Clyde Eckenrode of Loretto is celebrating his 100th birthday today with family and friends. Born July 9, 1926, he grew up on a farm in Loretto and at the age of 17, joined the U.S. Navy, where he served on the USS Dauphin in the Pacific during WWII. After his time in the Navy, he met and ...
Local history 50 years ago: July 9, 1976 Gov. Milton J. Shapp declared June as Laurel Month in Pennsylvania in honor of the state flower, the Mountain Laurel, and had two laurels planted at the Governor’s Mansion, an idea of Rep. John P. Milliron of Altoona. Laurel Bank, named for the flower, participated in the laurel ceremonies. 25 years ago: July 9, 2001 Work was underway at Penn State Altoona for a new soccer field and track. Sports Information Director Brent Baird hoped it would help players stay all four years at the Altoona Campus instead of transferring to State College ...
The Nittany Valley Running Club’s Arts Festival Races are set for Sunday, July 12, and will once again feature 5K, 10K, and Kids Fun Run events, said Pamela Snyder Etters, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. “We are excited to welcome both new and returning racers for what promises to be a fun but challenging race and to welcome back Mount Nittany Health as the Presenting Sponsor of the Arts Festival Races again in 2026,” Etters said. From start to finish, runners will enjoy some of the area’s most beautiful scenery at the 48th Annual Sue ...
The 38th Annual Blair Media Blood Blitz blood drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at the Altoona Area Junior High School Fieldhouse, 1400 Seventh Ave., Altoona. The 10-hour event is the largest blood drive in Blair County with a goal to collect 130 units of blood. The American Red Cross has an urgent need for donors and is counting on people to act now and book a time to give lifesaving blood. Donors of all blood types are essential in keeping the blood supply strong enough to withstand summer challenges. Book a time to give blood by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, ...
Local history 50 years ago: July 7, 1976 A railroad caboose called “Mae West,” on display at the Horseshoe Curve for the past 15 years, was destroyed by fire. The caboose was built in the Altoona PRR shops in 1916 and donated to the Curve by the Blair County Tourist Bureau. 25 years ago: July 7, 2001 Mike Little, director of the Central Blair Recreation Commission, said that the installation of the $117,000, 21-foot water slide at Memorial Pool in Juniata had doubled attendance, with more than 600 people attending in one day. 10 years ago: July 7, 2016 Multiple law ...
Local history 50 years ago: About 150 Altoona residents held Town Meeting ’76 to discuss problems facing the city like economics, too much political power in the hands of few, lack of communication and other issues. Establishment of a youth corps was discussed. 25 years ago: A group called Citizens Action, which favored the legalization of industrial hemp, sponsored a visit by a Solution to Pollution hemp-powered Mercedes Benz at the K-Mart parking lot. An Industrial Hemp Festival was being held at the Sinking Valley Fairgrounds. 10 years ago: A statue of Johnny Robertson, an ...
