Kong Ho's Work in Harrisburg

The work of Kong Ho, associate professor of art at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, is on display in the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg.

“Reverberation: An Invitational Exhibit of the Work of Four Artists with Disabilities” is being sponsored by House Speaker Keith R. McCall, D-Carbon.

The work of four artists with disabilities is on display this month in the Capitol’s East Wing Rotunda.

The exhibition is being co-sponsored in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month by the Governor’s Cabinet and Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities and the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities.

“I am proud to serve as the sponsor of the exhibit of these very talented artists,” McCall said. “I hope many people will be able to see the exhibit and appreciate the gifted and distinguished artists that created these pieces.”

Before moving to the Capitol, “Reverberations” was on display at the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities conference in State College from Sept. 21 to 24 at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Ho said the title of the exhibition was the idea of his wife, Dr. Martie Geiger-Ho, visiting professor of art.

“The exhibition title implies that this exhibition is not only to recognize, but also to highlight the contribution of these selected distinguished artists with disabilities for their artistic achievements and inspirations,” Ho said.

Ho, who walks with leg braces as a result of polio, is director of the interdisciplinary arts program at Pitt-Bradford, where he has taught since 2001.

He has participated in more than 90 international and regional exhibitions including 14 solo exhibitions. His work has been exhibited in venues such as the United Nations headquarters in New York City; the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Union Station and World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C.; the Hong Kong Museum of Art; and the Peking Museum of Art in China.

Prior to coming to Pitt-Bradford, Ho taught art and design at several universities and founded the Hong Kong Mural Society, a nonprofit art organization promoting mural art in his native Hong Kong.

He has developed a reputation in mural art after organizing more than 30 granted large-scale public mural projects.

Next year he will travel to the National Academy of Art in Sofia, Bulgaria, to teach mural painting and study fresco and other traditional methods on a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Lecturing Award.

Tops Markets to be Honored by NY State Education Department

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Tops Friendly Markets, the leading full-service grocery retailer in Western New York, Central New York, including Rochester, and Northwestern Pennsylvania, has been selected to receive an award from the New York State Education Department’s Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities for hiring persons with disabilities. This award is being given to Tops in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM.)

Tops Markets was selected as a local employer who has enabled persons with disabilities to become members of the local community workforce. Tops’ East Aurora store, located at 65 Gray Street was specifically selected to accept the award.

“Each of our associates has something unique to contribute to our team, regardless of any special needs one might have,” said Jack Barrett, Tops’ sr. vice president if human resources. “In hiring individuals with special needs we often find that they are hard-working, loyal, and dependable associates with an extremely strong work ethic. We are proud to accept this award on behalf of the 10,000 associates Tops employs.”

The awards will be presented at a special ceremony on Thursday, October 22 at the Verbena Restaurant in Williamsville, NY. Sponsors of the event are the Western New York Employment Consortium, the NYS Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, and the NYS Department of Labor.

e-mail from Tops

Scarnati Praises Passage of 'Fiscally Responsible' Budget Bill

WARREN--The State Senate today passed and sent to the House of Representatives a proposed state budget package that cuts state spending below last year’s levels and maintains funding for core state services and programs, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), who worked to negotiate the final compromise.

Most importantly, Scarnati mentioned, the budget compromise is a win for state taxpayers because it includes no broad-based tax increases that had been proposed earlier by the Administration, and it will be sustainable over the coming year.

“This budget is a win for state taxpayers because it does not include an increase in the personal income tax or higher spending,” Scarnati said. “It will not mortgage our state’s future through higher taxes and spending and it will help us to live within our means – just like working families have to do.”

He added that while spending was reduced over last year, the budget does include increases in education funding, to ensure that schools and students receive the resources they need.

“This process has gone on for far too long and we need to get money flowing to programs and services that have been affected by the impasse,” Scarnati said. “The budget package we approved today is realistic, fiscally responsible and reflects the current economic climate in the Commonwealth. I urge the House to move quickly to put this budget package on the Governor’s desk this week so we can help those day care centers and human services agencies that are in need of state funding.”

Senate Bill 1085 sets general fund spending at $27.834 billion – more than $1 billion less than the Governor’s initial budget request and $432 million less than the approved 2008-09 budget total of $28.267 billion

e-mailed from Senator Scarnati's office

ELF Fund Applications to be TakenOct. 20, 21, 22 at Bradford Library

Anyone wishing to received Christmas gifts from the Era’s Less Fortunate Fund this year must apply Oct. 20, 21 and 22 at the Bradford Area Public Library on West Washington Street.

Applications will be taken from noon-4 p.m. each day.

Since the ELF Fund is run completely by volunteers, these three dates are the only application sign-ups for anyone who has received ELF assistance in the past. As always, new applications will be accepted through November.

Two groups of residents are eligible to receive help: Less fortunate senior citizens from age 60 on, and families with children age 15 and under.

All applicants must reside in the Bradford Area School District.

Eligibility is based on income guidelines used for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) government program.

Those applying must bring with them identification for every person in the family for whom assistance is sought, including Social Security numbers.

Also required are positive proof of income for everyone living in the home; and proof of all major and monthly expenses, including rent and utilities.

Those unable to provide these documents at the time of application will be required to produce them prior to being considered for any Christmas aid.

Families should be prepared to list toy and clothing request for children, along with pants and shirt sizes for each child.

The ELF Fund has stressed that these three dates are the only times when these renewal application will be taken, and it is the responsibility of parents who received ELF help last year to complete their application in order to secure their child’s Christmas.

These written applications are confidential. No determination of eligibility is made at the time of application but those qualified are notified by mail.

e-mail from Marty Wilder

PGC, DCNR Exchange Land

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a land exchange with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) that is designed to enable the two agencies to better meet their respective public missions. The exchange, which now must go through a series of public meetings hosted by DCNR and receive approval from the state Legislature and Governor Edward G. Rendell before taking effect, has been in the development stages for over a year.

“For years, the Game Commission and DCNR – two of the largest landowners in the Commonwealth – have acquired lands for public use, but have differing primary objectives and uses for these lands,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “As land has been acquired, situations have arisen in which contrasting land use policies and regulations have caused confusion for the general public and a decreased ability for each agency to meet its management and public recreational goals.

“In response to this situation, the two agencies have prepared a series of exchanges aimed at easing conflicts, while enhancing the two separate agencies’ abilities to meet their independent objectives.”

Roe noted that, in fact, since 1947, the two agencies have been working collaboratively through a cooperative agreement on management of a large portion of the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area, in which portions are designated as State Game Land (SGL) 214 in Crawford County and other portions are within the borders of Pymatuning State Park. Likewise, the two agencies recently have been working collaboratively on the management of DCNR’s surface ownership of SGL 283 in Clarion County, where the Game Commission has easement ownership rights.

“This is truly a win-win situation for our state forest and park visitors and the sportsmen of Pennsylvania,” said DCNR Acting Secretary John Quigley. “We take pride in managing our state forest and parks system for many values and uses. Whether it’s horseback riding or increased waterway access, this acquisition now permits DCNR to offer so much to so many when they visit the Clear Creek State Forest and Cook Forest State Park along the Clarion River Corridor.

“Meanwhile, the tradition and rich heritage of waterfowl hunting and management that surrounds Pymatuning State Park and has been overseen by the Game Commission for many years can only be enhanced by this agreement.”

Roe and Quigley noted that statutory requirements governing exchanges and transfers for both agencies stipulate that such arrangements must be for “equal or greater value.” In this case, it is only reasonable to ensure that the total exchange is viewed as “equal.”

Roe noted that the “equal” exchange requirement might appear to rule out the exchange package which, in total, results in the Game Commission transferring 4,816 acres to the DCNR, while the DCNR is transferring 4,250 acres to the Game Commission. However, as part of the exchange, DCNR is transferring 1,863 surface acres of water, and the Game Commission is transferring its 1,698-acre ownership of easement on State Game Land 283 in Clarion County.

“In reality, the Game Commission’s gaining ownership of the 1,863 surface acres of water from DCNR is critical to the Game Commission’s mission of managing waterfowl in the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area,” Roe said. “The lack of Game Commission-ownership of this area is one of the challenges the agency faces in making necessary adjustments to water levels in Pymatuning Lake that are designed to enhance waterfowl habitat.

“Although DCNR maintains control of water level due to its retaining ownership of the water level control devices, the Game Commission’s ownership of the 1,863 water surface acres will enhance the agency’s ability to manage the area for waterfowl habitat and influence the potential use of water level as a management tool. By agreement, water levels will be changed only when deemed appropriate by the Game Commission, DCNR and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.”

Similarly, Quigley emphasized that DCNR’s gaining ownership of the 1,689-acre easement from the Game Commission on SGL 283 is important to support an increased interest by many stakeholders in the area to provide additional outdoor recreational opportunities along the Clarion River Corridor. While the Game Commission is transferring ownership of its easement and portions of land it owns, the agreement includes a guarantee of a perpetual right for the public to hunt and trap on this land.

In addition to the two major exchanges involving portions of Pymatuning State Park and SGL 283, the two agencies are taking time to address other less significant exchanges that also will enhance other the ability of each agency to address recreational infrastructure needs, which also will benefit the general public’s use of these lands. A breakdown of each exchange is as follows:

1) DCNR will convey to the Game Commission a 4,248-tract of land which is a portion of the Pymatuning State Park, in North Shenango, Sadsbury and Pine townships, Crawford County, adjacent to SGL 214, with the condition to allow for a potential trail use agreement on the abandoned railroad grade to the north of the property, and a two-acre tract of land adjacent to SGL 54 in Heath Township, Jefferson County. DCNR will retain ownership of the areas, and the interior holdings retained by DCNR will generally include current DCNR infrastructure such as the septic sand mounds, the house, the garage, the DCNR Spillway, the “bowl” area, the sluice gates, the water well and the picnic area. The two agencies agree to a shared use of the existing water well, septic sand mound and related infrastructure with each agency retaining a protective right for future use in the event that either agency abandons their respective future use; and

2) DCNR will retain ownership of the area containing the lands currently leased to the University of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to include the Linesville State Fish Hatchery and its affiliated infrastructure, as well as the land 100 feet perpendicular from the shore into the sanctuary water commencing at and including Linesville Creek.

In exchange for the lands to be transferred from DCNR, the Game Commission will convey to DCNR five tracts or parcels of land or surface easement rights constituting 4,573 acres of SGL 283 in Farmington, Highland and Mill Creek townships, Clarion County, excepting a right-of-way 50 feet in width to the Game Commission; and a 181-acre part of SGL 54 in Heath Township, Jefferson County; a 10-acre part of SGL 62 in Hamlin Township, McKean County, excepting a right-of-way access to the Game Commission , onto SGL 62 through Kinzua Bridge State Park; and a 52-acre portion of SGL 44 in Spring Creek Township, Elk County.

Roe stressed that the lands being transferred to DCNR will remain open to public hunting and trapping.

With today’s approval by the Board of Game Commissioners, future action will include two public open-house sessions, sponsored by DCNR, to gather input on the land transactions. Details of the two open-house sessions are as follows:

- The Pymatuning (Linesville) open house will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Linesville High School Cafeteria, 302 W. School Drive, Linesville. For details, call 814-683-5551; and

- The Cook Forest State Park (Kittanning State Forest District) open house will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Clarion Holiday Inn, 45 Holiday Inn Rd., Clarion. For details, call 814-226-8850.

e-mailed from the Pennsylvania Game Commission

Contest Deadline Approaching

Just a reminder that entries for the Bradford Oil 150 Committee Open Writing Contest are due by November 2.

Entry forms are still available at the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce, Bradford Landmark Society, Bradford Area Public Library and the Main Street Mercantile.

Mail completed entries to Rick Benton, Director of Community Affiars, Dallas-Morris Drilling Inc., 29 MOrris Lane, Bradford, PA, 16701; or drop them off at the chamber office at 125 Main Street.

For more information on the contest, please see our previous entry HERE.

United Way Tailgate Party

Scott Douglas will be broadcasting LIVE on 100.1 The HERO from noon to 2:30 p.m.

For tickets, contact The United Way or Byllye Lanes.

Landfill Generates $1.8 Million

Mayville, NY -- County Executive Gregory J. Edwards announced that his administration has used the methane gas at the County landfill to generate another $1.8 Million for Chautauqua County.

"I am proud to let the 130,000 residents of Chautauqua County know as part of the landfill gas project at the County landfill, and the hard work of my financial team, an additional $1.8 Million is now going to be received by our County," Edwards proclaimed.

A variety of new financial markets have emerged to address CO2 and other pollutants in recent years. This offers businesses key incentives — aside from taxes and other punitive measures — to slow down overall emissions growth and, ideally, global warming itself.

A key feature of these markets is emissions trading, which allow companies to buy or sell “credits” that collectively bind all participating companies to an overall emissions limit.

"We used this business technique, applied it to County operations, and generated $1.8 Million of non-tax dollars. This amount is in addition to the $2 Million of net revenue we will earn next year producing electricity with methane gas from the landfill," Edwards said.

"I will be coming before County legislators next week during their 2010 Budget deliberations to discuss the allocation of this $1.8 Million in the 2009 and 2010 budget years," Edwards continued. "$500,000 in revenue was previously budgeted from this project for 2009, and $685,170 was already allocated in the 2010 tentative budget. That leaves $614,830 in unallocated revenue from the carbon credits for 2010."

Edwards said that he will recommend legislators utilize $30,000 of the unallocated revenue to fully fund the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission's 2010 budget request. He will propose that the remaining $584,830 be split equally between an additional property tax cut of $292,415 with the balance placed in a tax stabilization reserve fund to offset future property taxes resulting from New York State's financial crisis.

e-mailed from Greg Edwards' office

Programming note: Greg Edwards will be one of Grizzly Gary's guests on Grizzly Gary's Hunting and Fishing from 7 to 9 Sunday morning on 100.1 The HERO.

BACC Call-In Auction -- Part 1

The first of two Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Call-in Auctions is from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday on The Morning Buzz. Here are the packages that are up for grabs:

Package 1 - Total Value: $475
20 ft. Stainless Steel Flag Pole - Allegheny Bradford Corporation ($450)
Standard American Flag - Representative Martin Causer ($25)

Package 2 -Total Value $190
Weekday Green Fees for Two - Holiday Valley Resort ($80)
Shuttle King Golf Club Travel Cover – Anonymous Donor ($100)
2 Sleeves Golf Balls – Bradford Regional Medical Center ($10)

Package 3 – Total Value: Unknown
Sit on the bench January 22nd at 6pm plus 2 tickets - University of Pittsburgh Bradford Women’s Basketball vs. Hilbert College
University of Pittsburgh Bradford T-shirt
Basketball signed by University of Pittsburgh Bradford Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams

Package 4 - Total Value $ 232
Two certificates for continuing education courses- Bradford Area School District ($95)
Use of W. Washington Street Library Sign for one week - Bradford Public Library ($100)
1 One Year Subscription to Bradford Journal and Miner - Bradford Journal and Miner ($37)

Package 5- Total Value $ 149
4 Tickets to Kiwanis Kapers – Kiwanis Club of Bradford ($20)
Overnight Stay – Heritage Suites ($89)
Beefeaters – Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Home ($40)

Railroad Work in Johnsonburg

Drivers will encounter a street closure and a detour next week as crews from the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad work in Johnsonburg.

West Center Street will be closed from October 12 through 19 as crews work to remove the existing Center Street crossing and build two, new adjacent railroad crossings. Work will also include paving of the approaches and new signals.

Traffic will be detoured around West Center Street and will use Main Street. Work is expected to finish Friday, October 19 but all work is weather dependent.

The new Johnsonburg crossings will create a connection between the Allegheny Eastern Railroad and the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad.

e-mailed from PennDOT

FInd out how you could a $100 gift card from Tops Friendly Market in Bradford -- just by having a party!

Go to WBRRFM.com for all the details.

Owls Get Honorable Mention

Bradford Area High School has received an honorable mention in The Harrisburg Patriot-News high school football rankings for this week.

Thomas Jefferson is the top-ranked AAA School.

Cameron County received an honorable mention in Class A.

Man Hurt in Bells Run Road Crash

A Cattaraugus, New York, man was hurt in an accident Saturday night on Bells Run Road in Ceres Township.

Police say a car driven by 23-year-old Kyle Shultz left the road, hit an embankment, crossed the centerline, left the road again, hit a fence, entered a field and flipped onto its roof.

Shultz was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC in Buffalo for treatment of unspecified injuries.

Police say he'll be charged with DUI.

Scarnati: School Funding Should Offset Need for Tax Increases

WARREN — While this budget impasse has gone on for far too long, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) is pleased that they will be able to get it right, and property owners will end up being the big winners.

“The amount of state and federal dollars that school districts could receive under the 2009/2010 budget proposal currently in front of the legislature is tremendous and should offset the need for any property tax increases in the foreseeable future,” Scarnati stated. “This budget will not only be a win for our children and schools, but a huge win for property owners.”

According to Scarnati, schools in the 25th Senatorial District will receive anywhere from a 6% to a 15.5% increase in their overall subsidies. Pennsylvania has increased funding to our school districts by approximately 31% over the past seven years.

“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has shown significant support for education while, at the same time, not taking more money out of taxpayers’ paychecks,” Scarnati added. “I am confident that school districts will also be able to strike the same balance with funding educational priorities without raising property taxes.”

Scarnati also mentioned that the significant increase in education funding is the main difference in this proposal from the House Republican proposal. House Republicans have chosen not to be involved in the budget process mainly due to the difference in education funding.

“Of course, given the windfall of support for education in this year’s budget proposal, there should be no need to see anyone’s property taxes escalate,” Scarnati said. “I have stated all along that this budget had to meet the parameters of no broad based tax increases, a budget that spends less than last year, and one that is sustainable. Those objectives were met and, at the same time, we were able to take care of our children.”

“It was a difficult process where many wonderful programs suffered some pain; however, school districts did very well,” Scarnati concluded. “One of the reasons for this increase was to ensure that school districts would not need to raise taxes on our property owners.”

e-mailed from Senator Scarnati's office

Alleged Cemetery Vandals Caught

Two Ridgway teenagers are accused of vandalizing the Maxwell Run Cemetery in Spring Creek Township in June and July.

Police say as a result of an investigation into continuing vandalism at the cemetery 18-year-old Brandon Ecklund and 19-year-old Timothy Bender were charged with a felony count of institutional vandalism, along with desecration of venerated objects and criminal mischief.

Police say their investigation is continuing.


faxed by Ridgway-based state police

Teen Charged with Burglary

An Allegany teenager is facing charges for allegedly breaking into a country club and stealing liquor in July.

Cattaraugus County Sheriff's deputies say 19-year-old Ryan Whitney broke into the Birch Run Country Club on Birch Run Road and stole six bottles of liquor.

Whitney was charged Monday with burglary and petit larceny. He's scheduled to appear in Allegany Town Court on October 19.

faxed by Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department

Shinglehouse Man Jailed

A Shinglehouse man is in jail for allegedly breaking into a camp in Pleasant Valley Township and stealing a rifle and a number of other items valued at more than $900.

Police say 23-year-old Nicholas Brown broke a window on a door of a camp owned by Kevin Arnold of Richfield, PA, then went inside and stole several items.

Besides the rifle, he allegedly stole ammunition for the rifle, a compound bow, arrows, arrowheads, hunting boots and paper towels.

Brown was arraigned today by District Judge Barbara Easton, who set bail at $15,000.

faxed by Coudersport-based state police

Delays on Route 219 in Ridgway

Motorists traveling through Ridgway Wednesday, and possibly Thursday, will encounter delays as crews work on the Elk Creek Bridge.

The bridge is on Route 219 near the Pennsy Restaurant.

Crews will be placing temporary shoring on the bridge in preparation for beam delivery to the Johnsonburg Bypass Project. Flaggers and an alternating traffic pattern will be in place.

Beam delivery to the Johnsonburg project will begin on Friday and will also cause delays, some of which may be lengthy.

from PennDOT

Police: Man Threatened to Kill Employees at Downtown Store

A Bradford man is in jail for allegedly threatening to kill employees at a store who wouldn't sell him cigarettes.

Bradford City police say Donald Lindemuth walked into the police station at 1:35 a.m. today and said he was angry with employees at a nearby store because they wouldn't sell him cigarettes when he couldn't show them identification.

Police say Lindemuth told the officer manning the desk that he planned to go home, get a gun and some friends and go back to the store and kill the employees.

The officer detained Lindemuth and was assisted by other officers when Lindemuth resisted arrest.

He was charged with terroristic threats, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, along with resisting arrest.

Remains are Not Lori Bova

The human remains found on the Allegheny Reservoir on September 26 are not those of Lori Bova.

In a news release issued today, Cattaraugus County Sheriff's deputies say forensic examinations performed by the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office and forensic anthropology at Mercyhurst College have ruled out Bova.

Bova was last seen in Lakewood, New York, in 1997.

Last week, authorities ruled out Corrie Anderson, a Jamestown-area woman who has been missing for nearly a year.

Deputies say the remains are that of a female between the ages of 25 to 45 with a stature of 5' 1" to 5' 8". Race has not been determined yet.

Although not mentioned in the news release, this also rules out Warren resident Damien Sharp, who has been missing since Memorial Day weekend of 2002.

Although police have not released names of any other missing persons being considered in the investigation, other notable missing person cases include Josephine Cottone-Despard, who was last seen at the Olean Center Mall in February of 1994; and Joey Lynn Offutt of Sykesville, who has been missing since July of 2007.

from a news release faxed by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department, along with previous reports

Proposed Legislation Would Dock Lawmakers', Governor's Pay

HARRISBURG — State Sen. Mike Stack will soon introduce legislation that would dock pay from state legislators, the governor and cabinet secretaries if a state budget is not resolved by the annual June 30 deadline.

“If the General Assembly was a private business, employees would be expected to do their job in a timely manner and would be reprimanded if they missed a deadline. It should be no different at the Capitol,” said Stack, who is the Democratic vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We are expected to do our jobs efficiently. When we don’t, it’s only fair that we pay for our inaction on the budget.”

As of today, the 2009-10 Pennsylvania budget is 96 days late.

Although Pennsylvania is faced with the difficult task of filling a $3.2 billion deficit during a historic worldwide economic downturn, legislators have been at odds over details over cutting programs and generating revenue.

“Democrats and Republicans often have different views on how to spend money in Pennsylvania, but this impasse is ridiculous,” Stack said. “There must be consequences for our inaction. I understand that it won’t be a popular bill among some colleagues, but it’s the right thing to do.”

Stack’s legislation would require that state legislators, the governor and cabinet secretaries forfeit a proportional amount of their pay for every day the budget is late.

“This means that when a budget is passed after June 30 we would not receive back pay. Instead, the pay would be forfeited and returned to the general fund,” Stack said. “So, for example, if the budget is late by two weeks, pay for legislators will be reduced from $78,312 to $75,049.”

from Senator Stack's Web site via Facebook

Obituary:Mike Sweeney

Michael A. Sweeney, 51, of Bradford, died Friday (Oct. 2, 2009) at Hamot Medical Center in Erie.

For the complete obituary go to Mascho Funeral Home.

RIP Mike. You'll be missed!

Pumpkin Weigh-Off Winner

A Bradford man won the 27th annual world Pumpkin Confederation competition at the Clarence Fall Festival Saturday.

Mike Matto's pumpkin weighed in at 1,040 ½ pounds, beating it closest competitor by 75 pounds.

Matto and his pumpkin won $1,000.

Bradford Man Charged with Impersonating Police Officer

A Bradford man has been charged with impersonating a police officer after allegedly entering and searching the home of some St. Bonaventure University students.

33-year-old Daniel Benner of Derrick Road is accused of going to the home on the evening of August 25 and telling the students he was a Foster Township Police officer looking for a person had illegally provided tattoos.

The students told police he didn't have identification and forced his way into the house. He left after searching the property.

Later, Benner also allegedly told an off-duty Allegany Police officer he was an undercover officer. Officer Tim Peterson did get Benner's license plate number and provided it to Foster Township Police, who helped identify him.

Benner is free on his own recognizance and scheduled to appear in Allegany Town Court on October 6.

Homicide Trial to Start in February

The homicide trial for a Marienville man is set to start in February in Elk County Court.

19-year-old Raymond Lambert is accused of robbing, shooting and killing Sigel-area resident Timothy Finucan in August of 2008.

In December of last year he pleaded not guilty to criminal homicide, burglary and several other charges.

Guidance Center Gets Money

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Casey announced today that $453,713 in federal funding has been awarded by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to the Guidance Center, part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, in Bradford. This grant will allow local communities to expand mentoring and support services for youth foster care programs.

“Children in foster care too often lack a stable support system,” Senator Casey said. “This funding will allow the Guidance Center to provide additional mentors and volunteer programs so that foster children can go through their daily lives knowing that someone is there for them.”

This funding was awarded by the DOJ Mentoring Initiatives for Foster Care Youth Program. It will assist the Guidance Center to provide quality supportive mentoring services and to recruit volunteers within the children’s existing social networks. This will reduce juvenile delinquency, boost school attendance and performance, enhance familial relationships and prevent substance abuse problems. It is expected to help over 45 children ages 6-17 in Jefferson, Elk and McKean Counties.

news release from Bob Casey's office

Changes to 'Unstoppable' Schedule

Changes have been made to the travel alert related to the filming of the movie "Unstoppable.

The intersection of routes 120 and 155 at the east end of Emporium will be restricted Friday, Monday and Wednesday and will be controlled by police from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. all three days.

Motorists can also expect intermittent traffic delays on Route 120 between East Allegany Avenue and Spring Street in Emporium all three days.

Lanes will also be closed intermittently on the Route 120 steel bridge in the village of Cameron on Friday.

Next Thursday, there will be traffic delays in Turtlepoint on Champlin Hill Road between Route 155 and Pine Grove Road.

Next Friday, motorists can expect delays on Route 120 between Port Allegany and Liberty.

news release from PennDOT

Wanted Man Arrested

A man wanted by Town of Carrollton Court and McKean County Court on separate charges has been arrested.

Acting on a tip from the City of Bradford Police Department, and assisted by the Olean Police Street Crimes Unit, sheriff's deputies located 44-year-old Mayholn Troutman at the Microtel Motel in Allegany.

Troutman is accused of breaking the arm of a female as a he dragged her down a flight of stairs during a domestic dispute last month in Limestone. He then allegedly threatened to kill a female neighbor who attempted to help the victim, and made a verbal threat to kill her children.

Deputies also arrested 28-year-old Sara Schwab of Limestone for hindering prosecution. The motel room where Troutman was staying had been rented in Schwab's name.

Troutman is also wanted on a felony bench warrant from McKean County for failing to appear for sentencing on drug charges.

Troutman is in Cattaraugus County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.

news release from Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department