Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The Lakeview Motel in Sinnemahoning was heavily damaged by fire early this morning. The fire was reported at about 2:45 a.m. and volunteers from Sinnemahoning, Emporium, Coudersport and Austin were on the scene for about four hours. Although the roof caved in, most of the damage was confined to the hotel area and not the storefront. When they got this call, firefighters had just gotten back from battling a blaze in Coudersport that did $175,000 worth of damage to a house on Crandall Street. Coudersport fire Chief Bryan Phelps says the house is a total loss and very little personal property could be salvaged. A state police fire marshal was called in to investigate, and could not determine a cause. Port Allegany, Roulette and Galeton firefighters also responded. Austin Volunteer Fire Department photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Marilla, Gilbert reservoirs getting money HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today announced $500,000 in grants to develop and implement projects that benefit fishing, boating, and aquatic resources within in McKean, Cameron, Elk and Potter counties. This funding is available through a 2007 settlement agreement with Norfolk Southern as restitution for environmental damages from a June 30, 2006, train derailment in rural Norwich Township, McKean County. The accident spilled sodium hydroxide into Big Fill Run, Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek and the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek. Under the settlement, Norfolk Southern agreed to pay the Commonwealth $7.35 million as restitution for environmental damages. The PFBC received $3.675 million of the settlement and must use the funds to develop and implement projects that benefit fishing, boating and aquatic resources in Cameron, Elk, McKean or Potter counties. “The funds received through this damage se...

HARRISBURG (News Release) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today announced an invitation for project applications to the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed Restoration Grant Program. Project applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and must use the application form specified in the grant application package. Project applications must be postmarked no later than Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. The PFBC anticipates final selection and public announcement of grant awards by mid-May 2014. This funding is available through a 2007 settlement agreement with Norfolk Southern as restitution for environmental damages from a June 30, 2006, train derailment in rural Norwich Township, McKean County. The accident spilled sodium hydroxide into Big Fill Run, Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek and the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek. Under the settlement, Norfolk Southern agreed to pay the Commonwealth $7.35 million as restitution for environmental damages. The PFBC received $3.675...

Penn State Extension Educator, Jim Clark, and the Cameron County Conservation District, recently obtained a $6,000 grant from the Headwaters RC&D Sinnemahoning Stakeholders Group. The grant will pay for water tests for 35 rural ponds located throughout the Sinnemahoning Watershed. The ponds need to be one quarter acre or larger in size and will be selected on a first come, first served basis. The ponds must be located in the Sinnemahoning Watershed to be accepted. Clark will collect all of the samples and deliver them to the Penn State Water Lab in State College this spring. The Penn State Water Lab has two pond test kit options and these ponds will be tested for pH, total dissolved solids, nitrate-nitrogen, alkalinity, aluminum, iron, manganese, phosphorous, sulfate, hardness, and E coli. bacteria. The combined results will be shared at a Penn State Extension Pond Management Workshop to be held in Emporium in September. The project is designed to encourage pond owners to re...

A Driftwood woman has been charged for stealing $7,500 from Grove Township in Cameron County. 47-year-old Maryfrances Gibson is charged with a felony count of failure to make required disposition of funds for writing a check for her personal use on the township’s account back on June 30. Gibson is free on $10,000 unsecured bail and her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman is accused of stealing $7,500 from Grove Township in Cameron County. State police did not release the woman’s name, but said she is a “known female” who wrote a check from the township’s account for her own personal use. She was not authorized to write the check. Police are investigating the case as theft by failure to make required disposition of funds. They say they will release more information after they finish their investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Several businesses in Cameron County were burglarized early this morning. Sometime after 2 a.m. someone pried open doors and smashed windows to get into the Willows Restaurant in Gibson Township, Sinnemahoning Tavern and Sinnemahoning Sportsman’s Club. The burglars took money and alcohol. Police say the estimated loss is $3,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The wildfire in Cameron County is under control, but DCNR firefighters are still on the scene between Driftwood and Sinnemahoning. Emporium-based state police say Route 120 has re-opened but will sporadically close while trees are being cut down. Motorists should be prepared for delays. The fire is under control “but definitely still burning,” a police dispatcher told WESB and The HERO this afternoon. Wildfire fighting specialists from Bradford Township were on the scene Wednesday, but their detail has been cancelled for tonight. Firefighters from Cameron, Potter, Elk, Clinton and Clearfield counties were on the scene last night as well. On his Facebook page this morning State Representative Marty Causer wrote, “A sincere thank you to all of the dedicated volunteer firefighters who came together to fight the forest fire in Cameron County -- your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated.” Causer is a former vice president of McKean County’s EMS council. The fire started near the...

HARRISBURG – The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) today approved an $18 million grant to fund rehabilitation of the George B. Stevenson Dam at Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron County, announced Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Brockway) and Reps. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) and Matt Gabler (R-DuBois). “This is an important investment in protecting the health and safety of people living along, or downstream from, the dam on First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek,” Causer said. “I commend the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for being proactive in identifying the potential for failure of this dam and acting to correct it,” Scarnati added. “Clearly, once this project is completed, it will meet the needs of area citizens and businesses, as it is vital in terms of not only public safety, but also economic development.” The grant money will be used to construct a grout curtain and cutoff wall along the upstream toe of the embankment to eliminate or greatly reduce the amount of seepag...

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard J. Allan yesterday joined partners and visitors in officially opening the new Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron County. The new center is one of DCNR’s key investments in the Pennsylvania Wilds, located only a short jump off the Elk Scenic Drive in the heart of the northcentral region. “It was easy to pick a name for our new facility at Sinnemahoning State Park. With so many opportunities in the park to watch wildlife -- from bear and eagles, to otters and a small elk population -- it couldn’t be anything other than ‘The Wildlife Center,’” Allan said. “Our new center will help educate visitors about regional wildlife watching opportunities and photography, conservation history and stewardship practices, and provide creative ideas for exploration of this unique and rugged section of Pennsylvania.” Depending upon the season, visitors to Sinnemahoning State Park could encounter nesting bald eagles; see...