Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Bath salts, a gun and drug paraphernalia were among the items police say they found in an Emporium man’s house last week. 59-year-old Gary Boyer is facing multiple charges after marijuana, smoking devices, a pill grinder and digital scales, as well as the bath salts were found. Police say he also had a .22 caliber pistol with the serial number removed. Boyer is in jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

One of the alleged bath salt sellers who was picked up last week after the car she was in broke down in Kane has waived her preliminary hearing. Lori Lee Grotzinger of St. Marys is facing dozens of drug charges after police found drugs and paraphernalia in the car. She’s free on unsecured bail. The hearing for her co-defendant Scott Yanak has been moved to next Thursday in McKean County Central Court. Besides the drug charges, he is also charged with flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct for running from police while they were doing field sobriety tests on Grotzinger. Yanak is jailed on $40,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A broken down vehicle in Kane led to charges against a couple accused of running bath salts through the area. According to court papers at about 4:15 Sunday afternoon Mount Jewett Police Chief Steve Hale called Kane police to tell them about a vehicle that was broken down at the intersection of Greeves and Yarnell streets, and the two people involved may have bath salts with them. Kane Police Officer Michael Henry noticed a “roach” on the passenger side of the vehicle and soon he, Hale and State Police Corporal Ted Race searched the vehicle and found a scale with measuring bowl, several loaded hypodermic needles, a grinder with a white powdery residue in it, several small plastic bags for packaging, glass smoking apparatuses, and several pills that they could not identify during the search. Lori Lee Grotzinger of St. Marys and Scott Yanak of Moon Township are facing a number of drug charges. Yanak is also charged with flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest and disorderly con...

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

A half-naked man believed to be under the influence bath salts is accused of throwing a cinder block at a state police corporal this morning, and injuring him. Police say they got a report at around 7:45 about a half-naked man walking around Route 6 in Pike Township in Potter County, and found a vehicle belonging to 36-year-old Stephen Berds of Youngstown, New York. The National Crime Information Center listed BERDS as missing and endangered. Police found Berds behind a camp, and that’s when he threw the cinder block at Cpl. Eric McKean and then tried to run away. Police used a Taser on Berds to take him into custody. The cinder block hit and injured McKean’s right forearm, but he refused medical treatment. Berds is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, open lewdness and summary harassment. The charges were filed with District Judge Delores Weiss. Berds is awaiting arraignment. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two men and a woman are accused of having bath salts in Roulette on Wednesday afternoon. State police say agents from the state parole board asked them to go to 48 River Street, where they found 21-year-old Kimberly Bisher and 19-year-old Gabriel Weinberg, both of Roulette, and 22-year-old Robert Hamilton II of Port Allegany with suspected bath salts and drug paraphernalia. Hamilton was taken to Potter County Jail on a parole violation. Weinberg was taken into custody by the McKean County Probation Department. Bisher was taken by ambulance to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital. Hamilton is charged with felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He and the others are also charged with misdemeanor drug law violations. Hamilton is in Potter County Jail on $20,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that Congress has passed a bipartisan bill to keep the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully functioning and is expected to be signed into law. The bill, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, contains several provisions authored by Senator Casey that will increase medical protections for Pennsylvanians as well as bolster the state’s thriving medical sector. Senator Casey’s provisions will ban dangerous drugs like bath salts, work to reduce deadly drug shortages, make it easier for innovative medical devices to come to market, aid researchers as they seek to develop new antibiotics, increase federal oversight of prescription drug abuse, and encourage the development of new treatments for rare and neglected diseases that disproportionately affect children. “This legislation will protect the health of Pennsylvanians and help our thriving medical sector create jobs,” Senator Casey said. “One of the most impo...

A Warren County man accused of using bath salts allegedly set items in a house on fire, ran from police and then set a tree stand on fire while he was in it. Police say the incident started on Tuesday evening when 31-year-old Jacob Richards was inside in house on Pineville Road in Southwest Township pounding on the floors, walls and ceiling of his bedroom. After the 51-year-old female victim confronted him about using bath salts, he barricaded himself inside his room and fired a shot from a shotgun. The victim left the house and contacted police. When state police, sheriff’s deputies, and adult probation officers arrived on the scene Richards would not answer the phone or the public address system used to contact him inside the house. He eventually set fire to items inside the house. Smoke started coming from the eaves of the house and he crawled out through a hole he cut in the floor and ran into the woods. Several members of the sheriff’s department tried to apprehend him with no suc...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the urging of U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Senate and House leaders negotiating a compromise Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reauthorization bill have agreed to include language to place a national ban on synthetic drugs like bath salts and synthetic marijuana. The agreement would control 26 synthetic substances under the Controlled Substances Act and also double the length of time the DEA can temporarily ban substances to allow a permanent ban to take effect. “For Pennsylvania communities that have faced violence and crimes as a result of synthetic drugs like bath salts, this agreement is very welcome news,” said Senator Casey. “I pushed legislation to get these substances off our streets and prevent the horrible acts of violence synthetic drugs induce, so it is a relief that a ban appears to finally be close to becoming law.” Senator Casey has been a leader in the effort to ban the harmful substances in bath salts and other synthetic drugs by pushing ...

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today applauded action by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to temporarily ban the chemicals in so-called ‘bath salts.’ Senator Casey first called on the DEA to implement such a ban in March. “This action is long overdue,” said Senator Casey. “Even though Pennsylvania has banned bath salts, this DEA ban will help keep these dangerous products out of Pennsylvania.” This action will make possessing and selling these chemicals or the products that contain them illegal in the U.S. for at least one year while the DEA and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) further study whether these chemicals should be permanently controlled. A Notice of Intent to temporarily control was published in the Federal Register today to alert the public to this action. This alert is required by law as part of the Controlled Substances Act. In 30 days or more, DEA intends to publish in the Federal Register a Final Order to temporar...

Learn: Police Will Have Authority to Get This Junk Off the Street Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett today signed into law Senate Bill 1006, legislation that bans the possession, use and sale of synthetic designer drugs including the dangerous substance known as “bath salts.’’ The General Assembly last week unanimously approved the measure to expand the state’s list of controlled substances. The new law prohibits all chemical substances contained in bath salts, as well as synthetic marijuana and other synthetic drugs, including 2C-E, which is similar to LSD or Ecstasy, and salvia, which causes hallucinations. Bath salts, which have nothing to do with baths or spas, are designer drugs with an effect on users comparable to cocaine or methamphetamine. The substance had been legally sold in some tobacco shops and other specialty stores. Users sometimes experience agitation, paranoia, hallucinations and often commit violent acts. “Sadly, we have had far too many tragic examples in Pennsylva...

Toxicology reports say the two men whose bodies were found in the Allegheny National Forest were taking bath salts before they died. Warren residents 29-year-old Troy Johnson and 28-year-old Terry Sumrow had been missing for two weeks before they were found on St. Patrick’s Day. Warren County Coroner Jeremiah Borden said the men died of exposure-hypothermia, but ordered the toxicology reports after police found empty containers of bath salts, a partialy filled container of the synthetic drug, hypodermic needles, spoons and a marijuana pipe near their vehicle.

WASHINGTON, DC— After the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) testified today that it was still studying a ban on bath salts and asked for new rules to speed up the process, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced his support for the Combating Dangerous Designer Drugs Act to allow for dangerous substances to be quickly removed from the market while being studied for permanent scheduling. Senator Casey also submitted a statement for the record highlighting bath salt crime in Pennsylvania and urged quick action to ban the drugs. “It is clear that bath salts are fueling crime in Pennsylvania and around the country,” said Senator Casey. “The DEA detailed today the red tape that is contributing to delays in banning these dangerous drugs. We need to cut through this red tape to make it easier to get these drugs off the shelves and out of our communities.” The DEA has administratively scheduled five chemical compounds found in synthetic marijuana, commonly known as “K2” or “Spice.” However, this...

Legislation that would ban synthetic versions of marijuana and cocaine, as well as bath salts, has been unanimously approved by the Pennsylvania House. The bill now moves on to the state Senate.

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today urged the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to use its authority to temporarily ban the chemicals in so-called ‘bath salts’ to immediately take the dangerous drugs off the streets. In a letter to DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart, Senator Casey pointed to recent DEA action to ban synthetic marijuana as precedent to take immediate action against the drugs in bath salts. Senator Casey also supports legislation to ban bath salts. “A series of recent crimes and violent attacks by individuals using ‘bath salts’ have shown that these drugs pose an imminent threat to public safety,” wrote Senator Casey. “As you did earlier this month in the case of synthetic marijuana, I ask you to ban MDPV and mephedrone for up to one year as DEA continues to study the effects of these drugs.” In his letter to the DEA, Senator Casey pointed to the spike in calls regarding bath salts to U.S. Poison Centers – from 298 in 2010 to 1,196 already in 2011...

ALBANY – Bath salts that can produce a methamphetamine-like high and possibly have been linked to the deaths of two young men at Allegany National Forest would be banned under a new bill sponsored by Senator Catharine Young (R,C, I – Olean) and supported by several local law enforcement officials. “Bath salts can cause extreme anxiety, paranoia and psychotic episodes that have led to many reports of violence and self-mutilation. We need to prevent these type of horror stories from happening to someone else’s family,” said Senator Young. Often labeled "bath salts" and given innocuous-sounding street names like Ivory Wave, Bliss, White Lightning and Hurricane Charlie, these drugs can cause hallucinations, paranoia, a rapid heart rate and suicidal thoughts. Olean Police Captain Robert Blovsky said several local people had been recently hospitalized after abusing these substances and displaying suicidal behavior. “We talked to some of the peop...

Senator Larry Farnese announced that he will introduce legislation that would ban substances commonly known as ‘bath salts.’ The legislation would add the following chemical compounds to Schedule I of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act: 3, 4—Methy-lenedioxymethcathinone (Methylone), 3, 4—Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), 4—Methylmethcathinone (Mephedrone), 3—Methoxymethcathinone, 3-Flouromethcathinone, and 4-Fluoromethcathinone. “I am very concerned about the use of bath salts,” said Senator Farnese. “These substances are used as an alternative to cocaine and cause dangerous side effects such as extreme paranoia, hallucinations and disorientation, all of which can lead to extreme violent behavior.” Bath salt is a white, powdery substance made up of derivatives of the aforementioned chemicals. The form of speed that is produced by mixing the chemicals induces pharmacological effects similar to those obtained through cocaine use. Bath salt has been known to cause da...

The synthetic drug “bath salts” was found in the vehicle of two Warren men whose bodies were discovered Thursday in the Allegheny National Forest. Police say along with empty containers of bath salts, they found a partially filled container, hypodermic needles, spoons and a marijuana pipe. Earlier today, Warren County Coroner Jeremiah Borden said 29-year-old Troy Johnson and 28-year-old Terry Sumrow died of exposure-hypothermia. To watch a video about bath salts that we posted in February, go here . Senator Bob Casey is also calling for bath salts to be added to the federal list of controlled substances.

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is supporting legislation to add MDPV and mephedrone, synthetic chemicals being sold across the country and marketed as “bath salts” and “plant food” to the list of controlled substances. The chemicals have a similar effect on the body as cocaine and methamphetamines. The dangerous ingredients in the salts, MDPV and mephedrone can be snorted, smoked and injected to receive a deadly high. “There is ample evidence that these so-called bath salts are a dangerous substance being used like meth or cocaine,” said Senator Casey. “Action needs to be taken to get bath salts off the shelf and out of our communities.” There have been numerous reports of bath salts being linked to violent behavior and deaths. An individual in Scranton charged with attacking a priest was reported to be high on bath salts at the time of the attack. The Combating Dangerous Synthetic Stimulants Act (S.409), introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), would immediately ad...

Here's an update on a story we reported on the air last week about Senator Chuck Schumer's efforts to ban "bath salts."