Donna D. Gority (second from right) stands with Michael A. Fiore (from left), OOT president, Philip Devorris, OOT secretary, and Greg Drew, OOT board member, after receiving Operation Our Town’s Community Partnership Award Thursday at the Blair County Convention Center. Courtesy photo

Operation Our Town Thursday presented its top award — the Community Partnership Award — to former Blair County Commissioner Donna D. Gority.

The Community Partnership Award is presented annually to a community partner who supports and furthers the mission of Operation Our Town through efforts to take back our neighborhoods and make Blair County a great place to live.

“This award goes to long term Blair County Commissioner Donna Gority for all she has done for Operation Our Town, to help make Blair County a great place to live. She is still a member of the grants committee. She has always been a part of the community partners that we serve; she gives her time freely,” said Philip Devorris, Operation Our Town secretary.

“I am very honored to receive this recognition. I have been with Operation Our Town from the very beginning. It has been a privilege to work with this group and work with all of you in the community,” Gority said.

Operation Our Town, founded in 2006 with a mission to facilitate partnerships between community and business to fight drug abuse and crime through proven law enforcement treatment and prevention techniques, also presented 26 law enforcement awards, given annually to Blair County Law Enforcement individuals who have demonstrated their commitment, through their efforts, toward making the community a safe place to live and raise families.

Five people were recognized for their efforts in the Blystone investigation.

They included: Detective Donald Paul of the State College Police Department, Agent Alton Pittman of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General BNI, Trooper Aaron Dugan of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop G Vice, Patrolman Jeffrey Barr of the Tyrone Borough Police Department and Corporal Stephen Fox and K-9 Blue of the Altoona Police Department.

In early 2025, officers used a confidential informant to purchase cocaine from Shawn Blystone of Tyrone.

In March, police arrested Quida Mertens and recovered two pounds and five ounces of crack cocaine and 3½ ounces of powder cocaine from Mertens residence in Altoona.

Mertens posted bail in April, and in September, police again using a confidential informant purchased cocaine from Larry Evans of Tyrone, which led officers to identify Mertens as his source.

Mertens was arrested again in December, along with Toya Kennedy, after two pounds of cocaine were found in their vehicle on I-99.

In January, Evans was arrested at his residence when police seized approximately two ounces of cocaine from his vehicle and an additional five ounces of marijuana from his residence.

Ten were recognized for their efforts in the Krause investigation.

They included: Patrolman Christopher Moser of the Tyrone Borough Police Department, Chief Joseph Schlecht of the Bellwood Borough Police Department, Trooper Jake Weibley of the Pennsylvania State Police IRT, Trooper Michael Whelan of the Pennsylvania State Police IRT, Corporal John Romeo of the Pennsylvania State Police IRT, Patrolman Derek Reid of the Clearfield Regional Police, Patrolman Brandon Desmett of the Clearfield Regional Police, Trooper Zachary Moran of the Pennsylvania State Police Vice Troop C, Corporal Nathan Owens of the Pennsylvania State Police Vice Troop C and Trooper Aaron O’Shell of the Pennsylvania State Police Vice Troop G.

Jeffrey M. Krause, 46, West Decatur, was one of two men arrested during a joint operation by the Blair and Clearfield counties drug task forces which uncovered a large amount of drugs in an Antis Township motel room in September.

Eleven were recognized for their efforts in the Francois-Moon investigation.

They included: Patrolman Christopher Moser of the Tyrone Borough Police Department, Detective Chad Weaver of the Tyrone Borough Police Department, Corporal Stephen Fox and K-9 Blue of the Altoona Police Department, Trooper Zachary Moran of the Pennsylvania State Police Vice Troop C, Corporal Nathan Owens of the Pennsylvania State Police Vice Troop C, Trooper Aaron O’Shell of the Pennsylvania State Police Vice Troop G, Trooper Gina Bonacci of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop G CID, Trooper John Hodges of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop G CID, Trooper Nick Luciano of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop G CID, Trooper Shane Eichelberger of the Pennsylvania State Police IRT and Trooper Josh Yaworski of the Pennsylvania State Police IRT.

Calil Francois-Moon, 20, of Munhall, was charged with six felony counts of possession with intent to deliver, six misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and one summary count of disorderly conduct in connection with three suspected overdose deaths in Tyrone and Snyder Township.

The charges stemmed from a joint investigation by state police at Hollidaysburg, the state Attorney General’s office and the Tyrone Borough Police Department. Through the investigation, officers learned the source of the heroin/fentanyl used in the overdoses came from a residence along the 100 block of Gladys Lane in Snyder Township, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Thomas Brandt from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General said all three cases were a result of collaboration.

“These are all about collaboration where everyone works together to achieve a common goal. This is the highest level of collaboration we have ever had in Blair County; it is really making a difference,” Brandt said.

“The collaboration has been remarkable. Drugs remain the top priority. They remain the root of all evil. We are challenged today by the homeless issue, drug rehab issues and people coming to our town and back on the streets with nowhere to go. That is becoming a major issue,” said Michael A. Fiore, Operation Our Town president.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.