radioNOVO News for Altoona: May 18, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 05/18/26          A HOLLIDAYSBURG WOMAN FACES MORE THAN TWO DOZEN CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING FIFTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM AN ELDERLY WOMAN. FORTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD BRANDY MARIE RITCHEY IS ACCUSED OF USING THE VICTIM'S MONEY TO BUY A CAR AND FUND LUXURY VACATIONS, INCLUDING SEVERAL CRUISES. POLICE SAY RITCHEY CONFESSED TO THE THEFT, CLAIMING SHE WAS BROKE. SHE IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN THE BLAIR COUNTY PRISON.          AN ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVE IN THE HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CREATING A NOTICEABLE ENERGY SHIFT. THE SPONSORSHIP-FUNDED PROGRAM, CALLED TIGERS AGAINST BULLYING, RECOGNIZES AND REWARDS STUDENTS WHO SPREAD POSITIVITY AND STAND UP TO CYBERBULLYING. SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY THE PROJECT OPERATES AT NO COST TO TAXPAYERS AND HAS SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT A FRESH WAVE OF KINDNESS INTO THE CLASSROOMS.