Tussle over safe
ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) – A man whose safe was stolen said he’s having trouble getting it back from police – and his attorney says it’s because the man’s family has been linked with drugs. An 800-pound safe was stolen from the Altoona home of Clyde Cole, 80, on Thursday by a man posing as a repairman, police said.
Theodore J. Krol, an attorney for Cole, his granddaughter Cathy Hiles and her husband, said he is trying to get the safe back.
The family name is causing the delay, Krol said.
In the Hiles family, one person had been jailed on a drug conviction and another relative died from a drug overdose.
Authorities “want to go over it with a fine-toothed comb,” Krol said.
Blair County District Attorney Dave Gorman denied that the Hiles name played any role and said police are following their policy of making sure that crime-scene items are properly inventoried.
“To me, it’s ludicrous and insulting,” Gorman said. “The Altoona police who worked so hard in cracking this case are now being criticized for their handling of the case.”
A suspect in the case said the safe contained drug money, Hiles said. A Blair County judge issued a temporary order prohibiting authorities from opening the safe and a hearing was scheduled for Jan. 3.
Students learn lesson
MAMMOTH, Pa. (AP) – A 30-year tradition where high school students spray paint a water tower in one school district is now being viewed as a potential federal offense.
Under a law passed since the terrorist attacks, tampering with water facilities is a potential terroristic threat.
Ten Mount Pleasant Area Senior High students avoided federal prosecution for the April 19 stunt, authorities said, because the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County tank was empty for repairs.
Chris Feliciani, attorney for the students, said they agreed Friday to plead guilty to criminal mischief and pay $3,360 in restitution.
“Our position is if this ever happens again, (federal authorities are) going to be notified. It’s just too dangerous,” said Ken Burkley, the authority’s solicitor.
Counting on new tax
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The regional Sports & Exhibition Authority has adopted a $9.1 million budget to run Pittsburgh’s biggest attractions, including the convention center and Mellon Arena.
However, $2 million of that is based on a tax that doesn’t exist.
The authority is counting on Allegheny County to enact – and the state Legislature to adopt – a 3 percent tax on vehicle rentals in the county.
But so far, neither the Legislature nor council have done anything with the proposal.
“We will face some significant challenges with this budget,” said Sara Davis Buss, one of seven authority board members. “It assumes the car rental tax will be in effect by May 1.”
The authority is expected to generate most of its budget money from events, hotel taxes and ticket surcharges.
But authority officials are relying on the car rental tax to balance the budget. Without it, the authority will likely have to reduce office personnel needed to book the convention center and attract visitors, said Executive Director Stephen Leeper.