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Grampian man killed in chase
A Grampian man was killed during a high-speed chase by state police Saturday night.
According to a police report, Matthew Chelgren, 38, was operating a black Toyota 4Runner with no registration when officers tried to initiate a stop about 11:31 p.m. on Windy Hill Road in Penn Township.
Chelgren failed to stop and fled at a high rate of speed, police reported. During the pursuit, Chelgren crashed along Harper Mine Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A 47-year-old passenger in the vehicle was flown to UPMC Altoona for treatment of minor injuries, police reported.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
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Grazierville bridge to be closed
Motorists who use the Grazierville bridge that carries Old Route 220 over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in Snyder Township will find the road closed beginning Monday.
A 5.7-mile detour will be in place while Amari Painting & Lining LLC of Meadowlands works to rehabilitate the truss bridge. The contractor will make steel repairs, apply new paint and make guide rail upgrades.
PennDOT said the work on the $3,282,465 project is expected to be completed by the end of August.
Beginning Monday, traffic will follow the detour from East Pleasant Valley Boulevard to Washington Avenue to 10th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue to Route 453 to I-99 to the Grazierville Exit and back to Old Route 220. The detour will be in place for the duration of the project.
City offering smoke alarms
The City of Altoona Fire Department has been awarded $22,857.14 as part of the Department of Homeland Security's FY2021 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Awards Program. The funds will be used to purchase and install smoke alarms for Altoona residents.
Altoona residents who wish to have a smoke alarm installed by the fire department can call 814-949-2230. Homes should have smoke alarms installed in each bedroom, as well as on every floor, including the basement, according to a news release.
Philipsburg woman jailed for meth
A Philipsburg woman has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on her conviction of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to information presented to the court, from July 2019 to June 2020, Kierston Bell, 34, conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Bell pleaded guilty in federal court last year to violating federal narcotics laws.
The sentence was imposed by Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
Bell was among a number of residents from Centre, Clearfield, Clinton and Erie counties who were indicted and arrested on charges of violating federal drug laws, money laundering and unlawful possession of firearms in June 2020 following an 18-month investigation into drug trafficking between Atlanta and Central Pennsylvania.