Published: November 06, 2009 10:45 pm      

In brief: Rival plans health-care rally at Murtha office

A Washington County congressional hopeful plans to stage a health-care rally today in front of U.S. Rep. John Murtha’s Johnstown office.

Tim Burns, a Republican who expects to run for the 12th Congressional District seat next year, said he will urge Murtha, a Democrat, to vote no on the pending health-care bill during the 2:30 p.m. rally.

Murtha’s district office is at 647 Main St.

Glessner Road closing for sewer work

Motorists in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, are advised to avoid the area of Glessner Road near the intersection with Route 985 in Benscreek between noon and 5 p.m. Monday.

Glessner Road will be closed to through traffic to allow Ligonier Construction to install a sanitary sewer line.

Motorists are asked to use an alternate route.

Defense plans appeal of trooper’s conviction

INDIANA – A judge has rejected the appeal of a former state trooper serving life in prison for the slashing death of his live-in girlfriend’s estranged husband.

Attorneys for 44-year-old Kevin Foley, of White Township, contend DNA samples under Blairsville dentist John Yelenic’s fingernails were matched to Foley using “junk science.” They also claim jurors improperly discussed the case before deliberations.

Indiana County Judge William Martin rejected those appeals this week, and Foley’s attorneys said they’ll appeal to the Superior Court.

Foley was convicted of killing Yelenic on April 13, 2006, a day before he was to sign papers in a divorce so acrimonious that Yelenic’s attorney tried unsuccessfully to get the divorce decree issued after his death.

Somerset superintendent takes leave

SOMERSET – David Pastrick, superintendent of Somerset Area School District, has taken a leave of absence.

The leave was granted at the school board meeting Tuesday.

Pastrick requested the leave but the district has not said why.

Assistant Superintendent Krista Mathias has been named acting superintendent.

“Actually, it’s quite a common experience for superintendents to take time off,” Mathias said Friday. “There’s really not much to it.”

The district made news in September when it missed the Adequate Yearly Progress mark as set by the No Child Left Behind Act. Pastrick said at the time that the district was taking steps to resolve the situation. Only 26 districts out of more than 500 statewide missed the AYP benchmark.

St. Francis students helping to can hunger

LORETTO – St. Francis University’s Students in Free Enterprise business club will host a food drive sponsored by Campbell’s Soup Co. The “Let’s Can Hunger” drive will run from Monday through Nov. 19.

Donation bins will be in place at various grocery stores throughout northern Cambria County, including Smithmyer’s Superette in Loretto, Leyo’s Supermarket in Patton, BiLo in Northern Cambria, West End Market in Ebensburg, and Mainline Pharmacy and Route 53 Diner in Cresson.

All contributions will be donated to impoverished families by the Dorothy Day Center at the university.

SIFE members take part in activities on and off campus to educate and improve the community through business.

For more information on the food drive or to find out how to make a donation, e-mail Tyler Stumph at Tasst8@mail.francis.edu.