Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Crews demolished the apartment building at 42 Elm/85 Congress Street Saturday morning after a fire destroyed it Friday morning. The fire has been ruled accidental. No one was hurt, but three families were left homeless. The Red Cross is assisting them.

Bradford City Firefighter Butch Kreiner (above) corrals some kids who are overly eager Easter egg hunters and just waiting for the siren to blow to start the hunt. This was the Firefighters' Local 655 41st Annual Easter Egg Hunt. It was held at Callahan Park. This is the 2- to 4-year-old age group. They also had groups for 5 to 7 year olds and 8 to 10 year olds. The videos aren't very long, but you get the idea:

From the US Forest Service: Rock Snot – spreading terror in streams. Do your part – keep ‘rock snot’ out! OK – just what is rock snot? The scientific name is Didymosphenia geminate, more commonly called ‘Didymo’. Rock snot is a diatom, which is a one-celled freshwater algae (plant) with siliceous (quartz or glass-like) cell walls. The cells are microscopic. The danger of rock snot is that the algae blooms in the summer and forms a mat across the entire stream that can be as much as eight inches thick, and many miles long. This mat literally suffocates aquatic insects and the stream bottom. It ruins the visual appearance of a stream because rock snot looks like toilet paper streaming in the flow. Unlike other algae, rock snot is not slippery; it has the consistency of wet cotton. Throw your line in the stream and try and reel back a t-shirt… rock snot ruins angling opportunities. Once rock snot invades a stream there are no techniques to remove it. Where did rock snot come fr...

The Mount Jewett Charter Coalition recently held a "DeSio's Famous Chicken Parmigiana Dinner" fundraiser for the proposed Charter School. The group sold and served 241 dinners Mount Jewett FireHall. Approximately $2,600 was raised during this fundraiser. This money will be used for upcoming legal fees associated with the Charter Appeals Hearing in Harrisburg and for a PA Charter Coalition of Charter Schools Conference that members of the MJ Charter Coalition will be attending that is being held in Philadelphia this month. The Charter School supporters turned out in large numbers to support the MJ Coalition's efforts to put a Charter School in Mount Jewett. People from as far as Ludlow, Kane, Bradford, Corry, Olean, St. Marys and Smethport attended the dinner. Photo provided by the Mount Jewett Charter School Coalition

By Jerry Feaser PA Game Commission HARRISBURG – This year marks the 41st anniversary of the Keystone State’s spring gobbler hunting season, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission is reporting turkey hunters should expect to find exciting opportunities afield as they head out for both the youth and traditional spring season openers. The state’s one-day youth spring gobbler season is April 18; the general spring gobbler season is April 25 to May 25. Hunters who have purchased a second spring gobbler season license may harvest up to two bearded turkeys. “For the springs of four decades, wild turkey hunters have had a chance to match wits with gobblers in the fields and forests of Pennsylvania, and to say they have taken a shine to this special season would be an understatement,” explained Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Although the season was somewhat controversial when proposed, and we started it conservatively to ensure the resource could handle it, today it is one of ...

Starting this weekend, Pastor Mike McAvoy will teach a four week series entitled "Stimulus - God's Bailout Plan For Your Life". "With all the talk about a bail out plan for the American Economy, I thought Easter a great time to kick off a series about God's bail out plan for our life," said McAvoy. McAvoy said that the Christian faith is about something more than just sitting in a church on the weekend, "God has a lot to say about stimulating our lives to go from nominal to great, ordinary to extraordinary." McAvoy said, that unlike the recently publicized bailout plans geared toward large corporations, God's plan is for everyday people."We all find ourselves facing difficult circumstances throughout our lives and it's good news that God has provided a bailout/stimulus to help us out. We don't have to try to do this thing called life on our own by our own means." The four week series starts this Easter weekend, during the regu...

The Allegheny National Forest (NF) announced today that it will be hosting three public meetings to discuss the oil and gas program and a recently filed settlement that will have a direct effect on future development within the Forest. Meetings are scheduled for: 1. Monday, April 13th, 7:00 p.m., Warren Holiday Inn (Main Ballroom), Ludlow St. in Warren; 2. Tuesday, April 14th, 7:00 p.m., Frame-Westerberg Commons (University Room) at University of Pittsburgh in Bradford 3. Wednesday, April 15th, 7:00 p.m., Clarion Holiday Inn at the junction of State Route 68 and Interstate-80 (exit 62). As Forest Supervisor Marten expressed, “Although this is short notice regarding these meetings, the public deserves to know as soon as possible how we are planning to move forward.” On April 9th, 2009, the United States Forest Service, Allegheny Defense Project, Sierra Club and Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics filed a stipulation of dismissal of the pending lawsuit, along with a settl...

Kane Area School District facilities manager John Rook said the school used to pay between $105,000 to $125,000 annually in natural gas heating costs. With the biomass system, those heating costs have been reduced to $40,000 annually. For the full story, go to the Courier-Express .

The McKean County Planning Commission is planning a feasibility study on the possible conversion of the Knox and Kane Railroad right-of-way to a trail system. McKean County is working with Elk, Forest and Clarion counties on the proposal to create a 69.9-mile trail from Kinzua Bridge State Park to Knox in Clarion County. A state grant would pay half the cost of the study, which has an estimated price tag of about $69,000. If the grant application is approved, the study would start early next year and be finished by spring of 2011. County planning director Debbie Lunden would also like the study to address a proposal for retaining the railroad tracks for a possible new tourist train operation from Kane to Kinzua Bridge State Park.

Penny scarfed down 75 pennies and change - a quarter, two dimes and a nickel, to be exact - totaling $1.25. For the story, go to the Reading Eagle .

Saying she wanted to retrieve medical records, insurance records, clothes and other belongings from the home at 1016 Fairfield St., Catherine Scott, sat on the steps in front of her yard draped with a Steelers blanket, a book of "Healing Prayers" in one hand and a cigarette in the other. For the full story, go to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .

Normally, I would not clarify information found on another radio station's Web site. However, because of numerous e-mails I've received and comments posted to this blog (none of which I published because they were inflammatory, at best), I'm making an exception. The legal definition of "unattended death" is that a person was not under the care of a licensed medical professional at the time of death. Furthermore, Pennsylvania law requires that the coroner investigate an unattended death.

State police fire marshals have released more information on Friday's fires that left seven families homeless. Trooper Greg Agosti investigated the fire at 85 Congress Street and has determined it was an accident. He says the fire started in the downstairs rear apartment and quickly spread to the second floor due to the balloon construction style of the apartment building. There were no injuries, but three families have been left homeless. Edna Hallock of Bradford owns the building. Damage is estimated at $250,000. The building is scheduled for emergency demolition today. Trooper Mike McCracken says the fire at 23 Tibbitts Avenue was also accidental. He says the fire started in second floor apartment and spread throughout the second floor. The first floor was heavily damaged by smoke and water. Four families in that apartment building were left homeless. There were no human injuries, but one kitten died. Guider Investments of Loveland, Ohio, owns the building. Damage is estimated a...

“Bye Bye Birdie,” a Broadway musical comedy based on the early career of Elvis Presley, will be staged Thursday, April 30, at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Woodwind Productions will present the Rock 'n' Roll era-inspired show at 7:30 p.m. at the Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall. Admission is $29 at the door and $24 in advance for the public, $25 at the door and $20 in advance for Pitt-Bradford faculty and staff, and $12 at the door and $10 in advance for students. The show is part of the university’s Season Subscription Series. “Bye Bye Birdie” provided the launching pad for the Broadway careers of songwriters Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. The title character is a Presley-esque Conrad Birdie, idol of teens across the country. Conrad, like Presley, is drafted, throwing his agent, Albert Peterson, out of work. Albert and his girlfriend hold a nationwide contest -- a lucky girl will give a good-bye kiss to Conrad on “The Ed ...

The public is invited to attend a special presentation by the Bob Jones University Ministry Team at Faith Baptist Church, 498 Seaward Avenue, Bradford, on Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 P.M. The group will present a program of familiar hymns and gospel songs, consisting of vocal, piano, and instrumental music, as well as testimonies from team members. The leader of the team, Matias Espinel, will close the service with a brief message from the Word of God. The Music Ministry Team is touring the Mid-Atlantic United States this spring. Members of the group are students at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. Dr. Bill Raymond, pastor of Faith Baptist Church and a graduate of Bob Jones University, invites you to attend this special service. Photo provided by the First Baptist Church.

WARREN --­ On the heels of the passage of the federal Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, National Wildlife Federation (NWF) supports expansion of Congressionally designated wilderness in the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). The ANF wilderness proposal of Friends of Allegheny Wilderness (FAW) has the support of a rapidly growing, broad-based grassroots constituency that seeks protection for some of Pennsylvania¹s last parcels of remote, wild forestland. FAW¹s Citizens¹ Wilderness Proposal for Pennsylvania¹s Allegheny National Forest advocates adding eight areas and 54,460 acres to America¹s National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS), which was established with the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964. "With passage of this important federal public land protection, it¹s now time to turn our attention in earnest to Pennsylvania¹s only national forest -- the Allegheny," said Anthony Caligiuri, Executive Director of NWF¹s Chesapeake Mid-Atlantic Regional Center, in A...

Vince Volpe, president and CEO of Dresser-Rand Group Inc., will discuss business strategy in a talk at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at St. Bonaventure University. The 90-minute presentation by Volpe, a member of the St. Bonaventure University Board of Trustees, will be held in Dresser Auditorium of the John J. Murphy Professional Building on campus. The talk is part of the School of Business’s Visiting Executives Series and is free and open to the public. “Mr. Volpe will talk about Dresser-Rand’s business strategy through these tumultuous economic times,” said Dr. John Watson, dean of the School of Business. “The company has weathered the storm very well.” Dresser-Rand is among the largest global suppliers of rotating equipment solutions, designing, manufacturing and servicing a wide range of technologically advanced centrifugal and reciprocating compressors, steam and gas turbines, and other equipment and control systems used in the oil and gas industry. Dresser-Rand, headquartered in ...

From the Pennsylvania Game Commission: HARRISBURG – Landowners looking to enroll in the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), which is designed to help landowners manage deer on their properties, have until July 1 to submit an application to the appropriate Game Commission Region Office. In addition, a map delineating the property boundaries must be enclosed with the application. Landowners may obtain DMAP applications from the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on “D.M.A.P.” in the “Quick Clicks” box in the right-hand column of the homepage. Applications also can be obtained from any Game Commission Region Office or the Harrisburg headquarters. Eligible lands for DMAP are: public lands; private lands where no fee is charged for hunting; and hunting club lands owned in fee title so long as the club was established prior to Jan. 1, 2000, and they provide a club charter and list of current members to the agency. Coupons for DM...

CLEARFIELD -- PennDOT’s Bureau of Planning and Research, Transportation Planning Division is collecting traffic counts now through June 30 across many roadways in the commonwealth. The counts are taking place at approximately 7,200 randomly selected locations on municipally-owned, local roads throughout Pennsylvania. A listing of exact roads is not available at this time Drivers should not experience any delays associated with the traffic counts. The traffic counts are being performed by vendors contracted by the Department of General Services. The data is needed for annual reporting to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and will also be used to update PennDOT’s database regarding traffic volumes. For more information on traffic counts or municipal operations, visit the PennDOT website at www.dot.state.pa.us .

PennDOT Engineering District 10 is advising motorists that, as part of the Preventative Maintenance (PM) project on I-80, the Interstate will be closed between Hazen (Exit 81) and Reynoldsville (Exit 86) interchanges in Jefferson County during two separate evenings to remove a railroad structure overpass. Beginning on Friday, April 17, 2009, at 9 pm until Saturday, April 18, 2009, at 9 am, I-80 will be closed between Exit 81 (Hazen) and Exit 86 (Reynoldsville). The Interstate will be closed again on Saturday, April 18, 2009, beginning at 6 pm until Sunday, April 19, 2009, ending at 6 am. During those times of closure, traffic will be detoured as listed: · Eastbound Traffic - Both passenger and commercial vehicles will use Exit 81 (Hazen) and follow the POSTED DETOUR. · Westbound Traffic - Passenger vehicles will use Exit 86 (Reynoldsville) and follow the POSTED DETOUR, south on State Route 1830, then west on US 322, then north on PA 28 returning to I-80 at Exit 81 (Hazen). · Westb...

By Mary Hosmer Public Affairs Allegheny National Forest The rabbit squirted out from almost underneath my feet and ‘zagged’ into a field of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). My shotgun fire had ‘zigged’. Beagle 1, rabbit 1, hunter 0. We were hunting switchgrass fields planted on State Game Lands down in Somerset County. My first experience with this grass left me a believer in its value to wildlife. Rabbits, pheasants, and woodcock – wow! I hadn’t had a day of hunting like that since I was a kid in the cedar swamps of Michigan and snowshoe hare were the prey of the day. I was determined to learn more. I had learned ‘some’ about warm season grasses, of which switchgrass is just one kind of this grass, when I attended the Forestry Stewardship Course offered by the Renewable Natural Resources Extension and the Bureau of Forestry. Now I really wanted to know how to establish this grass on my farm here in Pennsylvania, My God’s Little Acre. The first thing I learned was that warm-se...

An Elk County Prison inmate who was missing for about a week is back in custody – in Oklahoma. Douglas Eugene Green was picked up without incident in Oklahoma on Thursday. Elk County officials say he's probably facing charges there, too, so they're not sure when they'll get him back. Green had been granted a six–hour furlough to attend a funeral in Clarion and was supposed to return to Elk County last Friday afternoon, but didn't show up. Green had been serving a 180-day sentence for domestic relations contempt.

New York State Police are investigating the handling of a call reporting that a car had gone off the Thruway in the Town of Portland Monday. The call from a passing motorist came in at around 5 p.m., but Dr. Steven Abrusko and his children weren't found until around 8 p.m. after Ambrusko regained consciousness, found his cell phone and called for help. His four-year-old son Peter and six-year-old daughter Katherine died in the crash. State Police Captain Steven Nigrelli says the responding trooper went to the scene but said he found no sign of the car.

Several people leaving Good Friday services at a Forest Hills church were injured this afternoon, including a woman who lost a leg, when a car driven by a priest lost control in a parking lot. For the full story, go to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .

Terry Mutchler, executive director of Pennsylvania's Office of Public Records, has written to Gov. Rendell questioning whether top administration officials share the view that government should be open and transparent. For the full story, go to the Philadelphia Inquirer .

Area Christians participated in the annual Good Friday Cross Walk this afternoon in downtown Bradford. This part of the walk was from St. Bernard's Church to the First Presbyterian Church. Other churches along the walk were the First United Methodist, First Baptist, Church of the Ascension and Hill Memorial United Methodist.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director No people were hurt but one kitten died, one apartment building is destroyed and two more are damaged as a result of two fires at about the same time in one Congress Street neighborhood this morning. "It was kind of a nightmare," says Bradford City Fire Department Lt. Chris Angell. They got the first call for a fire at 42 Elm Street at just before 7 a.m., and Angell says they called a second alarm before they even got to the scene because he could see the smoke. "The entire rear of the house was engulfed … there was smoke coming from every window," he said. They weren't able to save that building but were able to save the building "two feet away." "With the help of Bradford Township, 87 (Congress Street) had some minor damage, but we basically saved it," Angell said. The apartment building, owned by Edna Hallock, has addresses of 42 Elm Street and 85 Congress Street. Lt. Mike Scrivo says that while the...

A Galeton man is accused of sexually assaulting three young boys at his home between January of 2004 and September of 2008. 22-year-old Edward Stahli allegedly touched the boys' genitals while he was baby-sitting. The boys are four, seven and eight. Stahli has been charged with 15 counts each of indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors. He's free on $50,000 bail.

Environmental groups and the US Forest Service have settled a federal lawsuit over several oil and gas drilling projects in the Allegheny National Forest. Under the settlement, the Forest Service agrees to conduct environmental reviews that the environmentalists say are required. The plaintiffs, including Allegheny Defense Project and the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, claimed the reviews weren't being done. The Forest Service will pay about $19,000 in attorney fees, but admits no wrongdoing. Gas and oil drilling has increased significantly in the forest, and environmentalists say drilling, along with the roads built because of it, can destroy wildlife habitat and hurt recreational opportunities.

Ealier this month we told you about a state senator who wants to change a law regarding baked food sales. Now the issue has gotten national attention in the Wall Street Journal: Inspector Nabs Homemade Desserts At St. Cecilia Church's Lenten Fish Fry .

Norma Gloss, the grandmother of one of convicted cop killer Ralph “Bucky” Phillips’ children, will be able to sue for damages for false arrest by New York State Police during the intense search for the jail escapee in 2006. State Court of Claims Judge Michael Hudson has ordered a trial. Gloss says State Police falsely arrested and illegally held her for several hours on June 28, 2006. Gloss lives in the Town of Pomfret in Chautauqua County. Phillips is serving life in prison in the Clinton Correction Facility in Dannemora, New York, for killing State Trooper Joseph Longobardo. He also shot and wounded troopers Donald Baker Jr. and Sean Brown.

Two Bradford men have pleaded guilty in McKean County Court to their roles in several area burglaries. Court records indicate that 18 year-old James Baribeau and 20 year-old Douglas Carnahan pleaded to robbery, receiving stolen property and hindering apprehension. Carnahan took part in a robbery at a Bradford Uni-mart last October and one at Mastercraft Auto parts in Bradford last August. He’ll be sentenced on May 14. Baribeau took part in a robbery at a Bradford Uni-mart last October and the Hilltop Baptist Church in October. He’ll be sentenced on May 28.

While Bradford City Firefighters battle this blaze (above) at the corner of Elm and Congress streets, Bradford Township firemen were called to this fire (below) near the old Second Ward School, just a few hundred feet away from the first blaze.

Bradford City Firefighters are battling a blaze at the corner of Elm and Congress streets this morning. Everyone got out of the house. While city firefighterse were still battling this fire (and they are still on the scene as of this posting), another fire started just a few hundred feet away across the street from the old Second Ward School. Bradford Township Firefighters are battling that blaze.

Conservation Forestry of New Hampshire is buying 10,000 acres of forest land in Elk County from Kaul and Hall Oil and Gas Company. The Nature Conservancy has an option from Conservation Forestry to get a legal agreement that will limit development on the land, but will provide a "long-term supply of timber" while protecting the ecology that supports wildlife. Part of the land is on the Allegheny National Forest, and part of it is state land east of Route 219. For more information, go to the Nature Conservancy .

Hershey and Mars can appeal a federal judge's decision concerning a civil lawsuit that accuses them of price fixing. U.S. District Judge Christopher C. Conner has issued a memorandum allowing the Pennsylvania candy makers, and others, to appeal his decision. Last month, Conner denied the companies' requests to dismiss the case. The manufacturers control 75 percent of the U.S. market. They are being sued by buyers who accuse them of fixing prices between 2002 and 2007. They say they never conspired to fix prices.

Pennsylvania's acting Department of Labor and Industry secretary has pleaded guilty to a charge of public drunkenness and has paid $329 in fines and costs. 43-year-old Sandi Vito paid the fine at a Harrisburg district judge's office to resolve charges that stemmed from her arrest after drinking at a hotel bar last month. Vito entered a rehabilitation facility after the incident, but has since returned to her $136,000-a-year job. Governor Ed Rendell has said her personal difficulties aren't a reflection of her work performance.

A computer at Penn State Behrend containing Social Security numbers for nearly 11,000 alumni may have breached. Director of marketing and communication Bill Gonda stresses the "may have," saying that it's very unlikely the breach happened. But, he says, the fact that they can't confirm information has been downloaded means they can't deny it either. Letters notifying each of those former students will be mailed from University Park on Saturday with instructions for notifying credit reporting agencies.

A Gettysburg College student is facing criminal homicide charges after his ex-girlfriend was found dead in his off-campus apartment. Police charged 21-year-old Kevin Robert Schaeffer of Oley in the choking and stabbing death of 19-year-old Emily Rachel Silverstein of Roosevelt, New Jersey. For more information, go to the Gettysburg College Web site .

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced that the organization will honor three of Pittsburgh’s Finest who were fatally shot while on duty on April 4. The Pirates will host a special pre-game moment of silence and the playing of taps in honor of Officer Eric G. Kelly, Officer Paul J. Sciullo II and Officer Stephen J. Mayhle prior to the team’s Home Opener against the Houston Astros. Pirates players will wear Pittsburgh Bureau of Police (PBP) caps throughout the game, as well as a commemorative “PBP” patch on the left sleeve of their uniform, in recognition of the three fallen officers. In addition, the visiting Houston Astros players will wear Pittsburgh Bureau of Police caps during pregame introductions. The Pirates will then auction off the authenticated, signed caps from both teams and the game worn Pirates player jerseys on Pirates.com. All proceeds will go to the Pittsburgh Police Fallen Heroes Fund to support the Officer’s families they have left behind. The Pirates will also p...

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection has launched an investigation into the business practices of American Escrow LLC, an Illinois-based escrow company that suddenly halted operations in March 2009. Corbett said that homeowners across Pennsylvania, along with consumers from several other states, used American Escrow to handle the payment of their property taxes and/or homeowners insurance. "Based on our preliminary investigation, it is possible that property tax and insurance bills for more than 100 Pennsylvania consumers were not paid by American Escrow," Corbett said. "It is essential that consumers who used American Escrow contact their local taxing authorities and homeowner's insurance companies as soon as possible to notify them of the problem, verify what payments have been made and make arrangements to directly pay any balances that are due." For more information, go to th...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford recognized individual students for their academic achievements and contributions to campus life at the university’s annual Honors Convocation held Thursday, April 9. Before the awards were given, Dr. Hashim A. Yousif, professor of physics, gave the keynote address. Eighteen students were named University Scholars, an honor given to juniors, seniors and students from the previous year’s graduating class who are or were in the top two percent of their class. Those named University Scholars who were 2008 graduates were Jenelle M. Elmquist, a history/political science major; Kathryn Anne Hetherington, a sports medicine major; Corey William Hickey, a sports medicine major; Juliane Elizabeth Rees, an economics and business management major; and Matthew Thomas Seiberg, a social studies 7-12 major. Those seniors named University Scholars were Debra J. Bell, a history-political science major from Shinglehou...

Governor Ed Rendell today joined thousands of people from across the United States in honoring three Pittsburgh police officers who were killed in the line of duty on April 4. Officers Paul J. Sciullo II, Eric Kelly and Stephen J. Mayhle were shot and killed while responding to a 911 call in the city’s Stanton Heights neighborhood. Two other officers were injured. The Governor praised the officers for their service and sacrifice, and urged all Pennsylvanians to take an active role in making every community safer. The Governor also ordered state flags at all state facilities to fly at half-staff through April 11 to honor the fallen officers. Representatives from the Bradford City Police Department went to Pittsburgh for the service.

From the Pennsylvania Game Commission: HARRISBURG – The Red Coats are coming! The Red Coats are coming! Well, they’re not exactly the British Red Coats invading New England; they’re ruby-throated hummingbirds and it would appear to be a northern invasion! Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are encouraging residents to be on the look-out for ruby-throated hummingbirds, the only hummingbirds regularly found in Pennsylvania or east of the Mississippi in spring and summer. “Hummingbirds begin to trickle into Pennsylvania in April and, by May 1, they’re usually well established across the state,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “They winter in Central and South America. When they head north, they fly nonstop across the massive Gulf of Mexico and then flit from flowerbed to feeder to flowerbed through the South as they work their way north to their nesting grounds.” To help Pennsylvanian’s track this migration, the Game Commission has posted a “Backyard Hummingbird...

The trial for the brother and sister accused of killing the woman's estranged husband is set to start on May 11 in Warren County. Susan Yeager of Tionesta and Cory Altman of Endeavor are both charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the December 5 shooting death of Shawn Yeager. Altman faces additional charges of possession of a firearm and cruelty to animals. According to court documents, Susan Yeager had repeatedly asked her brother to kill her estranged husband. She then allegedly enlisted the help of another man, Robert Pessia of Warren who faces the same charges as Yeager. Pessia will be tried separately, but no date for that trial has been scheduled yet. Authorities say Yeager hatched the plot because she didn't think she was getting enough time with her sons. Her sons found their father's dead body.

A Warren woman has been charged with prostitution after police responded to a call reporting a cell phone theft at a bar. 44-year-old Kelly Hartley is also charged with theft, public drunkenness, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. She's in Warren County Jail. Police say while investigating the theft Wednesday afternoon, they found a woman who matched the suspect's description staggering on East Pennsylvania Avenue. They say when they tried to arrest her, she physically resisted. The phone's owner identified Hartley as the thief. Hartley is also accused of soliciting a man in the bar, and offering to perform a sex act in return for money.

Seneca Resources Corporation has decided it will not sign leases worth $31 million to drill on state forest land in Tioga and Lycoming counties. No reason has been given. In December, Governor Ed Rendell said he planned to take $174 million of the $191 million coming from Seneca and three other companies to help fill a shortfall in the state's budget. Rendell's press secretary Chuck Ardo says the administration is waiting to see whether ExxonMobil, the second-place bidder, wants to exercise its option before deciding what to do.

KDKA-TV is providing live Internet coverage of the memorial service for the three police officrs who died Saturday. Click HERE .

Local residents will be working together to help clean up Bradford this Saturday, thanks to some initiative from a local church and Bradford Mayor Tom Riel. Complaining about the trash along the sides of the road was not an acceptable solution for Open Arms Media Coordinator Josh Hatcher, "I decided rather than complain about the trash strewn along the roads, that it would be better to just pick it up. But to be honest, it's a much bigger job than I can do." "No one of us can do it all, not as a person or an organization," said Open Arms Pastor Mike McAvoy. "but together we all can accomplish a much bigger work in our community to make it a great place to live." Hatcher contacted Mayor Tom Riel about a clean up of some problem areas. "Tom had already been in touch with area residents about their concerns, and he took my on a drive to show me what areas need to be cleaned up," said Hatcher. Hatcher invited members from Open Arms Community Chur...