[May 17, 2009] In brief: Business joins Cell Phones for Soldiers Tweet May 17, 2009 (Tribune-Democrat - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Bill Hindman, owner of Hindman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., has announced that the business has become an official drop-off site for the nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers. The organization, founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist of Norwell, Mass., has raised nearly $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to military men and women overseas, according to information the nonprofit provided to Hindman. Hindman Funeral Homes & Crematory has facilities at 146 Chandler Ave. and 1521 Frankstown Road in the Johnstown area. People may take old or broken cell phones to either location between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Hindman recommended calling 536-1770 to schedule a drop-off time and place that is convenient. ReCellular pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone. The payment is sufficient to provide an hour of talk time to those serving abroad. Town-hall meeting focuses on transportation EBENSBURG -- State Rep. Frank Burns, D-East Taylor, will host a town-hall meeting on transportation issues at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Ebensburg Education Center, College Plaza, 881 Hills Plaza Drive, Suite 450, Room 22 in Ebensburg. State Rep. Joe Markosek, D-Monroeville, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, will be in attendance to speak about federal stimulus funding for infrastructure projects and answer transportation-related questions. A representative from the office of U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, also will be on hand. Portage school getting video system PORTAGE -- Portage Area School District will have its high school outfitted with a new video surveillance system with work set to begin next month. The school's current security system utilizes an older technology. The system will be upgraded using the latest Internet protocol-based network and digital cameras that will provide clearer images and greater storage capacity. According to Superintendent Richard Bernazzoli, school safety is a growing concern. "Students who feel safe and secure in their environment perform better in their studies. With all we see and hear in the media, it is essential we do as much as possible to protect our students from harm," he said. Intelligent Security Technologies of Adams Township is assisting the district in installing the system. Ebensburg restaurant closes again EBENSBURG -- A popular downtown Ebensburg restaurant that had been given a second chance is closed again. Highlands Cafe had been shuttered since the summer of 2008, following the death of owner Michael Stefanowski, but earlier this spring was reopened under new ownership. Theresa Deckard, whose family had run Double Deckard's Restaurant in Carrolltown, reopened the eatery at 204 W. High St. in Ebensburg on March 17. But this week customers found the doors locked and the lights turned off. The telephone at the restaurant has been disconnected. Christine Strugala, Ebensburg's community development director, confirmed Friday that the restaurant has gone out of business. Negotiations are in the works with another business to occupy the building, she said. To see more of The Tribune-Democrat or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tribune-democrat.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]