A.M. BRIEFING: Thursday

Man accused of homicide by vehicle

A 39-year-old Altoona man was arraigned Wednesday on charges of homicide by motor vehicle while DUI and related offenses.

Police said an investigation revealed that Charles Patrick Rife was driving the vehicle that caused a crash which led to the death of Wendy Lehman, 41, of Tyrone.

The collision occurred at 3:26 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2007, on state Route 4023 in Antis Township, Blair County.

Lehman, Rife’s passenger, was critically injured and later died as a result of the injuries suffered in the crash, according to police.

Rife was also arraigned on charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle and DUI. District Judge Craig Ormsby set bail at 10 percent of $75,000.

Crystal meth found in county lockup

A small amount of crystal methamphetamine was found in a common area within Centre County Correctional Facility on Monday at 2:42 a.m. State police at Rockview are investigating.

BASD to allow 10 to attend junior prom

The Bellefonte Area School District will allow about 10 students who were denied entrance to their freshman and sophomore prom to attend the junior prom at the high school on May 16.

Since 2003, the district has had a policy stating that students must arrive at school dances within 30 minutes of the start time.

At the freshman and sophomore dance in April, about 10 students arrived after that deadline and were not permitted to attend their prom.

About 10 parents and students — two of them wearing their prom attire — attended the board’s April 21 meeting to protest the action, saying school officials did not advertise the rule prior to the dance and have not enforced it uniformly in the past.

P-O superintendent to go on medical leave

Stephen Benson will serve as acting superintendent of the Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District while W. Charles Young is on medical leave.

Benson has been the district’s assistant superintendent for the past two years. He began his education career as a music teacher and previously worked as an administrator in the School District of Lancaster and the Hamburg Area School District.

The board approved the medical leave to begin April 27 through May 29.

Clarkson to perform at Clearfield County Fair

Singer Kelly Clarkson will perform at the 149th Clearfield County Fair on Aug. 7, with tickets tentatively slated to go on sale at 10 a.m. May 18.

The concert date was originally Aug. 8, but has been moved due to a scheduling conflict, fair officials said in a news release. Ratt and Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg will now perform on Aug. 8.

Ticket prices to see Kelly Clarkson and Eric Hutchinson in concert will be $43. Other acts set to appear at the fair are:

•Alice Cooper, Aug. 4, tickets $19 and $21

•Dierks Bentley and Julianne Hough, Aug. 5, tickets $32 and $34

A separate gate admission fee also applies. For more information, visit www.clearfieldcountyfair.com.