Articles written by Eric Shields
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Donald E. Witherspoon Memorial Basketball Court Dedicated
"Don Witherspoon was a man of few words but can be described by so many. A man of honor, distinction, of courage, of dedication, of perseverance, a man connected to his roots, a servant-leader," said...
Colonel Murray Not 'Lost to History': Civil War Days Presented
Earlier this month, Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. presented Colonel Murray Civil War Days. It is named for Murray, who was the first colonel killed in the Civil War from Pennsylvania. Historic...
Hollidaysburg Library Director Retires After 18 Years
Hollidaysburg Area Public Library Director Janet Eldred's retirement took effect as of July 15, the day before her 65th birthday. After receiving her Master's Degree in Library Sciences, Eldred...
African American Heritage Festival to Be Held in Altoona
The African American Heritage Festival returns after an eight-year absence. The event will be held Saturday, July 24, from noon to 8 p.m. with a Gospel Fest on Sunday, July 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m....
Enjoy Revolutionary War Days at Fort Roberdeau
Revolutionary War Days is a weekend of encampments. "We have reenactors from the Revolutionary War period that come to Fort Roberdeau and we have people representing the United States," Director of...
Alberta Hayes Museum Opens in Altoona
As part of a summer-long campaign celebrating television's number-one comedy, CBS continued the "Summer of Ghosts" campaign celebrating the Prohibition Era Songstress Alberta Haynes by bringing to...
Local Business Receives Award At the Business HOF Luncheon
Mill Hill Farms of rural Williamsburg received the sustainability award at the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame luncheon, held on Monday, June 13. Jim Biddle, who owns the farm, along with his son Josh and their wives, Carol...
Cove Community Theater to Put on Annie Jr.
The sun will be coming out in Loysburg on Friday, June 17, through Sunday, June 19, at The Cove Community Theater. According to owner/director Mary Ellen Laird, Annie Jr. is this year’s theater camp show. Participants will have two weeks of...
Claysburg Area Community Theater Showing 'Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses'
Love is in the air in Claysburg. Claysburg Area Community Theater will present its spring production "Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses" by Michael and Susan Parker. The play follows the goings-on of The...
Blair County Historical Society Prepares for Summer Events
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Baker Mansion being used as a museum. The Blair County Historical Society rented the mansion from the Baker heirs beginning in 1922. To kick off this...
Pennsylvania Roundhouse Rally Returning for 2022
The roar of the bikes will be returning to Duncansville four different weekends this summer. Debbra Heath, marketing director for Roundhouse Harley Davidson said, "We are doing four events this year:...
Central's Parker Gregg Receives Scholarship for College
After an amazing 2021 season, Central High School student Parker Gregg earned an all-state selection in football. He is the first player in PIAA history to gain 1,000 rushing and receiving yards. He...
Downtown Bedford Offering Spring and Summer Events
Looking for some exciting things to do this spring and summer? Downtown Bedford is the place to be. Coming up on May 7 is the car show, bed races and wing off. Bed races For the bed races, there are teams consisting of four runners and a rider. The...
Hollidaysburg Heritage Guided Tours This Spring
Hollidaysburg Heritage Guided Tours Spring season runs Saturdays from April 30 through June 4, 2022. All dates provide the popular brunch option, at the U.S. Hotel and Tavern, with brunch beginning at 11 a.m. and including an informative...
Claysburg-Kimmel's Bailey Garver Recognized With Blair Co. Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship
Claysburg-Kimmel Senior Bailey Garver was one of two local students to receive a scholarship from The Blair County Sports Hall of Fame. The other senior, also from the Cove, was Central's Parker...
John Lingenfelter Inducted Into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame
From his early days racing go-carts on dirt tracks in Blair County to his championship days at drag strips across the country, John Lingenfelter excelled in everything he did. If he won, he wanted to...
Claysburg Hee Haw Show to be Presented April 8, 9
Members of the Claysburg community are presenting the 19th edition of Claysburg's annual Hee Haw show to benefit the Rotary Club. The program will take place Friday, April 8, and Saturday, April 9, at...
Northern Bedford to Perform 'The Wiz'
Dorothy and all of her friends are easing on down the yellow brick road to the Northern Bedford High School on March 17 through the 19 at 7 p.m. According to director Brett Keith, “The Wiz” is a contemporary retelling of L. Frank Baum’s The...
Bedford Co. Business Hall of Fame Induction Tomorrow, March 4
The Bedford County Business Hall of Fame induction will take place tomorrow, March 4. “We have been giving a Hall of Fame Award since 1998,” said Kellie Goodman Shaffer, president and CEO of the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce. “It has...
H-burg Natives Live Their Dream of Television Production
Two childhood friends from Hollidaysburg have made their dream of working on a major television production a reality. After graduating from Hollidaysburg Area High School in 1999, Matthew McLoota...
OPS Theater Spring 2022 Events Approaching
Off Pitt Street Theater (OPS), Bedford, will play host to “Molly’s Hammer,” a play based on true local events in the 1980s. According to Director Dawn Ziviello, “It is a really compelling drama about community activism and putting others...
Baker Mansion Sees Many Renovations to Walls, Floors
Baker Mansion, home to The Blair County Historical Society, continues to undergo renovations with the help of artist Michael Allison. The professional artist has dabbled in different disciplines,...
Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. Hosting 30th Candlelight Christmas Open House
Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. will hold its 30th annual Candlelight Christmas Open House on Dec. 4 and 5 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day. The theme for this year's event will be 175 years of Christmas to coincide with the 175th anniversary of the...
Cove Community Theater Presents Christmas Classic
Cove Community Theater in Loysburg will present an age-old musical with a twist. The group will be presenting "A Christmas Carol" Sunday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m.; Saturday, Dec....
Author From Roaring Spring Releases Christmas Book
Author and Roaring Spring native Trisha Ridinger McKee's new release is a Christmas romance, where the main character, Winona, was sheltered by her father growing up. He had the best of intentions...
The Sun Will Come Out in Claysburg Nov. 19, 20
Claysburg Area Community Theatre (CACT) will present Annie Jr. on Friday Nov. 19, and Saturday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning best...
Blair County Historical Society's Fall and Winter Events
Blair County Historical Society announced their upcoming fall and winter events beginning with this year’s Trick-or-Treat on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. on the lawn of Baker Mansion. Along with candy, they will have little trinkets and...
Off Pitt Street Theater Offering Multiple Fall Events, Starts in October
In this time of uncertainty, Off Pitt Street Theater (OPS) in Bedford continues to bring live theater to the stage. The fall theater schedule begins with "Fall Fright Nights," a Halloween edition of...
Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. to Present Halloween Fundraiser Next Weekend
Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. will be presenting a Halloween Fundraiser at their location at 516 Walnut Street, Hollidaysburg on Friday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. each evening. The event is a fundraiser to raise additional...
Claysburg Homecoming Happening This Weekend
It is that time of the year again. Homecoming is here. Claysburg’s homecoming will begin with the traditional football game on Friday, Oct. 1, at the Hollidaysburg field. Claysburg-Kimmel will play Juniata Valley, which just recently acquired...
Ye Old Time Fair to be Held at Baker Mansion
The Blair County Historical Society will be holding a Ye Old Time Fair on Saturday, Aug. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. in the yard at The Baker Mansion. According to events committee member Barbi Burns, there will be a wide variety of vendors including...
Picture Perfect Frame and Gallery Opening in Hollidaysburg
Suzanne Pequignot is not only opening a new art gallery. She is also set to take over her brother-in-law Brian Smith's custom framing business, which he has run for 29 years. Pequignot said that...
Baker Mansion Events for August
Movies, dance, music, history and a Ye Old Time Fair: These are just some of the exciting things that are coming up in August at Baker Mansion in Altoona. The month kicks off Aug. 4 at 8:45 p.m. with a free movie night featuring “Toy Story 4....
Blair County Court to Celebrate 175th Anniversary on July 27
In conjunction with the 175th anniversary of Blair County, the Blair County courts are also celebrating the milestone birthday. A special free event will be held July 27 at 3 p.m. in courtroom one...
Five Inductees to Join Claysburg Area Hall of Fame Saturday, July 17
Induction into the Claysburg Area Hall of Fame is the highest honor any resident or former resident can receive. "It's normally an annual event" said Rich Allison, founder of Claysburg PAST, the Clays...
Blair Co. Anniversary Continues with Colonel William Murray Civil War Days
The celebration of Blair County’s 175th anniversary continues the weekend of July 17 and 18. The Colonel William Murray Civil War Days will be a two-day event taking place at two different locations including the Historic Hollidaysburg Inc., (HHI)...
Blair County Historical Society to Hold Charity Auction
Editor's Note: The craft show and charity auction have been postponed due to the forecast of thundershowers. The craft show and auction will take place Sunday, July 18. The craft show will last from noon to 5 p.m. The auction will begin at 2 p.m....
Blair Co. 175th Anniversary Events Will Go Through Summer into Fall
Blair County is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. There will be several events marking the occasion throughout the summer into the fall. • July 17 and 18, Historic Hollidaysburg Inc.,...
Pa. Roundhouse Rally to Start May 27, Run Through September
Summer in Blair County can only mean one thing for motorcycle enthusiasts. It is time for the Pennsylvania Roundhouse Rally to be held at Roundhouse Harley-Davidson in Duncansville. The event started...
Off Pitt Street Theatre Provides Plenty of Summer Entertainment
Off Pitt Street Theatre (OPS) in Bedford will provide many entertainment options for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. Starting Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15, OPS will be performing a...
Hollidaysburg's Springfest Back With Races, Live Music, Sales
Spring is here and that means Hollidaysburg's Springfest will be here soon as well. Springfest is set for Saturday, May 15, beginning around 8 a.m. with the YMCA Diamond Dash, a race that is done...
Blair County Loses 'A True Patriot'
John F. Gority has been described as a true patriot. According to fellow veteran Stanley Snyder, John really loved America. He was proud of his country and he was proud of his family. Gority, a...
Lines Being Drawn in Battle over Fair Voting Districts in Pennsylvania
Debbie Trudeau, volunteer for the advocacy group Fair Districts Pennsylvania, says the group's goal is to end gerrymandering. Gerrymandering, is the process of creating voting districts to try to...
Alternative Baseball Helps Players Develop Life Skills
Georgia native Taylor Duncan would like to bring an alternative baseball league to Altoona. According to its website, Alternative Baseball "provides an authentic baseball experience for teens and adul...
Duncansville Turned 130 Years Old on March 4
March 4 marked Duncansville's 130th anniversary as a borough. It all started around 1830 when Samuel Duncan settled on land on the western banks of the stream which cut through the area. He named the...
The Mysterious Faces of the Blair County Courthouse
During the recent renovations on the courthouse, it was discovered that there were carved stone faces adorning different areas of the exterior of the building. It turns out that there are 55 to 58...
Community , 4-H Had a Leader and Friend In Fred Imler, Sr.
"He was a Shriner's Shriner," Dan Kindle, Jaffa recorder, said of Fred Imler, Sr. "Anything that supported the kids, he was always there," Kristin Bigelow, former 4H educator, said. "Fred always had a...
Pro Basketball Team Coming to the Altoona Area
York native Rikk Coleman said that he decided that Altoona was the "perfect spot" for a new professional basketball team because of the community's love for the game. Also important was that the city...
Roaring Spring Author Had a Good Year
Roaring Spring author Trisha Ridinger McKee had three books come out this year. First, she had "The Beyond" series, which consists of three parts. The third and final one came out in December. She...
Pro Basketball is coming to Altoona
York native Rikk Coleman said that he decided that Altoona was the "perfect spot" for a new professional basketball team because of the community's love for the game. Also important was that the city...
