keeping the state’s waterways nice and blue. Just not this blue.

The agency said it’s investigating an incident involving concrete dye on Thursday that turned a portion of a small creek deep blue in Connellsville Township, Fayette County

Spokesman John Poister said the agency traced the dye to a nearby home where, officials say, the dye wasn’t properly disposed of. The homeowner was using the dye to tint concrete being poured for a basement game room.

Fayette County emergency management director Guy Napolillo said many dyes are biodegradable. Poister said the DEP is investigating just to make sure there were no chemicals in the dye that might harm fish or humans.

Computer glitch causes reactor shutdown

BERWICK – One of two reactors at a northeastern Pennsylvania nuclear plant was shut down Friday morning after a problem with the computer system that controls its level of water, power company officials said.

The Unit 2 reactor at PPL’s Susquehanna nuclear power plant was manually shut down by operators after operators began receiving “invalid data” on a screen, company spokesman Joe Scopelliti said.

The reactor’s temperature and water level were within normal operating levels at the time of the shutdown, Scopelliti said.