Merf Radio | radioNOVO News for Altoona: April 24, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 04/24/26           A BLAIR COUNTY MAN PLED GUILTY EARLIER THIS WEEK TO ETHNIC INTIMIDATION AND ASSAULT AFTER THROWING HOT COFFEE ON A BLACK MAN AND THREATENING HIS LIFE AT A LOGAN TOWNSHIP BUS STOP.65-YEAR OLD RICHARD HOFER, SENIOR ACCEPTED A PLEA DEAL AND WAS SENTENCED TO FIVE TO 23-AND-A-HALF MONTHS IN THE COUNTY JAIL.  HE WAS GRANTED IMMEDIATE PAROLE DUE TO TIME ALREADY SERVED, BUT HE MUST WEAR AN ELECTRONIC MONITOR AND COMPLETE ANGER MANAGEMENT.            RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT SWEPT THE TOP HONORS IN CAMBRIA COUNTY’S AMERICA250PA ESSAY CONTEST. HIGH SCHOOLER SHERAGHANA HALL TOOK HOME THE FIFTEEN-HUNDRED-DOLLAR GRAND PRIZE, WHILE KAYLEE PARONISH PLACED FIRST IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION.  YOU CAN HEAR THE WINNERS READ THEIR ESSAYS LIVE THIS JULY FOURTH OUTSIDE THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN EBENSBURG.             THE BLAIR COUNTY PROTHONOTARY’S OFFICE HAS RETURNED TO ITS FIRST-FLOOR HOME IN THE COURTHOUSE FOLLOWING A MAJOR RENOVATION. THE REMODEL, WHICH UTILIZED EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE CRAMPED HISTORIC SPACE, FEATURES NEW FURNITURE, COUNTERTOPS, AND IMPROVED STORAGE.  THE 50-THOUSAND-DOLLAR PROJECT WAS COMPLETED AT NO COST TO TAXPAYERS, FUNDED ENTIRELY BY AUTOMATION FEES.