Articles written by Allan J. Bassler
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Penelec's Jan. 7 Power Outage was to Replace Incorrect Part
A second planned electric power outage in the Cove on Saturday, Jan. 7, was necessary due to a piece of hardware being placed incorrectly during the work done during the planned power outage on Dec. 28, 2022. The notice of the Jan. 7 outage was...
Penelec's Dec. 28 Power Outage Was Necessary for Crew Safety
A Penelec spokesman said that the planned power outage on Dec. 28, 2022, went mostly as planned but he could not verify that the upgrades will improve electric power reliability in Morrisons Cove. Todd Meyers, a senior communications representative...
Working the Polls on Election Day: Surprises, Lessons
For the mid-term General Election held on Nov. 8, 2022, I was a poll worker at one of the Martinsburg voting locations. I have followed politics for years, kind of like the way some people follow a...
Claysburg-Kimmel Reviews its Progress With Sen. Judy Ward
State Sen. Judy Ward visited the Claysburg-Kimmel school district recently to hear about the district's recent progress and improvements, especially regarding programs related to STEM. STEM is an...
Dr. Barry England Named ACE Award Winner
The 2022 Blair County Farm-City dinner on Nov. 2 at the Freedom Township Fire Hall featured the Agricultural Excellence Award being presented to Dr. Barry M. England, who accepted on behalf of his...
HALAS Expanding Transport Service
The ambulance service that serves the Cove is putting the word out that it offers more than just emergency medical treatment. Hollidaysburg Ambulance, or HALAS, is modifying its fleet of transport...
Cove Farmer Hopes Grant Will Help Dairy Farms
A 30-year Morrisons Cove farmer said that he hopes a grant given to Penn State will help farmers who are "already doing the right things" to help mitigate climate change. David Rice, owner of Clover C...
Hollidaysburg Ambulance Upgrading Skills of EMTs
The Hollidaysburg American Legion Ambulance Service (HALAS) is making some changes to better serve the Cove community, including offering training to upgrade the level of pre-hospital service that...
UPMC: Region's Biggest Health Problem Is Managing Chronic Diseases
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has released an annual report identifying the "significant health needs" of Morrisons Cove and the surrounding region and describing its efforts to...
Northern Bedford Graduation Speaker Tells Grads They are 'Worthy of Success'
A pediatric cardiologist who overcame multiple challenges in his personal and professional life told the Northern Bedford County School District graduates that "real life is not social media. It is...
It's a New Era for the Herald
On Wednesday, June 1, the Herald opened the doors on a new phase of its service to the Cove community. On that day, supporters, friends and past owners and publishers of the Herald gathered to help...
Groups Want Change In Redistricting
Although the lines for voting districts are set for the next 10 years, there are many people, groups and elected officials who don’t think that the current methods used to create districts are fair and logical. Many of the objections originate...
The Herald Bids Goodbye To a 10-year Employee
Those who have called the Herald office in the last 10 years have likely talked our circulation manager, Tammy Cottle. As of April 12, Tammy has left the Herald for new employment. The Herald appreciates all the work Tammy did and we wish her the bes...
The Herald Announces it is Moving to Memorial Park
We're packing our bags! The Herald office is relocating to the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park building. The office will be located at 209 S. Walnut St., Martinsburg. Our new office will be to the left...
Two Cove School Districts See Graduation Rate Increases; Two See Drops
Two Cove high schools saw their graduation rates increase over the last two school years, while two saw decreases in graduation rates. Spring Cove's Central High School and Northern Bedford County...
Blair Co. Airport Reports 'Very Good Year'
The Altoona-Blair County Airport rebounded from a low point in 2020 with a record number of passengers in 2021, according to Airport Manager Tracy Plessinger. Manager Plessinger told the Herald that...
More Than Ever, the Time to Buy Local is Now
I’m a little concerned about recent developments here in the Cove. I’m concerned that the Cove has seen some developments that might be dimming the future light of the area. Most people in the Cove know about the losses, have probably mentally...
The Meal Is Right There
I am once again amazed at the volume of text that flows through online social media sites about issues in the Cove, yet so little of it ends up in the pages of the Herald. With a community so interested in writing and expressing opinions, you’d...
Supporting Local Journalism Supports Our Community
Last week’s Herald contained an article asking readers who support local business and local news to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act (LJSA). The LJSA is focused on delivering benefits to local communities across the U.S. by...
Please read this story if you care about local journalism
Dear Herald Readers: If you enjoy reading the Herald, and are aware of the importance of independent journalism to democracy, please follow this link and read this story. Thank you. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/202... Full story
Martinsburg Borough Council Continues Plans For Electronic Speed Signs
Martinsburg Borough Council has started the process of setting its 2022 municipal budget and has scheduled a budget workshop for Monday, Oct. 18. Council will meet at 6 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the borough building to work on the budget and “for general...
Herald's 'Tell Us What You Think' Tour Gets Warm Reception in Williamsburg
Williamsburg wants more local sports news. That was the message we heard from the third Herald “Tell Us What You Think” town meeting, which was held at the Zion Lutheran Church in Williamsburg on Monday, Sept. 27. The Herald’s meeting in...
Readers Want Births, Engagements and Marriages
The second Herald “Tell Us What You Think” town meetings was held at the Trinity United Methodist Church at the five points in Roaring Spring on the evening of Sept. 8. The takeaways from the meeting was first, that we have to do a better job of...
Herald's First Town Hall Inspires New Ideas
The Cove would really, really like the Herald to resume publishing the Cove Calendar in our print edition. That’s the main takeaway from the Herald Town Hall meeting held at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park on Aug. 18. We had seven people from the...
Census Shows Bedford, Blair Losing Population
Recently released data from the U.S. 2020 Census reveals that Bedford and Blair counties continue to lose population, even as Pennsylvania gains. Pennsylvania’s overall population grew from 12.7 million to 13 million, an increase of 300,321 or 2.4...
First Herald 'Tell Us What You Think' Town Meeting Tonight
This is another reminder of the upcoming “Tell Us What You Think” Tour, intended to make the Herald a better news source for the community. The first of the town hall meetings is at 7 p.m. today, Thursday, Aug. 19, in the Banquet Hall at...
Airport Receives Third of Three COVID-19 Grants
The Altoona-Blair County Airport in North Woodbury Township has received the third installment of a three-part grant from the federal government designed to help the airport offset COVID-19 related...
Herald Provides an Update on Planned 'Tell Us What You Think' Tour
I am writing to provide an update on the upcoming “Tell Us What You Think” Tour, intended to make the Herald a better news source for the community. I will be conducting a tour of the Herald’s coverage area to talk to subscribers, readers and...
Arby's and Dunkin' Planned for Lot In Front of Conemaugh Nason
The lot formerly occupied by Bickel's Surplus in front of Conemaugh Nason hospital will offer Cove residents Arby's and a Dunkin dine-in restaurants, according to information provided to Roaring...
County, Local Governments 'Waiting for Clarity' Before Spending Grants
As part of the federal government's response to the economic damage done by the COVID-19 pandemic, state, county and local governments are being given grants in a program overseen by the U.S. Dept....
Blair, Bedford Counties Mirror Statewide Trend of Increasing COVID Cases
Conemaugh Nason's infection control director said that the public should be concerned about rising numbers of COVID-19 cases across the nation and in Pennsylvania. Julie Russell, director of quality...
Cove Schools Hoping for 'Relatively Normal' Year
With the start of school about three weeks away, Cove school districts are planning to continue with relaxed COVID-19 mask policies while continuing to perform enhanced cleaning and encouragement of...
Isn't it Ironic?
I was discussing the Herald recently with a caller who had a concern. As always, I am very willing to listen and consider seriously when someone takes the time to contact me with a concern about the Herald, whether it’s praise or criticism. I...
The Morrisons Cove Herald Will Cover the News
We would like to address some comments and concerns about recent Herald news coverage. Any event that happens within the Cove is news. The role of the Herald is to report local news. Anything reported in the Herald is not to make a statement or choos...
Nason Foundation Has Distributed $304,000 in Grants Since 2015
The Nason Foundation has distributed $304,000 in grants since Duke LifePoint purchased the hospital in 2015, according to the foundation. The Nason Foundation held a celebration and reception on May 19 in Weaver Hall at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park....
Nason Foundation Describes Its Efforts To Help Community
April Harmon's family has a playground in memory of her daughter and Jen McCoy has a career in health care thanks to the Nason Foundation. The stories told by Harmon and McCoy were the centerpiece of...
The Herald Sports Pages Look Different This Week. Here's Why.
The Herald’s sports pages look different this week. The main reason is that long-time Editor Brian Hess has moved on to a new position outside of the Herald. Brian had been employed at the Herald since 1999 and he did a lot of good work while he...
The Print Edition of the Herald Might Look a Little Different This Week. Here's Why.
Your Herald might look a little different this week. First of all, and most important, long-time Editor Brian Hess has moved on to a new position. Brian had been employed at the Herald since 1999 and he did a lot of good work while he was here. He... Full story
The Herald Sports Pages Look Different This Week. Here's Why.
The Herald’s print sports pages look different this week. The main reason is that long-time Editor Brian Hess has moved on to a new position outside of the Herald. Brian had been employed at the Herald since 1999 and he did a lot of good work...
Just to be clear ...
As usual, social media is getting it wrong, so I want to be clear about a recent change at the Herald. The Herald is not ending any of our local columns. All three of our current columnists have been told that they may continue writing and continue...
Herald Extending Its Local Focus to Political Commentary as of Jan. 1
I’m letting readers, advertisers and contributors to know that there has been an important change in the Herald’s policy regarding political content. As of Jan. 1, 2021, the Herald will no longer publish any opinions regarding political matters...
An Open Plea To the Cove Community
The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. – Mark 12:31 This is the time of year when we like to remind ourselves what we're th... Full story
Take Heart, Conservatives
There is a lot of consternation on the political Right about the apparent failure of President Donald J. Trump to win a second term. However, as a conservative, I don’t think things are gloomy for my side at all. Yes, the presidency likely has...
Post-Election Rally Brings Out 200 in Support of President Trump
About 200 people attended a post-election rally in Hollidaysburg on Sunday, Nov. 8, offering continued support for President Donald J. Trump and rejecting the apparent election of former Vice...
President Trump Visits Morrisons Cove - Main Story
President Donald J. Trump spoke for a little over an hour at the Altoona-Blair County Airport on Monday, Oct. 26, just hours before the United States Senate confirmed the president's third nominee to...
President Trump Visits Martinsburg for Campaign Speech
President Donald J. Trump spoke for a little over an hour at the Altoona-Blair County Airport on Monday, Oct. 26, just hours before the United States Senate confirmed the president's third nominee to...
Appvion Responds to Accusation of Spill
Appvion has responded to a charge from the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) that its Spring Mill plant killed fish in the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River with a release of a chemical on Aug. 20 and 21, 2020. In a letter dated Sept....
Roaring Spring Approves Police Body Cameras
Roaring Spring borough council at its regular meeting on Oct. 12 approved spending $21,417 over five years on two dashboard cameras and three body cameras for the police department. Cpl. Lance Morris of the Roaring Spring Police Department presented...
Appvion Accused of Spilling Chemical Into Frankstown Branch
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has told Appvion that it failed to report a chemical spill and is asking the company to investigate, explain and plan to prevent future...
Roaring Spring Borough Council Cancels Recreation Contract with YMCA
Roaring Spring borough council voted Monday night to end its recreation contract with the Garver Memorial YMCA. The contract was worth about $18,000 and would have auto-renewed in January. The matter was raised by President Rodney Green at the...
