Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A Westline man is accused of helping to destroy the inside of a home whose owner is in a nursing home. Last week, 20-year-old Douglas Hepfner was with two juveniles who smashed china, spray painted walls and broke light fixtures, among other things. Hepfner and the juveniles also climbed onto the roof of the house on El Day Drive, where Hepfner defecated and cleaned himself with his T-shirts. He left the T-shirts behind, and police recovered them. He's in jail on $20,000 bail.

Nearly 500 million tons of low-use wood, poor quality or damaged wood are estimated to exist in Pennsylvania's forests. The portion of this resource that is available economically could be used more extensively in an environmentally friendly way as an alternative energy resource. "Pennsylvania has an exceptional opportunity to look at homegrown alternatives to meet our energy needs," said (Agriculture Secretary Dennis) Wolff. "Using renewable materials like low-use wood as fuel sources will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, keeping more of our hard-earned money at home benefiting our local communities rather than sending those dollars abroad." For more information, click HERE .

Three police officers were killed and two others were injured in a shooting in Pittsburgh's Stanton Heights neighborhood Saturday morning, where as many as 70 to 80 rounds may have been fired. For continuing coverage, including live reports from the scene, go to WTAE-TV .

A black lab named Barley has been missing for 2 days. He was last seen in the South Union Street area of Olean near Reid's Food Barn. He was wearing a blue color and he's very friendly. If you see him, call Tricia at 598-2121.

“These are the rarest and most valuable pieces of Walt Disney art in existence,” said Ed Summer, founder and president of the Buffalo International Film Festival, which is presenting the daylong celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. “They represent the first known drawings of Mickey Mouse as a fully defined character. For more information, go to the Buffalo News .

Part of Route 219 near Brockport in Horton Township was closed for about two hours because of a motor vehicle accident. The accident happened at 8:50 a.m. The road was re-opened at around 11 a.m. The investigating state trooper will release more information on the accident as soon as possible.

(CNN) -- Three police officers were shot in Pittsburgh on Saturday, as they responded to a domestic call, Allegheny County police said. A gunman is apparently holed up inside a home in the Stanton Heights neighborhood of the western Pennsylvania city. The conditions of the officers were not known. Police couldn't say whether the officers struck were from the city, the county or other departments. City, county and state police officers were at the scene. CNN affiliate WTAE reported that as many as 80 shots have been fired between people in the house and officers Get more, including live coverage, from WTAE-TV .

A truck driver hit a disabled trailer on Interstate 90 near Erie on Friday, dumping 43,000 pounds of salsa onto the highway. State police say a 1998 Freightliner hit part of a box trailer that had bent and stopped, partially blocking the right westbound lane of Interstate 90. The crash scattered boxes of salsa across the road near Route 20. No one was hurt. The right lane was partially blocked. It took a crew of eight men several hours to move the salsa to the side of the highway. No word on if anyone brought tortilla chips to the scene.

The former firefighter accused of setting two fires in the arson-plagued community of Coatesville says he has an alibi: He was buying drugs. During a preliminary hearing for 37-year-old Robert Tracey Jr., an investigator testified that Tracey told police he wasn't at the scenes on the night of the blazes because he had gone to buy cocaine. For the full story, go to the Philadelphia Inquirer .

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the entire region until 4 o'clock this afternoon. Some areas can expect sustained winds of 20 to 30 miles an hour with gusts up to 50 miles an hour. Winds this strong can cause minor property damage.

The state Senate put the final okay on New York's $132 billion budget Friday - three days past the deadline. The state budget increases spending by $10.5 billion, or 8.7%, and imposes $8 billion in new fees and taxes while closing a record $17.7 billion deficit. It also repeals much of the tough Rockefeller-era drug laws, adds bottled water to the 5-cent bottle deposit law, and eliminates a property tax rebate check. State Senator Cathy Young is unhappy with the budget, and voted "no" on all the bills. She says she hopes Governor David Paterson vetoes the bill. He is expected to sign the budget bill.

A Hinsdale man considered AWOL from the US Army is being held without bail in Cattaraugus County Jail. Sheriff's deputies arrested 27-year-old Nathan Michael Joy in Hinsdale about 7:30 last night on a warrant from the Army. He was arraigned in the Town of Olean and sent to jail.

“Earlier today (Friday), I spoke with Vice President Joe Biden, who wished to extend his, President Obama’s and First Lady Michelle Obama’s condolences and prayers to the families of those who were affected by today’s shooting, and all citizens of Binghamton, the Southern Tier and New York State. “On behalf of all New Yorkers, I would like to express our profound outrage at this senseless act of violence, where innocent people were killed, injured and traumatized. This is the worst tragedy in the history of this great city. It is time for all of us to come together and end this cycle of senseless violence. “The American Civic Association was established for those who wanted to become citizens of the United States of America. This place was a haven for those who wanted to be part of the American Dream. Today, that dream was tragically thwarted. But there still is an American Dream, and all of us who are Americans, or who want to become Americans, will now try to heal the very deep wound...

Pennsylvania soldiers were first to respond to a coalition air strike that killed one alleged insurgent and injured two more Thursday night near Taji, Iraq. Four armed Iraqi men were spotted placing an improvised explosive near an important intersection, according to the Multi-National Division in Iraq. The division called an air strike to the location. Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat team were first to respond after the strike. The soldiers administered first aid to the two wounded Iraqis and took them for medical treatment and interrogation. The man killed in the strike was turned over to local authorities for identification. Soldiers didn't find the fourth alleged insurgent in the area. National Guard troops from the Bradford Armory are members of the team.

(CNN) -- A lone gunman killed at least 13 people and himself Friday in an immigration services center in Binghamton, New York, in what officials are calling the "most tragic day in Binghamton's history." The gunman drove a car to the back of American Civic Association building to block the exit and entered the front of the building, where he shot two receptionists, Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said. More from CNN .

By Ruth Gentilman Peterson Director of Communications Last week CEO J. Gary Rhodes announced that KCH is bringing Rehabilitation Services back in-house with a highly skilled team headed by Joseph Sorg, PT, Ph.D. New equipment has arrived and the new KCH Rehab Services is open for business with the full spectrum of services. This week, Senior Leader of Patient Care Services and Director of Nursing Pam Bray, RN has announced the following members of the team: Jim Bell, OTR/L, Ph.D., Occupational Therapist received his Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Denver, his MS in Occupational Therapy from D’Youville College, Buffalo and Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy, Healthcare Administration from Brentwick University in London, England. Deanna Gardner, Physical Therapy Assistant, received her Associate Degree in Science from The Pennsylvania State University. Don Zilkofski, Physical Therapy Aide, has been a part of the rehabilitation team at KCH for nearly twenty years. Ann Kane, PT...

Senator Cathy Young (R,I,C-Olean) today fought to restore STAR rebate checks to homeowners through an amendment that was voted down by the Senate Democrats. “Our property taxpayers need and deserve relief. This budget was put together in secret by three men in a room from New York City who don’t seem to care about the huge tax burden our homeowners are forced to shoulder. “Every fall, households across the state have come to rely on those checks for things like school clothes, groceries and other necessities,” said Senator Young. “What was once offered as needed property tax relief gets turned into yet another property tax burden that many families in upstate New York simply cannot afford.” Senate Republicans initiated the STAR rebate check program, which provide a yearly check mailed directly to homeowners to help ease the burden of skyrocketing property taxes, in 2006. Sen. Young said the amendment proposed today would have provided an additional $4.2 millio...

Dr. Helene Lawson, professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford who has taken tap dance lessons for five years, wrote a paper about her experience and those of other dancers, which has been published in an arts journal from England. Lawson’s paper, “Why Dance? The Motivations of an Unlikely Group of Dancers,” was published in the Winter 2008/2009 edition of Music and Arts in Action, which is published by the University of Exeter. In her paper, Lawson explains that she undertook the study because she wanted to know why amateur dancers dance. She interviewed 75 adult dance students, including the dancers in her tap dance group in Bradford, and also visited private dance studios across the country, including studios in Redondo Beach, Calif., Nashville, Tenn., and Chicago, Ill. In addition to addressing why people dance, Lawson also writes about how dancers are affected by recitals, which she said are emotional roller coasters, and...

Warren Police Officer Brian Gulnac has been exonerated in connection to the shooting death of a man Wednesday night. Police were attempting to pick up Charles Tubbs on a warrant for simple assault and reckless endangerment when he led them on a chase from West Fifth Avenue to Beech Street, where he crashed his vehicle. During a news conference this afternoon, District Attorney Ross McKierman said a police video captured part of the incident. McKiernan says after the crash Tubbs immediately began firing at Gulnac with a .22-caliber rifle and hit his police cruiser twice. Gulnac returned fire, and hit Tubbs in the chest and head. McKeirnan says Tubbs had 49 rounds of live ammunition in his pockets.

The head of a Philadelphia nonprofit organization is accused of using more than $400,000 in state taxpayer money intended for poor children and the elderly s to finance his lavish lifestyle. Tyron B. Ali is charged with more than 2,000 counts of forgery, theft, tampering, deception and other crimes. A grand jury recommended the charges after hearing testimony that Ali spent the money on Caribbean travel, fancy clothes and more. For more information, go to the attorney general's Web site .

From the US Forest Service: Snow banks are receding, the afternoon sun warms the air, and the green leaves of leeks are peeking from the earth where the snow just melted. The arrival of leeks (Allium sp.), or “ramps” as they are sometimes called, signal spring. “Is it legal or not to dig leeks on the Allegheny National Forest (NF)?” This is one of the questions frequently asked by the public in the springtime. According to Forest Service Law Enforcement, leeks may be legally picked without a permit for personal consumption on most lands within the Allegheny NF. Personal consumption means picking what you will use for yourself and your family. “…legally picked without a permit” is called ‘Incidental Free Use Without a Permit’. Persons picking leeks for personal consumption may not sell or exchange any portion of the leek plant. If you pick leeks under ‘Use Without a Permit’, then exercise reasonable care to sustain leeks into the future for your grandchildren to pick. You can ...

“It’s exploitative,” said Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), who is planning a protest outside Obama Fried Chicken restaurant Monday if its green awning is not removed. “It's like saying Obama is a watermelon lover.” For the full story, go to amNewYork .

The gunman, a 42-year-old from Upstate New York, is among the dead. Authorities will hold a news conference soon. MSNBC has identifed the shooter has Jiverly Voong. Statement from New York Governor David Paterson: “This is a tragic day for New York. While the situation is still developing and details are being gathered, we do know that a gunman entered the American Civic Association in Binghamton this morning and that there are fatalities. We are monitoring the situation and I have directed the State Police to assist the Binghamton Police Department in any way they can. “I speak for all of New York when I offer my prayers for the victims and families of this tragedy.” For more information, go to CNN . Authorities say at least 12 people may be dead in a shooting in Binghamton, New York. That's according to Bob Joseph of radio station WNBF , which is located just a few blocks from the American Civic Association building where the incident is taking place. The suspect is described as...

An Indiana University of Pennsylvania student was shot in the stomach outside an off-campus Indiana bar this morning and was taken into surgery several hours ago. Justin D. McCoy, 21, of Springfield, Va., is in fair condition at Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. For the full story, go to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .

It was one year ago today that 10 members of one family, and a family friend, died in a house fire in Brockway – and investigators still don't know what caused the blaze. Brockway Fire Chief Kris Benson told Brockway Borough Council Thursday night that he met with the fire marshal last week and there is still no answer. Benson told council members that everyone may have to come to the realization that they may never get a definitive answer.

The attorney for a father accused of hosting a teen drinking party that included a high school cheerleader dancing – in uniform – on a stripper pole says his client will plead guilty to some of the charges. 36-year-old Steven Russo of Bethlehem has agreed to plead guilty to selling or furnishing alcohol to minors, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped charges of intimidation of a witness and criminal conspiracy. Court documents say that a photo surfaced on Facebook showing a 16-year-old Freedom cheerleader drinking and pole dancing while another shows two underage girls kissing Russo. For more on this story, go to the Allentown Morning Call .

The Bradford City Firefighters annual Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for Saturday has been postponed until April 11 because of the weather. It will be at 11 a.m. at Callahan Park next Saturday.

A Philadelphia-area man is being held on charges that he bit and slashed his fiancée in a rage over the way she made his meatball sandwich. Superintendent John Reilly Jr. of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility says, "Wait until he gets a load of the prison food." For the full story, go to the Philadelphia Daily News

The West Michigan Whitecaps minor league baseball team is offering a 4,800-calorie cheeseburger on its ballpark menu that has been branded a "dietary disaster." The four pound meal has five beef patties, five slices of cheese, nearly a cup of chili, Fritos, salsa, nacho cheese, sour cream and lettuce and tomato all on an eight inch sesame-seed bun. For the full story, go to KVAL-TV .

BRADFORD, Pa. (CNNMoney.com) -- Six months ago this oil town in Western Pennsylvania was booming. You couldn't find a worker to paint a house, let alone man a drill rig. The nearby oil fields buzzed with activity as high prices drove a production frenzy. Now this boomtown's bustle is as quiet as the surrounding late-winter forest. For the full story, including comments from Shawn Keane and Willard Cline, go to CNN.com . Embedded video from CNNMoney.com Video Thanks to Pat Creighton!

Ten days ago we told you about the "Zombies Ahead" warning sign in suburban Philadelphia. Now Buffalo-area motorists are being warned. The "warning" on a construction sign outside of Canisius College on Main Street appeared Thursday morning. Watch the video from WIVB-TV or read the story HERE .

"Without out doubt, there is no issue more important today. The No. 1 issue we have is restoring respect and trust back into the Legislature that we once had," said Scarnati, who is the Senate's president pro tempore and the state's lieutenant governor. For the story, go to the Lancaster New Era .

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year says when you're trying to make changes, it doesn't matter how big you are. What matters is how dedicated you are. American Refining Group CEO Harvey Golubock asked everyone at the chamber's annual meeting Thursday night to step back to 1997 – the year Harry Halloran bought the refinery from Witco. "It was a frightening time," Golubock said. "The community was afraid and downtrodden. Closure of the refinery meant the loss of many high-paying jobs. Repercussions throughout the community would be felt far and wide." But, he said, because small group of concerned businessmen was determined to not sit back and watch Bradford die – "That was then and this is now." Since then, ARG has invested $50 million into the refinery and has bought three trucking companies and an oil production business. "All this from a company that most of the indus...

Change is what you get when you give more than what is required. ~~Diane Sheeley Executive Director, Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Think about it -- and think about the people you know who are giving more than required.

Police have been investigating the Lockes Hill area of Wilcox for a week, but haven't said yet exactly what they're looking into. State Police Information Officer Bruce Morris says there is nothing to report while they are still in the investigation stage, but they will release some information soon because of the "buzz" and rumors caused by the police presence. Local, state and federal officials, including a state police forensics van, have been spotted in the area. Along with marked state police cruisers, a truck with government plates and US Forest Service Department of Agriculture vehicles have been parked along Lockes Hill.

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, introduced legislation this week that will amend the Small Business Act by allowing third parties the opportunity to provide high-quality distance training and education to potential and existing entrepreneurs through the use of technology. The Educating Entrepreneurs through Today’s Technology Act of 2009 (H.R. 1807), will particularly benefit rural communities, by enabling access through technology, the ability to utilize the resources of the Small Business Administration and the sixty-three Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) throughout the country. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and our rural communities,” said Thompson, a Member of the House Small Business Committee. “So while the Governor zeroed out funding in the state budget for the Community Education Councils, who supply critical services to both small businesses and distance education in areas of need, this legislation will allow ac...

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced the arrest of more than 200 Internet predators since the creation of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit in January 2005, including recent arrests in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Altoona, Chambersburg, the Harrisburg area and New Jersey. Corbett identified the defendants as: Carlos Ramon Harrison, 35, 4660 Sycamore Grove Road, Chambersburg. Timothy Edward Weidinger, 31, 416 Bach Ave., Greensburg. William L. Marcus, 46, 5904 Coventry Way, Mount Laurel, NJ. Timothy W. Senich, 61, 1112 Muldowney Ave., Pittsburgh. Abraham Sarver, 22, 308 Pine Ave., Altoona. Charles Aurelio Giuliani, 33, 79 Harvestview, Elizabethville. Robert A. Barner, 46, 569 Chesterfield Court, Harrisburg "The most recent arrests by the Child Predator Unit stretch from one end of Pennsylvania to the other," Corbett said. "They include men accused of traveling to meet children for sex, sending nude photos or videos to what they believed were yo...

Paying tribute to its namesake, the Thomas Merton Center at St. Bonaventure University was rededicated during a special ceremony Wednesday. The Merton Center is home to the campus ministry team and offices for Mt. Irenaeus, Bona Buddies, the Warming House, the Franciscan Center for Social Concern, and the Journey Project. Located at the center of campus, it is a place where students gather for relaxing, cooking, socializing, mentoring and spiritual counseling. “The beauty of what goes on here and flows out of here is a blessing,” said Robert Donius, vice president for University Ministries. In a 1966 letter to a St. Bonaventure alumnus, Thomas Merton noted that, “St. Bonaventure represented one of the happiest times of my life.” Merton, considered one of the most distinguished spiritual masters of the 20th century, taught English at what was then St. Bonaventure College in 1940 and 1941. As he revealed in “The Seven Storey Mountain,” Merton discerned his monastic vocation while he work...

Reacting to recent news reports that inspectors have cited churches and volunteer groups for selling baked goods that are not prepared on site, Senator Richard Kasunic (D-Fayette County) plans to introduce a bill that would exempt churches, volunteer fire companies and veterans’ organizations from the law. Senator Kasunic says the controversy in western Pennsylvania has pitted families who have donated baked goods and other items at charitable events for generations against state Agriculture Department inspectors going strictly by the letter of the law. He says the state inspectors recently cited a church organization in nearby Beaver County because parishioners baked pies at home rather than on-site. In addition, a local city health officer recently stated at a public meeting that local churches or organizations serving food to the general public would need to comply with the law by obtaining a business license and submitting to surprise inspections. Senator Kasuni...

Rolling furloughs for thousands of state workers would be avoided under a tentative agreement announced today between Governor Ed Rendell and the three largest Pennsylvania government employee unions. For more information, go to the governor's Web site .

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today, praised Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources Mike DiBerardinis, on the House Floor for his six years of service to the Commonwealth, and his dedication to Rural Pennsylvania. Tomorrow is the Secretary’s last day at DNCR. Transcript Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to honor a man that exemplifies public service. A man that hails from the big city of Philadelphia, but who has had a profound impact on my rural district. Secretary Mike DiBerardinis, has served the Rendell Administration and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with distinction for the past six years as the head of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, or DCNR. And while I have only had limited interaction with the Secretary personally, his work on the Pennsylvania Wilds Initiative – a nature tourism program that encompasses my district – speaks volumes of his character and his dedication to rural Pennsylvania. Under th...

Illegal aliens who live in Pennsylvania would be unable to obtain public benefits, including Medicaid, welfare and in-state college tuition, under legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati that was approved today by the Senate with a bi-partisan vote of 41 to 9. Senate Bill 9 would also ensure that the Commonwealth's more than 100,000 illegal aliens face tighter scrutiny when applying for services. "Pennsylvania must take the lead in this growing problem by ensuring government benefits and services are not provided to illegal aliens," Scarnati said. "We need to provide protections for hardworking Pennsylvania taxpayers who ultimately bear the burden of supporting those who are entering our country illegally." Under current federal law, illegal aliens are prohibited from receiving federal, state or local public benefits with the exception of emergency medical care, necessary immunizations and disaster relief. However, Scarnati believes Pe...

A Titusville man is jailed after allegedly killing two dogs and assaulting his pregnant girlfriend and an 81-year-old man. Police say 31-year-old Dallas Gene Oliver II assaulted a 23-year-old Titusville woman during an argument Tuesday night in their home. Oliver also allegedly strangled one of the dogs and allegedly threw another onto the highway, where a passing motorist hit it. Police say an 81-year-old Cooperstown man who was driving the vehicle that hit the dog stopped, and Oliver assaulted him, too. Oliver is in Venango County Jail without bail.

A 16-year-old girl has been charged with assaulting the principal of a western school for troubled youths because the girl was upset about spilling milk on her pants. For the full story, go to the Uniontown Herald Standard .

A bill to give former employees of smaller companies a health-coverage option now only available at larger companies has been approved by the state senate. The bill, introduced by Senator Don White (R-Indiana), would create a state program similar to the federal COBRA program that would apply to companies with two to 19 employees. It would allow former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses and children to continue their coverage at group rates for 18 months. Under the federal stimulus package, the government would subsidize 65 percent of those premiums. White says the bills "is not a silver bullet. It will not solve all of the problems with Pennsylvania's health care system. However, it is a pragmatic step in the right direction to improve the accessibility and affordability of health care and most significantly -- it does not cost the Pennsylvania taxpayers one dime." The bill also includes an amendment by Senator Mike Stack (D-Philadelphia) that would give employ...

(22-year-old Robert William) Quick stabbed the sword through the bottom of the 8- year-old boy’s worm bucket, then pointed it at the kid’s neck and began threatening him. The boy told police he became scared, and Quick said: “If you tell anyone, I’ll cut your head off.” For the full story, go to the Centre Daily Times .

Jane Harris Davies Shafer, the widow of former Pennsylvania Governor Raymond P. Shafer, has died. She was 92. Shafer's daughter, Diane Shafer Dominick, says her mother died Monday after extended treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Her husband served from 1967 to 1971, when Pennsylvania governors were limited to one term. Gov. Shafer, a Republican, succeeded Gov. William Scranton, after serving a term under Scranton as lieutenant governor. Shafer and her husband met at Allegheny College in Meadville and married in 1941.

A 36-year-old Warren man died after being shot by a Warren Police officer during a chase Wednesday night. Warren Police say one of their officers began a chase with Charles Tubbs at around 10:45 last night on West 5th Avenue in Warren. The chase continued into Conewango Township, where Tubbs' car became disabled. Tubbs jumped out of his vehicle and fired a rifle at the officer, who shot back. Tubbs was hit by one round and taken to Warren General Hospital where he later died. Tubbs was wanted for simple assault and reckless endangerment, and officers were attmpting to pick him up on a warrant.

The continued illness of a Democratic New York state senator on Wednesday has again stalled votes on budget bills, meaning that final passage could take at least until the end of the week. The Assembly finished passing the nine bills that make up the $131.8 billion budget on Wednesday morning. But in the senate, where Democrats have a 32-30 majority, Republicans insisted on a full debate over the legislation on Wednesday. About 2 p.m., Senate Democrats were forced to adjourn when Ruth Hassell-Thompson left the Capitol to return to an Albany hospital for medical attention.

MIAMI (AP) — Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth will be charged Wednesday with killing a pedestrian last month while driving drunk in Miami, according to people familiar with the case. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

Five 13-year-old boys could be expelled from a Pittsburgh-area junior high school after they were caught with alcohol. One boy was so drunk he had to be hospitalized. For the full story, go to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Two central Pennsylvania newspapers that share both a corporate owner and a newsroom plan to consolidate operations and publish a combined edition starting in June, a move expected to lead to dozens of layoffs. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Governor Ed Rendell's budget includes a proposal to eliminate community education councils, which offer post-secondary education including, undergraduate and graduate degrees; business and industry training; and noncredit courses for personal growth. The amount that was cut for the programs was $2 million, while the governor wants to add $5 million to the budget for community colleges. During a House hearing Wednesday, Representative Kathy Rapp asked Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak about community colleges in this area. "I'm sure you're aware of how many community colleges are north of (Interstate) 80?" Rapp asked Zahorchak. "Mm. Hm," he said. "And there are …?" she asked. "Well, there are, um, community college extensions," he said, "but north of 80 I don't think there's a community college present." "Correct," Rapp said. "But we do have the higher educati...

After claiming that he's restored funding cuts for farmers in New York's new state budget, State Sen. Darrel Aubertine of Jefferson and Oswego counties is forced to admit that's not the case. Aubertine was grilled by the top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Cathy Young of Olean. Farms suffered a $30 million cut in the bloated, $132 billion budget, which used federal stimulus funds to restore hundreds of other programs, raised taxes by a record amount and increased taxpayer-funded spending a whopping 10%. Aubertine voted against a Republican amendment to restore all the agriculture funding cuts and create an emergency aid program for struggling dairy farmers. In a news release, Young said "Senator Aubertine’s hypocrisy is stunning. He now is calling for bi-partisanship when he voted along party lines against farmers." "All it took to pass the Dairy Assistance Program amendment was one more vote. Incredibly, he failed to support farmers an...

By George Nianiatus, senior writer Communications Department No matter what the age of children, they deserve and need to be healthy, safe and nurtured. This is why Bradford Regional Medical Services and Pediatric Associates of Bradford, both part of Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), are holding a two-week awareness campaign starting Monday at the hospital which celebrates childhood and what steps can be done to ensure their safety. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. “Children are our future and we need to ensure their protection. Healthy, safe and nurturing environments are essential to the well-being of all children,” says Vicki Etter, a Pediatric Associates receptionist who helped spearhead this awareness campaign at BRMC. During the awareness event’s first week in BRMC’s Outpatient Services Center lobby, there will be a display with nearly 200 blue pinwheels resembling a flower garden which represents births at BRMC. A banner above the display will say, “Hope, H...

State Reps. Kathy Rapp (R-Forest/McKean/Warren), Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) and Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) are speaking out against attempts to further restrict recreational and economic access in the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). The effort is being spearheaded by the environmental group Friends of the Allegheny Wilderness (FAW). "The three of us have sent a letter to our colleagues in the United States Congress, as well as to the United States Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service, opposing efforts to restrict access to more than 54,000 acres of wilderness space in the forest," stated Gabler. "In these difficult economic times, any endeavor that is a detriment to jobs and the financial well-being of our region must be stopped." As a result of the 1964 Wilderness Act, only the U.S. Congress can expand wilderness area. In addition to concerns about the economic impact of an expanded wilderness area, the lawmakers are also concerned ab...

Three students from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will receive the Robert C. Laing Creative Arts Award for their work in the creative and performing arts. This year’s recipients are Andrew J. Laganosky, a December graduate in interdisciplinary arts from Carlisle, who will receive the award in art; Ryan Milliken, a senior pre-pharmacy major from Shinglehouse, who will be honored in music; and Theresa Pompa, a senior English education major from Bradford, who will be honored for writing. The students will be recognized during the university’s annual honors convocation at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, and at a reception at 4 p.m. the same day. Milliken was nominated for the music award by Dr. Lee Spear, associate professor of music, for his work with the College-Community Choir as rehearsal accompanist as well as singing in the ensemble. “I think that Ryan is by far the most outstanding creative student musician we have had at Pitt-Bradford,” Spear noted...

U.S Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, issued the following statement summarizing recent meetings he initiated between his staff and vested interests regarding the numerous issues surrounding the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) and local communities: “I was not at all surprised to learn just how great of an impact the oil and gas industry has on the local economy. And what’s even more impressive is how great an economic impact this industry continues to have one hundred and fifty years after the discovery of oil in nearby Titusville. “In two refineries alone, American Refining Group (ARG) and United Refining, employment is nearly one thousand strong. These are good paying, long term, family sustaining jobs – with an even greater number of workers in the many drilling companies and in supporting industries. “So when the energy production business comes to a halt – so does the economy of the four counties surrounding the ANF. In this time of economic uncertainty, the im...

Spring is just around the corner and the historic downtown business district is busy preparing for its summer event season. The Downtown Bradford Business District Authority is again hoping to be able to purchase hanging baskets for the historic Main Street area. “We are looking for donations for individual baskets, which we have done in previous years,” said Main Street Manager, Anita Dolan. Donations can be made by businesses, individuals and organizations. They can also be made in honor or in memory of someone. Each donor will be recognized with a certificate of appreciation for their part in the project. A long time sponsor, the Betty Jane Monjar Garden Committee is again helping financially with the event. “The Garden Committee has always been very supportive and helpful with this program. Their generosity will again provide for some of the baskets in our historic area,” added Dolan. More than 50 hanging baskets are needed to complete the project. The hanging baskets are par...

A Sheffield woman is accused of stealing $115,000 from five area customers of Northwest Savings Bank. 36-year-old Beth Colvin allegedly sent e-mails to the victims asking them to click on a link that electronically compromised their bank accounts. She then withdrew the money wired it to Nigeria. She was charged with one count of theft. The money was taken March 23 and 24, and $1,250 has been recovered so far. The victims are from Rew, Ridgway, Mayville, New York, Curwensville and Girard.

The national Shriners board of trustees has proposed closing the Erie Shriners Hospital for Children. The Erie hospital is one of six Shriners facilities nationwide that might close because the Tampa, Fla.-based organization's endowment has nose-dived. The Shriners use the endowment to fund its 22 hospitals. Its trustees will vote on the proposal at their annual meeting in July

A solid waste company has been fined for violations in Cameron and Centre counties last fall. The Department of Environmental Protection says a truck driver with Veolia Solid Waste of Brockway drained about 100 gallons of coolant and rust preventative into a storm drain at GKN Sinter Metals in Emporium. The drain led directly to a DEP-permitted outfall that empties into the Driftwood Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek. GKN employees had placed absorbent pads and booms in the creek to contain the contamination, but DEP inspectors were still able to see a slight sheen on the creek’s surface. The $11,200 fine was paid to the Solid Waste Abatement Fund, which is used to help pay for cleanups across the state.

Jim Connelly, Jr. has announced his candidacy on the Republican ticket for Foster Township Supervisor in the upcoming primary election. Connelly currently serves on the Foster Township Zoning Hearing Board, and has previously served on the Foster Township Planning Commission and as Chairman of the Foster Township Universal Construction Appeals Board. As a 35 year employee of Dresser Manufacturing and the owner of an established housing rental business, Connelly believes he has the necessary drive, experience and fiscal values to represent Foster Township taxpayers. His main concerns are eliminating wasteful local government spending and assuring that Foster Township is poised to conduct successful business. Given the opportunity to serve, Connelly would like to implement the following improvements: - Actively promote Foster Township, the Foster Brook Mall site and the Lafferty Hollow Industrial Park as the great assets they are and create jobs. - Restore Foster Township taxpayers’ con...

W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company has announced an additional reduction to its staffing levels, effective April 1. The cutbacks will affect 78 factory Associates. Case had previously announced a reduction of 31 Associates in January of this year, the first such cuts following 10 years of continued business growth. The Company cites continued soft sales caused by the general economic slowdown and increased inventories as the reasons for the cost cutting measure. Case Chief Executive Officer Tom Arrowsmith states, “Given the significant decline in customer traffic being reported by Case dealers, we know our sales are being affected by the country’s continuing economic slowdown. Our inventories have been building as product orders have slowed, making this reduction a necessary measure now. We believe sales will improve as the economy regains strength and consumer confidence is restored.” Starting April 15, Case will be providing the affected associates with unemployment filing assist...

A Wyoming County prosecutor says he plans to pursue charges against the parents of a 6-month-old baby who died of alcohol poisoning. For the full story, go to WNEP-TV .

The search for missing Jamestown-area mother Corrie Anderson has been re-scheduled for April 18 and 19. Texas Equu Search had planned on searching this weekend, but the group says leftover snow slowed down the mapping process where they're going to search, and there is also a chance of rain this weekend. They'll be using about 300 volunteers to search around Anderson's home. Anderson hasn't been seen since October 29. Her family reported her missing after she didn't pick up her son from school. Find Corrie.com

An anti-gambling group is filing a third lawsuit to stop the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino. The lawyer for Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County says the latest lawsuit repeats most of the same arguments made in the previous two suits, but adds that this suit will close all the legal loopholes the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Seneca Nation of Indians have slipped through. The group is asking US District Judge William Skretny to reverse his decision calling the casino property sovereign Seneca territory. The group says even if the Buffalo Creek property is Indian land, it is subject to prohibitions in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that forbid gambling on Indian land acquired after the act took effect in 1988.

One of the two federal lawsuits against Clearfield County District Attorney William Shaw Jr. has been dismissed. Clearfield Borough Police officers Brian Dixon and Sgt. Gregory Neeper filed a lawsuit in June alleging that Shaw wrongly accused them of lying on police reports "in retaliation for their support of his political opponent" in his 2007 re-election campaign. The other lawsuit was filed by Derek Walker, who claims Shaw sabotaged his campaign for the Republican nomination for a US House seat by filing charges against him just days before the primary election. Walker lost to Glenn Thompson, who went on to win the seat in the general election.

The West Valley Demonstration Project will get $74 million in federal stimulus funding. This means the cleanup will be speeded up by about three years and more than 200 new jobs will be created. The money will be used to design and build a storage system for 275 high-level nuclear waste canisters and move them out of the facility's old reprocessing building, which is scheduled for decontamination and demolition. It will also be sued to clean up leftover liquid waste, demolish other buildings where nuclear waste was processed, and stop the flow of contaminated groundwater on the site.

Police have confiscated 14 bags of marijuana at a Philadelphia elementary school. Two 10-year-old boys and a 9-year-old boy were taken into custody Tuesday at Thomas Morton Elementary School. Police say it appears one boy sold a small bag of the drug for $2 and gave away another bag. For the full story, go to WPVI-TV .

By Dan Toomey State Senator Cathy Young (R-C-I, Olean) today fought to restore $30 million in state funds for the Dairy Assistance Program, as well as restore $10 million for other agriculture programs that are vitally important to the state’s largest industry. The Dairy Assistance Program provided $30 million in direct support payments to the state’s dairy producers to help prevent family farms from going out of business. The Senator proposed an amendment to the 2009-10 state budget to reverse cuts that could be disastrous to programs that serve every sector of agriculture. Democrats, including current Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Darrel Aubertine, voted against the agriculture program restorations. “The costs of operating a dairy farm keep going up, while the price farmers receive for their milk keeps dropping,” Senator Young said. “New York State has lost hundreds of farms in recent years and that is a tremendous blow to the economies of rural communities. The reauthoriz...