Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo made it official today: He’s running for governor. His campaign website posted a new video message this morning, in which he details his “New NY Agenda” that he says will clean up Albany. Steve Levy, Carl Paladino and Rick Lazio, who chose Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards as his running mate, are the Republicans running for New York governor. Cuomo’s announcement means that the sitting attorneys general in both New York and Pennsylvania are running for governor. Tom Corbett won the Pennsylvania Republican primary on Tuesday. http://www.andrewcuomo.com/Andrew_Cuomo_2010/2010-05-22-andrew-cuomo-announces-the-plan-video

More than 10,000 gallons of crude oil spilled out of three oil storage tanks in Forest County Thursday morning when vandals opened the valves on them, and then a fire started during the cleanup effort. Catalyst Energy of Cranberry Township notified state officials and called in cleanup crews when they discovered the leaks. The state Department of Environmental Protection said much of the oil went into underground brine tanks. But Friday, an excavator hit a rock while workers were digging a pit to collect the spilled oil. The friction caused a spark, which started a fire, according to DEP spokeswoman Fred Tarbell. The Marienville Fire Department used foam to suppress the fire, she said. About 600 gallons of oil came from two storage tanks on the Watson Farm in Howe Township. More than 7,500 gallons came from a tank on the nearby Matson Farm. Tarbell said that tank could not hold all the oil and, once it filled, another 630 gallons spilled onto the ground. That’s where crews were digging...

Bradford dentist Dr. Dennis Faucher gives the keynote address during a Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Ceremony, hosted by State Representative Marty Causer, Saturday morning at Bradford Area High School. An emotional Faucher told his fellow veterans that their service in Vietnam is "part of us and partially defines us." He was a distinguished helicopter pilot and received many honors, including the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Melanie Bizzarro, an 8th grade student at Fretz Middle School, sings The National Anthem. "It has been said," Causer told the auditorium packed with veterans and their families, "that the only thing more tragic than a country without heroes is one that has them, but forgets them. America was fortunate to have heroes willing to serve our country during the Vietnam era. We are committed to remembering their heroism, their sacrifice and their honor." The Bradford American Legion, Bradford VFW, Crosby ...

Michele McCann of Bradford wins WESB and The HERO's Fridge-N-Food contest by picking the key that unlocked the chain around a brand new Kenmore EnergyStar refrigerator from Sears of Bradford. She also won $100 worth of food from Tops Friendly Market in Bradford, and beverages from Bradford City Beers! Here, Michele gets high-fives and congratulations from other contestants and friends. And, Frank Williams asks her what it's like to be a winner. Michele was also nice enough to pose for a picture with the station crew. Congratulations to Michele -- and thank you to everyone who participated!

By TIM GROSS SBU ‘11 ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y.-- In 2009, Fr. Gerald McCaffrey, O.F.M., was inducted into the St. Bonaventure University Athletics Hall of Fame as a longtime moderator for athletics. Now his legacy will extend through a $400,000 endowment made in his name by the Leslie C. Quick III family. This is the third major endowment established by the Quick family. In 1999 the Martine-Keenan Endowment was established to fund faculty development and in 2007 the Clarkson Arts Education Endowment was established to support arts education programming at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The Fr. Gerald McCaffrey, O.F.M., Endowment for Athletics will be used to augment the men’s basketball program and help support St. Bonaventure’s 14 intercollegiate sports programs. It is the second-largest gift in SBU athletics history. “We are grateful to Les Quick and his family for this incredibly generous and significant gift,” said Steve Watson, athletics director. “The endowment will ben...

Coudersport-based state police are investigating an incident of criminal mischief that happened between 11 a.m. May 9 and 10:30 a.m. Thursday at a camp on Topeka Road about 75 yards east of Route 44 in Clara Township. They say someone broke several windows at the camp owned by Lyle Steinhagen of Butler. Someone broke into the Shinglehouse home of 70-year-old Dorwin Taylor and removed $1,999 from an office desk drawer. The incident happened between at around 4 p.m. Tuesday. A 45-year-old woman is facing charges after attempting to buy a handgun in violation of the Uniform Firearms Act. The Pennsylvania Instant Check System revealed that she is prohibited from acquiring a firearm. The incident happened at River Valley Surplus in Ridgway. Police didn’t release the woman’s name. A $100 bill was removed from a 69-year-old Kersey woman’s pursue when she was shopping at the St. Marys Wal-Mart at 2 p.m. Friday. Police are continuing their investigating and reviewing surveillance video. A Washi...

A Duke Center teenager escaped injury in a one-car crash at 11 o’clock Friday night on Route 66 in Highland Township, Elk County. State police say a car driven by 18-year-old Jordan Beckwith was at the top of James City Hill when, for an unknown reason, it crossed into the opposite lane of travel, left the road and hit a boulder. The car then spun around before coming to rest. Her passenger, 49-year-old Harold Beckwith Jr., also of Duke Center, was not hurt. Police say Jordan Beckwith will be charged with “driving on roadways laned for traffic.”

A Pennsylvania woman is dead after a crash that closed the I-90 in the Town of Westfield Friday afternoon. 47-year-old Roberta Rivers of Bethel Park was thrown from an SUV when it rolled over. She suffered severe head injuries. Meghan Rivers, who is several months pregnant, had cuts on her head. The driver, 23-year-old Walter Harris of Pittsburgh was also thrown from the vehicle. He suffered a broken back and cuts on his head. State police say Harris lost control of his SUV after he over-corrected his steering when another vehicle passed him. The SUV rolled several times.

Eric Marasco and Olivia Chapman pose for a picture outside of Bradford High before Friday night's prom. ( Your memory does serve you right. I led last year's prom page with Olivia, too. When you've got a good thing going, why change it? ) Emily Marshall Elizabeth and Sarah Lynzy Wheaton Pug Fuhrman and Tate Slaven Marissa Buchheit, Mary Bean and Chelsey Colosimo. Cole Vecchio (above) and friends arrive in style, as do many other prom-goers (below).

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Thursday is the last day of classes in the Bradford Area School District, but students at Fretz Middle School won’t be counting the minutes until the final bell rings. They’ll be counting laps, and the money they’re raising for the American Cancer Society, in their first-ever Mini Relay for Life. Fran Stewart of the cancer society explained on Thursday’s LiveLine on WESB that school principal Tina Slaven and teacher Judy Abbey contacted her saying they really wanted to get involved with the cancer society, and were looking for ideas. From there, mini relay was born. “It will have all the aspects of the big relay,” Stewart said, “just miniaturized.” The mini relay is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 3, and will feature a dunk tank, tug-o-war game and other activities, as well as a live broadcast by Scott Douglas on WESB starting at 11 a.m. To get ready for the relay, the school held an art contest to determine the design of the official mini relay ...

“Coping with Schizophrenia” will be the topic at Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC’s) fifth annual Rays of Hope Mental Health Gala scheduled for Thursday, May 27, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., in the main lobby. The guest speaker will be Frederick J. Frese, Ph.D., a psychologist who served for 15 years as the director of psychology at Western Reserve Psychiatric Hospital, one of Ohio’s largest psychiatric hospitals. He is currently coordinator of the Ohio’s Summit County Recovery Project. “This event will bring a wealth of information about mental illness to anyone in the community who wants and needs to learn more. Our ultimate hope is to eliminate the stigma of mental illness,” said Jacqueline Shine-Dixon, director of BRMC’s Bradford Recovery Systems, which is the hospital’s psychiatry department. Thirty-five years ago, while a young Marine Corps officer, Dr. Frese was diagnosed with schizophrenia and over the next 10 years was in and out of mental hospitals, often on secure wards. ...

An article by Kong Ho, associate professor of art at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, about two local murals appears in the current issue of Teaching Artist Journal. The Teaching Artist Journal is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Taylor and Francis Group. The article, titled “Mural Painting as Inclusive Art Learning Experience,” presents two case studies of murals Ho worked on in the Bradford community, one in Blaisdell Hall on campus and the other at Floyd C. Fretz Middle School. The article gives historical, theoretical and practical insights into the role mural painting can play in inclusive education. The Blaisdell Hall mural was designed and painted by Ho and 10 Pitt-Bradford students in 2008. Most of the students had no art experience. The mural depicts the disciplines taught in Blaisdell Hall, which is home to the Division of Communication and the Arts. In spring 2009, Ho worked with Fretz art teacher Janelle Turk and life ski...

Three people wee taken to Hamot Medical Center, and the I-90 in Westfield was closed, following an accident at around 12:30 this afternoon. State police say an SUV went out of control after being passed by another vehicle. The SUV rolled over several times, ejecting the man who was driving and a female passenger. She suffered severe head trauma and back injuries. Another passenger was not ejected from the vehicle, but is several months pregnant. Police haven’t released the victim’s names yet. A New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit were on scene to assist in the accident investigation. We’ll bring you more information when it becomes available.

Penn State Cooperative Extension in cooperation with DCNR Bureau of Forestry, North Central Forest Landowners Association, PA Tree Farm System, Headwaters RC&D, Natural Resource Conservation Service, PA Game Commission, and Farm Service Agency are providing a workshop and field day specifically for private forest landowners and land managers to learn and discuss forestry and wildlife conservation and management on forest land. The forestry and wildlife conservation field day will be held at the Moose Lodge in Port Allegany in McKean County, Pennsylvania on Saturday, June 19 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The morning session will introduce many of the forestry and wildlife practices, cost share programs available and the services provided by our local agencies. The afternoon session will include a bus field tour of area tree farms, forest stewardship properties and game lands demonstrating many forestry and wildlife practices. There is a minimal registration fee and parti...

Marienville, Pa. – The Marienville Ranger District of the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) is proposing to collect information on how glossy buckthorn responds to mechanical treatment, i.e. cutting, in relation to the forest environment and timing of the treatment. A total of five acres of treatment will occur. After the initial cutting, the treatments may be repeated during the third and fifth years depending on their effectiveness. The project area is located within Warrants 1570, 1571, 1574, and 1575 of Spring Creek Township in Elk County and Warrant 4865 of Ridgway Township in Elk County, Pennsylvania. This proposal intends to cut glossy buckthorn once during the growing season and again in the dormant season on approximately 1.0 acre in each of the following settings: fully-stocked hardwood stand, commercial thinning, final harvest, savannah, and a wetland. Basic data would be collected on the response by native vegetation within each treatment area. Maps and complete project descr...

A Frewsburg man convicted of child pornography charges has been sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervision. 38-year-old Raymond Mason was convicted in February of possession of child pornography and attempted receipt of child pornography. According to the US Attorney’s Office, on multiple occasions,Mason took nude pictures of a 6-year-old girl; went to about 50 websites containing child porn; and attempted to buy three child pornography videotapes through the mail. http://www.justice.gov/usao/nyw/press/press_releases/Mason2Press.pdf

Harrisburg – Pennsylvania’s economy expanded by adding 34,000 jobs in April, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today. “This is the largest monthly increase in jobs since February 1996,” Governor Rendell said. “Over the past two months, Pennsylvania employers added 54,000 new jobs.” The majority of the job growth was in the service-providing industries, which include education, health care and financial services. The strongest sign that the recovery is finally taking hold is the job growth in the manufacturing sector. “President Obama’s Economic Stimulus program is working and it’s a key reason that the recession is finally behind us. In the month of April, our factories added 4,400 jobs,” noted the Governor. “April marked the third straight monthly increase in factory jobs – something that hasn’t happened in four years. “We know that on top of the approximately 6,000 Pennsylvanians hired to perform stimulus road, bridge and transit construction projects during our construction season, an...

There are still spots available for Locks of Love on Monday at Bradford Area High School. They have several open slots between 2 and 4 p.m. It isn't too late to sign up, and walk-ins will be accommodated as time permits. To make an appointment, call Katie at 558-8758.

MAYVILLE, NY -- Recent news concerning the closure of several State parks, including Long Point State Park near Bemus Point, has moved Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards to remind the public that the Marina at Long Point remains open. Earlier this week, Edwards spoke with Mark Thomas, Western New York Regional Director for NYS Parks, after news broke that Long Point State Park, including many other parks, would be barricaded until further notice. Barriers went up at Long Point on Monday, May 17, but Edwards said there is still access to the Marina. "Mr. Thomas reassured me that the Marina at Long Point State Park, as well as the concession area, will remain open for the remainder of the spring as well as the upcoming summer months," Edwards said. Edwards encouraged residents and visitors to continue to plan on using the Marina at Long Point as a public boat launch for their recreational activities. "The park is a huge asset to the region that provides inexpen...

Part of an 18-year-old boy’s arm was cut off during an accident Thursday night in the Town of Chautauqua. Zachary Berlund of Celoron was thrown from the vehicle and the impact severed part of his arm. 19-year-old Jesse Colburn of Jamestown was driving the car. At just before 7 p.m. it went out of control and rolled over several times. Colburn and two other passengers, 18-year-old Kaycee L. Colburn and 17-year-old Natasha A. Jashurek, both of Jamestown, were flown by Starflight and Mercyflight to Hamot Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. Berlund was taken by ambulance to Westfield Memorial Hospital. The investigation into the accident is continuing, and charges are pending against the driver.

A Salamanca woman is facing charges after an accident Tuesday afternoon on Route 417 near Birmingham Road in the Town of Great Valley. Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies say a car driven by 35-year-old Tammy Dowdy left the road and crashed into a ditch. While investigating the crash, deputies observed Dowdy acting erratically, and eventually discovered that she had marijuana with her. She’s charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana.

A Lewis Run man is facing charges after an accident Wednesday evening on Route 46 in Keating Township. State police say 44-year-old Darryl Wallace was traveling north when his car left the road, hit a culvert barrier and a ditch. Wallace left the scene but was found a short time later. He suffered minor injuries. Police say charges of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident are pending.

A 16-year-old student at Maple Grove Junior-Senior High School is charged with assault after allegedly punching a 14-year-old in the face and head. The incident happened at the school at 2:43 Thursday afternoon, according to Chautauqua County Sheriff's Deputies. The 16-year-old girl is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

A Fredonia man and Dunkirk woman are accused of assaulting two other people early Thursday morning in the Town of Sheridan. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say 30-year-old Victor Arce and 21-year-old Jessica Robb followed the victims for a long period of them on West Sheridan Road and when their cars were stopped at the same time, Robb started fighting with one of the victims, resulting in a bruised eye socket. Arce is also accused of hitting the other victim several times with a blunt object to prevent her from participating in the fight. She suffered a minor arm injury. Acre and Robb are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

The YWCA of Bradford held its 13th Annual Leader Luncheon Wednesday afternoon at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Pictured are Outstanding Leaders Kristen Tate Luther and her daughter Lauren; Mariann Kahle and her daughter Lauryn; and Cathy Zapel with her daughter, Youong Leader Katie Zapel. ( I tried to get Donna Tate and Emma Sherwin in the picture, too, but I kept losing them. ) To listen to the introductions and the speeches, click on each woman's name: Mariann Kahle Kristen Tate Luther Katie Zapel Kris, Katie and Marianne with YWCA Executive Director Amy Pierce.

A Weedville teenager and a St. Marys woman injured each other during an incident early Wednesday morning Near Spring At 4 Corners in Fox Township. Ridgway-based state police say 22-year-old Lorraine Krise and 18-year-old David Charles got into a verbal argument that turned physical. They both suffered minor injuries. Charles is also accused of punching and breaking the back window of Krise’s van. His left forearm was cut. They’ve both been cited for criminal mischief and harassment. Sometime between 3:30 Saturday afternoon and 9:30 Tuesday morning someone pulled road signs out of the ground on Topeka Road, about 1/10 of a mile east of Route 44 in Clara Township then threw them into the river. Coudersport-based state police say damage to the signs is estimated at $300. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call 274-8690. Two trash haulers have been cited for illegal transportation of municipal waste for incidents Tuesday morning at the Greentree Landfill in Fox Township. ...

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Pirates Charities announced today that the Pirate Parrot, in partnership with Mosites Motorsports, will embark on a 350-mile charity "Cruise for a Cure" across the state of Pennsylvania from Monday, June 28 through Wednesday, June 30 to help raise funds and awareness for Prostate Cancer research. The Parrot will leave Philadelphia on Monday and arrive in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, just in time for the beginning of the Pirates and Phillies series at PNC Park, which begins on Thursday, July 1. Fans can make donations to the "Cruise for a Cure" by visiting www.pirates.com/cruise to help the Parrot raise money for Prostate Cancer research. Donations will be accepted as a one-time flat donation or on a permile pledge basis. All funds will be raised through Pirates Charities and then donated directly to the Western Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Foundation. In addition to making donations, fans can visit pirates.com/cruise to view the Parrot...

Bridge rehabilitation work on a Route 6 bridge west of Galeton will require a temporary traffic signal, starting Tuesday, May 25. The signal will enforce an alternating traffic pattern as crews work to repair the deck one side at a time. The bridge is located on Route 6 between the villages of West Pike and Walton, about five miles west of Galeton in Potter County. This work is financed with federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Rehab work will also include installation of a new, latex concrete deck surface. PennDOT expects the temporary signal and one-lane pattern to be in place until late June. All work is weather and schedule dependent. Swank Associated Companies of New Kensington is the contractor on this job. This bridgework is part of a $2.2 million contract to rehabilitate seven bridges in Clearfield and Potter counties. This project is part of PennDOT’s more than $66 million investment of federal economic recovery funds for 17 transportation proj...

The New York State Department of Transportation has announced that NY Route 60 (Washington Street), from South Main Street to Forest Avenue, in the city of Jamestown, Chautauqua County, will be closed beginning on Monday, May 24, for highway reconstruction as a part of the Washington Street Bridge replacement project. The closure will be in effect for approximately 6 weeks. The existing posted detours around the Washington Street Bridge will still be in effect. Motorists are advised to use alternate local routes to detour around the work zone on Washington Street.

Two Olean men have been sentenced to state prison time for trying to sell crack cocaine in the city. 52-year-old Jeffrey Mayfield was sentenced in Cattaraugus County Court to four years in state prison for trying to sell crack on July 22. 21-year-old Stacy “Little Stacy” Spencer Jr. was sentenced to two years in state prison in connection with two separate incidents. In the first, he tried to sell crack on November 9, 2008. In the second, he tried to sell cocaine on July 23.

A 23-year-old Bradford man accused of biting a 5-year-old because he said he wanted to discipline her, has waived his preliminary hearing on charges that he tried to keep the girl’s mother from testifying against him. Darryl Sherlock of South Kendall Avenue is accused of biting the girl’s leg on March 17 at her home. He’s charged with simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He waived those charges to court last month. According to papers filed in District Judge Dom Cercone’s office, on March 25, Sherlock called the girl’s mother and asked that she say he was not at her home on the night of the alleged assault, and that she not appear at a hearing to testify against him. That was the charge waived to court Wednesday. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/man-accused-of-biting-5-year-old.html

The New York State Commission of Correction has accused Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard and his staff of "gross negligence and incompetence" following the October 2009 escape of inmate Brian Collins from the Erie County Holding Center. In a report released today, the commission says the escape was "entirely preventable." Collins, who was labeled as an "Escape Risk," somehow left his cell and made it to the roof of the 7-story building. The report details the escape, Collins' criminal background and the state's accusations against the Sheriff's Department. The report also says the commission was “dismayed to discover many of the same failures in security and supervision that were cited in the investigation of the escape of Ralph ‘Bucky’ Phillips … in April 2006 …” http://www.scoc.state.ny.us/pdfdocs/erie-brian-collins-escape20100519.pdf

Surgeons from UPMC will perform orthopedic surgery at Erie Shriners Hospital for Children under a new agreement between the two facilities. Under the new agreement, two surgeons from UPMC's Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh will treat outpatients at the Erie hospital three days a week. One surgeon begins work Monday and the other will start in July. Erie Shriners has had a shortage since its two full-time surgeons resigned in 2007, forcing the hospital to cut 39 support staff. Adding the UPMC doctors will allow the hospital to see 170 more outpatients and schedule 5 to 7 more surgeries each week. http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/News/SHCErieChildrensHospAgreement?hospital=Erie

Tuesday’s rain might have kept some people from going to the polls, but it didn’t seem to keep mischief-makers off the streets of Bradford. Bradford City Police got reports of criminal mischief on Interstate Parkway and Main Street, disputes on Oxford and Jefferson streets, noise on Bushnell and Congress streets and harassment on Lorana Avenue, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers were also asked to investigate a theft on Forman Street, a disturbance at a downtown hotel and a suspicious person on a Fisher Avenue. They also got requests to fingerprint people, served a couple of subpoenas, executed a search warrant and received several requests from people who wanted to speak with an officer.

Dresser® and CAR-BER® announce they have entered into an exclusive global alliance agreement to provide a full line of hot tapping and line stopping products and services. Dresser has developed a full line of hot tapping and line stopping equipment and accessories to enhance its Blackhawk® intervention solutions product line. CAR-BER is a leader in industrial specialty services with a focus on highly trained and skilled field technicians. Together Dresser and CAR-BER offer customers quality fittings combined with specialized installation services. Dresser, founded in Bradford, has locations in over 150 countries, and CAR-BER has 27 service centers worldwide. This new global alliance is uniquely positioned to respond quickly to the needs of the global energy market. “This alliance provides our customers a viable option in sourcing their fittings and service solutions,” stated Deak Harris, Vice President of Dresser Pipeline Solutions. “Dresser’s experience and reputation in the natural g...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Congressman Joe Sestak’s apparent victory over incumbent Arlen Specter in the Democrat primary for US Senate is being called historic – and Bradford Democrats can say they were part of that history. In the city, Sestak got 107 votes, barely edging out Specter, who picked up 103, according to unofficial numbers tabulated at WESB and The HERO. When Sestak spoke with WESB last week, he said Specter’s party-switching would be the incumbent’s downfall. “It kind of demonstrates – Are you really in this out of core beliefs and conviction or is it political calculation?” he asked. “It’s probably pretty tough for him waking up each morning, kind of remembering what he has to say rather than just being able to say it out of belief and conviction.” Late Tuesday night, Specter delivered a brief speech in Philadelphia. “It’s been a great privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania and it’s been a great privilege to be in the US Senate, and I’ll be working ...

Tom Causer led the field of four for Member of the Republican State Committee with nearly 28 percent of the vote. For the second spot, Dick Kallenborn slipped past Michele Alfieri-Causer by 3/10ths of a percentage point. Fran DeLancey ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket

Congressman Glenn Thompson ran unopposed in Tuesday's primary and garnered 2,820 votes in McKean County. Democrat Michael Pipe, who will run against Thompson in the fall for the 5th District Congressional seat, picked up 977 votes in McKean County. In Elk County, Pipe got 2,627 votes and Thompson got 1,988. In Cameron County, Thompson got 449 and Pipe got 299. Elsewhere: Centre County: Thompson 10,628; Pipe 8,050 Clarion County: Thompson 4235; Pipe 2038 Clearfield County: Thompson 5957; Pipe 4661 Forest County: Thompson 560; Pipe 354 Potter County: Thompson 1956; Pipe 544 Tioga County: Thompson 3749; Pipe 1074 Venango County: Thompson 4087; Pipe 2037 Warren County: Thompson 1017; Pipe 658

State Representatives Marty Causer, Kathy Rapp and Matt Gabler all ran unopposed in Tuesday's primary. However, Gabler will have a challenger in November. In the heavily Democrat Elk County, Democrat Frank Straub got 2,797 votes. Republican Gabler got 2,124 with all 32 precincts reporting. In Clearfield County, Gabler got 2,404. Straub picked up 1,431. Causer garnered 2,341 votes in McKean County; 2,039 in Potter County; and 471 in Cameron County with all precincts reporting. Rapp received 620 votes McKean County; 3,114 in Warren County; and 590 in Forest County with all precincts reporting.

New Yorkers voted on their school district budgets today. In Cattaraugus County, Allegany-Limestone voters rejected the budget. The Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Ellicottville, Olean, Portville, Randolph and Salamanca budgets passed. In Chautauqua County, Brocton, Fredonia and Jamestown voters rejected their school district budgets. All others passed.

Unofficial results: Joe Sestak 53.8 percent Arlen Specter 46.2 percent Specter's speech: It’s been a great privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania and it’s been a great privilege to be in US Senate and I’ll be working very, very hard for the people of the Commonwealth in the coming months. In McKean County, with all 42 precincts reporting, Congressman Joe Sestak beat Arlen Specter by a margin of 57 percent to 43 percent on the Democratic side. Republican Pat Toomey has been declared the winner on the Republican side. He got more than 71 percent of the vote in McKean County. For governor, Dan Onorato has been declared the Democrat winner, and got 42 percent of the vote in McKean County. Republican Tom Corbett has more 74 percent of the vote in McKean County so far. For lieutenant governor, it’s Democrat Scott Conklin with 60 percent of the vote and Republican Jean Craigue Pepper edging out Darryl Metcalfe by half a percentage point. Congressman Glenn Thompson is running unoppo...

With 38 of 42 precincts reporting, Tom Causer is leading the field of four with 28 percent of the vote. For the second spot, it's neck-and-neck between Michele Alfieri-Causer and Dick Kallenborn.

In McKean County, with 30 of 42 precincts reporting, Congressman Joe Sestak has a 60 percent to 40 percent lead over Senator Arlen Specter on the Democratic side. Republican Pat Toomey has a 72 to 28 percent lead over Peg Luksik. For governor, Democrat Jack Wagner, who has actually been to McKean County, has 43 percent of the vote. (Dan Onorato leads statewide) Republican Tom Corbett has 69 percent. For lieutenant governor, it’s Democrat Scott Conklin and Republican Darryl Metcalfe in the lead. Congressman Glenn Thompson is running unopposed as garnered 1,035 votes. Democrat Michael Pipe, who will run against Thompson in the fall, picked up 246 votes in McKean County. In Elk County, Pipe got 2,627 votes and Thompson got 1988 with all 32 precincts reporting. For Republican State Committee Member, Dick Kallenborn and Anita Johnson are the top 2 vote-getters. Fran DeLancey ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket State Representatives Marty Causer, Kathy Rapp and Matt Gabler are all runnin...

Anton Geiser Moved to PA in 1956 A judge has ordered that a Sharon, PA, man be deported to Austria for serving as an armed guard at Nazi death camps during World War II. 85-year-old Anton Geiser was born in what is now part of Croatia, and came to the United States from Austria in 1956. Gieser’s US citizenship was revoked in 2006 after he admitted that when he was a guard at a camp near Berlin in 1943, he escorted forced laborers to and from work sites, guarded prisoners from an SS watch tower and was under standing orders to shoot any prisoner attempting to escape. Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer says, “As a Nazi concentration camp guard during World War II, Anton Geiser must be held to account for his role in the persecution of countless men, women and children.” http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/May/10-crm-586.html

If your inspection sticker isn’t sticking, PennDOT says you’re not alone. They say many motorists have told them the stickers are peeling off the inside of their windshields. They add that police are aware of the problem, and it’s OK to stick the stickers back on the best you can. If you’d rather get another sticker, the replacement costs about $4.

The Eldred WWII Museum opened on Memorial Day 1996 and the Memorial Day Weekend continues to be an important time of remembering the persons who have served and sacrificed for the causes of freedom. In the midst of family gatherings, picnics and parades, it is still important to pause and remember why we have our freedoms. Our 2010 Memorial Day Weekend theme is “Meet the Veterans” and will provide a family-friendly event with opportunities to thank some of our local veterans and remember our fallen heroes. The entire weekend’s events are free and open to the public. Saturday, May 29, the Museum will be open from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. with a full day of activities. Veterans who served and the public who would like to say thank you are invited to meet in Mitchell Paige Hall. The times for veterans to meet are as follows : WWII at 10:00, Korea at 11:00, Vietnam at 1:00, Gulf War at 2:00, Iraq & Afghan at 3:00. There will be video games for the kids in Tank Mountain. Special Displays an...

After 19 months in the iTunes App Store, the Virtual Zippo Lighter, developed by skyrockit, is ubiquitous with iPhone & iPod users -- recently surpassing 10 million downloads. To commemorate this, and the Virtual Zippo Lighter's position as most popular branded app to date, Zippo and skyrockit are introducing exciting new features for the app. Users can now purchase premium, licensed skins in app as well as a host of additional upgrades. Since its introduction into the iTunes App Store, the Virtual Zippo Lighter, which brings the look and feel of Bradford Pa.-based Zippo's iconic lighter to the iPhone, has remained in the Top 10 Free Lifestyle apps. Judging by the Zippo lighter's storied history in the world of music, it is quite clear that this electronic flame is no one-hit wonder. Recently, the rock band Maroon 5 interrupted their concert mid-song to invite a young girl on stage where she proudly raised her iPhone into the air and waved her Virtual Zippo Lighter to a...

Harrisburg – Pennsylvanians now have increased access to transportation news, tips and highlights through PennDOT’s new online Twitter feed — PennDOTNews. “The way that people look for their news and communicate with each other is always evolving, and we want to make sure that our customers have many ways to access important transportation information,” said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E. “Using Twitter allows us to quickly and easily share information with a large audience.” Visit www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews to see PennDOT’s “tweets.” People with Twitter accounts can also opt to automatically follow the updates.

Group Will Work to Permanently Protect Parts of the Allegheny National Forest WARREN – Six conservation organizations, representing nearly 65,000 Pennsylvanians, have joined to form the Pennsylvania Wilderness Coalition. The new group will advocate for wilderness designation on the Allegheny National Forest – the state’s only National Forest. “The Allegheny is located in the northwest corner of the state, but as Pennsylvania’s only National Forest, it belongs to all of us,” said Adam Hostetler of Lebanon, vice president of the Pennsylvania Division, Izaak Walton League of America. “Wilderness designation for some of the most pristine and wild areas on the Allegheny will leave a permanent natural legacy for future generations, so they can forever hike, hunt, camp and explore here.” Wilderness designation by Congress is the highest level of protection that can be given to federal lands, adding them to the National Wilderness Preservation System as areas where nature reigns and people are...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, the McKean Cooperative Extension and the McKean County Conservation District have all received grant money from the state Department of Environmental Protection for a variety of projects. Pitt-Bradford’s $2,523 will go toward developing a renewable energy unit and lab; coordinate an accompanying teacher workshop; and conduct student programs to enhance student learning about renewable energy. The cooperative extension’s $3,747 will go toward coordinating after school clubs with nature-theme games and local ecosystem explorations. The conservation district’s $7,500 will go toward developing and implementing a volunteer water quality monitoring program by recruiting volunteers and coordinating educational training sessions. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=11479&typeid=1

A Sheridan, New York, man is facing charges of unlawfully growing marijuana and obstructing governmental administration. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say they were called to a home on Route 20 for a domestic dispute and, when they arrived, no one answered the door so they started checking around the outside of the home. In the back of the house, they saw several marijuana plants on a window sill, and saw 48-year-old Lee Seybold in a bedroom. Deputies made several attempts to get Seybold to open the door, but he didn’t respond. They were in the process of getting a search warrant to seize the marijuana plants when Seybold started pulling the plants out of the pots in an effort to destroy them. He was arrested and the plants, as well as some pipes, were seized. Seybold was released on his own recognizance.

A Gowanda police officer who was shot in the line of duty two years ago has pleaded guilty to official misconduct in a separate case. Jason Miller admitted that he accepted pizzas in exchange for making traffic tickets “go away.” In September of 2008, someone threw something at Miller’s police cruiser. When he got out of the car, the suspect took off into nearby woods. Miller chased after the suspect, who shot him. Miller was wearing a bulletproof vest. At the time, police questioned a teenager about the incident, but today the case remains under investigation. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/police-officer-shot-but-ok.html

By Sandra Rhodes Visitor & Member Services Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau Tourism is not only the second largest industry in Pennsylvania, but is also an economic engine helping the region. That is certainly along the Pa. Route 6 corridor. “U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania is not only a highly recognized scenic highway, it’s also an economic generator,” said Terri Dennison, executive director of the Pa. Route 6 Heritage Corp. According to a study released by the PA Route 6 Heritage Corp., Route 6 attracts 3.5 million travelers a year. These travelers, in turn, spend about $91.1 million which helps pay for 2,000 jobs. The study also revealed that half of the visitors to Route 6 were first-time visitors. More than 67 percent were staying overnight in hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts or campgrounds. The average stay along Route 6 was 2.9 nights. The typical Route 6 travel party is comprised of one to four adults without children. Travelers along Route 6 in McKean County hav...

An arrest has been made in a 16-year-old murder case in Cattaraugus County. 32-year-old Andie Gasper of Delevan was found dead in his pickup truck in July of 1994 after being stabbed in the heart. Randall Knight of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was originally charged in connection to the death, and was acquitted. Today, the district attorney’s office announced that Gasper’s widow, 47-year-old Cheryl Jenkins Gasper, has been arrested and charged with murder. She pleaded not guilty and is being held in jail without bail.

The coaches for the 37th annual don Raabe Big 30 Charity classic are in place. Tony Tridico and his staff from Youngsville will coach the Pennsylvania All Stars. Wellsville's Frank Brown and his staff will handle the New York All Stars. The Big 30 classic is Saturday August 7 at Bradford's Parkway Field. You'll hear the game on 1490 WESB, 100.1 The Hero and on the web at WESB.com Pictured, the Bradford Area High School football players and cheerleaders who will represent the school during the Big 30 game. Photo courtesy of Patti Arlington

Bradford City Police didn’t have a very restful weekend, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers got reports of harassment on Osborne Place and Jefferson Street, a disturbance on Williams Street, fights on Congress and State streets and vandalism on West Washington Street. They also received reports of a theft and criminal mischief on Congress Street, and more criminal mischief, as well as noise, on Interstate Parkway. They initiated a traffic stop on South Avenue, picked up someone for driving under the influence on Route 219, assisted a motorist on Boylston Street, investigated a hit and run on Summer Street and got a vehicle complaint from East Avenue. Officers also recovered some stolen property, were called to a couple of domestic disputes, got several requests to speak to an officer, checked on a downed wire on Davis Street and looked into a report of a suspicious person on Jackson Avenue.

Two motorcycles collided Sunday afternoon on Route 76 in Ripley. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Chautauqua County Sheriff Deputies say a bike operated by 59-year-old Stephen Shaffer of Bradford hit a motorcycle operated by Terry Mitchtree of Ripley. Shaffer was flown by helicopter to Hamot Medical Center with several broken bones. A passenger on the Shaffer bike, 54-year-old Faith Erwin of Bradford, was also taken to Hamot with a hip injury. Mitchtree was taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital.

Thomas E. Ackerman, 79, of 76 Walker Ave., passed away Saturday (May 15, 2010) in his home. Born Feb. 18, 1931, in Norwich , N.Y., he was the son of Lyle M. and Mary Dunn Ackerman. On June 30, 1956, in St. Joseph Church in Babylon, N.Y., he married the former Maureen Birkmier, who survives. A resident of Bradford since 1960, Mr. Ackerman worked for Corning Glass, AVX and Dresser Manufacturing Co. before becoming a consultant for different industries. In 1986, he began serving as district justice for the City of Bradford until 2000. He graduated from Villanova College in 1953. He also served in the U.S. Marines and was a member of St. Bernard Church. Surviving, besides his wife, are a daughter, Mary Eileen Ackerman of Sarasota, Fla.; five sons, Thomas E. Ackerman II of Rutland, Mass., Stephen J. Ackerman of Bradford, David M. Ackerman of Allentown, Michael K. Ackerman of Olean, N.Y., and Robert J. Ackerman of Bradenton, Fla.; and 11 grandchildren. Besides his parents, Mr. Ackerman was p...

Dr. Stephen Botek talks about "Song on My Lips," how jazz influenced his life. Listen here . For more information, go here .

A 27-year-old man is accused of assaulting two women at a home in Shinglehouse. In a fax to WESB and The HERO, state police report that at 4:30 Thursday afternoon a 23-year-old woman said Jesse Holmes kneed her in the abdomen. Police say there were no visible injuries. Holmes is also accused of slapping and punching a 40-year-old woman, which resulted in bruising. Holmes is charged with simple assault and harassment. He was arraigned and sent to Potter County Jail on $1,500 bail.

A Weedville man is accused of threatening a woman with a kitchen knife. In a fax to WESB and The HERO, state police say 62-year-old Paul Thomas was in an argument with a woman at a home on Bennetts Valley Highway in Jay Township between 2:30 and 3:30 Saturday afternoon when he picked up the knife, held it to the woman’s back, attempted to choke her, shoved her head into a cabinet and pushed her to the ground. Thomas is charged with terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment. He was sent to Elk County Jail on $5,000 bail.

A Mills man has been arrested for having indecent contact with a 15-year-old girl. In a fax to WESB and The HERO, state police say 35-year-old Phillip Lee Tubbs of Route 49 had inappropriate contact with the girl from June 1 of 2008 through this past Tuesday. He’s charged with a felony count of endangering the welfare of child, and misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors and indecent assault. Tubbs’ bail is sent at $15,000.