Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

State police reported three accidents on icy roads – all involving vehicles that went out of control and slid off the road. In Potter County, neither 78-year-old Martin Sweigart of Galeton nor 21-year-old Kira Sutton of Austin was hurt. Sweigart was cited for not staying in his lane; Sutton for driving too fast for conditions. In Elk County, 31-year-old Holly Hutchins of Johnsonburg suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Penn Highlands Elk. No charges were filed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A driver took police on a chase on Route 6 at speeds over 100 mph early this morning. Troopers say the chase started at about 3:50 a.m. near the intersection with Route 449 in Potter County when they tried to stop a vehicle that was going 97 in a 55 mph zone. The vehicle sped up to more than 100, and the pursuit went for 12.3 miles until the vehicle went out of control near the intersection with Route 349 in the Village of Gaines. The vehicle hit two SUVs parked in front of Gaines Garage, ran over road signs and hit a tree, rolled onto its roof and then slid for about 30 yards before stopping. The driver, 22-year-old Sheldon Robinson of Schwenksville, and one passenger, 18-year-old Lyndsey Eckman of Schwenksville, were taken by Galeton ambulance to Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital in Wellsboro. Robinson was later taken to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. They have both been released. Goodyear Hose Company of Galeton provided assistance and traffic control. A second passenger...

A man accidentally shot himself Thursday night in Potter County. Police say Joseph Funaro of Galeton shot himself in the hand at a home on Short Run Road at about 7:50 p.m. He was taken to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre for treatment of the moderate injury. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Galeton woman escaped injury when her car flipped over off Gross Road in Potter County late Friday night. Police say 53-year-old Hilda Frith was traveling too fast for conditions when the car went out of control on the dirt road, went over the embankment, hit a tree and flipped over, coming to rest on its driver’s side. The car had to be towed from the scene. Frith was cited for driving at an unsafe speed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Potter County man is accused of embezzling more than $6,000 from his union. The US Attorney’s Office say 46-year-old Robert Vargeson of Galeton was responsible for the financial records for the local branch of Communications Workers of America and, during 2012 and 2013, he falsified those records to cover the theft of about $6,300. If convicted, Vargeson faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Reminiscent of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” a man went to his camp in Potter County and found someone sleeping in his cabin. 62-year-old William Sheeley of Littlestown found 29-year-old Stephen Zummuto of Allentown at about 11 o’clock Wednesday night and discovered that Zummuto, who Sheeley does not know, had been living in the cabin. Zummuto is charged with felony counts of burglary and criminal trespass, as well as giving false identification to law enforcement and theft of services. He’s jailed on $2,500 bail and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for September 13 in front of District Judge Delores Weiss in Galeton. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The former Galeton teacher accused of having inappropriate relationships with students has pleaded no contest. 37-year-old Kimberly Smith of Wellsboro is accused of kissing two 17-year-old boys and allowing them to touch her while they were on school grounds. Smith will be sentenced on August 7 in Potter County Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Galeton woman was hurt when her pickup truck flipped onto its roof in a crash Tuesday afternoon on Route 44. Police say 55-year-old Dolly Lazorchek was traveling north when the pickup went out of control, went off the road, hit a ditch and flipped over. They say Lazorchek suffered moderate injuries. The investigation is continuing. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State Police in Coudersport are investigating two burglaries and a theft that all happened earlier this week. Someone got into garage of Austin resident James Diefenderfer and stole at ATV. Some got into property owned by Linda Smith of Austin and stole a portable generator and a table saw. On Sunday someone stole prescription medication from 27-year-old Christopher Hall of Galeton while it was in a cow barn at the Potter County Fairgrounds. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) on Wednesday announced a $520,127 loan has been awarded to the Galeton Borough Authority by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). The funding will be used to breach two impoundment dams and replace them with stream channel infiltration facilities that are not only less expensive to maintain but also provide increased water availability. “PENNVEST provides much-needed assistance to our communities to address water-related concerns,” Causer said. “I am pleased to see this agency supporting Galeton’s needs.” “Clearly, the existing dams have been repaired a number of times, but they’ve deteriorated to the point where the continued corrections became cost prohibitive,” said Senator Joe Scarnati. “This financing will allow the authority to install a new system that is more reliable, and improve the overall quality of life for its customers.” The loan is part of an $87 million investment in 18 non-point source, drink...

A Galeton man is charged with criminal mischief after allegedly breaking glass on a door at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital. Police say 19-year-old Joshua Yonkin was leaving the building at 6 a.m. on July 5 when he broke a section of glass in the exterior emergency room door. The cost of repair is $673. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection has fined Chesapeake Appalachia LLC a total of $565,000 in civil penalties and reimbursement costs for erosion and sediment control violations, wetland encroachment violations and an April 2011 well control incident. “The governor and I expect the highest standards to be met and when they are not, we take strong enforcement action,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “We will continue to be vigilant on that front. The protection of the state’s water is paramount.” West Branch Township, Potter County DEP fined Chesapeake $215,000 for a March 2011 incident in West Branch Township, Potter County, where sediment discharged into a stream classified as high quality. High-quality streams receive some of the highest levels of protection in the state, and operators are expected to ensure their work does not negatively affect them. In late February and early March, heavy rain caused significant erosion to an access road and Chesapeake’s Beec...

A Galeton man is accused of breaking into the VFW Post in the borough. State Police say 49-year-old Raymond Legerlotz broke into the building in the early morning hours of August 9, when he and another person stole the cash register and drawers. They also allegedly damaged a door and a computer inside the building. Legerlotz was arrested without incident today and charged with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal conspiracy and theft. He is free on $5,000 unsecured bail. An arrest warrant has been issued for the other person, who police have not found yet.

Three people were hurt when a tanker truck and another vehicle collided in Westfield, New York, this morning. Sheriff’s deputies say a vehicle driven by 50-year-old Ronald Saxton of Celeron didn’t stop at a stop sign and hit the tanker truck operated by 60-year-old Lee Tarr of Galeton. The tanker rolled onto its side. Tarr, Saxton and Saxton’s passenger, 53-year-old Jeff Eimers of Ripley, were taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A HAZMAT team assisted at the scene. Deputies are continuing their investigation and say charges are pending.

Police are investigating a burglary at the Galeton Drug Store on Monday. They say they arrived on the scene at 20 West State Street to find the audible alarm sounding and the glass of the front door smashed, where the burglar attempted to get in. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Galeton Police at 814-435-2600.

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital celebrated Hospital Week with a variety of events for staff and the community. High school students from Coudersport, Shinglehouse, Otto-Eldred, Austin, Galeton and Northern Potter visited CCMH to learn about a variety of clinical and non-clinical healthcare careers, education requirements, interviewing skills and future job outlook. The Heart of Cole Community Connections employee giving club presented checks for $200 each to 12 area volunteer EMS companies during an educational breakfast. The HOC Community Connections group chooses a community project every year as a way to give back. Last year, the group donated to area senior centers. During the breakfast the EMS groups also learned from hospital staff about emergency preparedness, medical command, and ventilation/CPAP. Children from Alliance Daycare visited the hospital during Hospital Week. While touring the hospital, they learned about various healthcare services and departments. Hospital Week als...

A Westfield, PA, man is in jail for allegedly breaking into the Galeton and Westfield Police Department offices. State Police say 26-year-old Jason Morgan broke into the Galeton Borough Building on March 25 by breaking a window. He then allegedly forced his way into the police department offices, where he then broke into a separately secured evidence room and stole drugs from closed cases that were waiting to be destroyed. The drugs were valued at $180. Damage to the building is estimated at $200. State police say Morgan also broke into the Westfield Police Department and stole more drugs that were going to be destroyed, quarters and a knife. Morgan is charged with two counts of burglary and related offenses. Morgan is also charged with stealing guns from his stepfather's home in Harrison Valley. Police say he took the .357 Magnum, a single shot rifle and an H&R .22 revolver, and sold the revolver and the .357 Magnum. He's charged with felony counts of theft. He’s in Potter...

Members of the criminal investigation unit of Coudersport State Police are investigating a burglary that happened overnight at the Galeton Borough Building on Bridge Street. At the time of the news release (11:39 a.m.) investigators were still on the scene. No further information is available at this time. Police say they will release more information as it becomes available. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Coudersport-based state police at 274-8690.

The Department of Environmental Protection has ordered Chesapeake Energy to cease work on a natural gas drilling well pad for failing to comply with regulations and impacting one of Galeton Borough Water Authority’s water sources. The well pad was in the site-preparation phase, which occurs before any well construction or drilling activities take place. In conducting site-preparation activities at the Beech Flats well pad in West Branch Township, Potter County, Chesapeake failed to implement the required erosion and sediment controls. As a result, a significant amount of sediment and silt discharged from the site into a stream that is a tributary to a water source serving Galeton’s system. The Galeton Water Authority has been forced to use another permitted water source to serve its customers. “In order to protect human health and the environment, we ordered Chesapeake to stop all construction activity,” DEP North-central Regional Director Nels Taber said. “They must begin corrective a...

A Galeton woman is charged with stealing prescription pills from the man she’s living with. State police say during the last year 57-year-old Yolana Dusik filled prescriptions belonging to 72-year-old Edward Balch for Percocet and Valium then resold them. The value of the medication she stole was $4,479. Dusik is charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and distribution of a controlled substance, all felonies, and possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. She was sent to Tioga County Jail on $1,000 bail.