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Area briefs

Football group donates

The Cove Youth Football League donated $2,952 to replace a faulty speaker/

amplifier system at the Roaring Spring Athletic Field.

The donation covers the full cost to replace the system. The league has ordered the equipment to be installed for graduation ceremonies this spring.

“We have truly been blessed with a tremendous amount of community support over the last year, and we are extremely grateful,” Spring Cove Superintendent Betsy Baker said.

First-grade teacher honored

Elizabeth Biddle, a Spring Cove Elementary first-grade teacher, was selected by Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics as Educator of the Year in recognition of outstanding leadership and contribution to her school, organizations and the community.

Nominations were received from the Pennsylvania State Education Asso­ciation, the Penn State College of Education and local school districts and were then narrowed to 10 people who were recognized at a recent Penn State football game.

Police: Man misused card

Alleged misuse of a company credit card has lead to charges against a former employee of an Altoona business.

Altoona police have charged Richard A. Butler, 37, of 1791 Bellemeade Drive, with a felony count of access device fraud along with a misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property stemming from his alleged use of a company credit card to buy gas for his private vehicle.

According to the charges, Butler worked for Craig Fencing, 300 E. Sixth Ave., and between Jan. 17 and Oct. 18, he used his company credit card to buy $728.72 in gas for his own vehicle.

Police noted the card was meant to pay for fuel for the company’s vehicles. Butler allegedly admitted to police this week that he had used the card to buy gas on 12 occasions for his own vehicle.

Butler was arraigned Friday and released on an unsecured $7,5000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 27 at Central Court.

Diocese scores low in study

The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown received a score of 22 out of a possible 60 in a recently completed study that revealed a wide disparity in online financial transparency for U.S. Roman Catholic dioceses.

The study was conducted by the Finance Working Group of Voice of the Faithful, a movement of Catholics concerned, among other things, with helping to ensure that the hierarchy uses the church’s financial resources accountably and transparently.

The working group’s review of all 177 U.S. diocesan websites shows a level of openness well below what could be reasonably expected of an organization anywhere near the size of the U.S. Catholic Church. Overall scores ranged from 59 to 10 out of a possible 60.

Child safety seat check set

A child safety seat check will be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. today.

According to state police, troopers and officers with the Altoona Police Department and UPMC Altoona Police Department recently have completed the 32-hour state certification course to become Child Passenger Safety Technicians and will be at Target in Altoona today for a car safety seat checkpoint.

The event aims to help parents and caregivers with questions about car seats as well as allowing them to have officers check to ensure they are properly installed.

Under state law, children under 4 years-old must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. In addition, children under 2 must be secured in a rear-facing seat and children between 4 and 8 must use a booster seat. Children between 8 and 18 must wear a seat belt, police remind drivers.

Police: Man stole vehicle

A Centre County man is wanted by police in Blair County after he allegedly stole a car from a Greenwood car dealer during a test drive.

According to Altoona police, Donald E. Rockey III, 34, of Pleasant Gap stole a black 2007 Ford Focus on Dec. 2 during a test drive.

Rockey allegedly forced an employee of Mattas Motorsports in Greenwood out of the car during the test drive. He is now wanted by Logan Township police on felony theft-related charges.

Police are asking people to be on the look out for a black Ford Focus, which bears dealer license plate J82-517J.

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