THE CENTRE COUNTY
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Field and stream Students from Penns Valley spent the day exploring nature at Muddy Paws Marsh./Page 9
May 10-16, 2012
Volume 4, Issue 19
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Police: Man attacked teens on trail By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
CENTRE HALL — When four teenage boys were attacked by an armed robber while hiking May 5, they tried to remain as calm as possible even as one of them was brutally kicked in the head. It was that presence of mind, investigators said, that helped Centre County police catch the man they believe robbed the boys, assaulted one of them and threatened to kill them all. Richard Martinez, 19, of State College, was arraigned on Sunday before Centre
County District Judge Carmine Prestia. He was charged with three counts of felony robbery, the threat of immediate serious injury and inflicting bodily injury and force. Martinez was placed in the Centre County Correctional Facility. Bail was set at $75,000. He was also charged with misdemeanor simple assault with fear of serious injury, terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, according to court papers. According to Spring Township Police, the four male minors were hiking in the Greens Valley area of Centre Hall Mountain
on Saturday evening when a man, believed to be Martinez, chased them down with a box cutter and ordered them to get on the ground. Martinez then allegedly kicked one of the boys in the head, RICHARD MARTINEZ fracturing his orbital bone and knocking out a tooth. The boy was later taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center by Pleasant Gap Ambulance Service, where he was
treated for concussion-like symptoms, according to police. He also received several stitches. During the assault and robbery, which occurred on Greens Valley Road around 6 p.m., Martinez is accused of holding a box cutter to one of the boys’ throats. He rummaged through their pockets and backpacks, and took three iPods, according to court papers. During the course of the assault, he stopped to drink a Gatorade that one of the boys had packed for the hike, police said.
Attack, Page 6
Parade to highlight Central PA 4th Fest the route. “We thought the parade would be a great addition. Other than homecoming, we UNIVERSITY PARK — So you don’t have many parades here.” thought the Central PA 4th Fest Keisling said that the response couldn’t get any bigger? has been overwhelmingly posiThink again. tive. This year’s theme is “Ameri“It’s being received very well,” ca’s Got Heroes.” he said. With that in mind, “WE TALKED about Those riding in organizers have the parade will be having a parade and local heroes. The added a parade to the day’s festivi- said, ‘Are we going to committee of the ties. be able to pull it off?’ Central PA 4th Fest “We had a couis asking for nomiple of committee We thought we’d give nations of heroes. members talk it a try.” What is a hero? about ways to inAccording to Keiscorporate the Bernie Keisling ling, a hero can be theme,” said 4th executive director anyone in Centre Fest executive diof Central PA 4th Fest County who has rector Bernie Keischaracter and is a ling. “We talked about having a role model. The hero should have parade and said, ‘Are we going to done something that provided be able to pull it off?’ We thought support or service and helped we’d give it a try. I think it’s a one or more other people. The great idea. In a community like hero can be someone who sacriState College, it’s important to ficed or put at risk life or limb. have events like this.” Obvious nominations would inThe parade will begin on July 4 clude military personnel, policeat the borough building on Allen men, firemen and EMTs. Street in downtown State College. Other heroes can be someone It will head down Allen Street, who has provided a service or turn right on to College Avenue, helped one or more people — left on to Shortlidge Road, right doctors, teachers or members of on to Pollock Road and left on to service organizations like KiwaBigler Road before finishing at nis or Rotary. the Penn State Law Building. Another type of hero can be “It’s sort of a reverse home4th Fest, Page 6 coming parade,” Keisling said of
By CHRIS MORELLI
editor@centrecountygazette.com
CHUCK FONG/For The Gazette
DERBY DAY: The second annual Race Day Soiree was held on May 5 at the home of Blake and Linda Gall, of Boalsburg. The fundraising event was held in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby. Riding in the carriage, from left, are Susan Lauth, Michelle Sabastianelli, Nancy Silvis and Linda Gall. The driver is David Hershey. A total of 160 people attended the event, which raised over $80,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Walk targets childhood disease 2012 goal for juvenile diabetes event: $50,000 By MARJORIE S. MILLER mmiller@centrecountygazette.com
UNIVERSITY PARK — There may be fun, food and fellowship, but the 2012 State College JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is much more than just a walk. For many, it’s a way to connect with the community, learn more about the disease and possibly even inspire one another. Scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at Penn State, the annual event raises money for JDRF, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. More than 80 percent of the proceeds go to diabetes research and education for newly diagnosed children, said Diane Krentzman, walk volunteer. “Our money will go to Hershey for research,” she said. In its seventh year in State College, the walk draws in a wide variety of people, many of whom have been touched by diabetes, Krentzman said. Krentzman said the walk committee is hoping for Opinion ............................ 7 Health & Wellness ............ 8 Have You Missed An Issue? Past Issues Available To View Online At centrecountygazette.com
at least 40 teams to register. Teams can have any number of people, she said, and registration can be done as late as the day of the event. About 30 to 33 teams participated in last year’s walk, Krentzman said, and about $45,000 was raised. This year they’re hoping to break $50,000. Krentzman said the funding goes toward many different types of research projects. “It’s so important for us to continue helping them,” she said. The walk brings awareness in a variety of ways, Krentzman said, including spreading information about the nature of the disease itself. The faster the diagnosis, she said, “the safer it is for that child.” The other way, she said, is by helping children see that there are others like them. “(It’s) wonderful for these children to know they’re not alone in this disease,” she said, explaining how it is frightening for them, every day.
Diabetes, Page 6
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