Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The US Marine Corps believes a Ridgway native is dead. 26-year-old Cpl. Donovan Clancy went missing in the North Pacific late last month. The search for him was called off on Friday, and the Marines announced on Monday that he is presumed dead. Clancy’s squadron was based in Okinawa, Japan. Authorities believe he may have been cooling off in ocean water following a workout, and got caught up in heavy surf conditions. Marine Corps photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Ridgway marine has been declared missing near an island in the Pacific Ocean. Authorities say 26-year-old Donovan Clancy was wading in heavy current off one of the islands in the Northern Marianas, between Japan and the Philippines. Clancy is assigned to the Marine Wing Communication Squadron based at Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan. Coast Guard and Marine units near Guam were not able to find Clancy over the weekend, but are still searching. He is a graduated of Elk County Catholic High School. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The US Marine Corps this morning named a building at the Marine Corps Ground Training Center in Twentynine Palms, California, the Corporal Jason L. Dunham Memorial Mess Hall, for the Scio, New York, native who died after saving the lives of his fellow Marines in Iraq back in 2004. Dunham was on patrol when his unit was attacked by insurgents, one of whom released a hand grenade. Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, saving several other men. He died eight days later. A post office and a guided missile destroyer have also been named for Dunham and, in 2007, his number was retired by the Don Raabe Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic Committee. He played in the game after his senior year of high school. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett has ordered all United States and Pennsylvania flags at the Capitol Complex and at commonwealth facilities in Clearfield County to be flown at half-staff on Thursday, March 28, in honor of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Martino. Martino, 19, of DuBois, Clearfield County, died March 18 during a military training operation in Nevada. Flags shall remain at half-staff until sundown Thursday, the day of Martino’s funeral. All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania State Police is looking for information on an unsolved case, which involved the murder of United States Marine Corps Cpl. Robert Daniel Corriveau. He was discovered deceased along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Chester County, Pennsylvania about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. On November 18, 1968, a Pennsylvania State Trooper, while on routine turnpike patrol, spotted a man in a seated position alongside the highway about a mile east of the Downingtown interchange. The trooper stopped to check on the man and found that he was deceased. An autopsy determined that the victim had been stabbed once through the heart. He carried no identification and was considered a John Doe. He remained unidentified for 44 years. On July 29, 2009, in an effort to further the investigation, members of the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Assessment /Missing Persons Unit with assistance from the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and Chester Co...

Flags at Half-Staff on Tuesday A Marine from Cuba, New York, has died in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense says, 25-year-old Sgt. Mark Bradley died Thursday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Bradley was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C – Olean) issued the following statement: “I am deeply saddened to hear about the death of U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Mark A. Bradley of Cuba. He bravely served our country and laid down his life with honor to protect our freedoms. He is a true American hero. My thoughts and prayers are with the Bradley family and his friends who have suffered from this tremendous loss,” Young said. Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, June 21 in honor of Sgt. Bradley. "On behalf of the people of New York, I want to express my sympathy to the family, friends, and fellow Marines of Sergeant Bradley," Cuomo said...

The Westboro Baptist Church plans to protest at the funeral of the seven children killed in a fire earlier this week in Perry County, PA. In a news release, the church says the fire was a result of God’s wrath for Pennsylvania because the man who sued the church after they protested at his son’s funeral is from York, Pennsylvania. Albert Snyder’s son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, died in 2006 while serving in Iraq. The Supreme Court recently ruled that the church can protest at military and other funerals. U.S. Senator Bob Casey says he's disgusted by the church's plan to protest at the funeral of the fire victims. “Westboro Baptist Church’s repeated exploitation of personal tragedy is disgusting," he said in a news release. "They have protested funerals of troops killed serving their country. Now it is targeting the funeral of children. The protesters should stay in Kansas and pray for the Clouse family." "The U.S. Supreme Court may say that they can c...

A Marine from Jamestown has died in Afghanistan. 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Aaron Swanson died Monday during combat operations in Helmand Province. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Buffalo, N.Y. http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14254

H.L. “Woody” Woodruff has been chosen to receive the 2011 Lester Brauser Theatre Appreciation Award, announced Bradford Little Theatre president Nanci K. Garris on Tuesday. Established in 2001, the Brauser Award is presented to an individual whose work makes community theatre possible in the Bradford area. It is named after theatre enthusiast the late Lester Brauser. “Since the 1960s, wherever there has been entertainment for the community, there has been Woody,” said BLT president Nanci K. Garris. “Sometimes he has brought performers to town, sometimes he has hosted bus trips to events out of town, and other times he is the performer. It is because of his ongoing support of the arts and especially his personal performances, that we are pleased to present him this award. Garris recounted Woodruff’s many onstage appearances in the annual Kiwanis Kapers benefit show; his work as auctioneer or master of ceremonies for local causes; his “bits” at local events like car shows; and even his ...

U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) recently visited Afghanistan and Pakistan on a congressional delegation (CODEL) led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). During their trip, the senators met with U.S. troops, military officials and political leaders to discuss political, economic and security issues in the region. In addition to meeting with Pennsylvania troops, Sen. Toomey met with General David Petraeus, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Pakistani General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, chief of army staff of the Pakistan army. Sen. Toomey left Washington, D.C., Jan. 13 and will be returning to Pennsylvania today. Sen. Toomey was joined by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Pictured, Toomey visits a school in Nawa, Afghanistan, built by U.S. Marines. Toomey meets with villagers in Nawa, located in southern Afghanistan. Photos provided...

Marine Corps Pfc. Danielle M. Cuthbertson, daughter of Charlotte and Daniel Cuthbertson of Bradford, Pa., recently completed the Basic Electrician's Course. During the course at Marine Corps Engineer School, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N. C. , students receive instruction on the repair and maintenance of generators, transformers and power lines. In addition to the mechanical skills involved, studies also include circuitry, electrical theory and related safety procedures. Cuthbertson is a 2005 graduate of Archbishop Walsh High School of Olean, NY.

The Navy will commission the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Pre-Commissioning Unit Jason Dunham, during a 10 a.m. EST ceremony Nov. 13 at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The new destroyer honors Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, the first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Amos will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Debra Dunham will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her late son. The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when she gives the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!" Dunham was born in Scio, N.Y., Nov. 10, 1981, sharing the same birthday as the U.S. Marine Corps. On April 14, 2004, Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah, Iraq, when his battalion commander's convoy was ambushed. When Dunham's squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attack...

The Navy's newest guided missile destroyer, the USS Jason Dunham, has arrived at Port Everglades, Florida. The vessel arrived this morning from Bath, Maine, where it was built and christened. The 510-foot ship was named after Marine Corporal Jason Dunham, a native of Scio, New York. Dunham threw himself on a live grenade in April 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He died eight days later at the age of 22. He, was honored posthumously with the Medal of Honor in 2006. Dunham was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in the Iraq war and the first Marine to receive the medal since the Vietnam War. Dunham played in the Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic football game and, during halftime of the 2007 game, his jersey number was retired.

A Pennsylvania Marine died Tuesday in Afghanistan. 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Abram Howard of Williamsport was killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand Province. He was assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of North Versailles, Pa. http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13761

A Scio, New York, Marine and star athlete who was killed in the line of duty will be recognized again – this time as an outstanding basketball player. Corporal Jason Dunham died in 2004 while shielding his comrades from a bomb blast in Iraq. He received the Medal of Honor for his heroism, and a warship has been named for him. Now Dunham will be inducted into the Section 5 basketball hall of fame. In 2007, Dunham's jersey number was retired during halftime ceremonies at the annual Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic All-Star Game, in which he played following his senior year of high school.

A Marine from Pittsburgh has been killed in Afghanistan. The Defense Department reports that 24-year-old Sgt. Joseph D. Caskey died Saturday while supporting combat operations in Helmand province. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13654

The statue stolen from the gravesite of a Marine has been destroyed, according to New York State Police. People who would like to help the family of Corporal David Woods replace the statue can send donations to: Corporal Woods St. Michael the Archangel Fund Care of the Community Bank P.O. Box 690 201 North Union Street Olean, NY 14760 23-year-old George Leaf is charged with a felony count of desecrating a cemetery for stealing the statue of St. Michael from St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany. He’s in Cattaraugus County Jail on $5,000 cash bail.

Police have arrested the man they believe stole a statue from a Marine’s grave site at St. Bonaventure Cemetery. 23-year-old George Leaf is charged with a felony count of desecrating a cemetery. He’s in Cattaraugus County Jail on $5,000 cash bail. Leaf is accused of taking a statue of St. Michael from the grave site of David Woods, who was a corporal in the Marine Corps. The statue has not been recovered.

Someone stole a statue of St. Michael the Archangel from the grave site of Marine Corporal David Woods at St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany over the weekend. Woods' family members pooled their resources to honor him with the statue of St. Michael, who is the patron saint of the military. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to call state police in Olean at 716-373-2550.