Altoona Mirror

altoonamirror.com • 9th March 2022

BASD approves health, safety plan

BELLWOOD — The Bellwood-Antis School Board met with in-person public access for the first time Tuesday since the Feb. 1 Committee of the Whole Board meeting that resulted in charges against some members of the public.

The board held its most recent public meetings virtually for safety and security reasons, officials previously said.

The board approved a variety of motions, including updating the health and safety plan.

altoonamirror.com • 28th February 2022

Carving masterpieces

When Anthony Pater was a kid, he was not supposed to watch the shows on Cartoon Network — the only exception being “Scooby Doo.” But when visiting his grandparents, Pater found a TV in a spare bedroom where he would turn on Channel 64 and watch “forbidden” cartoons like “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” described as an animated comedy horror television series.

Pater said he remembers thinking, “This is good stuff.”

altoonamirror.com • 24th February 2022

District health, safety plan updated

ROARING SPRING — The Spring Cove School Board approved an update to the district’s health and safety plan Tuesday night.

Superintendent Betsy Baker said officials were pleased to see a continuing downward trend of COVID-19 cases in the county and school. As of Tuesday night, Baker said the district had gone five days without a single school-related COVID-19 case.

altoonamirror.com • 20th February 2022

Cellular networks ending 3G service

Local residents may need to upgrade cellphones, as well as medical alert, security and safety systems, as 3G cellular networks are being phased out to make way for improved 4G and 5G services.

The Federal Communication Commission announced earlier this year the plan for a phase out of 3G cellular service to prepare for more advanced network services. The loss of 3G networks may impact those with older cellphones and those who use out-of-service cellphones only for emergency calls to 911.

altoonamirror.com • 16th February 2022

B-A board hears public’s frustrations

BELLWOOD — During a virtual meeting Tuesday, members of the public civilly expressed their frustrations with the Bellwood-Antis School Board, including one person who apologized for what happened at a previous meeting.

District officials moved the meeting to a virtual format following behavior that resulted in legal charges at the board’s Feb. 1 meeting. Members of the public questioned the district’s actions with frustrations bubbling over concerning the Ryan Blazier sexual abuse case.

altoonamirror.com • 9th February 2022

Bellwood protest vents frustrations

BELLWOOD — About 15 community members with signs gathered across the street from Bellwood-Antis High School Tuesday afternoon, demonstrating their frustrations of perceived unanswered calls for district officials to respond to the community’s questions.

altoonamirror.com • 7th February 2022

Freezin’ for a reason: Polar plunge raises $100,000 for Special Olympics

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Nine inches of ice on Canoe Creek Lake made for perfect conditions as penguins, unicorns, chickens and even an arctic mermaid plunged into the icy water Saturday to raise money for Special Olympics Pennsylvania.

With partly sunny skies, flurries and temperatures in the upper teens, more than 250 people descended on Canoe Creek State Park for the 11th annual Winter Games Polar Plunge.

altoonamirror.com • 1st February 2022

Anime paradise: Setsucon returns to Blair County Convention Center

Nearly 2,000 visitors — many dressed in costumes — are expected to descend on the Blair County Convention Center this weekend for a festival celebrating Japanese animation.

Setsucon, a yearly convention run by the Penn State Anime Organization, brings anime, manga, gaming and Japanese pop culture to the region, organizers said.

Billed as “winter’s warmest anime paradise,” Setsucon comes from the Ja­p­­­anese word setsu, meaning “snow.”

altoonamirror.com • 24th January 2022

ESL classes break barriers, make connections

Moving to a new place can be intimidating, but adding in a language barrier makes the situation all the more difficult. Day-to-day tasks can become frustrating and difficult when people are immersed in a country where they do not speak the language, local leaders said.

But help is available in schools and through church outreach programs, such as the Altoona English and Culture Club, an English as a Second Language program offered weekly at the Altoona Alliance Church.

altoonamirror.com • 20th January 2022

Schellsburg gunfire focus of hearing

BEDFORD — A Milwaukee man who was allegedly involved in an exchange of gunfire in Schellsburg during a Black Lives Matter march in 2020 had his charges bound over for court during a preliminary hearing Wednesday at the Bedford County Courthouse.

altoonamirror.com • 15th January 2022

Soup programs strive to nourish bodies and souls

As the saying goes, chicken soup is good for the soul, and the Hollidaysburg Soup Program is continuing to nourish the community with a hot meal and a time of fellowship during the winter months.

The Hollidaysburg Soup Program has served countless varieties of soup to the community since 1999, when the First Presbyterian Church started the initiative. Since then, the program grew into a community favorite with the help of more churches and volunteers.

altoonamirror.com • 3rd January 2022

Racing into 2022

For 4-year-old Trenton Franks, it was all about the lights.

“I love the lights,” he said after finishing the 2-mile run through Lakemont Park’s Holiday Lights on the Lake with his grandmother, Susan Franks. The Blair Regional YMCA Twilight Race was the Altoona pair’s first race together, with Trenton’s brother and grandfather also participating.

“It was awesome,” Susan said. “He loved running through all the lights and the light tunnels.”

The Franks were among more than 750 participants in th

altoonamirror.com • 3rd January 2022

Snow plow drivers hit the road in Blair County

After weeks of mild weather interspersed with cold spells, forecasters’ predictions of more-seasonable winter weather bringing snow and ice came true Monday morning.

The arrival of winter weather had plow drivers hitting the road, but this year, fewer CDL-licensed drivers are available to take the wheel of the seasonal job and residents are urged to have patience as plowing may take longer in some areas.

altoonamirror.com • 22nd December 2021

No Toy left behind

With Christmas quickly approaching, local holiday aid organizations are nearing the end of their campaigns, and while many are reporting success, there are still opportunities for local residents to give.

altoonamirror.com • 22nd December 2021

Changing traditions: Christmas services continue to adapt to realities of living in pandemic era

From shaking hands and giving hugs to elbow bumps and social distancing, COVID-19 has changed daily life for everyone, but the pandemic has been doubly felt by area churchgoers, for whom gathering together, especially at the holidays, is the backbone of their faith.

Pastor Gary Dull said Faith Baptist Church of Altoona has lost a number of members to the virus, but at the same time, the congregation is able to recognize God’s blessings.

altoonamirror.com • 11th December 2021

HASD makes masks optional

HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Hollidaysburg Area School Board voted 5-4 to allow optional masking in its schools Wednesday night.

Board members Carmen Bilek and Jennifer Costanza, who were recently elected to four-year terms in November’s election, were vital in the meeting’s motions.

altoonamirror.com • 11th December 2021

BG gives football team sweet sendoff

Students, teachers, administrators, family and friends gathered throughout the school for a mobile rally celebrating the culmination of the Marauders’ 2021 football season — a PIAA state championship game. The Marauders play Redbank Valley for the PIAA Class 1A championship today at 1 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium.

altoonamirror.com • 6th November 2021

Nurturing by nature: Myers Elementary teacher leads first graders in litter cleanup effort

BELLWOOD — A group of first graders, donning gloves and “trash grabbers,” spent a recent Friday afternoon in a wooded area near their school helping the environment — and having some fun along the way.

Fifteen students from Bellwood-Antis’ Myers Elementary School joined their teacher and a classroom aide in an effort to clean up the area that David Plummer hopes to turn into an outdoor classroom.

altoonamirror.com • 19th October 2021

Tyrone school board limits comment

TYRONE — Some members of the public left disappointed following Tyrone Area School Board’s meeting on Tuesday after board officials enforced a 20-minute public comment policy.

altoonamirror.com • 22nd September 2021

C-K letting students opt out of masks

District officials said a form will be available online by noon today for parents to opt their children out of masking.

The decision came after more than an hour-and-a-half of public comment where parents, students, district alumni and residents mostly voiced their disapproval and anger with the state mask mandate and enforcement at local schools.

altoonamirror.com • 11th September 2021

State withholding Phoenix relief funds

HOLLIDAYSBURG — The state is withholding relief funds from the Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department this year because of a lack of finished paperwork, Borough Council President Joseph A. Pompa said Thursday.

Pompa said during Thursday’s council meeting the Attorney General’s Office called the borough about the move.