radioNovo News for Johnstown: June 1, 2026

RNN JOHNSTOWN 06/01/26          YESTERDAY MARKED THE 137TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD............  ONE OF THE WORST NATURAL DISASTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.  AT THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD NATIONAL MEMORIAL, VISITORS HONORED THE 2,209 VICTIMS OF THE DISASTER CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE SOUTH FORK DAM. A LUMINARIA CEREMONY FEATURING BAGS MARKED WITH VICTIMS’ NAMES, MANY PREPARED BY FOREST HILLS ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WAS ALSO HELD.  ORGANIZERS SAY THE ANNUAL EVENT HELPS KEEP THE HISTORIC TRAGEDY AND ITS LESSONS FROM BEING FORGOTTEN.           JOHNSTOWN’S HISTORIC INCLINED PLANE HAS CLEARED A KEY HURDLE TOWARD REOPENING THIS SUMMER. OFFICIALS SAY A STATE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT ISSUES, ALLOWING A REQUIRED 30-DAY TESTING AND SAFETY REVIEW PERIOD TO BEGIN MONDAY. CAMTRAN OFFICIALS SAY THE MONTH-LONG PROCESS WILL INCLUDE BRAKE, LIGHTING AND BACKUP POWER TESTING, ALONG WITH OPERATOR TRAINING. THE 1891 LANDMARK HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS FOR AN $18 MILLION OVERHAUL, WITH A POSSIBLE REOPENING EYED FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.