One Book Bradford:Randall Brings Mark Twain to Bromeley

By SANDRA RHODES

This year may not be one that brings Halley’s Comet soaring through the air, but it is one that brings Mark Twain into town.

Well, while it may not be the real Mark Twain, it will be a stellar impersonation by Mike Randall. Randall will grace the stage at Bromeley Theater in Blaisdell Hall at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Saturday for Mark Twain Live! The show will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Randall’s performance is part of this year’s One Book Bradford season. One Book Bradford is a community-wide reading initiative whose selection for 2010 is “Becky: The Life and Times of Becky Thatcher” by Lenore Hart. Hart herself will be coming to Bradford March 31 to discuss the book.

Given the obvious connection between Twain and Hart, the One Book Bradford committee thought it only seemed right to bring “Twain” to Bradford, if only for a night.

Randall, who has been doing his Mark Twain show in Western New York since 1972, first became interested back in high school when a friend was doing a Mark Twain bit for a junior class show. Then, he saw Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain. Holbrook, perhaps the best known Mark Twain impersonator, won a Tony for his portrayal of the famed author. At that point, Randall was hooked.

“I think what first captivated me about Mark Twain was the humor and the fact that he had an opinion on just about everything and he felt free to express it. Lucky for us,” Randall said.

Randall created his Twain character from the ground up based on old folks he knew. He studied material about and by Twain and figured out suitable make-up and costume and learned the words.

“Ultimately, it’s the actor’s job to bring the words to life. Make them real,” Randall said. “How it’s done isn’t all that interesting. It’s a lot of hard work. Having slipped into the Mark Twain character some 2,000 times in the past 39 years, I don’t really think about it anymore.”

Despite the longevity, the show has not gotten old for Randall.

“I suppose if I was doing the show constantly, I might get bored, but with my other commitments – family and job – I can only pull Mark Twain out about 15 to 20 times a year,” he said. “Like any actor in any part, the more times you do it, the more you learn and come away with. As long as people want to laugh and as long as I can muster the energy to do a two-hour show alone on stage, I will.”

Randall continues to ad new bits to the show and will again this year, especially since 2010 is the 175th anniversary of Twain’s birth and 100th anniversary of his death.

“This year, I am working on three never-performed pieces for my show.”

Randall’s “day job” is as a meteorologist and co-host of Good Morning Western New York for WKBW-Channel 7 in Buffalo, N.Y.

He started out as a feature reporter, and then Tom Jolls convinced Randall he might be interested in doing the weekend weather.

“And I have to say, Tom was right,” Randall said. “I do very much enjoy doing the weather.”

And while he wears a couple different hats in his professional life, he does not find it difficult to balance the two worlds.

“Theatre is my advocation and broadcasting is my vocation.”

Randall also does a one-man show of Charles Dickens, a show he took on as a challenge at 50-something to see if he could start from scratch, create a new character and memorize 90 minutes of material. He succeeded.

As far as his Twain show, Randall explained that it is two 50-minute acts “with Mark Twain talking right to the crowd.”

“People who like Mark Twain, me or just like to laugh at some good all-American humor should not miss Mark Twain Live,” Randall said.

And besides, Randall has one of the greatest writers in the world working for him – Twain.

Randall also clarified his take on why the show may not be for those under 14.

“I can tell you that kids don’t always get the jokes,” he said, adding there’s no “blue material” and only mild language.

It’s more of a difference in generations than anything else.

“Some children might be entertained by Mr. Twain, the master storyteller,” Randall said. “But most will find an old guy telling jokes not to their liking.”

Tickets are still available for those who enjoy Twain’s humor.

Tickets are on sale at the Bradford Area Public Library and at the Bradford Area Creative and Performing Arts Center office.

Tickets will also be available Saturday night at the door.

The event is sponsored by American Refining Group and CNB Bank.

Foust Recognized for Research Paper

Dr. Terry Foust of Charles Cole Memorial Hospital's Champion Orthopedics and Sports Medicine was recognized for his research paper on spinal surgery at the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics meeting in Boston.

The paper, "Increasing Visualization and Ease of Decompression During Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery by Varying Angle and Laterality of Approach," earned a third place scientific paper award in general orthopedics among over 500 submissions nationwide.

Dr. Foust, a Coudersport native, joined Champion Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in July 2008 and specializes in spinal surgery.

Snow Daze in Downtown Bradford

Area residents are encouraged to take a ‘snow day’ on Saturday and visit downtown Bradford for the first annual Snow Daze Tour.

The tour will include business open houses, merchant specials, clearance sales, free refreshments and a snow flake scavenger hunt.

“We really do have a lot going on in our historic business district,” said Main Street Manager, Anita Dolan. “If a person has set a goal of getting in shape for the New Year, trying a new hair style, getting organized, or doing some different decorating around the house, then this is the day to visit Downtown Bradford,” Dolan added.

Participants include Roseart Company, Lisa’s Hairport, Main Street Mercantile, Main Street Fitness, Metamorphic Training, Curves, Tin Ceiling Gift Shoppe, Kimberly’s Cool Beans Café, LaBrozzi Insurance, Grandma’s House Tea and Gifts, and Paper to Pages.

Businesses will be offering membership specials, discounted services and after holiday clearance sales. Refreshments will be available at many of the locations.

Additionally, customers can participant in the Snowflake Scavenger Hunt. They can pick up a ‘snowflake’ coupon at any participating business, get it stamped at each location, and enter it into a drawing for a gift basket containing lots of Main Street goodies. The gift basket can be seen at Main Street Fitness located at 80 Main Street.

The event is sponsored by the Bradford Main Street Program/DBBDA and participating businesses.

Change in Transfer Station Hours

Mayville, NY -- In an effort to improve efficiencies in Chautauqua County and manage County expenses more effectively, Executive Gregory J. Edwards has announced that the days of operation at the County's four Transfer Stations have changed.

"As we have done in the past, we reviewed our operations to identify areas where we can become more efficient and spend less. One area we analyzed was the County owned landfill."

Edwards said that one point of concern was the expenses the County was incurring for overtime. To combat that, Edwards said the decision was made to close the South County Transfer Station in Falconer on Wednesdays. The South County Transfer Station will remain open on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"We made this change to reduce the overtime expense that we were incurring within the division, and Wednesday was the lowest volume day," Edwards explained.

Edwards also noted that the North County Transfer Station, which was once available for residential use on Wednesdays, is now only available for commercial haulers that day.

The following days of operation are now in place:
North County Transfer Station (Sheridan) will be open:
· Monday through Friday for commercial haulers;
· Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for residential
South County Transfer Station (Falconer) will be open:
· Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for commercial haulers;
· Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for residential
Landfill Transfer Station will be open:
· Monday through Friday for commercial haulers;
· Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for residential.
West County Transfer Station (Sherman) will be open;
· Tuesday for commercial haulers;
· Tuesday and Saturday for residential.

"The County Landfill is an important asset that continues to run as efficiently as possible for County individuals and businesses that use the landfill on a daily basis," Edwards said. "This is further proof that we are doing all that we can to make our County landfill operate at its best to benefit County businesses and residents."

Coolidge Named to Advisory Board

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representative Glenn `GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today has learned that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has appointed Thompson’s nominee, Erick Coolidge of Wellsboro, to the Dairy Advisory Committee created this year within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA.

Thompson was joined by five other Pennsylvania Congressmen in making the nomination: Jim Gerlach, R-Chester Springs, Joe Pitts, R-Kennett Square, Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, Todd Platts, R-York County, and Charles Dent, R-Allentown.

“This is truly great news that Pennsylvania’s dairy farmers will have a seat at the table when suggestions and ideas are presented to the Secretary of Agriculture on dairy issues,” said Thompson. “Dairy farmers are still not earning the profit they deserve and many small farms across the country are still struggling to stay in business.”

“Erick Coolidge is a longtime dairy producer –a fourth generation dairy farmer with nearly 45 years of experience in the industry both on and off the farm. He currently is a Tioga County Commissioner. He has served in various capacities in many agriculture and dairy organizations in Pennsylvania and he will be a valuable asset to the Advisory Committee,” said Thompson.

According to the USDA, the purpose of the new committee is to review the issues of farm milk price volatility and dairy farmer profitability and to provide suggestions and ideas to Secretary Vilsack on how USDA can best address these issues to meet the dairy industry’s needs.

Coolidge will serve a 2-year term as part of the 15-member group representing industry, producers and their organizations, consumers, academia, retailers and state agencies involved in dairy.

Causer Holding Office Hours

State Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) or one of his representatives will hold office hours on Thursday, January 7th, 2010, at the following locations:

● Emporium Borough Office – 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

● Port Allegany Borough Office – 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Services available include assisting constituents with state-related issues or concerns, assistance with driver license and vehicle registration applications, and help in filling out applications for various state programs, such as the senior citizen Property Tax/Rent Rebate and PACE prescription drug assistance programs.

People who cannot make the satellite sessions may call Causer’s offices in Bradford (1-866-437-8181) or Coudersport (814-274-9769) for assistance.

Young on 'State of the State'

“It is heartening that Governor Paterson focused on ethics, fiscal responsibility and jobs.

I was pleased to hear the Governor speak of a spending cap to get out-of-control spending in line. Albany has to rein in irresponsible behavior, and a spending cap is a good first step. My conference passed a spending cap before New York City took control of the Senate last year, and currently, I have a petition drive to contain reckless spending. We need to push the Assembly to pass it too, to finally help our hardworking, overburdened taxpayers.

It was great that the Governor spoke about revitalizing the economy, with a focus on small businesses and manufacturing. The only way to solve the state budget deficit and help families is to grow more jobs so that we have more economic opportunities and our young people don’t have to leave.

It’s going to be a tough year, and I will continue to stand up against tax hikes and bad fiscal policies that hurt Upstate. I hope that the state Legislature and the Governor work together on behalf of the people in New York State so we can have brighter future.”

BRMC Statement on Job Cuts

Bradford Regional Medical Center today announced staff reductions of 59 employees to deal with the effects of a challenging healthcare environment and the financial condition of the hospital.

According to Hospital President and CEO Timothy Finan, “The staff reductions are necessary to ensure improved financial stability of the hospital. Current patient volumes and activity levels cannot support existing hospital staffing levels. This is a very painful, but necessary, decision that will ensure that we retain the ability to provide care to the community we serve. To do otherwise would potentially prompt additional job losses and place the hospital’s mission in jeopardy.”

Finan made it clear that the staff reductions will in no way impact patient care or safety. The staff reductions were made as a result of a comprehensive assessment of the hospital’s financial performance and is part of an overall hospital financial improvement plan.

Bradford Regional Medical Center has lost approximately $17 million from operations over the past four years. The losses are a function of declining volumes and decreased levels of reimbursement from health insurers and the government.

According to Finan, “The ongoing operating losses experienced by the hospital need to end. We find little comfort in the fact that Bradford Regional Medical Center’s financial situation mimics those of many other hospitals throughout Western Pennsylvania and Western New York who have also had to reduce staff. Business as usual no longer works. As challenging as our healthcare environment is, I am confident that the hospital’s financial situation can and will improve significantly as a result of this and other initiatives we intend to pursue.”

“I understand that this reduction in force will be a source of very real sadness and disappointment for our employees. Healthcare workers are family and the bonds between co-workers are very strong. Each of our displaced employees is being treated with respect and dignity and the hospital is committed to assisting them in every possible way regarding potential job placements in other organizations,” said Finan.

Finan noted that the reduction in force is in no way related to Bradford Regional Medical Center’s recent integration with Olean General Hospital as part of the Upper Allegheny Health System. “The integration was formalized just two months ago. The hospital’s financial situation did not just occur. It has been a concern for a significant period of time. To ignore it any longer would be irresponsible.”

Stabbing Victim's Name Released

Bradford City Police have released more information about the stabbing Tuesday morning on Rochester Street.

They say Stephen Summers was attacked by Grant Lewis while Summers was asleep in an upstairs bedroom at 56 Rochester Street. Police say Summers was on the porch and bleeding heavily when they arrived.

Lewis allegedly stabbed Summers in the chest and arm. Lewis then left the scene and was picked by Olean City Police.

A Bradford police officer went to Olean to interview Lewis and collect evidence.

Lewis was charged with aggravated assault, arraigned by District Judge Dom Cercone and sent to McKean County Jail on $50,000 cash bail.

BRMC Workers Lose Jobs

A number of people at Bradford Regional Medical Center have reportedly lost their jobs.

A source tells WESB 69 people have been let go, but that number has not been confirmed yet.

Calls to BRMC about the situation have not been returned yet.

Obituary:John Douglas

SHELBURNE, Vt. -- John Andrew Douglas, 49, was called home to be with the Lord on Tuesday (Jan. 5, 2010) in the Vermont Respite House, following a valiant battle with ALS.

Mr. Douglas was born Dec. 21, 1960, in Bradford, Pa., a son of John A. and Joan Higie Douglas.

For the complete obituary go to Ready Funeral.com

Op-Ed: Senator Joe Scarnati

While I believe that much has been accomplished over the past couple of years, there was an issue of great concern that needed to be corrected. Quite frankly, and more specifically, this issue needed resolved. Happily, and justifiably so, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rendered a decision that I have been requesting for some time. This past week they ruled that the state constitution does not forbid a governor from employing and paying our state employees during a budget impasse.

This decision validates something that I have stated time and time again during the budget process. Unfortunately, for the past two years this governor has used these types of threats and tactics to garner additional pressure from state employees. While I am not satisfied with the timing of the completion of the final 2009-2010 budget, there was no need to jeopardize the livelihood of Pennsylvania families during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. It was simply a failure of the Governor’s recognition that the working families of Pennsylvania live paycheck to paycheck, and should not be pawns in his attempt to leverage support for any of his initiatives.

Although disappointed with the timing of the budget, I am pleased that the Governor finally came around to seeing the merit in allowing the citizens of the Commonwealth to keep more of the money they earn. From the beginning, Senate Republicans would not budge in our core mission of completing a budget with no broad-based tax increase, a budget that spent less than last year, and one that is sustainable in the future. The goals were accomplished, but not without the Governor allowing his emotion to interfere with sound judgment. As we were protecting the taxpayer, regrettably, the Governor continued to use state employees as hostages during the budget standoff. It was unnecessary and certainly clear that it was done at the discretion of the Governor, not required by the constitution.

With that said, not only am I, but the state employees of the Commonwealth, are encouraged by the recent decision of the Supreme Court. I am hopeful that threats and rhetoric will not be a part of the next budget cycle; however, given the history and lack of compassion from the Governor, I am not confident.

United Way Reaches 97 Percent of Goal

23 Percent of Donors Were New

The United Way of the Bradford Area has made great strides in recent weeks, announcing today that more than $317,000 has been raised for the local community.

“We are so proud, and appreciative, to be able to say that our community has pledged such a great amount,” says Executive Director Kelly Case. “I don’t know how to properly express our gratitude.”

“So much hard work and diligence has gone into every aspect of Campaign 2009,” says Mandi Wilton Davis, Assistant Director, “there have been so many ‘goals within the goal’ that have been achieved this year, especially the new contributors.”

23% of the donor base was considered a new donor to campaign 2009.

“We often say ‘once you get them, you can keep them’”, says Davis, “so we’re ecstatic with this figure!”

Other hopeful aspects of the appeal that were achieved included the resurrection of the Speaker’s Bureau, Business Blitz, and successful special events.

“So much should be said about how resourceful the Speaker’s Bureau has been for us,” says Case. “That, I think, has become our greatest asset when it comes to our employee presentations because you can’t get a clearer message than from those who live it daily.”

The agencies and programs that have applied for and been granted funding from campaign 2009 will benefit greatly from the local community’s generosity.

“It’s amazing how many needs and necessities are able to be met with the funding that the agencies will receive in 2010, says Davis. “That’s the reason for it all.”

Case concluded by saying, “We have a high respect for all involved, and look forward to applying these learned principles as work begins on Campaign 2010.”

Kessels Establish UPB Scholarship

When Ann Kessel of Bradford wanted to get her husband, Dick, an extra special birthday gift, it didn’t take long for her to come up with a solution – a scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

“We’re very interested in education and want to help students pay for a quality education,” Ann Kessel said. It turned out to be the perfect present. When Dick Kessel needed a present for his wife’s birthday, he added her name to the scholarship.

The Kessels gift was matched by the Agnes L. and Lewis Lyle Thomas Scholarship Challenge.
This fall, the first Ann and Dick Kessel Scholarship was awarded to Grace Chuhinka, a sophomore nursing major from Marysville.

Preference for the scholarship goes to students enrolled in the business management, sports medicine, nursing and pre-medicine programs.

Ann Kessel said those programs reflect the family’s interests. The Kessels are the owners of Kessel Construction Inc., a respected Bradford Design/Build construction firm specializing in construction of commercial and industrial buildings.

In the early 1960s, the couple took the business over from Dick Kessel’s father, who had started it by building powerhouses in the Bradford oil fields.

Their interest in the medical fields comes from their daughter, Kristin Kessel Asinger, a visiting instructor in sports medicine at Pitt-Bradford.

The Kessels’ scholarship is just their latest contribution to their longtime support of Pitt-Bradford.

“The University is vitally important to Bradford,” said Ann Kessel, who sees the couple’s contributions to Pitt-Bradford as one way to repay the community that’s helped them and their company succeed.

She admits that philanthropy is also fun for the couple.

“Aren’t you rewarded when you give things away?” she asks. “The community has been so good to us. You have to give things back.”

The couple also established the Jeffrey Brian Kessel Memorial Scholarship in memory of Dick Kessel’s cousin, a Pitt-Bradford alumnus and community leader who worked for Kessel Construction. They continued to support the scholarship through an annual golf outing.

Kessel Construction was also the general contractor for Pitt-Bradford’s facilities management building and made major in-kind gifts toward its construction.

Ann Kessel also gives her time to the university, serving as a member of Pitt-Bradford’s Advisory Board, of which Dick Kessel is an honorary member.

The Thomas Scholarship Challenge was made possible by a $1 million gift from Agnes L. Thomas and allows donors to double the amount of gifts between $5,000 and $50,000 to new or existing scholarships, as long as funds last. Gifts must be paid within five years to be eligible.

For more information, contact the Pitt-Bradford office of Institutional Advancement at (814)362-5091 or Joelle Warner, manager of donor relations, at jaw104@pitt.edu.

Scarnati Re-elected to Top Post

State Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) was sworn in to serve his fourth year as Senate President Pro Tempore during ceremonies held today at the State Capitol. Scarnati was unanimously elected to the post by his Senate colleagues and sworn in by Commonwealth Court Judge Johnny J. Butler.

As President Pro Tempore, Scarnati will be responsible for appointing the chairpersons and members of the standing committees of the Senate. Scarnati will preside over the Senate during session as well as play a significant role in negotiations with the Administration and House of Representatives.

Scarnati will also continue to serve as Pennsylvania's Lieutenant Governor. He will fill out the remainder of the late Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll's term, which ends January 18, 2011. Pennsylvania's Constitution requires him to hold both, Lieutenant Governor and President Pro Tempore, positions simultaneously.

"Looking forward, we have many challenges and issues ahead of us in 2010," Scarnati said. "But if we continue to work in the bipartisan manner, I believe we can look at the end of 2010 and be proud of the results."

(Photo provided by Senate Republican Communications)

Whitcomb to Take Oath Friday

Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb will take the oath of office at 2 p.m. Friday in Little Valley.

After being sworn in, Whitcomb is expected to appoint William Nichols as undersheriff.

Whitcomb has been acting sheriff since the death of Dennis John last summer, and was elected to the post in November.

Olean Man Pleads to Child Sex Charge

An Olean man has pleaded guilty to attempting to have sex with a child.

Clayton Griffis is charged with attempted course of sexual conduct against a child.

Cattaraugus County District Attorney Lori Rieman says between November 20, 2004, and December 30, 2008, in Olean, Griffis attempted to have sex with a child younger than 13.

He will be sentenced on March 29.

Man Sentenced for Attempted Burglary

An Olean man has been sentenced to one to three years in prison on an attempted burglary charge.

On March 18, 2009, James Hovey attempted to enter the Nafco Quick Stop in the Town of Great Valley with intent to commit a crime.

Hovey and his co-defendants also intentionally damaged Nafco property.

Bradford Man Sentenced in Catt County

One of the Bradford men involved in the October 9, 2008, attempted robbery of Domino's Pizza in Allegany has been sentenced to a year in Cattaraugus County Jail.

Douglas Carnahan was charged with conspiracy for his part in the crime.

http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/bradford-eldred-men-sentenced.html

Cops: Man Snowmobiling While Intoxicated

A Mayville, New York, man has been charged with snowmobiling while intoxicated following an accident early Saturday morning on a snowmobile trail in Chautauqua.

Sheriff’s deputies say 55-year-old Robert Kent lost control of the snowmobile at around 4:30 a.m. and crashed into a tree. Later that morning, a trail groomer found Kent at the site.

He was taken to WCA Hospital in Jamestown for treatment. Deputies say further charges are pending the results of a blood test.

Info Released on Monday Crash

Police have released the names of the people involved in a car vs. tractor-trailer accident Monday afternoon on Route 219 in Lafayette Township.

They say a car driven by 21-year-old Brittany Vandervoort of Kane went out of control on the icy road, crossed the centerline and hit the front of the rig driven by 52-year-old Brian Spencer of Falls Creek. The car spun and hit the trailer, then spun again before coming to rest on the east berm. The truck came to rest blocking the southbound lane of the road.

Police say Vandervoort was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered moderate injuries.

Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

Computer Problems

I'm having problems with "my" computer in the newsroom ... so please bear with me as posts will probably be infrequent until the problems are resolved.

Sunday Book Talk: Nakoa's Woman

This week's show is with Gayle Rogers, author of Nakoa's Woman, which was orginally published as The Second Kiss in 1972.

Listen here.

For more information, go here.

Bona Men Fall to Marshall

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A 20-6 run to open the second half and four players in double figures helped Conference USA foe Marshall hand St. Bonaventure a 80-61 loss on Saturday afternoon at the Cam Henderson Center.

The loss puts an end to non-conference play for the Bonnies and drops their record to 7-6 heading into Atlantic 10 action this week. Marshall now stands at 11-2 heading into the start of its league play and extends its home winning streak to 13 games.

Leading the way for Marshall was freshman Hassan Whiteside, who finished with game-highs of 17 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks. The 7-foot freshman did all of his damage in the second half and played just 19 minutes. Fellow big man Tyler Wilkerson also finished with a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards.

Making his first career start, junior Ogo Adegboye (London, England/Findlay Prep) led the Brown and White with 15 points in a full 40 minutes of work. Senior Jonathan Hall (Miami, Fla./Miami Senior) finished with his second double-double in the last three games with 11 points and 10 boards also over 40 minutes. Sophomore Andrew Nicholson (Mississauga, Ontario/Father Michael Goetz Secondary) was the final Bonnie in double figures with 11 points and eight rebounds.

For the game, St. Bonaventure shot just 37 percent (22-60) from the field, but was doomed by its 10-for-35 performance in the second half. On the flipside, Marshall connected on 15-of-30 from the floor in the final frame and went 10-of-14 from the free throw line. The play of Whiteside in the second half helped the Thundering Herd outscore the Bonnies 24-12 in the paint.

“Give a lot of credit to Marshall. That’s a good team, that’s well coached and has a tremendous player in Whiteside,” said head coach Mark Schmidt. “He changes everything when he’s in there and to beat them you’ve got to make shots from the outside and we certainly didn’t do that.”
The Bonnies finished a mere 5-of-22 from long range for the game.

Nicholson accounted for seven of the team’s first 13 points and brought the Bonnies to within one, 14-13, following his second dunk at the 11:08 mark.

Marshall then broke open the game with a 16-3 run that gave the home team a commanding 30-16 edge with just over five minutes remaining in the half. A rash of Bona turnovers helped the run, as the Thundering Herd sank 6-of-7 from the field during the scoring spurt.

St. Bonaventure did counter the big Marshall run with a 10-2 spurt of its own. The run began and ended with a layup by sophomore Michael Davenport (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) with the last coming with a foul to cut it to a 32-26 game with 2:45 left.

The Herd lead reached double-digits again, but a layup by Adegboye with six seconds remaining made it a 39-30 score at the break. The halftime deficit was just St. Bonaventure’s fourth of the season, as it was hampered by 10 turnovers that lead to 14 points for Marshall.

Things didn’t get any better for the Bonnies over the opening minutes of the second half, as the Herd accounted for 20 of the first 26 points of the final frame. St. Bonaventure went just 2-for-19 from the field over the opening 10 minutes allowing Marshall to build a 59-36 advantage.

The Bonnies got as close as 10, 69-59, with a little less than three minutes to play, but the Herd put the game away by finishing on a 12-2 run.

St. Bonaventure will host George Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 6 in the A-10 opener for both clubs. Gametime at the Reilly Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Burglary in Ulysses Township

Police are investigating a burglary in Ulysses Township that happened sometime between 10:15 Wednesday night and 6:40 Thursday morning.

Someone entered the Bailey Hill Lodge and Restaurant on Bailey Hill Road by forcing open a locked door. Once inside, the burglar opened two cash drawers and stole the cash inside.

Nothing else was reported stolen.

Man Facing Charges After Police Chase

A Kill Buck man is facing charges after taking police on a chase through the City of Salamanca Friday afternoon.

Sheriff's deputies say they were called to a domestic incident in the Town of Great Valley, and then saw the suspect, 53-year-old Andrew Swan, driving in Salamanca.

Swan allegedly refused to stop for deputies and led them, along with Salamanca Police, on a brief chase.

Swan eventually stopped, and was taken to the Salamanca Police Department for arraignment on charges of felony driving while intoxicated, resisting arrest and related offenses.

Part of Home Damaged by Fire

Fire damaged part of Randy and Joan Connor's Derrick City house Friday afternoon.

Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim Kelley says at about 2:15 p.m. they got a report of a structure fire at 651 Derrick Road. Heavy smoke was coming from a second story window when they arrived on the scene.

Kelley says firefighters knocked down the blaze "rather quickly," and fire damage was contained to the kitchen area. There was smoke and water damage on the first floor.

Kelley says one person was home at the time of the fire. He made it out safely and went to a neighbor's house to call 9-1-1. There were no injuries.

About 40 firefighters were on the scene for about 2 hours. Besides Derrick City, the departments responding to the scene were Bradford City, Bradford Township, Otto Township and Limestone. Rew firefighters were on standby at Derrick City.

Kelly says the cause of the fire hasn't been determined yet, but a state police fire marshal has been called in to investigate.

Environmentalist Photos Lead to Citation Against Gas Driller

There's an interesting story in the Scranton Times-Tribune:

"A state investigation sparked by a local environmentalist who rented an airplane to gather photographic evidence has revealed an unreported contaminate release at a natural gas drilling site in Wayne County."

Read the rest here.

Catt County Has 1st Female DA

Cattaraugus County officially has its first female district attorney.

Machias native Lori Rieman took the oath of office this afternoon in Ellicottville.

Rieman was first assistant district attorney for eight years under outgoing DA Ed Sharkey, who she beat by a 2 to 1 margin in November's election.

One of the cases she'll tackle in her new job involves the death of 80-year-old Wilbur Norton of Delevan, who was killed in his apartment last month. An arrest has not been made yet.

Man Charged After Hitting PSP Car

A Titusville man who crashed his pickup truck into a police car on Christmas Eve has been charged with driving under the influence.

Police say 27-year-old Nash Harvey was driving the wrong way on Route 6 near Warren. State Police trooper Andrew Goss blocked the highway and the truck slammed into the police car going about 60 mph.

Police say if Goss hadn't blocked Harvey's truck, it would have collided head-on with a vehicle carrying a family from Erie.

Harvey's blood alcohol content was determined to be about three times the legal limit.

Court Overturns Rhodes Sentence

An appeals court has overturned the prison sentence for the former Mercyhurst College volleyball player who killed her newborn daughter.

Teri Rhodes was 19 years old when she suffocated the baby in August 2007 shortly after giving birth in her campus apartment.

In 2008, Rhodes was sentenced to 9 to 18 years in prison, but the sentenced was harsher than her attorney and prosecutors expected, given her guilty plea to a manslaughter charge.

The Superior Court panel also ordered that a new judge be appointed to impose Rhodes' new sentence.

Rhodes, who lives in Michigan, has been free on bond.

Pole Collapses in Route 219 Crash

A Lakeview, NY, man is facing charges after his vehicle hit a utility pole in the Town of Ashford early this morning.

Cattaraugus County Sheriff's deputies say 21-year-old Christopher Steinert was traveling north at 4:15 a.m. when his vehicle crossed the centerline and hit the pole, causing the pole to collapse onto the road.

He's charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and related offenses.

Man Facing Rape Charges

A Randolph man is facing rape charges for allegedly having sex with a child younger than 11.

20-year-old Randy Lee Baker allegedly had intercourse with the child sometime in late November.

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

Chautauqua Co. Executive Rings in 2010 with Inauguration Ceremony

Mayville, NY -- Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards was joined by hundreds of revelers at a New Year's Eve party that also served as an Inauguration Celebration Friday, January 1, 2010. The event was held at the Chautauqua Suites Meeting & Expo Center in Mayville.

Edwards, along with the Hon. Stephen Cass, Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley and County Clerk Sandra Sopak were all sworn into office during a ceremony held shortly after midnight. All four gave their official Oaths of Office in the presence of New York State Senator Catharine Young.

The inauguration is a departure from the typical time and venue. In the past, the ceremony has taken place during the day at the County Courthouse in Mayville. Edwards said the move allowed friends, family and members of the general public that would not normally be able to attend to take part in the inauguration.

"I wanted to ring in the New Year with a special event that included the inauguration ceremony that typically takes place during the day on January 1," Edwards said. "I want to personally thank State Senator Young for joining us and taking my affirmation, along with those of Judge Cass, Dave Foley and Sandy Sopak."

Judge Cass wanted to thank the voters of Chautauqua County for their overwhelming and generous support. “It is a great honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Chautauqua County in their Court and I look forward to serving as your Surrogate for the next 10 years,” said Cass.

Judge Cass has served as the Chautauqua County Surrogate’s Court Judge since 1999. He is also Acting Supreme Court Justice, Integrated Domestic Violence Part, and Past President of the New York State Surrogate’s Association. Cass is married to the former Krista Fagerstrom and they have two children, Katie age 17 and McKenzie age 14.

Sopak said it's been a pleasure serving the people of Chautauqua County for the past 16 years. "We've been able to accomplish so much in the County Clerk's Office, from making electronic images of deeds from 1969 through the present available to the public, to scanning and electronically filing all civil, criminal and matrimonial court work. The advancements in technology have made this job a never-ending learning experience and I've loved every minute of it. I'm anxiously looking forward to the changes the next four years will bring."

Foley also graciously thanked all those who have supported him during the past two elections, and said that he is ready to serve the public for the next 4 years.

Those in attendance were entertained by the Dave Golando Big Band, and enjoyed Hors d'ouvres, dessert and beverages prepared by Chautauqua Suites. Edwards pointed out that any proceeds from the event, after expenses, will be donated to the United Ways of Northern and Southern Chautauqua County.

"The catalyst for this event was my desire to thank the people who call Chautauqua County home for supporting me this past November," Edwards said. "I look forward to serving the residents of Chautauqua County over the next 4 years, and handling the challenges and celebrating the triumphs that are sure to lie ahead."

Pictured, from left, Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley, Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards, State Senator Catharine Young, Chautauqua County Clerk Sandra Sopak, the Hon. Stephen Cass.
(Photo courtesy of Edwards' office)

Welcoming 2010

Scott Douglas was the master of ceremonies for First Night's Got Talent as well as the festivities in Veterans Square. (Thanks to Jim Jones for brighening up this photo for me!)
The fireworks finale by Young Explosives wowed the crowd.


Congratulations -- and thank you! -- to Larry, Kim & the entire committee for a great day and night!

First Night's Got Talent

More than 600 people turned out at the First United Methodist Church to see that First Night's Got Talent.

Sixteen acts performed and the winner was – Marissa Buchheit.

Second place went to Devin Dewyer of Smethport. Ariel Campbell took third place.

The winners are pictured below, receiving their trophies (provided by 100.1 The HERO) from Nashville recording artist Robert Allen.

Happy New Year!

This photo, taken during the fireworks display that started at midnight, should give you an idea of how bright the fireworks were.