A.M.BRIEFING

Lightning may have started barn fire

A powerful lightning storm that blew through the area early Friday morning may have caused a barn fire that kept area firefighters busy for four hours at the Lingle Farm on Linden Hall Road in Harris Township.

Boalsburg Fire Chief Chris Dry said the cause of the barn fire had not been determined, but there was “a good potential” it was caused by the storm.

Dry said the farm’s occupants said they were awakened about 12:20 a.m. by a “loud boom-type sound” and, upon looking out the window, saw the barn at the farm was ablaze.

Firefighters were called to the scene but by the time they arrived the barn was “fully involved,” Dry said.

The structure, which was being used to house farming equipment, was a total loss. Dry said he could not estimate the amount of damage, but he did say that the farm’s owners had insurance.

Man suffers major injury in motorcycle accident

An Osceola Mills man suffered major injuries Thursday afternoon when the motorcycle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve on state Route 970, just north of Toms Lane in Rush Township.

State police at Philipsburg said John R. Vroman, 70, was not wearing a helmet when his Harley-Davidson SuperGlide went off the road at about 4:55 p.m. Thursday.

Police characterized his injury as major, and said he was transported by helicopter to Altoona Medical Center.

No information on his condition was available Friday.

Chevrolet Silverado vandalized in Stormstown

State police are investigating the vandalism of a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado that occurred at 77 Donna Circle in Stormstown between 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

According to police, unknown people applied adhesive to the truck’s windshield wiper and gas tank cap area, causing several hundred dollars’ worth of damage.

Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at Philipsburg.