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Code Red air quality alert issued

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has declared a statewide Code Red Air Quality Action Day for particulate matter (PM2.5) for today, Thursday, July 16. Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota will be entering Pennsylvania’s northernmost counties and pushing into southern counties, creating Code Red concentrations of PM2.5, DEP said in a news release. Residents are strongly encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area. The state DEP has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Friday, July 17, for all of central Pennsylvania. ...

Hollidaysburg Borough appoints Wertz as new council member

The Hollidaysburg Borough Council appointed a new member to fill the council seat left vacant by the resignation of Clay Gingrich, who represented the third ward. It was noted during Thursday evening’s meeting that Gingrich had recommended Stephanie Wertz as his replacement. The council agreed with this recommendation and unanimously appointed Wertz to the seat. Gingrich was elected to the council in 2023 and tendered his resignation June 11 after moving out of the borough. Wertz will serve in the seat until the next election, when she can run to retain the seat, according to ...

Harrisburg pair arrested for drugs

Two Harrisburg men are accused of trafficking narcotics into Altoona after a traffic stop Tuesday led to officers discovering nearly 100 grams of crack cocaine. Gregory Craig Joseph Johnson and James Ryles Griffin, both 52, were arraigned on identical charges of single felony counts of ...

Blair County Convention Center revises purchasing policy

The authority that manages the Blair County Convention Center has updated its purchasing practices and policies, thereby setting $24,500 as the amount triggering the need to go through a formal bidding process. The authority, which met Wednesday, voted in favor of adjusting its prior policy, which set $18,900 as the threshold for formal bidding. The updated policy also addresses rules for purchases costing less than $24,500. For purchases and/or contracts valued at $2,501 through $13,200, the convention center staff will need to secure two quotes, in writing or by phone. For ...

Making waves

Xander Montanez, 5, gets a swimming lesson from his mother, Tiffany Mills, both of Tyrone, at Tyrone Community Pool on Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski