News for 11/22/12

Thanksgiving……….11 22 12

 In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, all township offices will be closed. There will be no Veolia refuse collection for customers in Benner, College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton Townships. The transfer station will also be closed.

 Cata will also not operate today. Buses will run on a reduced schedule tomorrow with full schedule returning on Saturday.  

Lottery

 State officials have until the end of the year to make a decision on putting the Pennsylvania Lottery in the hands of a private manager.After qualifying three potential bidders, the state received just one bid from the British firm, Camelot Global Services.

 The bid, from the same company that runs the national lottery in the UK, was worth 34 billion dollars over a span of 20 years.  

Sandusky

 A television network obtained clearance yesterday from the judge presiding over Jerry Sandusky’s criminal case for access to photos used as exhibits during Sandusky’s trial last summer.

 According to the AP, Judge John Cleland granted ABC the right to get copies of 15 photographs related to Aaron Fisher, described as victim 1 in court records.

 The network had sought the photos last month, as it was preparing to report on Fisher’s book about his experience titled “Silent No More.”   

Baldwin

 Citing that her testimony was the basis for the second indictment of Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, the attorneys for both men are asking that former Vice President and General Council of Penn State Cynthia Baldwin not be permitted to testify next month at their preliminary hearing.

 Though she claims she was representing the universities interests, Baldwin heard Curley and Schultz’s grand jury testimony in January 2011, and the two men were under the impression that she was representing them.

 The attorneys for both men believe their clients were betrayed by Baldwin. 

Altoona Regional/UPMC

 Another partnership is potentially in the works. The Altoona Regional Health System says it plans to discuss an affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

 Though no final decisions have been made, Altoona Regional spokesman Dave Cuzzolina told WTAJ-TV that a partnership with UPMC could mean access to new funding, growth in employees, and services in the Altoona area that patients used to have to seek in Pittsburgh.

Boy Scout Grant

 According to Senator Jake Corman and Representative Kerry Benninghoff, The Juniata Valley Boy Scouts of America were awarded a $250,000 state grant to make improvements to the Seven Mountains Scout Camp in Peters Township.

 The grant was provided through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnership Program (CCPP).