Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

You know the drill: 1)Turn your clock back 1 hour 2)Change the batteries in your smoke detectors 3)Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector 4)Enjoy that extra hour of sleep

By Kate Day Sager Olean Times Herald With the Halloween season in full swing, many thrill seekers are actively digging around for good, healthy scares that will make goosebumps erupt and hairs rise. And what better way to get the old heart racing than to visit a haunted house or building in the area, or at least to drive past them on a dark night. In the historic borough of Smethport, Pa., most of the town residents have heard the tale of the Old Jail Museum where the ghost of Ralph Crossmire is reportedly stalking the dark hallways or pulling pranks on the staff For the full story, go to The Olean Times Herald

A Bensalem woman on Friday filed a civil lawsuit against the Knights of Columbus in Middletown, Peco Energy, PennDOT and some Middletown homeowners for negligence after the woman was involved in March in a debilitating car accident in Middletown. The lawsuit alleges that the Knights of Columbus was negligent for serving her and allowing her to leave and drive visibly intoxicated. The organization declined to comment. For the full story, go to the Bucks County Courier Times .

EASTON -- A Bethlehem man who celebrated his sentence of probation for microwaving a cat by posting a message on his MySpace page was sent Friday to Northampton County Prison. For the full story, go to Lehigh Valley Live.com .

A Town of Ellicott man reported missing by his wife Wednesday was found on Saturday. 54-year-old Steven Gehret was last seen leaving a Jamestown Bank Wednesday afternoon. At that time, he called his wife and said he would see her later, but did not return home. Police say Gehret left on his own, and they will release more information on Monday.

Yes, we know the site's down. We're workin' on it. Thanks for your patience and understanding!

An Ohio man has been convicted of killing a Clarion University graduate and a retired Pennsylvania state trooper. It took a jury less than six hours to return a guilty verdict against 44-year-old Calvin Neyland, who shot his victims August 8, 2007, at a Liberty Transportation Company facility in Perrysburg Township, Ohio. Neyland killed 44-year-old Douglas Smith, who was the son of Douglas Smith Jr., a former vice president with Quaker State, and nurse Charlene Smith, who still live in the Oil City area. Neyland also killed 58-year-old Thomas Lazar of Belle Vernon, who was the corporate safety director for Liberty Transportation. Prosecutors say Neyland killed the two men after learning that he was going to be fired for repeated violations and for falsifying his driving log. For the full story, go to the Toledo Blade .

State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo is an "evil individual," and trying to leave his office was "like trying to leave the Mafia," his estranged son-in-law told a federal court jury yesterday during a second day of unrelenting cross-examination. For the full story, go to the Philadelphia Inquirer .

A North Harmony, New York, man is in jail after allegedly threatening to kill a woman with a chain saw. Chautauqua County Sheriff's Deputies say they responded to a domestic incident on Open Meadows Road at 3:20 this morning and found 39-year-old Rodney Austin and the woman he allegedly threatened to kill. She says the chain saw was running in the house when he made the alleged threat. Austin has been charged with menacing and reckless endangerment.

No, this is not the reminder about turning your clocks back. That'll come later. This reminder is about a holiday. Thanksgiving. For those of you who don't remember, Thanksgiving is the American holiday that come in between Halloween and Christmas. Some of you may be saying? "Huh? What's this reminder all about?" Well, as I was driving home at about 10:30 last night, the people who had their Halloween decorations up on Labor Day, were in the process of putting up their Christmas decorations. As I was driving to work this morning, I saw two more houses with Christmas lights on. I have no problem with putting up Christmas decorations in October or November. After all, you just don't know what the weather's going to be like later. But just because they're up, doesn't mean you have to light them. So, one more reminder: Thanksgiving. It's a great holiday. Let's not forget about it.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of fans showered the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies with brotherly love and confetti on Friday, climbing trees and ladders, hanging out of windows and packing sidewalks, balconies and rooftops to honor the team that ended the city's 25-year title drought. Left fielder Pat Burrell led the confetti-filled parade, riding on a horse-drawn beer wagon and pumping his fists in the air. Next came eight flatbed trucks filled with waving players and other members of the Phillies organization, including the furry green Phanatic mascot. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

The students at School Street Elementary concluded their Halloween festivities Friday with a pie-eating contest and a sense of pride and satisfaction from giving back to their community. For the second year, the fifth-graders brought in donations for a read-a-thon, and the entire student body voted in a “favorite baby picture” contest which featured all of the staff. All of the donations benefited three local organizations of the student service league’s choice, with the United Way receiving more than $1,000. “What an absolutely wonderful way to conclude the week,” says Mandi Wilton Davis, Assistant Director. “The pie-eating contest featured Principal Sarah Tingley, the three teachers who won the photo contest, as well as a student drawn at random, and it was a blast!” Although no person was chosen as winner of the pie-eating contest, fifth-grade teacher Keri Baldwin emphasized that the student body, as well as the organizations which received the donations, were the true winners...

Two Missouri men have been arrested for killing a black bear that had been feeding at a Dumpster outside the Ho-Sta-Geh Restaurant. State Department of Environmental Conservation officers found the men dragging the carcass out of a wooded area near the restaurant. 40-year-old Carl Brown and 65-year-old David Shimamoto were charged with a variety of offenses. Brown is free on bail Shimamoto was released on his own recognizance. They're scheduled to appear in Allegany Town Court on November 24.

Zippo has laid off another 46 employees, and will also be implementing a staggered four-day work week at both the Congress Street plant and downtown headquarters. They say this is in response to the volatile business conditions in this country and around the world, and is temporary. The staggered work week goes into effect Monday and will end as soon as possible early next year. During this period, Zippo offices will continue to be open during regular business hours. Zippo also has announced the layoff of 46 production employees, effective today. In addition, Zippo has extended annual holiday breaks, which will affect most employees at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Zippo’s President and CEO, Greg Booth, explained that current market factors beyond the company’s control have forced the company to make these changes. In a statement to employees, Booth explained, “Zippo strongly regrets these layoffs; however, the company must make these adjustments in order to be competitive in today’...

BRADFORD, Pa – Grammy award-winning classical musician Sharon Isbin, whose recordings include the soundtrack to Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award-winning film “The Departed,” will perform on Nov. 8 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Hailed as “the preeminent guitarist of our time” by Boston Magazine, Isbin will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. in Bromeley Family Theater of Blaisdell Hall as part of the university's Spectrum Series. Admission is $14 for the public and free to students. Isbin has collaborated with many personalities of our time, from Muhammad Ali and Bernie Williams to Melissa Etheridge and Yo-Yo Ma and played for the memorial held at Ground Zero on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In 2003, she premiered the “Joan Baez Suite,” a seven-movement solo guitar work featuring songs from early in Baez’s folk-singing career written exclusively for Isbin. In 2005, she earned a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Classical Album for her recording with the ...

After completing a multi-phase renovation and expansion of its Emergency Department to enhance customer service, officials at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) are announcing another process improvement change. According to George E. Leonhardt, BRMC President/CEO, the hospital has signed an agreement with Exigence Group of Williamsville, NY, to oversee the management of its Emergency Department. The department operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. "As a final piece of the plan to provide the most efficient services to our patients, we chose a company with a proven track record of success in this field," Mr. Leonhardt explained. Dr. John Radford, FAAEM, of Exigence has been named Medical Director for the department and Sami Manirath, Esq., of Exigence will serve as Practice Manager. The company, a national healthcare management organization, has been working with existing medical staff in the department to offer employment contracts. Previously, physicians and nurse...

HARRISBURG – First Lady of Pennsylvania Judge Marjorie O. Rendell today congratulated five Fox Chapel Area High School students from Allegheny County for their video that won the grand prize in an online contest designed to highlight the importance of civic engagement through voting. The video, “Voter vs. Non-Voter,” is a spoof of the Apple vs. PC commercials. It depicts two high school-aged students discussing the important issues facing the nation and the convenient access to answers on voting questions through the Department of State’s VotesPA.com Web site. The winning entry was produced and submitted by Thanh Doan, Alexander Radkoff and Charles Wei of Ohara Township; Akansh Murthy of Aspinwall Township; and Anders Bergren of Fox Chapel Township. All students are seniors. “These students are to be commended for their creativity in taking a concept that is widely recognized and using it to convey the opportunity before young voters to help shape the future of this country at a time w...

On Election Day, Pennsylvanians will be asked to vote yes or no to a $400 million bond issue which would fund the reconstruction, rehabilitation and improvement of the state’s water and sewer systems and help reduce pollution in local waterways. Senator Ray Musto is the sponsor of legislation placing the issue on the Nov. 4 ballot. "These funds will help alleviate the necessity of raising local fees or taxes to pay for the upgrades," Musto says. "In many communities the federal government has mandated improvements leaving local governments with no choice." The funds, which will be distributed through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), will help municipalities with the following: 1. Collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater, including industrial waste; 2. Supply, treatment and storage or distribution of drinking water; 3. Control and elimination of combined sewer overflows, such as discharge from a sewer that combines sanitary was...

A Sheffield teenager charged with brutally assaulting an elderly woman has pleaded guilty. 18-year-old Jeremy Hoden broke into the home of 77-year-old Irene Rice in August of last year and repeatedly hit her in the head with a blunt object. He then stole cash and her car and fled to Florida. He could spend more than 50 years in jail, depending on whether the judge imposes the sentences to run consecutively or concurrently. Hoden has already been sentenced to two concurrent terms of three years in Florida state prison for assaulting a police officer and fleeing from police. A sentencing date in Warren County hasn't been scheduled yet.

Two men charged with detonating pipe bombs in Warren have entered pleas. 29-year-old Edward Thornton of Warren pleaded no contest to reckless endangerment for helping to dentonate an explosive device at Point Park. 23-year-old Justin Steinman of Warren, who police identified as the primary suspect in the manufacturing of at least five pipe bombs, pleaded not guilty to criminal conspiracy to possess weapons of mass destruction, causing or risking a catastrophe and related charges. 40-year-old Ricky Barr of Warren waived his hearing on similar charges. A fourth defendant, 28-year-old Robert Edwards didn't appear for his arraignment, and a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.

By George Nianiatus, senior writer Communications Department Pastor Brad Preston of the Sawyer Evangelical Church in Bradford could no longer ignore his symptoms of extreme exhaustion. When too tired to stand, he simply had to give sermons from a bench. It was nearly two years ago when the pastor was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, which requires daily insulin to control his blood-glucose level. In fact, Pastor Preston has an insulin pump which dispenses his insulin throughout the day, depending on varying needs. But he learned how to properly operate the insulin pump, input data so it could calculate when to administer the next dosage and better manage his diet and nutrition through vital education from the Center for Diabetes & Nutrition Education at 222 W. Washington St., which is a department of Bradford Regional Medical Center. “I couldn’t function with this pump or this disease unless I got the help I did from the Center for Diabetes,” Pastor Preston admits. “Every person dia...

State police are looking into allegations that a clown harassed a teenager during a Halloween event. The alleged incident happened October 24 at a Halloween-themed attraction at Conneaut Lake Park featuring eight levels of fear that organizers promised would be scary enough to change your life forever. Clown Town featured maniacal clowns, some of whom carried chain saws, and one of whom allegedly harassed the teenager. Police did not release the suspect clown's name. No charges have been filed.

National Fuel Gas is expected to lower the price for natural gas by 10 percent starting tomorrow. Nancy Taylor of National Fuel says that in August the company had projected rates they would pay for this winter would be about 38 percent higher than last year, but their purchase price has come down. She says the decrease is a direct result of lower wellhead prices plus lower projected costs for natural gas as compared to the costs that were projected as recently as September.

Police in Chautauqua County are looking for another missing person. 54-year-old Steven Gehret of Ellicott was last seen leaving Lakeshore Savings Bank in Jamestown at around 11 a.m. Wednesday. Gehret left his house in the morning driving his pickup truck, but is reportedly driving a 1995 blue Geo Prism. Neighbors say they heard the Prism leave during the day but no one actually saw Gehret. He didn't show up for work on Thursday and there has been no activity on his cell phone. Gehret is described as 6 feet, 2 inches tall, approximately 200 pounds with salt and pepper brown hair, a medium length mustache and blue eyes.

Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested six Internet predators from across Pennsylvania during the past week, including suspects from Fayette, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties. The men are accused of using the Internet to sexually proposition children, or transmitting sexually graphic photos and webcam videos. The “children” were actually undercover agents using the online profiles of young teens. Corbett identified the defendants as: · Dennis C. Brossman, 50, 411 Weidman St., Lebanon. · Robert William Lohr, 40, 379 Canaan Church Road, Gibbon Glade, Fayette County. · Timothy Eric Shorkey, 33, 80 Fawn Road, East Stroudsburg, Monroe County. · Theodore Patrick Malinowski II, 34, 66 Spring Road, Dingmans Ferry, Pike County. · Glenn Larry Quail, 39, 3 Whirling Post Lane, White Mills, Wayne County. · John H. Hettes, 53, 643 Bodle Road, Wyoming, Luzerne County. “Movies and television are filled wit...

For Trick-or-Treating Times go to our Regional Events Calendar

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Rutherford Run in the vicinity of Baker-Petrolite is still down to one lane of traffic, but no one was hurt and there was very little, if any, environmental damage during a hazardous material spill this morning. Bradford Township Fire Chief Dan Burkhouse says the building at 40 Rutherford Run will have to be monitored for 24 to 48 hours to make sure the chemical – acrolein – is stabilized. Burkhouse says the building at 40 Rutherford Run had already been evacuated when firefighters arrived on the scene at around 11 a.m. He says they knew they were "in for a lengthy incident" when they surveyed the situation. He says the first thing they did was secure the area. Then, because of "the possible severity of the incident," they called other agencies to respond. McKean County Emergency Management Director Bruce Manning arrived at 11:23 a.m. The Port Allegany Volunteer Fire Department Decontamination Team arrived at 12:10 p.m. The ...

SCRANTON – An attorney with the state Office of Attorney General was charged Friday with drunken driving and other offenses after police said he crashed his car and then became belligerent with officers and hospital staff. Police said James P. Kearney, 56, of Misty Lane, Clarks Summit, became combative when officers attempted to arrest him after he crashed his 2009 Hyundai Sonata on North Keyser Avenue at around 12:49 a.m. Friday. Upon telling Kearney he was under arrest, he became extremely disorderly and combative and repeatedly threatened the officers, telling them “you don’t know who I am” and that he would “have your jobs.” He also threatened to kill the officers, and challenged one officer to a fight. For the full story, go to Times Leader.com .

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state judge Thursday effectively allowed counties to let voters wear partisan attire to the polls and refused to clamp down on the voter registration group ACORN as the state Republican Party had sought. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

Two wind power companies under investigation for possible improper dealings with government officials have agreed morning to adopt a set of ethics principles designed to provide a level of transparency into the expanding alternative energy sector. The agreement between the companies does not close the investigation started this summer by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo is looking into possibly shaky deals offered by the companies to local government officials in return for land-use agreements for placement of the controversial wind turbines. The code of conduct principles was signed by Massachusetts-based First Wind, and Connecticut-based Noble Environmental Power, which has five wind farms under development in Allegany, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Clinton and Franklin counties.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Happy 200th Birthday, Honest Abe! The nation is preparing to throw you a party. The celebration will be focused in the nation's capital, where museums, theaters and other attractions announced plans Thursday for more than 80 exhibits and programs in the coming months to celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

Police have found the van belonging to a missing mother from Ashville a short distance from her home. Police found the empty 2005 Blue Dodge Caravan belonging to Corrie Anderson in a wooded area south of Jamestown. There was no sign of Anderson. The 36-year-old woman was last seen at a car dealership in Jamestown Tuesday afternoon.

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — This blue-collar town is known mostly as the birthplace of Little League baseball, but it turned into an epicenter for vice presidential politics for one crisp, fall afternoon. The Democratic and Republican vice presidential candidates were holding campaign rallies Thursday just a couple hours, and several miles, apart in this often-overlooked area of Pennsylvania, one of the most hotly contested battleground states in the nation. "It's a big deal. I even kept my kids out of school to bring them here," said William Shannon, 41, of Cogan Station, as he waited outside the late-afternoon rally for Democratic candidate Joe Biden at a gym at Lycoming College. "Kind of open their eyes to the world, of what the big picture is." A couple hours later, Republican Sarah Palin was slated to give her own speech at Bowman Field, an old, minor-league ballpark. For the full story, go to pennlive.com . From the AP story on Palin's visit to Erie: Pali...

Two Corry teenagers are in the Chautauqua County Jail after allegedly breaking into a condominium at the Peek 'n' Peak ski resort and stealing $11,000 worth of items, including large-screen TVs, bedding and snowboards. 19-year-old Christopher Gibbons and 17-year-old Ryan Butcher allegedly broke into the condo on October 19 and were charged earlier today. Sheriff's deputies received a tip saying the stolen items had been taken to Corry. Corry police searched two homes and found the items. Gibbons and Butcher have each been charged with felony burglary and grand larceny. They're being held on $20,000 bond each.

HARRISBURG – With the national economic crisis continuing to affect state revenue collections, Gov. Edward G. Rendell said today that his administration has identified $350 million in cuts to help keep the 2008-09 budget balanced while preserving crucial services. “I asked my cabinet secretaries last month to find ways to save $200 million this fiscal year,” the Governor said. “They have responded by identifying $289 million in savings in their agencies. They have also followed my directive to preserve critical spending, including funding for state police protection and much-needed health, education and safety net programs for our most vulnerable citizens. “The revenue situation may get worse before it gets better. We will continue to monitor these volatile economic conditions in order to maintain the commonwealth’s balanced budget.” Governor Rendell said. “Any dire predictions about next year’s potential budget shortfall are premature and counterproductive. We need to focus on the sp...

MAYVILLE, NY -- Effective October 31, procedures at the Gerace Office Building and the Chautauqua County Court building in Mayville will be changed, in response to orders from the NYS Office of Court Administration. Starting Friday, the public will be required to enter either building through a new, secure entrance located off the parking lot which can be accessed from New York State Route 394. Residents will longer be able to access the GOB through any of its other side-entrances, or the County Court building through its main doorway. The New York State Office of Court Administration has been the lead agency in the construction of the new entrance, which houses state of the art screening devices and security cameras. These changes designed in 2005 were implemented to better protect Court personnel. If residents have any questions concerning the new, main entrance, they are asked to call Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Lori Holder at 753-4668.

Civil War historian Chris Mackowski, a professor in St. Bonaventure’s Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has co-authored a 16,000-word article for the spring issue of Blue & Gray magazine. The Eldred, Pa., native wrote about the May 1864 horror at the Bloody Angle, one of the deadliest battles during the Battle of Spotsylvania in central Virginia. For nearly 24 hours, soldiers from north and south engaged in savage close-quarters and hand-to-hand combat. The article’s publication in spring 2009 marks the 145th anniversary of the battle. The magazine comes out quarterly, with each issue focusing on one major battle as its main theme. “Unlike most magazines, which have a one-month shelf life, Blue & Gray designs itself so each issue stands as a long-term reference piece,” Mackowski said. “So, while it might be on newsstands for a month or two, issues of the magazine will sell for years into the future through the company’s Web site, Civil War shops and the like....

A 26-year-old Belfast, New York, man died when his vehicle went out of control on a snow-covered road in Rushford Wednesday morning. Police say Donald Sadler was on Route 243 when the vehicle rolled over several times and hit a guard rail. Sadler was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers were treated at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville.

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania State Police have filed criminal charges against a former Cumberland County Commissioner, who is accused of using hidden surveillance throughout his home to videotape sexual encounters with young men. Corbett identified the defendant as Bruce Barclay, 49, 253 Brindle Road, Mechanicsburg. Barclay served as Cumberland County Commissioner from January 2004 to April 2008. According to the criminal complaint Barclay was accused of raping a 20 year-old male on March 31, 2008 at his Monroe Township home. State Police filed criminal charges against the accuser in April accusing him of making false reports to police concerning the incident. At that time, police executed a search warrant at Barclay's Cumberland County home and seized video surveillance footage, cameras and computer equipment. The criminal complaint states that Barclay had hidden surveillance cameras located in various locations throughout his reside...

Emergency crews were called to a hazardous materials spill at Baker-Petrolite on Rutherford Run at 10:50 this morning, and police are asking that everyone avoid the Rutherford Run area. Reportedly, about 370 gallons of a hazardous material leaked or spilled. Bradford Township firefighters are on the scene. Once again, Bradford Township Police are asking that everyone avoid the Rutherford Run area driving and walking. We'll have more information as it becomes available.

HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today congratulated the Philadelphia Phillies on winning the 104th World Series, the team’s first world championship in 28 years. “I’m thrilled for what this team has achieved. Nobody believed in them at the beginning of the year. What they accomplished is a great tribute to Charlie Manuel, the coaches, players and the Phillies’ ownership,” Governor Rendell said. “As Brad Lidge got ready to throw the last pitch to Eric Hinske, I couldn’t help thinking of Tug McGraw striking out Willie Wilson 28 years ago. The feeling was every bit as great now as it was then.”

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced the arrest of a former Bucks County Assistant District Attorney for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a minor, along with providing alcohol to and smoking marijuana with the victim and two other juveniles. Corbett identified the defendant as Anthony Cappuccio, 31, 16 Country Road, Perkasie. Cappuccio was a Bucks County Assistant District Attorney until his resignation from the position on Sept. 6, 2008. According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began on Sept 5, 2008, when Richland Township Police officers discovered Cappuccio and a 17-year-old male, both partially-dressed, inside a vehicle at a shopping center located at 225 N. West End Blvd., Quakertown. Corbett said that as a youth leader at the First United Methodist Church in Perkasie, Cappuccio allegedly took the three juveniles to various concerts in the area starting back in 2005, smoked marijuana with two of the juveniles and provided all ...

Time-Warner customers can once again see new episodes of "Two and A Half Men" and "The Amazing Race" -- not to mention Sunday's Bills game. Read about the agreement between Time-Warner and LIN Television HERE . But, remember, although you can watch the game on WIVB-TV, you can listen on 100.1 The HERO. That way you still get to hear Murph and The Gang.

The McCain campaign volunteer accused of making up a story about being assaulted in Pittsburgh by a man who disliked her McCain bumper sticker will enter a program for first-time offenders. Twenty-year-old Ashley Todd of College Station, Texas, will also be required to undergo mental health treatment. Todd has been jailed since Friday, when police say she admitted making up a story about being robbed near a Pittsburgh bank and then assaulted a man who scraped a backward letter "B" into her cheek. Todd couldn't explain why she invented the story.

A Buffalo couple has been charged with stealing 20 steaks and a bag of chicken wings from a supermarket. Police found 57-year-old Julius Marable and 39-year-old Rhonda Smith in a house a short time after the robbery. Police recovered the steaks inside a washing machine and the chicken wings inside Smith's purse. Marable and Smith were both charged with first-degree robbery. Smith was also charged with possession of a steak knife allegedly used in threatening a cashier at the supermarket.

I think it's really great that the AAA Fuel Gauge Report (from Pittsburgh) tells us how much we're paying for gas up here, but I prefer to actually go outside and look at the signs at the pumps. This was Wednesday afternoon at Tops.

The American Chestnut Foundation has confirmed that trees found near the Rimrock Overlook in the Allegheny National Forest are American chestnuts with no sign of blight. Samples were collected during a hike in which hikers found more than 30 America chestnut trees. Twigs, burrs and seeds were sent to the foundation for confirmation. Healthy, mature American chestnut trees are extremely rare in the eastern United States since a blight introduced early in the 20th century virtually wiped them out.

The Brockway man involved in an accident that severely injured a Bradford woman and killed her two sisters is scheduled to appear in court on November 10. 33-year-old Eric Patrick Veltri is charged with third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle and homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, among other offenses. 29-year-old Connie Bailey of Brockway and 39-year-old Karen Peters of Newark, Delaware, died in the March accident. Delora Burrow-Bradish was severely injured. The accident happened on Route 219 in Jefferson County when Veltri's truck crossed the centerline and hit Bradish's car head-on.

A Resolution recognizing the members and sponsors of the Aktion Club of Bradford as the newest service club in Bradford has been introduced in the State House by Rep. Marty Causer. House Resolution 948, Session 2008 .

HARRISBURG - In announcing the most recent results of its ongoing investigation into an alleged mountain lion attack on Oct. 9, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced tests conducted on a knife allegedly used by Samuel Fisher, 42, of Sadsbury Township, Lancaster County, were positive for human blood. The tests were conducted by East Stroudsburg University in Monroe County. On Oct. 20, the Game Commission announced that tests conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab determined that samples collected from multiple sites the scene of the alleged attack tested negative for blood. Further tests are being conducted by the State Police Crime Lab to determine what the substance is. Game Commission officials were called to an area of Mount Pleasant Road, when Fisher alleged to have shot one large cat and then was attacked and injured by a second large cat on Oct. 9. A Pennsylvania State Police helicopter was brought into the area to search for the presence of the...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In what's fast becoming a family, political and legal drama in a Philadelphia courtroom, the estranged son-in-law of indicted state Sen. Vincent Fumo endured heated questioning Wednesday from Fumo's lawyer. Fumo, 65, is charged in a 139-count federal indictment with defrauding the state Senate and others of more than $3.5 million, and then trying to systematically destroy e-mail evidence. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania election officials must make paper ballots available to voters if half the machines at a polling place break down, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. The state has previously required that paper ballots only be offered if all the machines break down, but several voter groups filed a lawsuit last week in which they said long lines at the polls could disenfranchise voters. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

Local dentist Dr. Kurt Laemmer wants to offer children in the community an opportunity to sell their Halloween candy -- and not just for the money. There's a patriotic twist. Laemmer is allowing children ages 12 and younger to bring their Halloween candy to his office at 197 Interstate Parkway from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. November 1. They receive one gold Washington dollar coin for every pound they bring in (maximum of 5 pounds per child). The dollar coins are available until Laemmer collects 300 pounds of candy. Once all the candy is collected, it will be packaged and shipped to local soldiers who are stationed overseas so they can have "a taste of home." Laemmer says his motivation came from his affiliation with an online organization of more than 1,000 dentists around the world. Dr. Chris Kammer came up with the concept. Laemmer says not only will children be consuming less candy and, in turn, saving their teeth from possible decay, the children will be showing local soldier...

Longtime University of Pittsburgh at Bradford supporter Harriett B. Wick has made a $500,000 donation to the proposed interfaith chapel on campus in honor of her grandson, Michael Quinn Wick, who died in a 2005 automobile accident. The sanctuary of the chapel will be named in honor of Michael Wick and will be a nearly all-glass room with a ceiling that will sweep upward. Michael Wick was an artist and taxidermist who graduated from Bradford Central Christian High School in 1991. He attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and graduated from the Pennsylvania Institute of Taxidermy in Ebensburg in 2000. He owned and operated Artistic Outdoors Taxidermy Shop and was an accomplished outdoorsman, receiving many awards and trophies for both saltwater and freshwater tournaments. In May, anonymous donors made a $1 million gift toward the construction of the $2.5 million chapel in honor of Harriett Wick. Albert Filoni president of MacL...

President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate, Joseph B. Scarnati III, today endorsed the candidacy of Glenn Thompson for the Fifth Congressional District. Scarnati, who represents eight of the 17 counties that comprise the Fifth District, issued the following statement: "As we come down the home stretch of this campaign season, I am proud to support and endorse Glenn Thompson's candidacy as our next representative in Congress. Glenn has a keen understanding of the challenges facing Rural Pennsylvania and offers solutions that are pragmatic and will be effective in solving the issues that are important to us. "As a healthcare professional, Glenn brings 27 years of experience to the table and will work to reform Medicare and Medicaid - as opposed to increased regulation, which has been all too prevalent in Washington these days. With an aging population, now more than ever before, Glenn's expertise in healthcare is needed in Washington so that older Pennsylva...

A Warren man charged with assaulting a woman during a break-in at the Warren Eagles Club has changed his mind again. 27-year-old Jason Lee Wilson has entered guilty pleas in connection with the assault and break-in and his escape from the Warren County Courthouse. Last week, when he was scheduled to enter a plea, he changed his mind and said he wanted to go to trial, but then he changed his mind again and entered pleas to aggravated assault with extreme indifference, criminal trespass and escape. On July 16, after breaking into the Eagles Club, Wilson punched and choked a woman until she was unconscious. A month later, Wilson ran from the courtroom during a bail hearing and was tackled in a yard across from the courthouse by a Warren County sheriff's deputy.

A marijuana ring, which operated in Luzerne County for at least four to five years, was broken-up today by agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI). Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as "Operation Bad News," began in 2006 and focused on Robert Francis Bovolick, 27, 154 Sharpe St., Kingston, who allegedly sold large quantities of marijuana and purchased numerous assets with the proceeds of his illegal enterprise. Evidence and testimony regarding the alleged drug activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today. According to the grand jury, Bovolick was a known high-grade marijuana dealer in the Wilkes-Barre area since at least 2002 and had numerous customers and individuals who sold his marijuana on the streets for profit. Corbett said that Bovolick had a number of contacts in Philadelphia, who he relied on to supply him with enough marijuana t...

New York State Police are investigating the disappearance of Corrie L. Anderson of Ashville, NY. Anderson was last seen yesterday afternoon leaving Lake County Dodge in Jamestown. They say she didn't pick up her child from school, which is very unusual. She was last seen driving a blue, 2005 Dodge Caravan, which has not been located. Corrie Anderson is 36 years old, 5'11", 170 lbs, with green eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen wearing black corduroy pants, a black leather jacket and small wire rimmed glasses. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact New York State Police.