Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

There’s been another incident of a person trying to lure a child into a vehicle near Kersey. At around 7 o’clock this morning a man in a purple/pink four door sedan with tinted windows stopped an 11-year-old girl on Fairview Road and asked if she wanted a ride to school. Police say a school bus then came along and the man drove the car on Route 948 toward St. Marys. The first incident happened on the morning of October 31 on Chicken Hill Road when a man in a Chevy Silverado approached two 13-year-old girls and asked if they needed a ride. Anyone with information on either incident is asked to contact Ridgway-based state police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State police are still investigating an incident Friday morning, when a man in a Chevy Silverado approached two 13-year-old Kersey girls and tried to lure them into the truck. The girls say they were approached at a bus top on Chicken Hill Road at around 7 a.m. and asked if they needed a ride. The silver crew cab pickup has tinted windows and a cap. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Ridgway-based state police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Kersey man is accused of taking police on a little chase after he was seen running behind houses and garages in the 200 block of South Michael Street in St. Marys. Police say they confronted 37-year-old Christophr Pesce in the 300 block of South Michael, and he ran away, but was caught a short time later and resisted arrest by not letting police handcuff him. When he was finally in custody, police found controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. He’s charged with loitering and prowling at night time, resisting arrest and possess of drugs and paraphernalia. He’s in Elk County Jail, unable to post bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

It was an unlucky Friday the 13th for a Kersey man. 32-year-old Traves Singer told police 34-year-old Steven Gnan Jr. of Ridgway slashed his tire early that morning doing an estimated $120 worth of damage. State police cited Gnan for criminal mischief. But, a few hours later, Singer was taken into custody as a fugitive from justice after troopers learned there was an active warrant against him from Ohio. In 2011, in Ohio, Singer was charged with petty theft and not paying child support. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Someone stole $4,000 worth of rings from a Kersey home on Monday afternoon. Police say between 1:30 and 1:55 p.m. someone went into Lori Dowie’s home on Chicken Hill Road and stole the two rings. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Ridgway-based state police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Several Elk County companies have received Governor’s ImPAct Awards. GKN Sinter Metals, which has facilities in St. Marys and Kersey, as well as Emporium in Cameron County, received a Community Impact Award. Penn Pallet in St. Marys received an Entrepreneur Award. Metco Industries of St. Marys received a Jobs First Award. St. Marys Carbon received a Small Business Impact Award. American Refining Group, Kessel Construction, Luminite and B&T Contractors in Bradford, as well as Zook Motors and Flickerwood Wine Cellars in Kane were finalists for the awards. Governor Tom Corbett today recognized 50 outstanding Pennsylvania companies and entrepreneurs for creating jobs, developing ideas, reaching new markets and making positive contributions in local communities. The awardees were chosen by an independent judging panel selected by the state’s partners, Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Team PA) and Journal Multimedia. For more information, visit www.newPA.com/impact-awards The news ...

One person was hurt in a crash Wednesday night on Chicken Hill Road in Elk County. Police say a car operated by Jack Smith of Kersey was stopped at a stop sign when a motorcycle driven by Gregory Catalone of Kersey was turning onto Chicken Hill and the front wheel of the bike went off the road. When it went back onto the road, it hit the car. Catalone, who was wearing a helmet, was taken by ambulance to Penn Highlands Healthcare. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Kersey man suffered minor injuries during a motorcycle crash Sunday night on Glen Hazel Road in Jones Township. Police say 52-year-old John Sullivan was traveling south when his bike went out of control, hit an embankment, and then traveled along the embankment for about 100 feet before coming to rest in the road. Sullivan will be cited for driving at an unsafe speed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Kersey couple is accused of buying bath salts from a vendor in China and then selling most of it to Kane man. 48-year-old Cynthia Bizzak and 43-year-old Michael Bizzak were questioned in August after the owner of the Kane View Motel called police about drug paraphernalia in a unit he had rented to the Bizzaks. They told police they bought 50 to 100 grams of alpha-PVP by way of the Internet or telephone, according to papers filed in District Judge David Engman's office. On Tuesday, test results from the state police crime lab in Erie showed that items taken from the Bizzaks contained alpha-PVP, which is one of several synthetic drugs known as bath salts. They are in McKean County Jail on $100,000 bail each. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two Kersey residents are in McKean County Jail on drug charges. 48-year-old Cynthia Bizzak and 43-year-old Michael Bizzak are each charged with felony counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and criminal use of a communication facility. The incidents happened in July in Wetmore Township. Their bail is $100,000 each. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A bag of money was taken off a shelf during a burglary at a Kersey home earlier this week. Police say the burglar went to the home of 60-year-old Gerald Swanson on Main Street in Kersey sometime between 7 o’clock Tuesday evening and 4:30 Wednesday afternoon, took the money and left. They didn’t say how much money was in the bag. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An argument in the Allegheny National Forest landed an Elk County man in jail. Police say 31-year-old Scott Beck of Kersey and 36-year-old Ann Beck of St. Marys got into an argument at a camping site in Ridgway Township, when he choked, pushed and shoved her. Ann Beck left the area after Scott allegedly started chasing her with a wood splitting maul while threatening to kill her. Scott Beck is charged with terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment. He also had an outstanding probation warrant. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Kersey man is jail after getting into a fight with the mother of his child. Police say 24-year-old Sam Reed and the 20-year-old woman were arguing over the child and when the woman attempted to leave the house, Reed grabbed a rifle from a closet and blocked her so she couldn’t leave. Reed was charged with simple assault and harassment and sent to Elk County Jail on $5,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Kersey man has pleaded guilty in federal court to his part in a drug ring that operated in Jefferson and surrounding counties in 2010 and 2011. 26-year-old Joe Cesa sold oxycodone provided to him by 35-year-old Joshua Shaffer of Iowa, who also pleaded guilty, or one of the other co-defendants. The drug ring also sold methamphetamine. Prosecutors say the street value of the drugs was more than half a million dollars. Cesa and Shaffer are scheduled for sentencing on December 13. Seven of the nine defendants charged in the indictment have now pleaded guilty, with the two remaining defendants scheduled to go to trial in November. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two Kersey residents are in jail for breaking into a house, leaving with an 11-month-old baby and, later, assaulting a state police trooper. State police say on Monday 19-yearold Breanna Uhl and 21-year-old Roger Dugan went to a house on Old Kersey Road, entered without permission, pulled three telephones from the wall, took the baby girl and drove away in their car. They went to St. Marys and, after police found them in a house, they ran away. When police caught up with them, they allegedly assaulted the trooper. The only charge listed on the police report is burglary, but online court records also list a charge of interference with custody of children for Uhl. Her bail is set at $10,000. Dugan's records have not been updated yet. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Clarion University’s equestrian team, located at Venango College in Oil City, had its first western rider win a regional championship on Saturday, March 16, 2013. The equestrian team had six riders that qualified for Zone 6 Region 5 Regionals, including two English and four Western riders. Three members of Clarion University’s Western Equestrian Team placed in the Zone 6 Region 5 Regionals held at West Virginia University on Saturday March 16, 2013. Judy Shupe, a junior from Franklin, placed first in the Beginner Western Horsemanship and is the team’s first Regional Champion. Katelynn Nussbaum, from Kersey, placed fourth in the same class. Kellie Forsman, a junior from Erie, placed third in the Intermediate Western Horsemanship II. Judy Shupe will be traveling to Kentucky on Saturday, March 23, 2013, along with all first and second place riders to compete in the Western Semi-Finals at Morehead State. Melanie Daniel, from Ottsville, and Cody Lauer, from Clarion, competed in...

A Kersey woman is accused of assaulting a man with a beer bottle early this morning. Police say 33-year-old Jody Baloga and 30-year-old Marjorie Moore got into a fight in a house at around 5 a.m., and Moore hit Baloga on the head with a 40-ounce beer bottle, causing cuts on his head. He also got a cut on his wrist from the broken bottle. Moore is charged with simple assault and harassment. She is free on $5,000 unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Kane man suffered major injuries in a two-vehicle head-on crash Monday afternoon on Route 321. State police say an SUV driven by 59-year-old Robert Moore Jr. crossed the center line and hit a tractor-trailer dump truck driven by 34-year-old Christopher Kline of Kersey. Moore was taken to Elk Regional Health Center for treatment. Kline suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Four people who conspired to sell Oxycodone, meth and marijuana in Elk, Jefferson and Clearfield counties have been sentenced to probation. 34-year-old Chester Mark Shugerts of Kersey will be on probation for four years. Rachael Maletto of St. Marys, 32-year-old Danielle Himes and 26-year-old Aaron Johnson, both of Kersey, were sentenced to two years’ probation each. In March of last year state police at the US Postal Inspection Service started a joint investigation into the sale of drugs in the three counties, and learned that the four had been buying and selling drugs at the DuBois Mall and near Elk County Catholic High School, among other places. Their co-defendants have not entered pleas yet. They are all part of a larger drug distribution ring allegedly run by Joshua Shaffer of Florida. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Kersey man was hurt in a two-car crash Friday night on Route 219 near Wilcox. Police say a car driven by 23-year-old Danielle Winiecki of Gasport, New York, was stop in traffic for a vehicle turning left when a car driven by 82-year-old Leander Ginther that was behind Winiecki did not stop and crashed into her car. Ginther suffered a major injury, but police did not say which hospital he was taken to. He will be cited for following too closely. A passenger in Winieck’s car, 40-year-old Amy Allison of Clarence, New York, suffered moderate injuries. Two other passengers, 28-year-old Tristan Lambright of Tonawanda, New York, and 24-year-old LaurenPicciano of Liverpool, New York, suffered minor injuries. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947