Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Pictured, from top to bottom are exhibits for Sciene in Motion, the Cub Scouts, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (featuring Smokey the Bear), the Erie Zoo (featuring a baby alligator) and Stamp Camp USA. This is the fifth year Senator Joe Scarnati has hosted Kid Fest at Pitt-Bradford. It's the first year WESB did a live broadcast from the event ... and I hope we can do it again next year.

A Kane man is accused of threatening two other men with a gun on Friday. 62-year-old Rodger Streit of Niver Road is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with extreme indifference to human life and related charges. Court records indicate that Paul and James Glies went to Streit's home to talk about an incident earlier in the day when Streit told them leave property they were hunting on. Streit allegedly pointed a gun at Paul Glies and pulled the trigger. The gun made a clicking sound. Streit then pointed the gun at Glies's head and pulled the trigger again. He then pointed the gun at James Glies and pulled the trigger again. He then allegedly hit James Glies in the head with the butt of the gun. Paul Glies eventually wrestled the gun away from Streit. Streit was sent to McKean County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

An Emporium man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and homicide by vehicle in connection with an accident last month that killed an Emporium teenager. 25-year-old Nichols Caton turned himself in to District Judge Alvin Brown. He's free on $25,000 bail. Police say Caton passed a car on Route 120, didn't return to the proper lane and hit an SUV driven by 17-year-old Christopher Purcell, who died.

Bradford City Firefighters battled a blaze at 16 East Main Street for nearly four hours early Saturday morning. Bradford City Police notified the fire department of the blaze at about 4:30 a.m. Fire Captain Larry Visbisky says the entire rear of the house engulfed in flames when they arrived. The fire spread from the kitchen to the back wall, to the second story, then to the attic. Visbisky says the 2 ½ story wood structure was not occupied. A person was moving in, and had belongings there, but no one was home at the time of the fire. The people who live next door were out of their house by the time firefighters arrived, Visbisky says. They were on the scene until 8:20 a.m. All the fire department's engines and 13 firefighters responded. Bradford and Foster townships, as well as Special Police, assisted. Obviously, not a good picture of the fire but if you know it was taken in the Davis Street/Jackson Avenue area, you know it was pretty darn big. I would have tried to get a better...

CLEARFIELD - Narcotics agents from the Attorney General's office today, along with local law enforcement, have arrested 12 out of 14 people in connection with a drug operation that was responsible for bringing millions of dollars worth of cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs into Clearfield County from sources in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre. Corbett said that the drug organization was allegedly headed by Michael Styers, who traveled, or sometimes had others travel for him, into Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Wilkes-Barre to acquire drugs for resale in Clearfield County. According to the charges, Styers' operation imported vast quantities of illegal drugs, including more than 20 kilograms of cocaine, into the Clearfield area beginning in 2004. The drug network allegedly generated drug profits totaling in the millions of dollars. Styers himself allegedly made more than a million dollars in profits. Corbett said that the investigation, known as "Operation Drive T...

My guest on Saturday's Weekend Wrap is author/lawyer Julie James, whose new book "Just the Sexiest Man Alive," is wonderful! Check it out HERE . You can hear my interview with Julie at 6 a.m. on 100.1 The HERO and at 9:15 a.m. on 1490 WESB.

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a land exchange with the Tony L. Stec Lumber Company Inc. that will result in 100 acres of additional land being added to State Game Land 86 in Warren County. Stec previously was the high bidder on a Game Commission timber sale on SGL 86 and agreed to pay the agency $202,020 for the timber. The Stec family is the owner of a tract of land comprised of 100 acres in Deerfield Township, Warren County, which is an indenture into SGL 86. As the Game Commission is interested in acquiring this tract to protect potential encroachment into SGL 86, the agency and Stec have agreed to the value of $170,000 for the 100-acre parcel. As part of the exchange, Stec will transfer the 100-acre parcel to the Game Commission, and the agency would credit Stec’s timber contact $170,000 toward the $202,020 commitment. The property is entirely forested with mostly mixed northern hardwoods to include hickory, oak and cherry. The majority of the tree s...

PNC Financial services is buying National City Corporation for $5.6 billion. PNC says the transaction values National City at $2.23 per share -- a value about 19 percent below the Thursday closing price of $2.75. National City posted a $729 million quarterly loss earlier this week.

This is the video Scott and I were just talking about on The Morning Buzz.

10/17/08 - Bfd Man charged with Purse Snatching A Bradford man was arrested Thursday morning after snatching a purse from a 79 year-old woman on Congress street in Bradford. Bradford City Police say that 37 year-old Timothy Stingel grabbed the purse from the lady and ran. Stingel was in custody by noon yesterday. He is facing robbery, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance charges. 10/21/08 - ARG Awarded Biomass Grant The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority has awarded a $1 million grant to American Refining and Biochemical Inc. to construct a new biomass facility. Officials say there isn’t a timetable for construction of the plant saying it is still in the early stages. The plant could process up to 180,000 tons of biomass per year into more than 60,000 tons of a coal-like product. 10/22/08 - Another Bfd Teen Arrested in Robberies Another Bradford teen has been arrested in connection with a series of robberies in Pennsylvania and New York state. Court...

A second teenager has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Dusty Elkderkin last December in Stockton. 16-year-old Lyman Whitmore entered his plea on the third day of jury selection for his trial in Chautauqua County. Whitmore faces 7 years to life in prison when he's sentenced on January 5. He's currently in the Erie County Youth Detention Center in Buffalo. A 14-year-old was tried earlier this year in Family Court and was sentenced to 5 years in a state detention facility.

The Twin Tiers Action Van hit a deer on I-86 near Jamestown while returning from the Owls game late Thursday night. Frank, Stefan, Tom and Mike were shook up, but not hurt. The van was disabled and the deer was killed in the collision. The Owls broadcast crew arrived back in Bradford safely at 1 a.m.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Lawyers for the state Republican Party and ACORN clashed Thursday at a procedural hearing, providing a preview of next week's Commonwealth Court hearing on the GOP's voter-fraud lawsuit against the community activist group. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

The estranged son-in-law of Vincent Fumo started his testimony today in the senator's corruption trial. 33-year-old Christian Marrone told jurors how he spent much of his time as an aide in Fumo's South Philadelphia district office overseeing renovations at Fumo's historic mansion. Marrone says he oversaw more than a dozen contractors and often stopped at the house several times a day in his first 18 months in his Senate job. Fumo's daughter, Nicole, listened to her husband's testimony, but did not speak with her father. Fumo and his daughter have been estranged for several years. Fumo is a Democrat. The Marrones are now Republicans.

A former substitute teacher in the Erie School District has been sentenced to three months to one year in jail for having consensual sex with a female student. Twenty-five-year-old Erica Baker of Corry pleaded guilty to corruption of a minor in September. Authorities say Baker had a consensual sexual relationship with the 17 year old in August and September 2007. The two met while Baker was a student teacher. The judge said jail was warranted because Baker was in a position of authority. She also surrendered her teaching license.

A woman robbed at knifepoint at a Pittsburgh ATM says her attacker knocked her down and carved a "B" in her face after noticing a John McCain sticker on her car. Police say the woman was withdrawing money at 9 o'clock Wednesday night when a man approached her from behind, put a knife to her neck and demanded money. She says she gave him $60. The woman told police the robber then noticed the bumper sticker, punched her in the back of the head, knocked her down and then carved a "B" on the right side of her face. The woman did not seek medical attention.

True Buffalo Sabres fans don’t need to read about the history of the team because most of them have lived it. But there are many interesting and funny behind-the-scenes stories about some of the Sabres most beloved and infamous players and coaches that many fans may have never heard. Paul Wieland’s new book, “Then Perreault Said to Rico … The Best Buffalo Sabres Stories Ever Told,” delves into some of the most memorable stories about favorite players, coaches and cherished games throughout the Sabres history. The book also comes with an exclusive audio CD that features rare play-by-play action and interviews with Sabres greats. Wieland, who now teaches in the Jandoli School of Journalism at St. Bonaventure University, joined the Sabres in the first few months of the new franchise in 1970 and spent more than 25 years there as public relations director, communications director and executive producer of television sports for the Sabres cable network and for a TV station owned by the hocke...

Dr. Patrick Dooley, Board of Trustees Professor of Philosophy at St. Bonaventure University, will occasionally send a note to an author whose writing inspires him. Seldom does he expect a response. So Dooley’s expectations were low when he e-mailed a student’s class journal entry to the agent of Khaled Hosseini, author of the national bestselling novel “The Kite Runner.” A response from the author came this week, and in it was a personal note from Hosseini to the student, SBU senior Adam Mutch. To say that Dooley was surprised is putting it mildly. “Frankly, I was blown away,” he said. Dooley read “The Kite Runner” in 2006 while he was a scholar in residence at San Jose State University’s John Steinbeck Center. Hosseini lives in the San Jose area. Like millions of readers worldwide, Dooley was captivated by the emotionally gripping story of two young half-brothers, Amir and Hassan, caught up in the destruction of their native Afghanistan. The characters’ relationship is altered when Am...

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) is reminding residents who are struggling to pay home-heating costs this winter that applications for Pennsylvania's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will be available starting Nov. 3. LIHEAP, which is funded primarily by the federal government and administered by the state Department of Public Welfare (DPW), helps low-income households pay their heating bills and provides assistance to individuals in danger of losing heat due to emergency situations. Income eligibility for the 2008-09 LIHEAP season was expanded to 210 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline. As a result, nearly 80,000 more Pennsylvanians will be eligible to receive help paying their heating bills this winter through the cash grant portion of the LIHEAP program. This year, a family of four with an annual income of up to $44,443 can qualify for LIHEAP. The guidelines are updated annually and published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Pe...

The house where 10 people died in a fire has been torn down. Nine members of the Peterson family and family friend Jason Mowry died in the April fire in Brockway. The ages of the victims range from 4 months to 40 years old. The fire marshal's investigation into what caused the fire is not finished yet, but the house was turned over to the family after their insurance company finished its investigation.

Governor Ed Rendell today announced that an estimated 113,000 senior homeowners statewide have had school property taxes eliminated as a result of Pennsylvania’s historic property tax relief law. In McKean County, an estimated 969 people have had their property taxes eliminated. $1.2 million in rebates have been distributed. Nearly 500 eligible people in McKean County have not applied for rebates. In Elk County, 664 eligible people have not applied. In Potter County, 408 people have not applied. In contrast, everyone in Cameron and Warren counties who was eligible for a rebate applied and received about $1.1 million.

MAYVILLE, NY -- Two companies, one that specializes in producing high-efficiency boilers, the other in manufacturing wood gasification products, will be front and center at Chautauqua County's First Annual Energy Conference and Expo November 14th and 15th. ECR International and Alternative Fuel Boilers LLC, a subsidiary of Dunkirk Metal Products Inc., will play a major part in the event, which will take place at Chautauqua Suites Meeting and Expo Center, located in Mayville, NY. On Saturday, November 15th, from 12:45 until 2 PM, Mark Belcher, Regional Sales Manager of ECR International Inc., Karl Mayer with ECR and Mark O'Dell, Vice President of Marketing at Dunkirk Metal Products will all speak on panels dealing with Co-Generation Energy Applications. ECR International was formed in June of 1999 out of a merger between The Utica Companies (Utica) and Dunkirk Radiator Corporation (Dunkirk). On September 11, 2008, ECR introduced the freewatt® Home Heating System. Manufactured by...

On Thursday, Senator Mike Stack presented a state grant of 200 thousand dollars to help five NORCs (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community) located throughout Pennsylvania. The funding will also be used to help start new NORCs in non-urban communities. Right now, there are only five Aging in Place Communities which have met NORC qualifications: three in Philadelphia, one in Pittsburgh, and one in Franklin County. NORCs coordinate services for senior citizens that ultimately provide them with the resources that allow them to live independently. Those services include health assessment and monitoring, home health care, home repairs, socialization activities, and technological and transportation assistance. Seniors can still live independently, knowing that NORC is a resource for them. Additionally, seniors and their families are saving money by staying out of nursing homes. Senator Stack says when the new session of the General Assembly convenes next year, he'll push for passag...

As millions of Pennsylvanians kickoff football games with tailgate parties, the Liquor Control Board, Charmer Sunbelt Group, Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and State Police today said they are joining forces to make sure that these pre-gridiron experiences are responsible and fun. “TURF – Tailgaters Urging Responsibility and Fun” is a national public-awareness campaign that is debuting today in Pennsylvania. It features former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann, promotes safe and responsible tailgating, and is underwritten in Pennsylvania by the LCB’s industry partners: Charmer Sunbelt Group, Capital Wine & Spirits, Brown-Forman and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. “Tailgating is a beloved American pastime and we understand how much fun it can be for fans,” said LCB Chairman Patrick “P.J.” Stapleton III. “Unfortunately, some people take their excitement to a level that disturbs and even endangers others. That’s why we’ve assembled this great team to bring TURF to...

A Red Lion man has been indicted for allegedly threatening the life of President George W. Bush. U.S. Attorney Martin Carlson says the Secret Service started investigating 50-year-old Patrick Bloodsworth, after he was admitted to York Hospital following an altercation with members of his family. The Secret Service says a hospital nurse heard Bloodsworth making the threats on October 8. Carlson's news release says the grand jury returned the indictment Wednesday. If convicted, Bloodsworth faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. A federal magistrate has sealed most of the case documents.

HARRISBURG – As Pennsylvanians plan for the holiday gift-giving season, the Pennsylvania Game Commission unveiled its 2009 calendar, priced at $8.95 (plus tax and shipping). To purchase a calendar, call the Game Commission at 1-888-888-3459 (toll-free) or visit the Game Commission's Web site . The 2009 calendar provides a listing of approved season dates from Jan. 1-June 30, and tentative season dates for July1-Dec. 31, as well as a reminder about National Hunting & Fishing Day in September. The 2009 calendar features a year’s worth of dramatic wildlife photos taken by current and retired agency employees, including: Jacob Dingel, radio dispatcher in the Northwest Region Office; Timothy C. Flanigan, retired Bedford County Wildlife Conservation Officer; Coy D. Hill, retired Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer from Fulton County; Willard C. Hill, retired Game Lands Management Supervisor in the Southcentral Region; and Joe Kosack, Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist in H...

For the 11th consecutive year, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Alumni Association has earned a Gold Banner Award from the University of Pittsburgh’s Alumni Association. “A Banner Award at the Gold Level comes with a $500 scholarship, so we are most proud to be able to provide a student with financial assistance in this meaningful way,” said Lindsay Hilton Retchless ’98, director of alumni relations. Retchless and members of the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association board of directors will receive the award during Pitt’s homecoming weekend Friday, Oct. 24. The Pitt Alumni Association gives the Gold Banner to constituent alumni groups in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in serving as the link between alumni and the university. The Association’s Gold Banner Status is the highest level of award and is reserved for those groups demonstrating exceptional performance in alumni communications, student involvement and other partnersh...

Homicide charges against the Marienville teenagers accused of killing Timothy Finucan have been bound to court. 18-year-old Raymond "R.J." Lambert and 17-year-old Stephan Hall are accused of killing Finucan after they went into his house in Sigel to steal guns and money in mid-August. Lambert testified that he and Hall went to Finucan's house saying they hit a deer with their vehicle and needed help. He said he fired a shotgun in the air to scare Finucan, but when he thought Finucan fired from his own gun, he fired his gun again. Lambert and Hall are in Elk County Jail without bail.

Evelyn Ay Sempier, crowned Miss America 1954 and the only Miss Pennsylvania to win the national pageant, has died, according to her daughter. She was 75. Sempier, of Malvern, died Saturday of colorectal cancer, said her daughter, Stacy. Evelyn Ay, born in Ephrata to German immigrants, was a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania when she won the state title and then the national pageant's swimsuit competition and crown. She was the last Miss America to be crowned before the pageant was televised, according to the Miss America Web site. When she was crowned, according to the site, her father said "This could happen only in America!" For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

Governor Edward G. Rendell today accepted Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s friendly wager over the outcome of the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. When the Phillies win, Governor Crist will send Governor Rendell stone crab claws and a box of oranges. Should the Rays somehow prevail, Governor Rendell will send Governor Crist a Philly cheesesteak and soft pretzels. “I believe the Rally Towel is more powerful than the cowbell, so I’m honored to accept this friendly wager with Governor Crist,” Governor Rendell said. “Pennsylvanians are proud of our National League Champion Phillies and we look forward to a great World Series.” The first two games of the 104th World Series will be played tonight and tomorrow night in Florida. The series moves to Philadelphia on Oct. 25.

A Bradford woman accused of shooting a gun in the city has waived her preliminary hearing. Teresa Reed allegedly discharged a .45 caliber handgun at just before noon August 22 on Longfellow Avenue. Court records say children were playing outside, and nearby businesses were opened, when the alleged incident happened. Theft charges against a Bradford woman have been bound to court by District Judge Dom Cercone. Lisa Martin allegedly withheld $130 from a confidential informant with the McKean County Drug Task Force during an investigation. Martin is free on unsecured bail. A Rixford woman accused of urinating in neighbor's bathtub, passing out topless on a bedroom floor and, later, assaulting a police officer, has waived her preliminary hearing. The alleged incidents happened October 13. When police took Katherine Strang back to her home a short distance away and found an infant alone and crying. Police contacted McKean County Children & Youth Services, who removed the infant and ...

St. Bonaventure University has been named the recipient of the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce L.O.U.I.E. Award. The award is given annually to a privately owned business in the Olean area that demonstrates a well-planned, thorough and serious approach to business development and exemplifies the hometown charm of the area. The chamber says St. Bonaventure has earned a reputation for academic excellence and the extraordinary character of its students, paving the way for the success of its 25,000 graduates. The award will be presented during the chamber's 103rd annual dinner on November 6.

The city of Scranton is paying a woman $19,000 to settle a lawsuit that started after she was arrested for swearing at her overflowing toilet. Scranton is also paying Dawn Herb's legal fees. Herb was arrested last year after a neighbor, who was an off-duty police officer, heard her cursing through an open window. A judge later found her not guilty of disorderly conduct, saying her language was constitutionally protected free speech. The ACLU announced the settlement today.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortés today called continued allegations by the Republican Party of Pennsylvania against state and county elections officials disappointing. “The majority of the counties in Pennsylvania are controlled by Republican Commissioners. While the Republican Party may not have confidence in the counties’ abilities to administer a fair election, we do,” Cortés said. Working collaboratively, the state and counties continue to make final preparations for a fair, accurate, accessible and secure election on Nov. 4. Three of the primary safeguards, Cortés added, are the database that helps stop fraud before it even has the chance to start; the laws that require voter identification and signature verification; and the laws that criminalize voter fraud. Pennsylvania’s Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE) continues to be used by the counties to process applications. Last week, nearly 150,000 voter registration applications were outstanding. Today the n...

Sample produce at a farm market, experience the excitement of a county fair, visit a working farm or take a sleigh ride to cut your own Christmas tree with the help of a new interactive tool that showcases agricultural destinations across Pennsylvania, said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff today. “Keystone Country” is a new program that unites two of Pennsylvania’s largest economic forces – agriculture and tourism – and highlights farm markets, county fairs, farm stays and wineries (including Flickerwood Wine Cellars and The Winery at Wilcox) on an easy-to-use Web site: www.visitpa.com/KeystoneCountry . “Pennsylvania is home to a vibrant agricultural industry,” said Wolff. “With gas prices pinching consumers’ pocketbooks, Keystone Country makes it easy to plan a fun-filled vacation any time of the year while remaining close to home. “By taking advantage of the many stops on Keystone Country’s interactive maps, travelers can connect with the rich traditions of rural life, while grow...

Allegany-Limestone Central School students won the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Fourth Annual Northwestern Pennsylvania Business Competition last week. Members of the winning team are, front row, from left, Katie McMullen, Abby Blumenthal, Christine Wittmeyer and Anna Jaremko, back row, Cody Vreeland, Ben Giardini, David Forsythe and Casey Ensell. (Photo Courtesy of Pitt-Bradford) A team of eight students from Allegany-Limestone (N.Y.) Central School took top honors last week at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Fourth Annual Northwestern Pennsylvania Regional Business Competition. Teams from seven area high schools spent two days on campus creating a sample business plan and making presentations before panels of experts and judges. They also had a chance to hear a talk from Carl Knoblock, Director of the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Each student in a team was responsible for a particular area of the plan. Stu...

A Corry woman whose 6-year-old son died in a drunken driving crash has been sentenced to two to 9 years in prison. 26-year-old Erin Howard pleaded guilty in August to charges related to the crash, and to an escape charge for going to a bar, and not returning to Erie County Prison, after her son's funeral. The accident happened June 14 near Corry when Howard's car left road and slammed into a creek bed, killing her son, Sam Carpenter.

Why do we care that Giuliani was in Warren, Ohio? Because he shook my 7-year-old nephew's hand. My other nephew is 6. They are the ones who decided they wanted to see Giuliani. I don't think they're leaning toward either party, though. During the primaries, they wanted an Obama sign in their yard.

HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Robert A. Gleason, Jr. was shocked and amazed that Gov. Ed Rendell and Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro Cortés have not held a press conference or issued a press release about the scores of duplicate and fraudulent registrations that ACORN submitted this year. “The U.S. District Attorney’s office is investigating fraudulent voter registrations in Philadelphia and local law enforcement officials and agencies are investigating issues in several other Pennsylvania counties,” Gleason said. “Why aren’t Governor Rendell and Secretary Cortés questioning the activities of a group that has burdened county election officials with potentially bogus registrations which will prevent legitimate registrations from being cast on Election Day? “If Secretary Cortés was spending his time working harder to ensure our elections were open and fair and less time congratulating groups like ACORN for submitting duplicate and fraudulent registrations, o...

Expressing outrage, Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortés today called “completely unwarranted” the Oct. 17 complaint filed by the Republican Party of Pennsylvania and others against the Department of State regarding voter registration processes, and noted that Pennsylvania is ready to conduct a fair, accurate, accessible and secure election. “The plaintiffs either do not know how voter registrations are processed or – worse yet – they know but are purposely trying to misinform voters,” he said. “This complaint hides behind the guise of protecting the electoral process when, in fact, it undermines the very foundation of our democracy – solely for political gain.” Cortés said the meritless suit seeks to have the Department of State implement voter registration and data verification processes that are already in place and have been used by the state and counties for several years. He also noted the lawsuit has the detrimental effect of diverting valuable human and fi...

Jury selection is underway in the case of a 15 year-old boy charged in the murder of another teen in Stockton last December. The teen, who has not been publicly identified, faces murder, and other charges. He, and a 14 year-old whose case has already been disposed of in Family Court, are accused of beating 18-year-old Dusty Elderkin to death and dumping his body near a creek. The trial is expected to take several weeks.

Senator Arlen Specter listens to a woman asking about Social Security during a Town Hall Meeting Tuesday afternoon in Smethport. Issues related to the Allegheny National Forest took center stage during the meeting. Specter said his staff will look into the proposed oil and gas drilling at Rimrock, the dwindling of the deer herd due to timber management as well as the deterioration of Corydon-Riverview Cemetery. The senator also answered questions about health care, Social Security, immigration and the economy. He also talked about the need for Democrats and Republicans to work together. "The American people are fed up with the bickering … and arguing in Washington," he said. Later, when a member of the audience made a similar comment, Specter said, "I hear you and I agree with you … and I've sensed it coming for a long time." He said that's one of the reasons he has town meetings in all 67 counties every year. "I believe that every elected official ough...

Cleanup at the site of the oil spill on the Allegheny National Forest is ongoing, although efforts have been hampered by low stream flow conditions. Snyder Brothers has maintained two temporary siphon dams to contain oil on Chappel Fork that was intentionally spilled in August. DEP issued an Emergency Permit authorizing use of the dams for 30-days. Since oil is still gathering behind the dams, DEP has extended the permit at the request of Snyder Brothers to maintain the dams until November 29, 2008. A damage assessment team consisting of multiple federal and state agencies continues to measure resource damages as a result of the spill. Analyses of collected data are ongoing. Father and son Andrew and Christopher Horton have been charged with causing and risking a catastrophe for allegedly causing the spill, and remain in McKean County Jail. Andrew Horton waived his preliminary hearing 2 weeks ago. His son's hearing is scheduled for next month.

Several prominent Bradford organizations announced today their agreement to obtain ultra-high speed Internet, data and digital phone services from the Coudersport-based firm of Zito Media Communications. At a luncheon hosted by the Bradford Area Alliance, Zippo, American Refining Group, Bradford Regional Medical Center, Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems and Zito Media Communications expressed gratitude to the McKean County Commissioners, the Bradford OECD, North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission, and Northwest Savings for their support in providing Bradford with state of the art telecommunications. Construction of an advanced optical fiber telecommunication system will provide the region with unlimited IP based digital voice, data and Internet capacity. Expected to be operational by early December, businesses and institutions are poised to benefit from a network that will offer world class telecommunication capabilities and services. Local business and political...

Frank Williams has passed THIS along to us. The collision between South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia and umpire Wilbur Hackett Jr. in Saturday's loss to LSU has drawn a lot of attention over the past two days, but Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier says Hackett did nothing wrong. See the video at the link provided above.

Marissa Buchheit (with the BAHS Key Club) concentrates on painting a youngster's face, while the young lady at the right concentrates on painting her pumpkin during the Fall Festival at Tops on Saturday. Bradford City Firefighter Rich Zmuda and United Assistant Director Mandi Wilton Davis judge the apple pie contest. All proceeds went to the United Way.

I couldn't resist taking this picture on my way back from the Ho-Sta-Geh -- especially when I found out that some of these trees may have -- ugh! -- snow on them by morning.

A Salamanca man has pleaded guilty to stealing from the Seneca Gaming Corporation. 38-year-old Bradley Stahlman used identity cards that another person had forged to gamble at the Salamanca casino. The incidents happened between November of 2007 and April of this year. Stahlman and the others are accused of cheating the company out of $30,000 to $40,000. Stahlman will be sentenced on January 26. Five men picked up in a drug sweep in Olean on April 5 have all pleaded not guilty in Cattaraugus County Court. Dion Sawyer and Briet Boykin of Olean, along with Carlson Croom, Sam Carson and Charlton Owens of Buffalo, were all indicted for criminal possession of a controlled substance. Sawyer was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon. The matters have been adjourned for motions. An Allegany man and an Olean man have pleaded not guilty to drug charges. Deon Maull is charged with selling crack cocaine in Olean on June 18. Jared Capra is charged with possession of a narcotic with inte...

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The late state Sen. James J. Rhoades may get elected to an eighth term, since Republican Party officials say his name will stay on the ballot in the three-way race for his northeastern Pennsylvania seat. Rhoades, 66, died Saturday from injuries he suffered in a car accident the night before, a little more than two weeks before the Nov. 4 election. Todd Nyquist, a spokesman for the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, confirmed that party officials will not seek to replace Rhoades on the ballot that also includes Democrat P.J. Symons and independent Dennis Baylor. For the full story, go to pennlive.com

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Dentists who find their perfect love match sitting in the patients' chair must end the professional relationship and wait a few months before dating, according to new state regulations. The new rules say that any sexual conduct — even consensual contact — with a current patient, including "words, gestures or expressions, actions or any combination thereof," is subject to disciplinary action by the State Board of Dentistry. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

Tom Missel, director of marketing and media relations, was one of hundreds of SBU employees and students to work by just natural window light on Sustainable Bona’s Day. (Photo Courtesy of St. Bonaventure University) Going green saved quite a bit of green during St. Bonaventure’s day-long effort to reduce its carbon footprint. Nearly $4,000 in savings was realized as a result of Sustainable Bona’s Day, a campuswide energy rollback on Oct. 16 that was hampered slightly by dreary skies but helped more significantly by temperatures in the low 60s. “We weren’t able to keep, for example, the classroom lights off in Plassmann and take advantage of all the windows they have for natural light,” said Phil Winger, associate vice president for facilities. “But it was mild enough that we essentially were able to shut the heat down.” Electricity usage dropped by 24 percent compared to Oct. 15, thanks to reduced lighting and the idling of unused air conditioning and ventilation equipment, Winger said...

The temperatures are dropping, but the red in the United Way thermometers is rising as the organization announces that 30% of the $375,0000 goal has been raised to date. “We are still in the process of soliciting the community, whether it be the small businesses or the corporate employees,” says Assistant Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “We remain very confident that the coming months will see us reaching 100% of the goal.” The organization has also remained busy with recent special events, including the second-annual soup lunch, as well as the fall festival at Tops. “We are so appreciative to everyone who made those two events so successful,” says Davis. “It takes a lot of hard work to host special events, and we’re very fortunate to have a great group of volunteers who do such a wonderful job.” The United Way Board of Directors, also acting as this year’s campaign chairs, is currently in the process of reviewing the requests for proposals for funding during the 2009 calendar year....

A New York State appeals court should decide in about a month whether to overturn Ralph "Bucky" Phillips' convictions on murder and other charges. Despite his admission 23 months ago that he was – quote – "guilty as hell" – Phillips' lawyers argued in court today that he only entered the plea because his court-appointed lawyer gave him bad advice. His lawyers maintain that Phillips never admitted that he intended to kill anyone. Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley argued that if you aim a gun at someone, and you know that gun can kill a person, you can infer that he intended to kill. During his 5 months on the run, Phillips shot three state troopers, fatally wounding Trooper Joseph Longobardo. Phillips was captured in September 2006 in a Warren County field.