Logantown worthy of improvement plan

February 23, 2026

Beginning in 1992 and lasting over a decade, the Logantown community fought a battle with the Altoona YMCA to save their local park. This neighborhood conflict brought a lot of attention to Logantown’s deteriorating condition. Twenty-five years ago on July 6, Altoona hired its first planning director in three years, who focused his attention on the condition of Logantown during the ongoing dealings with the YMCA. He restarted a past program, the “Logantown Revitalization Strategy Area Plan,” that primarily obtained grants for needed home, street and sidewalk improvements for ...

Principled, fiscal conservative needed

February 23, 2026

Now, more than ever, we need a principled, fiscally conservative voice in Harrisburg. That’s why I am supporting Andrea Verobish in the special election to fill Representative Lou Schmitt’s vacant seat in the 79th Legislative District. Her values are our values: Pro-Life, Pro-2nd Amendment and in favor of protecting women’s sports. She believes strongly in unleashing Pennsylvania energy’s potential and she opposes reckless state spending and legalizing recreational marijuana. Andrea Verobish is uniquely qualified to represent the people of Pennsylvania’s 79th State ...

Verobish qualified to lead 79th District

February 23, 2026

I am hoping that my fellow Blair County citizens who live in House District 79 will support Andrea Verobish in the March 17 Special Election. Andrea is well qualified to be a state representative in the 79th. She’s well-educated. She graduated from Hollidaysburg High School, attended college, and has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. That knowledge will help her analyze the State budgets and keep the big-government liberals in check. We need her to provide leadership to restore a more sane conservative majority back into the Statehouse in Harrisburg. She is a strong ...

Enforcement without discrimination a must

February 23, 2026

The recent article in the Altoona Mirror, which indicated “Some Altoona residents might think that the city is being harsh in ordering that two recovery homes be closed because the operator opened the facilities prior to them having passed life-safety inspections that are the responsibility of the Fire and Codes departments,” suggested that those who opposed the ordinance, adopted Jan. 6, 2026, were against the city for establishing measures that would protect the lives and well-being of those who would benefit from these types of residences. This is far from the truth. I ...

State taxpayers left paying the bills

February 20, 2026

Just three months after the 2025-26 budget negotiations were finalized, Gov. Josh Shapiro has introduced his proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, beginning on July 1. Shapiro is, once again, proposing an irresponsible and unsustainable $53.3 billion budget, which represents a 6.3% increase over last year’s budget, further depletes the Rainy Day Fund and balloons the state’s structural deficit. Rather than do the hard work of sitting down with Republican and Democratic legislators to find ways to rein in spending and balance the budget, Shapiro is catering to special ...

Blair County needs Verobish

February 20, 2026

As a state representative, I urge 79th District voters to support Andrea Verobish in the March 17 special election. It is critical that we elect principled conservatives who will stand against Governor Shapiro’s reckless spending and the progressive agenda advancing full-term abortion and marijuana legalization. Andrea Verobish will be a consistent conservative voice fighting for fiscal responsibility and traditional values. Don’t sit this one out. Join me in supporting Andrea Verobish on March 17. Scott Barger Hollidaysburg