TyronePA.com

DUI
On May 29, state police reported Justin David Keller, 23, Bellwood, was driving a 2002 Chevy Blazer when stopped by police on I-99 southbound between the 17th Street and Frankstown Road exits in Logan Twp. Police received numerous calls about Keller driving into the oncoming lane of traffic and striking orange construction barrels. Keller was placed under arrest for DUI, transported to PSP Hollidaysburg for an evaluation by a drug recognition expert, and then taken to Bon Secours for a legal blood test. Based upon the lab results, charges for DUI and related summary offenses were filed at MDJ Kelly’s office in Altoona.
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Hit and Run
State police reported on June 14 that an unknown operator of a small black pick-up truck was traveling east on SR 550 in Warriors Mark Twp. when a metal ladder came unsecured from the bed of the truck. Jessica Lynn Shaw, 30, Warriors Mark, was traveling west on SR 550 and struck the ladder which was protruding from the black puck-up truck. The unknown driver failed to stop and continued east on SR 550. Shaw was wearing a seat belt and her vehicle sustained damage to the left front and left side. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact PSP Huntingdon at 814-627-3161.
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Numerous charges
On June 14, state police said that Brandon Keirs, 24, Tyrone, pushed, shoved and struck a known 47-year-old female victim at the Susquehannock Campground in Penn Twp., Huntingdon. Keirs also threatened the victim with a splitting maul. He was arraigned at District Court 20-3-03 for Terroristic Threats, Harassment, and Disorderly Conduct, and was placed in Huntingdon County Jail in lieu of bail.

Hoss’s Steak and Sea House and the Greater Alleghenies Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross have announced a special “Blood Donations – It HOSS to Happen!” campaign in Blair County during June.
Presenting donors at all Red Cross blood drives held in Blair County during June will be entered into a drawing for one $25 Hoss’s Steak and Sea House Gift Card to be raffled off at each drive.
“There is a 97 percent chance that someone you know will need a blood transfusion. Every two seconds, someone in the US needs a blood transfusion,” stated the Greater Alleghenies Region’s Julie Bratton, donor resources field representative for Blair County. “The need is ongoing, 365 days a year.”
“All too frequently we hear that area blood supplies are low. We are committed to helping the Red Cross ensure adequate blood supplies at area hospitals, including the Altoona Regional Health System,” stated John Brown, President, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House.
“Simply put, increased donor turnout HOSS to happen, and happen now. Our understanding is that just a fraction of those who can give blood actually donate, so we hope our collaboration will attract both new and current blood donors.”
According to Bratton, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, a longtime supporter of Red Cross Blood Services, sets an outstanding example for the community.
“Hoss’s holds Red Cross blood drives and provides in-kind donations to support several major Red Cross blood drives in the area. Last year, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House won our blood region’s ‘Corporate Good Neighbor Award’ in recognition for its support.”
Reinforcing the urgent need for blood donations, Bratton said that as of this morning, the 100-county region has approximately just a one-day supply of O-positive, O-negative, A-negative and B-negative blood types.
“Summertime is a very challenging period for us. One-fifth of our annual blood donations are given at high schools, universities and colleges, and most of these locations are not yet available during the summer. Some donors may also be away on vacation, yet patients’ blood needs to continue,” Bratton said.
The Greater Alleghenies Region has scheduled the following drives in Blair County during June:
Tuesdays – Noon to 6 p.m., Red Cross Donor Center, 317 East Pleasant Valley Boulevard.
Wednesday, June 18 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Altoona Regional Health System – Nurses’ Auditorium, 620 Howard Avenue, Altoona; and 12:30 to 6 p.m., Bellwood Senior Center, one Main Street, Bellwood.
Tuesday, June 24 – 1 to 7 p.m., Tyrone Senior Center, 505 third Street, Tyrone.
Individuals age 17 or older, who weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health can donate blood. In Pennsylvania, 16-year-olds may donate blood with parental permission. Those with specific eligibility questions should contact the Nursing Collections office at (800) 542-5663. Most donors are eligible to give blood every 56 days.
Donation appointments may be scheduled at many Red Cross blood drives. To schedule a blood donation appointment where available call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543).
The Greater Alleghenies Region directly serves hospitals, patients and donors in a 100-county area in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, with more than five-dozen blood products and related services, and also supports blood needs experienced by patients elsewhere in hospitals served through Red Cross Blood Services.

Every year, the Keystone Division of the March of Dimes holds the annual Rubber Duck Regatta at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park, Tipton Waterworks.
This marks the 11th year for the regatta which will be held Sunday, August 10 at 3 p.m. at the park.
In preparation for the event, the March of Dimes is currently seeking individuals and organizations interested in becoming rubber duck vendors.
As a duck vendor, organizations will be provided with souvenir rubber ducks, tickets and posters by the March of Dimes to promote the regatta.
Each ticket sold will correspond to a number on a matching “floater” duck that will be entered into the race down Tipton Waterworks.
Five ducks will be chosen by a March of Dimes ambassador child, and those five winners will receive one of the valuable packages donated by local businesses, with the grand prize being a $1,000 Wolf Furniture Shopping Spree.
To become a March of Dimes Rubber Duck Regatta vendor, or to receive more information about the event, contact Kimberly Tweedy by phone at: (814) 330-8601 or by email at: ktweedy@marchofdimes.com.
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services education and advocacy to save babies.
With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works hard to improve the health of babies.
For more information, individuals can call the March of Dimes office at 696-9691 or 1-800-258-4159.
For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

Tyrone Hospital received a $10,000 vision grant from the National Institute of Health’s, National Eye Institute (NEI). The grant is being used to conduct vision screenings for pre-school age children in the Tyrone area.
The National Eye Institute made resources available to help communities achieve the goals outlined in Healthy People 2010. Healthy People 2010 is a collection of national health goals which includes vision health goals, among them a goal to increase the number of pre-school age children who receive a vision screening. Pennsylvania’s State Health Improvement Plan which is developed based on the Healthy People 2010 also addresses the need for vision screenings in young children.
According to the National Eye Institute, children 5 years and younger can be affected by eye and vision problems. Visual impairment caused by refractive errors (farsightedness or nearsightedness), amblyopia (lazy eye), and/or strabismus (crossed eyes) are common conditions among young children, affecting up to 20 percent of all preschoolers. However, studies have found that less than 22 percent of preschool children are screened for vision problems.
Theresa Yanchetz, Director of Marketing & Volunteer Services at Tyrone Hospital said it is truly an honor for Tyrone to be selected by the NEI as a grant recipient.“We saw an opportunity to bring resources into our community to address children’s health so we applied for the grant. We are pleased to have an opportunity to partner with other community organizations to provide vision screenings for more children in our community and increase community awareness of this important health issue.”
The vision screenings provided to date in Tyrone were for students in the Pre-K Counts program at Tyrone Elementary School. Several local organizations collaborated to provide the screenings including Tyrone Hospital, Tyrone Elementary School, Tyrone Medical Associates, Heimer Eye Care Associates, and the students in the Health Occupations Technology Program at Tyrone High School. Ms. Yanchetz said the hospital is currently working on plans to conduct additional screenings.
Dr. Jill Finke, optometrist at Heimer Eye Care Associates, said early vision screenings for children are helpful because they can identify children at risk for vision problems.“Most eye problems in children can be corrected if they are detected and treated early,” said Dr. Finke.
Linda Branstetter, Family/School Resource Consultant at Tyrone Elementary School said the school set aside one entire day to conduct the screening. Six percent of the children that participated in the screening were referred for follow-up with a physician.
“Young children learn using all of their senses, said, Brenda Cowger, RN, school nurse at Tyrone Elementary School “If there is a vision problem, it can hinder a child’s their ability to learn. Vision screenings help catch those problems early.”
Ms. Yanchetz recognized a variety of organizations that submitted letters of support and/or information for the hospital’s grant application including the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, Tyrone Elementary School, Child Advocates of Blair County, Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce, Tyrone Rotary Club, Lions Sight Conservation Foundation of Blair County, the Daily Herald, and Heimer Eye Care Associates.
In addition to vision screenings, the grant project includes dissemination of information about children’s vision health issues. This will be accomplished primarily through a series of news articles that will be issued through the cooperative efforts of Heimer eye Care Associates, Tyrone Hospital, and the Daily Herald.

On Saturday, May 31, 2008, a Father’s Day contest page was placed in the Herald for a drawing where local fathers could win several prizes if their name was drawn. David A. Swabick, Tyrone, was the winner of this year’s drawing and will receive several spectacular prizes. Pictured with Mr. Swabick is Mason. Swabick received gift certificates from the following businesses: Dorman’s Jewelry; Mac’s Meat Market and “The Gridiron”; Joe’s Place; Tyrone Milling; Polizzi’s OIP; Thelma’s Cafe; Silverscreen Video; Bull Pen Restaurant; Expresso Bar at Sheetz; movie passes to Rowland Theatre; East End Pizza; Ace Fix-It Hardware; Burger King; The Morning Star Family Restaurant; Kopp Drug; Brother’s Pizza; Sammy’s Smokehouse and Barbecue; The Meadows; Surplus City, Inc.; Mobile Inks and Toners; The Ultimate Bagel of Altoona and LaScalia’s Restaurant. (The Daily Herald/Christina Pryor)