radioNOVO News for Altoona: June 26, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 06/26/26          THE HORSESHOE CURVE FUNICULAR IS BACK IN SERVICE FOLLOWING A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY YESTERDAY.  THE HISTORIC RIDE WAS SHUT DOWN FOR NEARLY ALL OF LAST SEASON, REQUIRING 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN MECHANICAL REPAIRS. OFFICIALS ALSO DEDICATED A NEW 80-FOOT FLAGPOLE AHEAD OF AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY.          THE BLAIR COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION HAS NAMED JESSICA SHEETS AS THE COUNTY’S NEW PLANNING DIRECTOR.  A BLAIR COUNTY NATIVE WITH NEARLY 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN MUNICIPAL PLANNING, SHEETS WILL STEP INTO THE ROLE ON JULY 12TH WITH A STARTING SALARY OF 95-THOUSAND DOLLARS.  SHE SUCCEEDS DAVID MCFARLAND, WHO RESIGNED FROM THE POSITION IN APRIL.          AFTER 22 YEARS OF SERVICE, ALTOONA HOUSING AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHERYL JOHNS IS RETIRING THIS JULY. OFFICIALS CREDIT JOHNS WITH TRANSFORMING LOCAL PUBLIC HOUSING SINCE 2000 BY CRACKING DOWN ON DRUG OPERATIONS AND ENFORCING STRICTER TENANT VETTING. DEPUTY DIRECTOR BRAD KANUCH WILL STEP IN AS INTERIM DIRECTOR, WHILE JOHNS STAYS ON AS A CONSULTANT FOR 1 YEAR.