Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A man escaped from his burning home Wednesday morning by jumping from a second-floor window. State police say Roy Pfoutz of St. Marys was asleep when a smoke detector woke him up at around 10:30 a.m. When he realized he couldn’t get out any other way, he jumped from the window. He was later treated at Penn Highlands Elk and then released. His wife, 12-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter were not home at the time. Fire marshal Greg Agosti says the fire started in an old refrigerator in the basement, and there was nothing suspicious about it. Damage is estimated at a quarter of a million dollars, and home was deemed a total loss. The Red Cross is helping the family. The Crystal Fire Department was assisted by the Fox Townships and Johnsonburg fire departments, as well as St. Marys Ambulance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

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 man who sucker punched another man at Wolf Run Marina in August of last year will spend the next eight months to two years in state prison. David Boylan of Johnsonburg must also pay nearly $5,000 in restitution to the victim, who suffered a traumatic brain injury when his head hit the concrete during a fall after the punch. The victim told the court doctors have told him he will never be able to taste or smell again. The brain injury also caused other permanent damage. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Charges against a Bradford man found with a gun stolen from Johnsonburg have been bound to McKean County Court following a preliminary hearing this morning. 25-year-old Gene Meacham had the Browning .22 caliber handgun at his Jefferson Street home early last month. Police verified with the Johnsonburg resident who owns the gun, and the Johnsonburg Police Department, that it had been stolen. Meacham is free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – The state House on Monday unanimously passed legislation authored by state Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) that would recognize the contributions of Clearfield and Elk County veterans to our communities and our country. House Bill 1135 now moves to Gov. Tom Corbett’s desk for his signature into law. “Officials from Huston Township and Johnsonburg Borough approached me about designating roadways in honor of our veterans, and it was a pleasure working with all of them to get this accomplished,” Gabler said. “Both communities are very proud of their veterans, and this is just another way to show that pride. It has been a pleasure working with the Huston Township supervisors, Johnsonburg Borough Council and Johnsonburg Mayor Theresa Cherry to enact this fitting tribute to our local veterans.” House Bill 1135 would designate the Route 153 bridge over the Bennett Branch in Penfield as the Huston Township Veterans Memorial Bridge. Additionally, it would re-name the ...

A seven-year-old girl was hurt when she was thrown off the motorcycle she was a passenger on. Police say the bike was on Route 46 in Cameron County at about 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon when the valve stem of the back tire malfunctioned, and the tire went flat. The driver, 30-year-old Ronald McLaughlin of Johnsonburg lost control of the bike, and when it turned onto its side, Hailey James of Johnsonburg was thrown off. Police say Hailey's helmet wasn't on properly. She was taken by ambulance to Penn Highlands St. Marys for treatment of moderate injuries. McLaughlin wasn’t hurt. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A car hit a cluster of mailboxes during a crash last night in Elk County, but the teenage driver wasn’t hurt. Police say 16-year-old Mitchell DeCecchis of Johnsonburg was on Long Level Road in Jones Township at 10:20 p.m. when his car went off the road, flew through the air after going up a side of a driveway, hit the cluster of mailboxes and then landed in a ditch. The car had to be towed from the scene. DeCecchis was cited for driving at an unsafe speed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Work to repair a bridge on Route 219 about a mile north of Wilcox will get under way Tuesday. The bridge spans Rocky Run in Jones Township. In the work area, lanes will be shifted, making use of the northbound lane and northbound shoulder in order to allow sufficient room for the repair crew. A concrete barrier will be in place and two 12-foot lanes will keep two-way traffic moving through the work zone. The speed limit in the area will be temporarily reduced from 55 miles per hour to 45 miles per hour. The repairs to the bridge are necessary due to damage caused by a truck crash in December of 2013. The hauler is responsible for the cost of repairs. The work should be finished by early September. A detour will start July 7 as crews work to replace the Johnsonburg Water Dam Bridge. While the bridge is closed the detour will use Silver Creek Road, Route 219 and Montmorenci Road. Work is expected to be finished July 12. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Johnsonburg man was arrested Sunday afternoon at the Nittany Minit Mart at the intersection of Routes 219 and 6 in McKean County. Police say 33-year-old Joshua Miller was spotted at one of the gas pumps with a pickup truck that had been stolen from a Johnsonburg man. Miller was charged with receiving stolen property and sent to McKean County Jail on $25,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

For updates on the flooding in Ridgway, you can go to our Facebook page, Facebook.com/1490WESB. With schools and roads already closed throughout the region, and more rain on the way, a flash flood warning remains in effect until 1 o’clock for Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties and until 1:30 for McKean, Elk, Warren and Cameron counties. Flash flood watches go until 5 in Pennsylvania and 8 p.m. in New York. In Ridgway, students from St. Leo’s Catholic School were evacuated and taken to the Ridgway Fire Department. Parents are being advised to leave their children there because flooding has made traveling unsafe. The Sheetz parking lot is also under water. Clarion River Bridge in Ridgway is closed because of flooding and the Indian Run Bridge on Bendigo Road is washed out. Route 219 between Ridgway and Johnsonburg is covered with high water and debris, and other main roads in the county are flooded as well. Emergency crews are also doing water rescues in Elk County. In Warren ...

The Mount Jewett couple accused of punishing their three adopted children by withholding meals from them will spend some time in McKean County Jail. Mark Hooper, who turns 44 on Saturday, and who is pastor of the Cobb Street Baptist Church in Johnsonburg, has been sentenced to six months in jail. His wife 41-year-old Susan has been sentenced to nine to 18 months in jail. A state police investigation started when the youngest child ran away from home in February of last year. The children range in age from 9 to 11. The Hoopers pleaded no contest in December. Senior Judge John Cleland also ordered that the couple pay more than $57,000 in restitution to McKean County Children and Youth Services. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A new program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will offer $1,000 scholarships to qualifying high school students currently enrolled in its College in the High School courses. The $1,000 award is in addition to other merit awards that a student may receive and is renewable for up to four years. Qualifying students must have a 2.5 grade point average in the Pitt-Bradford courses they’ve taken through College in the High School in order to qualify. “With college costs rising across the nation, we know that affordability and quality are of prime concern to students and their families,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president. “At Pitt-Bradford, we’ve partnered with local schools in our College in the High School program to ensure that students across our region have access to the best in higher education.” College in the High School courses through Pitt-Bradford are offered in 18 school districts in north central and northwestern Pennsylva...

The Johnsonburg pastor and his wife accused of underfeeding their three adopted children have pleaded no contest to child endangerment charges. 43-year-old Mark Hooper and 40-year-old Susan Hooper of Mount Jewett had been scheduled for trial next week. District Attorney Ray Learn says the plea deal that reduces the charges from felonies to misdemeanors spares the children from having to testify at trial. The children are all younger than 12 and are living with foster parents. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The investigation is continuing into a fire that damaged a two-story Johnsonburg home early this morning. State Police fire marshal Greg Agosti say the fire at 204 Blaine Avenue was reported at about 12:30 a.m. and did about $150,000 worth of damage. Four adults were in the house at the time, but they were able to escape without injury. George and Lisa Pontious are the owners of the house. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State Rep. Matt Gabler’s bill that gives a tax break to timber harvesters – similar to breaks already given to farmers and others in the agriculture industry – has passed the State House, and now heads to the Senate. Gabler’s bill would amend the Tax Reform Code to exclude the purchase of machinery, equipment and parts used in timbering, just as farmers currently enjoy a sales tax exemption on the purchase of tractors, combines, tools, feed, and fertilizers used in their operations. “Foresters and farmers both manage a crop, but the Department of Revenue does not allow them to both be classified under agriculture,” Gabler said in a news release. “That designation is the catalyst for my legislation, which will also protect local jobs, benefit consumers and help our local economy by allowing local timber producers to remain competitive.” Craig Timm, regional public affairs manager for Domtar, which runs the Johnsonburg paper mill, says the bill will directly support the forest pro...

Police are looking for a maroon car that caused another car and a van to collide on Johnsonburg Road near the St. Marys city line. They say at 7 o’clock this morning Nichole Meyer of Johnsonburg was behind the maroon car when it crossed the center line. Larry Walter of Kane was driving his car in the opposite direction and tried to avoid hitting the maroon car, but his car hit a guiderail then bounced back onto the road and hit Meyer’s van. No one was hurt but both vehicles were disabled. St. Marys Police are asking anyone with information about the maroon car – possibly a Lumina or Monte Carlo – with a broken driver’s side taillight to contact them as soon as possible. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

One person was hurt, and is also facing charges, following a crash early Monday morning on Kinzua Road just south of Hawg Road in Clarendon. Police say 66-year-old Robert Olewinski of Johnsonburg was on Route 59 (Kinzua Road) at just before 2 a.m. when his vehicle crossed the center line and hit a trailer being pulled by 63-year-old Merle Smith of Titusville. Olewinski’s vehicle then went off the road and hit an embankment, trapping him inside. After he was freed he was taken by ambulance to Warren General Hospital. Police say he was driving under the influence and will be charged. Smith was not hurt. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Johnsonburg man accused of punching another man at Wolf Run Marina on Saturday was found and arrested in Kane. 29-year-old David Boylan allegedly punched Gerard Caribardi of Wilcox so hard that Caribardi had to be taken to UPMC Hamot for treatment. Boylan is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and disorderly conduct and is jailed on $10,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Johnsonburg man is accused of punching a Wilcox man so hard he had to be treated at UPMC Hamot. Police say the assault happened at about 10 o’clock Saturday night at Wolf Run Marina when 28-year-old David Boylan punched Gerard Caribardi. Boylan will be charged with a felony count of aggravated assault, along with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police and fire officials have finished their investigation in the fire at the Domtar paper plant in Johnsonburg, but they still don’t know what sparked the blaze. The fire started on the afternoon on July 12 in an underground wood chip transportation tunnel and, although it was under control the next morning, it was not completely extinguished until Wednesday. State Police fire marshal Greg Agosti says the “fire issues” between July 13 and Thursday were isolated to the above ground wood chip storage area near the tunnel system. The smoldering of the chip pile was a result of the tunnel fire. Agosti says although they don’t know what started the fire it is not considered suspicious. Domtar is now working on cleanup and repair. A dollar estimate for the damage is not available yet. Hundreds of firefighters from across the region, including McKean County, battled the blaze. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947