Phil Says: Early Spring

Thanks to Augie Freda, as well as TC Clark (of course).

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Fatal Crash in Gerry

A 48-year-old Jamestown man is dead following a crash late last night in the Town of Gerry.

Sheriff’s deputies say Aaron Hartman was on Route 60 at 11:11 p.m. when his vehicle left the road and hit a tree. Hartman was taken to WCA Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Deputies say it appears that a Hartman suffered a medical emergency that caused the accident. They are continuing their investigation.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Milliard Found Not Guilty

The Ridgway man charged with 12 counts of arson, along with insurance fraud and related offenses, has been found not guilty.

The jury in the trial of 55-year-old Francis Anthony Milliard deliberated for two hours before issuing its verdict this afternoon.

Milliard had been charged in connection to a December 4, 2008, fire at a house in owned in Johnsonburg. He was arrested and jailed in July of last year.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Man Found in Ditch, Charged

A man is facing charges after being found passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in a ditch in Salamanca.

30-year-old Donald Cotter Jr. of Ellicottville is charged with two counts of felony driving while intoxicated and a number of traffic violations in connection to the incident that happened at 5:25 a.m. Thursday on Bucktooth Road.

Cotter was sent to jail in lieu of $2,500 bail, and is scheduled to appear in Town of Salamanca Court on Monday.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Alfred Bank Robbed Again

The same bank in Alfred, New York, that was robbed last month was apparently robbed again today.

The Wellsville Daily Reporter newspaper is reporting that the incident happened at the Community Bank at around 2 o’clock this afternoon.

A vehicle crashed near the bank after a high-speed chase, and the suspect is in custody at Jones Memorial Hospital, according to the newspaper’s Facebook page.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Snow Plow Ends Up in Ditch

A Cattaraugus County snow plow truck was involved in an accident at about 10:30 last night on Route 62 just south of Markhams.

State police say 61-year-old Roy Smith of Randolph was driving back to the county highway barn when the snow plow truck slid into a ditch.

Smith wasn’t hurt. Two heavy equipment tow trucks and a county high lift had to get the truck out of the ditch.

NY State Police photo

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Pickup Hits School Bus in Warren County

A teenage boy was hurt when his pickup truck hit a school bus this morning on Route 6 in Warren County.

State police say the 17-year-old Clarendon boy lost control of the truck at around 8 o’clock and it slid into the path of the 72-passenger bus and hit the front of it, and then spun around.

There were no students on the bus, and the driver, 51-year-old Pamela Huddleson of Warren, was not hurt.

The boy suffered minor injuries and was cited for driving the wrong direction and for not wearing a seatbelt.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Wire, Wind, Weather Cause Outage

The power outage that affected about 400 customers in Foster Township today was caused by a wire that broke because of wind and other weather conditions at about 9:30 this morning.

Before 1 o’clock almost all customers had their power restored.

Penelec’s Linda Routzhan tells us that as crews work to get the circuits back to where they are supposed to be, there may be some interruptions in service this afternoon, but everything should be back to normal by late afternoon.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Schumer: More Control on Hydrocodone

US Senator Chuck Schumer wants tighter federal controls on pain killers that have been linked to deaths when abused.

Schumer is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to put pain killers with hydrocodone in a category of drugs with a higher risk of abuse or addiction so they'll be more difficult to get.

Hydrocodone is among the most widely abused substances and can cause serious health problems and death. He says in Western New York and the Southern Tier alone in 2011 more than 3,700 cases of prescription drug abuse were reported.

Schumer says the FDA should accept last week's recommendations from an advisory committee of doctors and scientists to reclassify hydrocodone medications as Class II drugs.

You can read more at Schumer's website.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Obituary Tim Burns

Timothy B. Burns, 55, of 16 Mill St., Bradford, passed away Wednesday January 30, 2013, in his home.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. Online condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Couple Rescued After Car Stalls on Flooded Road

An elderly couple had to be rescued from their car after it got stuck on a flooded road in Stockton Wednesday afternoon.

Sheriff’s deputies say 83-year-old John Vanscoter ignored barricades and signs closing the road because of high water, and then his car stalled in the three-feet of water on the road.

Firefighters rescued Vanscoter and his 82-year-old wife as they rising waters began to pull the car in the quick-moving current.

The couple was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Vanscoter has been cited for failing to obey a traffic control device.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bomb Threat at Belmont School

Genesee Valley Central School in Belmont, New York, was evacuated Wednesday afternoon after bomb threat was reported to the Allegany County 9-1-1 Center at about 1:50.

State police, the sheriff’s department, Belmont Police and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit responded to the scene, but didn’t find any explosive device.

Police are continuing their investigation.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Power Outage in Foster Township

We have a call in to Penelec and will let you know about the power outage in Foster Township as soon as we know what's going on.

We do know it's "weather-related" and crews are currently working to restore power. No estimate yet as to when it will be back.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Sherrif's Office Temporarily Unable to Process Concealed Carry Permit Apps

The Pennsylvania Instant Check System has been shut down statewide for maintenance, which means the McKean County Sheriff’s Office is unable to process applications for concealed carry permits at this time.

The sheriff’s office anticipates being fully operational in the near future, and suggests that all applicants call the office starting Monday to check on the status of this service.

The number is 814-887-3454.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Teachers Union Responds to Corbett's Liquor Privatization Plan

Mike Crossey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, today released the following statement on Gov. Tom Corbett’s liquor privatization scheme:

"Linking liquor store privatization to school funding is just another way of holding students hostage to the governor's political agenda.

“It’s nice that the governor has acknowledged that he created a school funding crisis, but our students shouldn’t have to count on liquor being available on every corner in order to have properly funded schools.

"We need to restore the nearly $1 billion in education cuts made by Governor Corbett with an adequate and sustainable funding plan, not with money that doesn’t exist.

"Plans to privatize the liquor stores have failed in the legislature every time they have been attempted in the last three decades and rightly so.

“PSEA is willing to work with legislators of both parties in the General Assembly to craft a long-term funding plan that is fair to taxpayers and provides students with the kind of quality education they deserve.”

Crossey is a special education teacher in the Keystone Oaks School District. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents approximately 187,000 future, active and retired teachers and school employees, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Corbett Announces Liquor Privatization Plan

Pittsburgh – Governor Tom Corbett today announced his plan to privatize the liquor system in Pennsylvania and committed $1 billion in proceeds from the process to education funding.

Corbett said that the $1 billion will be used to create the Passport for Learning Block Grant, which will provide flexibility to schools, allowing our public schools, instead of Harrisburg, to decide what their students need.

The grant will focus on four priority areas: school safety, enhanced early education programs, individualized learning and science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses and programs.

“Our proposal is part of my commitment to changing Harrisburg, streamlining government and moving Pennsylvania forward,” Corbett said. “Our plan gives consumers what they want by increasing choice and convenience, and helps to secure our future by adding $1 billion in funding toward the education of our children, without raising any taxes.” The $1 billion in revenue will come from the three to four year process of selling the LCB: $575 million from the wholesale license process, $224 million from the wine and spirits retail auction process, $107 million from the wine/ beer license application process and $112.5 million in the enhanced beer distributor application process.

Read more here.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

At Least 3 Shot in Phoenix

For continuing coverage of the multiple shooting in Phoenix, Arizona, go to NBCNews.com

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Wild Weather on the Way

All kinds of weather warnings, watches and advisories are in effect for the Twin Tiers.

In Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties a high wind warning is in effect from 7 o’clock tonight until 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon. A high wind advisory is in effect until noon Thursday for McKean and Warren counties. A flood watch is in effect for the entire region until tomorrow morning.

And, a Lake Effect snow watch is in effect from Thursday afternoon through late Friday night in Cattaraugus County.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police Log 1/29/13

Motorists kept City of Bradford Police busy on Wednesday. Officers issued two traffic citations on Route 219, looked into a possible DUI on Bushnell Street and responded to traffic and parking problems on Walker and Chautauqua Place. They also got a report of criminal mischief to automobiles on South Center Street. Police also got reports of disorderly conduct, alcohol-related offenses and public drunkenness, all on Interstate Parkway.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Man Found with Needle in Arm

A Brocton, New York, man was found sleeping in his car with a hypodermic needle sticking out of his arm.

State troopers say 27-year-old Mark Dzielski was in his car behind the Country Fair at the intersection of routes 60 and 20 in Fredonia with the syringe sticking out of his arm. They called EMTs to the scene, but Dzielski refused medical treatment. Police say he had heroin and Xanax.

He is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of hypodermic needles and having a controlled substance not in its original container. He was also charged with violations of vehicle and traffic laws. He is scheduled to appear in Town of Pomfret Court on Tuesday.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two Cameron County Crashes Monday

No one was hurt in separate accidents Monday in Cameron County.

State police say at just before 2 o’clock in the afternoon a van driven by 53-year-old Daniel Mechling of Warren was on Route 46 in Shippen Township when it hit a patch of ice and rolled onto its side.

He was cited for driving at an unsafe speed.

At 5:20 p.m. a pickup truck driven by 64-year-old Jeannette Selb of Lansdale was on Route 120 in Drifwood when it went out of control on a curve, crossed the road, hit a ditch and an embankment and flipped onto its side.

Selb was cited for driving too fast for conditions.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Cleland: No New Trial for Sandusky

Jerry Sandusky will not be getting a new trial.

Judge John Cleland issued an order today denying Sandusky’s request.

Sandusky’s lawyers had argued that Cleland did not give them enough time to prepare for the trial that ended with the former Penn State coach’s convictions on 45 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys. Cleland’s order says Sandusky’s lawyers conceded that their post-trial review turned up nothing that would have changed their trial strategy.

Sandusky is serving a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence, but maintains his innocence. If they continue with the appeal process, the next step for his lawyers would be Superior Court.

You can read Cleland's entire 27-page order here. PDF

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Scarnati Discusses Legislative Priorities

Senator Joe Scarnati today held a news conference in Harrisburg to discuss Legislative priorities for the spring session.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Live from Gobbler's Knob ...

1490 WESB and 100.1 The Hero will provide live coverage of Groundhog Day festivities from Punxsutawney Saturday morning. TC Clark will be at Gobbler's Knob and will call us with his report on whether Phil (pictured, left) sees his shadow. Maybe he can even tell us what it means if the furry little guy does see his shadow, because we can never remember.

NBC News photo (and that is not TC with Phil)

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Salamanca Woman Facing Multiple Charges

A Salamanca woman is facing a number of charges after allegedly stealing from the Allegany Wal-Mart.

Olean State Troopers say they got a complaint from the store on Sunday saying Misty Luce, who was already a suspect in several thefts, was in the store again. Before police got to the store, she left and was on her way to Salamanca.

Troopers tried to pull her over but she did not stop until she got to a house in Salamanca, and ran inside the building. Police were able take her into custody without further incident.

Luce is charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of possession of a hypodermic instrument, along with criminal contempt, criminal possession of a controlled substance and several vehicle and traffic law violations. She’s jailed on $10,000 cash bail.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Men Turn Themselves in for Stealing Catalytic Converters from Lot

Two men have been arrested for allegedly trying to cut off catalytic converters at a car sales lot in the Town of Westfield, New York.

27-year-old Nathan Horton 26-year-old Johnathan Hudson, both of Westfield, turned themselves into Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies on Monday.

Deputies say they tried to cut off catalytic converters from two cars at the lot on January 7. Investigators determined Horton and Hudson were responsible and warrants were issued for their arrests.

They are both charged with criminal mischief and criminal liability for the conduct of another. Hudson is in jail. Horton was released to family members.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Fugitive Picked Up at Jamestown McDonald's

A man wanted for more than a dozen burglaries in Erie was picked up outside the Jamestown McDonald’s Monday.

State troopers say a man who identified himself as Jonathan Larson was one of five people involved in a fight with a customer at the restaurant, and who was later escorted from the building. Outside he got into a fight with an 18-year-old girl, and was arrested for disorderly conduct.

After being arraigned and sent to jail, authorities learned he was actually 22-year-old Justin Kaliszewski, who was wanted by the Millcreek Township Police Department for the burglaries that happened in October. He was then charged with criminal impersonation and obstructing governmental administration.

His New York State bail is $5,000. There’s no bail for the fugitive from justice charge.

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947