Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

HARRISBURG –Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that he was reinstating protection on feral swine in Bradford, Bedford, Fulton, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties in an effort to facilitate trapping by individuals permitted by the agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under the executive order, issued in May of 2008, protection remains lifted on feral swine in the remaining 64 counties. “Trapping is the most effective way to remove feral swine from the wild, because it limits their dispersal into new areas,” Roe said. “If funding is not available for trapping, we may consider lifting protection in these counties as well. “The Game Commission has determined that the eradication of feral swine from Pennsylvania is necessary to prevent further harm to public and private property, threats to native wildlife and disease risks for wildlife and the state’s pork industry. We are not seeking to establish a hunting season, but we are committed t...

Attorney General Tom Corbett announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have arrested an upstate New York man accused of using the Internet to send sexually explicit webcam videos to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl from suburban Philadelphia. The "girl" was actually an undercover agent who was using the online profile of a young girl. Corbett identified the defendant as Richard Lynn Alred, 45, 603 Hillingdon Way, Horseheads, NY. Corbett said that Alred, a technician for a fire equipment company, allegedly used preteen Internet chat rooms to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit. During these initial chats, Alred allegedly used several different screen names and posed as teenage boys. According to the criminal complaint, Alred repeatedly asked the undercover agents to send him nude photos, commenting, "I would love to see you with your shirt off and your bra off." At one point Alred allegedly offered to gi...

HARRISBURG - The Rendell administration is doing a poor job of tracking which of its employees are assigned state cars and why, and whether those vehicles are being used and maintained properly. Those findings are contained in a report issued yesterday by Auditor General Jack Wagner's office. Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson) called Wagner's audit "jaw-dropping" and said it indicated that General Services "was unable to ensure the responsible use of taxpayer money." For the full story, go to philly.com . Scarnati, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9), and Senator Mike Folmer (R-48) commented on the release of Auditor General Jack Wagner's Special Report on the administration's use and management of state vehicles PDF. Scarnati: "When we first asked Auditor General Wagner to examine the use of state vehicles in March of last year, we had no idea how deep and wide the problems were. This report is simply jaw-droppi...

Former Clearfield resident David Hoy of Brooklyn, N.Y., was asked to do a job that no one else has ever done before - retrieve an intact airliner from the Hudson River. For the full story, go to The (Clearfield) Progress .

To see video of last night's rally at Heinz Field, click HERE .

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Buffalo man has undergone brain surgery and is in critical condition after police say he was struck by a city plow. Investigators say the driver of that plow was drunk.

Round 7 chess league action at School Street Elementary on Wednesday, January 21 saw more upsets in both divisions. Kyle Wedge, a member of Smith’s Watch & Clock Repair Team, defeated his older brother to help clinch the win for his team against the Northwest Savings Bank Team. Tasta Pizza gobbled up Drs. Rhinehart Team and moved into second place—only one point away from the top slot. Team Edmond Chevrolet lost a close match against the Hamlin Bank Team. The Domino’s Pizza Team held Lang Surveying Team to a draw. In the JV division, only Leah Swineford, captain for Tasta Pizza, and Mitchell Forbes, captain for Hamlin Bank, remain undefeated. In the varsity section, Team Dr. Gonzalez crushed Parkview Super Market Team when Bob Ferguson blundered a won game to Ray Nelling. Bradford Window Co. Team drew its match against the Ed Shults Toyota Team to maintain second place. The Dr. Laroche Team drew with Dexter’s Service Center Team. Smith’s Fine Jewelry won a convincing victory ove...

The Bradford City Water Authority is asking businesses and residents throughout the Tuna Valley for help in removing snow from around fire hydrants. Persistent snowfall has blocked or buried fire hydrants, despite the ongoing efforts of the Water Authority and others to keep them clear. More than 600 fire hydrants serve the area.

Figurative pieces, documentary work and miniature objects by photographer Ward Roe will be featured in an art exhibition starting Jan. 30 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The People, Places, Things: Photography Exhibition, showcased through Feb. 27 at the KOA Art Gallery in Blaisdell Hall, is a part of the University’s Spectrum Series. The exhibition will open with a talk by Roe from noon to 12:30 p.m. in the Webb/Bradford Forest Rehearsal Hall in Blaisdell Hall. A reception will follow in the KOA Speer Electronics Lobby in Blaisdell Hall. More than 40 photographs in the exhibit will feature landscapes, iconography, pop culture and the human figure. “These photographic works reveal not only a broad and diverse range of subject matters, but also the moments lost in time,” said Kong Ho, associate professor of art at Pitt-Bradford. “Most of his black-and-white photographs shown in this exhibition carry a sense of uneasy feeling with sad comedic implication.” Ward described his...

Two people were hurt in a three-vehicle crash that closed down Route 255 in Jay Township for several hours this afternoon. Police say a car driven by 78-year-old Mary Youngmark of Byrnedale was coming out of a driveway when it pulled into the path of an S-U-V driven by 74-year-old Chauncey Logue of Emporium. When Logue tried to avoid that collision, he hit a tractor-trailer head-on. The tractor-trailer traveled off the road, where it hit a utility pole and mailboxes before coming to rest in a yard. Logue and his passenger, 66-year-old Dorothy Logue suffered unspecified injuries. Youngmark and the driver of the tractor-trailer, 32-year-old Anthony Miller of Middle Berry, Indiana, weren't hurt. The tractor-trailer and SUV had to be towed from the scene. Police say charges will be filed against Youngmark.

Kim Murphey, CARE for Children community relations coordinator, Leah Burke, clerk typist and Debbie Olsen, RN from the PA Department of Health, and Erica Soble, CARE for Children, special instructor for birth to three early intervention program, look over one of twenty portable cribs that were part of a grant Safe Kids McKean received from Safe Kids Pennsylvania. Safe Kids McKean is working with Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Cribs for Kids program to distribute the portable cribs to families in need in McKean County. Cribs for Kids provides families with low incomes a portable crib to promote safe sleep environments for infants. To be eligible for a crib the family must: reside in McKean County; family income must meet WIC guidelines; the child must be under one year of age; and be referred to the program by a social services agency. The effort is part of the Back to Sleep Campaign which promotes providing safe sleep environments for babies and the recommendation of placin...

The Pennsylvania Statewide Automatic Victim Information Notification System is now available to residents of McKean County who have been victims of a crime. The program will notify victims who have registered about changes in the status of the person who committed a crime against them. Information available to victims includes release, transfer or escape from prison; placement on work release; posting of bail; getting admitted to a hospital; and death. Notifications are made with a phone call or email. People can register online at pacrimevictims.state.pa.us or by calling 1-866-9PA-SAVIN. Listen to the comments of McKean County District Attorney John Pavlock HERE .

Ohio's Youngstown State University is practically eliminating its out-of-state tuition surcharge for students from eight counties in Pennsylvania. The school says the out-of-state surcharge will be dropped from $2,692 per academic year to $200 per year. The standard tuition is $6,921 per year. The tuition break will be available to residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, Mercer and Venango counties, which currently have about 650 students enrolled in the university. The reduction goes into effect next fall.

MEADVILLE – Butler County Court of Common Pleas has ordered Victor Kennedy, the owner of Kennedy Mobile Home Park in Marion Township, Butler County, to close the property by Jan. 31. “The mobile home park’s wastewater treatment plant has discharged inadequately treated sewage for a number of years into an unnamed tributary of McMurray Run in the Slippery Rock Creek watershed,” said Department of Environmental Protection Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch. “The department initiated a number of enforcement actions and attempted to work with Mr. Kennedy after attempts to encourage voluntary compliance failed.” In March 2008, DEP ordered Kennedy to close the wastewater treatment plant by August. Kennedy appealed the order and initially did not comply with it. DEP pursued additional judicial remedies that ultimately resulted in a consent decree—signed by the department, Kennedy and the Butler County Court of Common Pleas—that includes closing the mobile home park by the end of the mont...

Joseph Bruno, the former New York State Senate majority leader, has been arraigned on federal public corruption charges. The indictment says Bruno used his office to defraud the people of New York from 1993 through at least 2006. He pleaded not guilty, was released on his own recognizance, and is expected to comment later today. If convicted, Bruno faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

HARRISBURG -- As college students face mounting debt, state education officials yesterday proposed a new kind of higher-education institution that would offer a "low-cost, no frills" bachelor's degree. The schools would have no sports teams, no extracurriculars, no glittering fitness center and no plum dorm rooms. For the full story, go to philly.com

The road re-opened at 3:56 p.m. ~~~ Route 255 in Jay Township near Caledonia Road is closed because of a traffic crash and road conditions. State police say they will update the media when the road reopens, and will provide more information about the accident as soon as its available.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Black and gold. It decorates Pittsburgh's hilly neighborhoods and adorns the city's flag. Steelers fans in Heinz Stadium turn winter days brighter with black and gold Terrible Towels. And in a national oddity, all three of Pittsburgh's sports teams use the colors. For the full story, go to pennlive.com

ALBANY, N.Y. - New York Gov. David Paterson on Friday chose second-term Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate after Caroline Kennedy abruptly withdrew from consideration. Gillibrand, a lawmaker from upstate New York, will fill the seat vacated when Clinton resigned to become secretary of state in the Obama administration. For more, go to MSNBC

JOHNSON CITY - Anthony J. Carnevale III was arraigned on a murder charge Thursday in the intensive care unit at Wilson Regional Medical Center, where he is being treated for gunshot wounds. Carnevale, 21, of Gorman Road, Kirkwood, killed Jean Clark, 39, of Parsons, Pa., and shot a man during a drug-related home invasion Tuesday night in the Town of Windsor, according to state police. He was wounded when his own gun was turned on him, police said. For more, go to the Press & Sun-Bulletin .

HARRISBURG -Applications are now available for the 2009-10 Pennsylvania House of Representatives' Scholarship Program. Pennsylvania high school seniors are being urged to apply by Wednesday, April 1, Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) announced today. Applicants must have a 3.0 grade point average to apply and will be evaluated on leadership qualities, commitment to their community, extra-curricular activities and financial need. Additionally, applicants are required to write an essay based on the following statement: "On January 1, 2009, Pennsylvania's new open records law took effect, bringing greater transparency to government at all levels in the Commonwealth. Openness in government is key to democracy and it is expected that the effect of the new law will be widely felt. Discuss the impact and substance of this law favoring broader public access to public records." The scholarship can be renewed for each of four years of college and is the value of one semester ...

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Tom Corbett today cautioned consumers to be wary of potential scams surrounding the upcoming Super Bowl, including bogus sweepstakes offers, "too good to be true" travel packages or game-day ticket offers. "The excitement surrounding another Super Bowl trip for the Pittsburgh Steelers may cause some fans to act quickly, without carefully reviewing all the details of a ticket offer or travel promotion,” Corbett said. “Scam artists are counting on the fact that enthusiastic fans may not be as attentive as they should be." Corbett said the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection has received complaints about bogus Super Bowl contest notifications recently sent to Pennsylvania residents. “The scam letter, which implies that the contest is affiliated with the NFL and VISA, informs consumers that they have won a prize of $100,000 and two tickets to the Super Bowl,” Corbett said. “The letter also includes a check for several tho...

Applications to attend Penn State University are up. University president Graham Spanier says applications for enrollment are still coming in at a record pace, up more than 5 percent from last year across the Penn State system. Penn State has an enrollment of roughly 92,000 among its 24 campuses statewide as well as online students. Spanier says Penn State's financial status remains sound, though the school is taking steps to ensure a stable outlook. He reiterated that university employees will likely not get raises next academic year.

St. Bonaventure University has received an anonymous gift of $1 million from an alumnus to support entrepreneurial service learning. Received during the Christmas holiday, the leadership gift will endow service programs in the School of Business, specifically Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), and BonaResponds. “In this time of economic uncertainty, this tremendous gift illustrates the donor’s firm belief in the comprehensive service learning happening across our campus and the activities that benefit economies at the local, national and international level,” said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., president of the university. “I am especially pleased to announce this gift during St. Bonaventure’s sesquicentennial as service to others has been a hallmark of our University’s century-and-a-half existence. This gift allows our students to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of others.” The $1 million gift will provide annual supp...

More than 50 scientists and researchers with intimate knowledge of Pennsylvania¹s flora, fauna, and ecosystems have signed a letter to the state¹s Congressional delegation endorsing the Citizens¹ Wilderness Proposal for Pennsylvania¹s Allegheny National Forest. The Citizens¹ Wilderness Proposal, developed by volunteers from throughout Pennsylvania and advocated by Friends of Allegheny Wilderness (FAW), calls on Congress to designate as wilderness eight tracts totaling 54,460 acres on the 513,300-acre Allegheny National Forest (ANF). The ANF is Pennsylvania¹s only national forest. Wilderness designation under the federal Wilderness Act of 1964 is the highest level of protection that can be given federal lands, forever keeping them as natural areas free from road building, development, and motorized uses. In their letter to Congress, the scientists stated that designating the areas recommended in the Citizens¹ Wilderness Proposal "would help to improve the ecological health across t...

The National Park Service is now featuring a series of short videos on its Web site produced by a St. Bonaventure University journalism professor. Chris Mackowski, associate professor of journalism and mass communication, created the videos to help promote Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (FSNMP), a Civil War park in central Virginia. The videos appear on the park’s Web page. Two of the videos highlight the unique features of FSNMP, and two of the videos highlight the park’s internship program. A fifth video, also aimed at prospective interns, will appear later this month. “Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park is the second-largest military park in the world,” explained Mackowski. “The park encompasses four battlefields that span 18 months of the Civil War. We tried to capture, in just a few short minutes, a bit of the spirit of the park. Hopefully, people who watch the videos will be inspired to know more.” Mackowski worked with NPS historian ...

This is the new Steelers Super Bowl Fight Song:

For our HERO listeners who heard Igor tell this story, here it is, just so you know he wasn't making it up and truth can be stranger than fiction. HOUSTON — A Texas death row inmate with a history of mental problems pulled out his only good eye and told authorities he ate it. Andre Thomas, 25, was arrested for the fatal stabbings of his estranged wife, their young son and her 13-month-old daughter in March 2004. Their hearts also had been ripped out. For the full story, go to The Huffington Post .

A Pennsylvania dog groomer thought she had come up with the perfect sideline for her business: Piercing kittens' ears and necks and marketing them as "gothic" over the Internet. Holly Crawford, 34, says she didn't think she was doing anything wrong when she decided to pierce her black kittens and attempt to sell them for hundreds of dollars apiece. For the full story, go to the Lebanon Daily News .

Governor David Paterson wasn't going to pick Caroline Kennedy anyway. That's what a source close to the governor tells The Buffalo News a day after Kennedy removed herself from consideration for the US Senate seat vacated by now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says Paterson wasn’t going to pick Kennedy because of herlack of experience, and because she has a tax problem and a potential nanny problem. For the full story, go to The Buffalo News .

The video: The words to the song: Ryan Parker Songs The Sixburgh Shirt: The Pittsburgh Channel

Steelers fans are said to bleed black and gold. Now, the search is on to find the most die-hard fan in Steelers Nation. VisitPittsburgh is in search of the biggest Steelers fan in the country. Not in size, but in spirit. To this end, VisitPittsburgh is holding a "Biggest Steelers Fan" contest to determine just who is the biggest Steelers fan in Steeler Nation. "We know how passionate Steelers fans are and we know that there are Steelers fans all over the world," said Joseph McGrath, president and CEO of VisitPittsburgh. "We thought it would be fun to show the lengths that some fans will go to in order to demonstrate their devotion to the Steelers." Steelers' shrines in the yard? VisitPittsburgh wants to see photos of it. Children named Ben or Troy? VisitPittsburgh wants to hear about it. Steelers logo tattooed on your arm? Send us a picture. While photos can be wacky and wild, they must be tasteful and legal! E-mail your photos, stories or video link...

Governor Edward G. Rendell today named George E. Cornelius, the immediate past president and chief executive officer of Arkema Inc., as secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development. In his nearly 13 years with Arkema—the last four of which he held the top executive position—Cornelius led the company to double-digit growth in earnings, increased margins, and tens of millions of dollars in cost savings. “When George took the helm of Arkema, he applied a strong focus on outcomes and turned the chemical company into a competitive player in the Americas,” said the Governor. “George’s experience and track record as a CEO is stellar. While the improved financial condition of the company is evidence of George’s talent, he understood that in order for the bottom line to grow, the company had to function better at all levels. “George is also one of those great CEO’s who takes seriously his responsibility to be a civic leader. He was an active member of United Way of Southea...

Erie police say DNA tests have identified the body found in a burned home earlier this month as 42-year-old Robert Daniels – a man who repeatedly shot at police from the home before it caught on fire. Roads in nearby neighborhoods were closed, and the SWAT team and a state police helicopter were called in during a standoff on the morning of January 6. Roberts fired on police sporadically for about an hour. They found the body in the house later that day, but it was so badly burned that they couldn't identify it without the DNA tests.

Governor Ed Rendell today provided an update to Pennsylvania’s budget situation and discussed steps to address an anticipated $2.3 billion shortfall in the fiscal year ending June 30th. The governor said he will help to close the gap by using a larger portion of the anticipated federal stimulus package, and asking the General Assembly to give back to the state nearly $175 million that lawmakers are holding in surplus funds. Rendell said he will continue to monitor the budget and make strategic cuts as needed. He is expected to announce his budget plan for the 2009-10 fiscal year in early February

By Joe Kosack Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist Pennsylvania Game Commission SHINDLE, Mifflin County – Aware since 2008 that White-Nose Syndrome appeared to be making its way to the Keystone State, the Pennsylvania Game Commission now has evidence that the deadly bat disorder is likely present in a mine near this small community in the state’s heartland. Where else this may be occurring and the consequence to bats –a fragile guild of wildlife species – remains an unfolding story. In late December, DeeAnn Reeder, a biologist with Bucknell University, and Greg Turner, a biologist with the Game Commission’s Wildlife Diversity Section, found bats in an old Mifflin County iron mine that exhibited some of the signs of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), during field investigations into bat hibernation patterns that included weekly monitoring for the disorder’s presence in several Pennsylvania hibernacula. During this work, which had been ongoing for weeks, dozens of bats suddenly had a fungu...

By George Nianiatus, senior writer Communications Department Preventing cervical cancer in women can be attained by making sure they undergo regular Pap smears and pelvic exams. Two physicians at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), Kenneth B. Goodrich, M.D., and Evad S. Al-Hattab, M.D., are urging area women to get yearly screenings and exams so they can avoid getting what is considered to be one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Additionally, when detected early, cervical cancer is almost 100 percent curable. January is National Cervical Cancer Screening Month, designed to raise awareness and emphasize the need for women to educate themselves about the disease and understand it’s preventable. Dr. Goodrich, an obstetrics/gynecologist specialist at the hospital’s OB/Gyn Suzzalo Medical Arts Building, says it’s imperative for women undergo Pap smears that detect cervical cancer and conditions leading to it. “Most cervical cancer is caused by HPV (human papillomavirus),” says ...

Members of Bradford and Ridgway's Charlie Company arrived at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, about 48 hours ago, and have started their final training before entering Iraq. Specialist Lorenzo Herrera of Smethport says he's ready to get to work. "I'm anxious. I'm excited to go," Herrera says. "I knew this day was coming … I'm just ready to get over there, do my part and get home safely." This is the only Stryker brigade in the National Guard, and they are equipped with the latest communications and weapons system in the Army. At more than 4,000 troops, this is the largest deployment of the Pennsylvania National Guard since the Korean War. Listen to Spc. Herrera's comments HERE . Thanks to Capt. Cory Angell!

U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard, joined 165 other Members today in exercising fiscal responsibility by voting to deny the Department of the Treasury access to an additional $350 billion of taxpayers’ dollars to bailout corporate America. “Like many citizens across the Fifth District, I too am suffering from bailout-itus,” said Thompson, who opposed the Federal Government’s initial Wall Street bailout. “My neighbors back in Howard, and friends and family across the district, continue to sacrifice to make ends meet in this time of economic uncertainly – it’s time for corporate America to do the same.” Thompson is referring to the government sponsored, Department of the Treasury administered, Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which was created by an act of Congress prior to his arrival – the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. While the intent of Congress was to free up the credit markets so that small businesses and citizens could access capital, TARP f...

WINDSOR, N.Y.—A 20-year-old Southern Tier woman was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder after a home invasion and attempted robbery left one person shot dead, another wounded and one of the intruders in critical condition. Ashley Carnevale was being held in the Broome County jail on a charge of second-degree murder, said Fred Stapleton, the town justice in Windsor. For the full story, go to The Evening Sun .

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's two largest health insurers on Wednesday abandoned their nearly 2-year-old plan to merge, citing resistance from state regulators concerned that it would stifle competition. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

A memorial on the spot where George Washington lived as president with slaves is scheduled to open in Philadelphia next year thanks to more state funding than anticipated. The $8.4 million project will include information on the nine slaves Washington kept at the President's House near Independence Hall. Governor Ed Rendell says the Delaware River Port Authority will probably contribute $3.5 million in economic development funds. George Washington and John Adams each lived at the house when Philadelphia was the nation's capital between 1790 and 1800.

A Chautauqua County grand jury has indicted a man for the shooting death of a man in Dunkirk last year. 26-year old Lawrence Carter is charged in the death of Gabriel Guzman, who was found shot in an apartment on Octobeer 21, 2008. Carter faces the possibility of life without parole if convicted of first-degree murder.

To modernize Pennsylvania’s laws regarding small games of chance, Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Lower Paxton) is reintroducing legislation that would overhaul current law and give many organizations the ability to continue funding efforts to enhance communities across the Commonwealth. “Many of the limitations in current law provide inadequate flexibility to non-profits and have hampered their efforts to fund charitable causes in all of our districts,” said Marsico. “Rather than taking a piecemeal approach, I am proposing a comprehensive overhaul.” Marsico’s legislation includes the following recommendations: Increase the payout limit of $5,000 per seven-day period for small games of chance to $20,000 per seven-day period. Eliminate advertising restrictions on small games of chance. Allow progressive games in small games of chance. Increase top tier payouts for a single winner in small games of chance from $500 to $1,000. Require winning tickets to be treated in accordance with IRS regulations...

Hillary Clinton confirmed as Secretary of State. The U.S. Senate approved the nomination of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state Wednesday by a vote of 94-2. The two senators who opposed Clinton's confirmation were Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, and David Vitter, R-Louisiana. For the full story, go to CNN.com .

They may have been left out of the race for the Super Bowl weeks ago, but the Buffalo Bills are up against the Green Bay Packers in the final round of the "Souper Bowl." Campbell's Chunky Soup is holding its "Click for Cans" contest, with the winning city getting a donation of thousands of cans of soup for a local food bank. Campbell's Chunky (TM) soup and the NFL will donate 1,000 cans to each of the 32 teams. AFC and NFC champs get an additional 12,000 cans a piece. The overall champ gets 5,000 cans on top of that - for a total of 18,000 cans of soup for their local Feeding America food bank. Go to click for cans.com to vote.

Regular listeners of WESB's LiveLine have heard our shows on the proposed union card check legislation. As part of its efforts to focus attention on the negative implications for employers and employees of the proposed federal Employee Free Choice Act, or union card check, the PA Chamber will appear on tonight's edition of the Pennsylvania Cable Network's (Channel 9 on Atlantic Broadband in Bradford) Live Call-in Show. PA Chamber Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Gene Barr will appear along with Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rick Bloomingdale. Members are encouraged to call in between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. with their questions or comments about the union card check proposal. The toll-free number to call is 877 726-5001.

Children with life-threatening medical conditions need the magic of a wish come true. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia needs your help to find children who may qualify for our magic. Children can be referred by anyone – a parent, guardian, family member or teacher – but are qualified by the child’s physician. Life-threatening medical conditions, which generally qualify children for our services include, but are not limited to, various forms of cancer, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy and transplants. Children with more chronic conditions like cerebral palsy, developmental delays, diabetes, Crohn’s disease or spina bifida, may qualify if their conditions are coupled with other complications and the combination is considered life-threatening. If you know a child, aged 2 ½ to under the age of 18, who may qualify, please contact the Make-A-Wish office at (814) 938-8888. Referring a child only takes a few minut...

The woman who was shot last night at a basketball game in Erie has been identified as 21-year-old Shareese Birchfield. She's at Hamot Medical Center, but he family has asked that no information be released about her condition. Birchfield was shot in the left hip after a fight broke out at about 8:30 p.m. in the crowded gym at East High while they were playing Harbor Creek High School. Police have not made any arrests in the case. Classes at East High resumed today. Students submitted to a weapons search as they entered the school. No weapons were found.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will wear their white road uniforms against Arizona in the Super Bowl. The Cardinals, as the home team, chose to wear their red home jerseys in the Feb. 1 game in Tampa. The Steelers wore their white road uniforms when they beat Seattle for the NFL title three years ago in Detroit. In the February 2006 Super Bowl, the Steelers had the option of wearing their black home jerseys, but decided to wear white after playing and winning three road playoff games in as many weeks. This will be only the third time in their seven Super Bowls the Steelers will wear white. They also wore white while defeating Minnesota in the Super Bowl during the 1974 season.

The family of a student from Erie who was crushed to death in a dorm elevator more than two years ago is suing Ohio State University. The suit filed by the family of Andrew Polakowski seeks more than $50,000 and says the school was negligent. Polakowski was 18 years old on October 20, 2006, when he got pinned trying to leave an overcrowded elevator that was stuck between floors. A university spokesman says the university has kept in regular contact with the Polakowskis' attorneys and is reviewing the family's filings.

01/20/09 - Details of New BASD Teachers Agreement Details have been released on the new four year contract between the Bradford Area School District and it’s teachers union. The new deal includes a 4 percent wage increase. Sources tell WESB and The Hero that despite the wage increase taxes will not be going up for the 2009-2010 school year. The four-year contract was approved on January 12. 01/20/09 - Derrick City Man Charged With Burglary A Derrick City man was arraigned last weekend on charges he burglarized the Lighter Side bar on Mechanic Street in Bradford on January 13. Court records indicate that 24 year-old Eric Quinn gained entry by force into the bar and took $905 dollars in cash. Quinn is charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief. He was sent to the McKean County Jail on $15,000 dollars. 01/16/09 - Austin Boys Dies in Snowmobile Accident An Austin teen was killed in a snowmobile accident Wednesday night in the borough. Austin Police say that 15 year-old Trevor Dynda...

The Bradford Area Public Library is sponsoring a community-wide gala, which will coincide with the Kentucky Derby in May, to benefit its endowment fund and raise residents’ awareness of the services the library provides. The Derby Day Gala will be held on Saturday, May 2, at the Bradford Club. At the event, guests will watch the race, sample Southern-style cuisine, sip mint juleps and participate in other Kentucky Derby-related activities. An additional event – the Derby Chapeau Tea – will be held on March 29, and will enable participants to make Kentucky Derby-like hats in anticipation of the gala. Tickets for the gala will be available starting Feb. 16 and can be purchased at the library. Tickets are $50 per person. “The idea for the gala came during a meeting of the library’s honorary board of trustees,” said Madeline Miles, a library board member. “The honorary trustees wanted to create an event that would make people more aware of all the librar...

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Members of the Senate Republican Caucus today announced the introduction of a 10-bill package of government reforms intended to continue changing the culture of state government by increasing accountability and transparency. “As we begin a new legislative session, which brings with it new challenges, it is imperative that we continue to build on the positive work we have already begun,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25). “Passage of the reform measures being unveiled today is essential to creating a state government which is open and accountable to the people we have taken an oath to serve.” Among the bills introduced today are measures to change how consulting contracts are awarded, to increase penalties for violating the Sunshine Law which requires public business to be done at open meetings, to ban bonus payments for state employees, and to eliminate lame-duck legislative sessions. “Today, state government is significantly more open than it was just two years ago...