The GantDaily.com reload will be posted each weekend for your perusal. For most part, the reload will be filled with local headlines, but every now and again, a state, world or national story will make the list.
Man Gets State Prison for Home Invasion, Assault
CLEARFIELD – A DuBois man accused of invading an elderly couple’s home and assaulting another man at his residence was sentenced to state prison during colloquy court in Clearfield County.
Eric Britton, 30, 139 Main St., Falls Creek, an inmate of the jail, pleaded guilty to robbery, burglary, criminal conspiracy and false imprisonment in one case and robbery, burglary, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault and simple assault in a second case. He was sentenced to four to nine years in state prison. He was fined $10 plus costs and must pay restitution of more than $1,132.
Sharon Robinson, Daughter of Baseball Legend, to Speak on Campus
DUBOIS – Sharon Robinson, the daughter of the legendary Jackie Robinson, is scheduled to speak at Penn State DuBois at 12 p.m. Feb. 5, in Hiller Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
Robinson will offer her program, Values, Baseball, and Jackie Robinson, touching on the many life lessons she learned from her father following his battle with racial barriers in Major League Baseball.
Two Cemetery Vandals Sentenced to Jail
CLEARFIELD – Two Clearfield men pleaded guilty to vandalizing an area cemetery in Clearfield County Court.
Heath Hemphill Jr., 20, 410 Shaw St., Clearfield, and Dylan Lee Cutler, 18, 110 High St., Clearfield, pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy, institutional vandalism, intentional desecration of public monument, historic lots and burial places, criminal mischief, and public drunkenness.
Houtzdale Man Gets State Prison for Carrying Firearm, Possessing Drugs
CLEARFIELD – A Houtzdale man will spend up to eight years in state prison for carrying a gun while on a hiking trail and for possessing a variety of drugs at a hotel.
Richard Allen Demko Jr., 19, 178 Spring St., Houtzdale, an inmate of the jail, was before Clearfield County Judge Fredric J. Ammerman in Clearfield County Court, where he pleaded guilty to person not to possess firearms and firearm not to be carried. He was sentenced to four to eight years in state prison.
Propane Leak Caused House Explosion in Sandy Twp.
SANDY TOWNSHIP – A propane gas leak caused a house to explode into flames yesterday afternoon at 1676 Caribbean Rd. in Treasure Lake, Sandy Township, reported the state police at DuBois.
Camp Hope Run Landfill . . . PA Waste Faces Deadline
CLEARFIELD – The deadline for PA Waste LLC to respond to deficiencies found within its proposed Camp Hope Run landfill permit application expires today, according to Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen.
Gabler Supports SchoolWATCH Legislation to Improve Accountability and Transparency
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) voted this week to pass legislation that would provide Pennsylvania taxpayers greater access to information on public school spending.
Gabler is a co-sponsor of House Bill 1411, which would create the Public School Web Accountability and Transparency (SchoolWATCH) Act.
Marine Corps Probes Photos of Soldiers Defiling Iraqi Insurgents Corpses
Windsor Genova – Fourth Estate Cooperative Contributor
Washington, DC, United States (4E) – The U.S. Marine Corps is investigating the veracity of new photos of its members burning the bodies of Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004.
JC Penney to Eliminate Jobs, Close Shops to Help Return to Profitability
Nathan Andrada – Fourth Estate Cooperative Contributor
New York, NY, United States (4E) – JC Penney announced that it will close 33 stores and cut 2,000 jobs as the U.S. retailer tries to reduce costs aimed at reviving profitability.
The decision comes as the company is struggling to rebound after former chief executive officer Ron Johnson’s failed effort to overhaul the retailer by eliminating promotions and doing away with in-house brands.
County Prepares for Judicial Tax Sale
CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County has started preparations to conduct a judicial tax sale in March, according to Commissioner John A. Sobel, chairperson.
The commissioners, Sobel said, have been “pressed for many months” from various segments of the community that want the county to start having regular judicial tax sales. He said the commissioners, the county’s Tax Assessment Office and associated offices have been preparing to have a judicial tax sale this year and annually after that.
Man Waives Hearing in Sexual Assault Case
CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man accused of furnishing alcohol to a group of boys and engaging in sexual activity with one boy waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James Hawkins on Wednesday during Centralized Court at the Clearfield County Jail.
Brockway Educator Congratulated for Selection as a Finalist for National Teacher of the Year
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett has congratulated Ryan Devlin, a teacher in Brockway Area School District, Jefferson County, for being selected as one of four national finalists for the 2014 National Teacher of the Year award.
CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation recently awarded grants to nine local community agencies and organizations.
Clearfield Borough to Seek DCED Grants
CLEARFIELD – After a public hearing Thursday night, Clearfield Borough Council approved resolutions to pursue two grants through the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
Man Waives Hearing in Indecent Assault Case
CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man accused of indecent assault waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Jerome Nevling during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
DEP Unveils Susquehanna River Study Video
HARRISBURG – The state Department of Environmental Protection has announced the launch of an all-new educational video about the ongoing water quality study on the Susquehanna River.
“This video illustrates the complexity and rigorous nature of a technical and time-consuming scientific study,” DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “With a renewed focus on public education, resources like this video are essential to teach Pennsylvanians about this important issue.”
Judge Strikes Down Pennsylvania Voter ID Law
By Allie Malloy, CNN
(CNN) – A Pennsylvania judge on Friday struck down a law requiring voters in that state to show photo identification at the polls, stating the requirement was an “unreasonable burden.”