Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

People in the Twin Tiers took advantage of the beautiful Saturday afternoon to get outside and enjoy some of their favorite activities. These are just some of the people who spent the day checking the yard, garage and porch sales being held for Bradford's Townwide Garage Sale Day. Don't tell these people Red House Beach is closed! This little cutie gets her feet wet for the first time in Red House Lake at Allegany State Park. Even those who weren't enjoying the water, were enjoying the beach. Plenty of people spent the afternoon fishing at ASP, too. Back in Bradford, the adorable Misha gets a lesson in miniature golf from Kim at Hallock's Fun Center on South Avenue.

(CNN) -- Dennis Hopper, the one-time Hollywood enfant terrible who portrayed such indelible characters as "Easy Rider's" biker Billy, "Blue Velvet's" huffing villain Frank Booth and "Hoosiers' " forlorn Shooter Flatch, died of prostate cancer Saturday morning at his home in Venice, California, his wife said. He was 74. For more, go to CNN.com .

Gas prices actually went down before a holiday weekend -- and right here in Bradford, PA. Very unusual.

Bradford City Police on Friday looked into reports of a fight on South Center Street, criminal mischief on Euclid Avenue, harassment on Brookline Court and noise on Kiwanis Court. According to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department, officers also checked on an animal in a Davis Street parking lot, and looked into a parking complaint on Kennedy Street. They also got reports of a suspicious vehicle on High Street and a suspicious person on St. Francis Drive (It wasn’t any of us!). Police also received several request to speak with an officer, were called to a couple of domestic disputes, and served a subpoena and a protection from abuse order.

The statue stolen from the gravesite of a Marine has been destroyed, according to New York State Police. People who would like to help the family of Corporal David Woods replace the statue can send donations to: Corporal Woods St. Michael the Archangel Fund Care of the Community Bank P.O. Box 690 201 North Union Street Olean, NY 14760 23-year-old George Leaf is charged with a felony count of desecrating a cemetery for stealing the statue of St. Michael from St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany. He’s in Cattaraugus County Jail on $5,000 cash bail.

A Pittsburgh-area energy producer, and major player in the Marcellus Shale region, is selling the company for $4.7 billion Europe’s largest oil company. East Resources Inc. will be sold for cash and subsequently hand over about 650,000 net acres of Marcellus Shale land to Royal Dutch Shell PLC. About 1.05 million acres in total will change hands. East Resources employs about 300 people, who will continue working for the company. Shell executives say they plan to expand the regional East Resources offices with more workers. East Resources produces the natural-gas equivalent of nearly 10,000 barrels of oil per day. The cash will go to East Resources and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a private equity investor helping East Resources fund its Marcellus exploration. http://www.eastresources.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=9&cntnt01origid=71&cntnt01returnid=112

State Rep. Kathy Rapp is featured on this week's RadioPA Roundtable talking about comprehensive sex education. RadioPA Roundtable is on 1490 WESB at 9:15 a.m Saturday (and online at WESB.com ) and on 100.1 The HERO at 6 a.m. Saturday.

The departments of Environmental Protection and Health, and the Fish and Boat Commission today issued a “Do Not Eat” consumption advisory for all species of fish taken from Tamarack Lake in Crawford County while officials investigate the cause of a large fish kill in the lake. A “Do Not Eat” consumption advisory was issued for the neighboring Pymatuning Reservoir yesterday following a series of fish kills there. Tamarack Lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources manages Pymatuning State Park and has announced that the park is open and there are no fishing, swimming or boating restrictions in place during the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Water samples are being analyzed at the DEP laboratory in Harrisburg, and fish samples are being tested by the Fish and Boat Commission and at Cornell University. The “Do Not Eat” consumption advisory will remain in place until investi...

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital was awarded a 2010 Achievement Award by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania. Among 134 entries, 17 of the state’s most innovative hospital programs were selected, according to HAP. CCMH’s entry, “Community Benefit Advisory Committees: Advancing Community Partnerships,” was one of three chosen in the state in the community outreach and engagement category. The entry outlined the hospital’s creation and expansion of five CBACs within its four county service area. CBAC members represent each of their respective communities and offer feedback to enhance the hospital’s image and most recently aided in the development of the strategic plan and inaugural set of Promises and Commitments to the community. “We are so grateful to our CBAC members for all they do,” said Patrice Levavasseur, executive director, patient and community relations. “Their valuable input and participation has helped form strong community relationships that are beyond m...

Music played and confetti flew as a vintage 1940 armored car delivered the J.D. Power and Associates trophy to officials of Northwest Savings Bank in downtown Warren on Thursday. A group of more than 700 employees of the local bank met the presentation with cheers. The ceremony took place on a specially-built stage at the south end of Liberty Street, which was closed to traffic for the event and crowded with Northwest personnel, between the bank's Administration and Corporate Centers. Banners, twenty feet tall, bearing images of the award hung from the enclosed walkway that spans the street above the stage. Executive Vice President of Banking Services of Northwest Savings Bank Steven Fisher addressed the crowd. He recognized that those gathered represented all aspects of Northwest Savings Bank. Attending were one representative from each of the bank's 171 community offices, all eight Region Presidents, business partners including commercial lenders, wealth management representa...

The New York State Senate has just approved a measure that would open the parks and historic sites that have be closed since May 17 as a cost-cutting measure. The Senate vote fell along party lines with Democrats voting for the measure and Republican opposed. The final vote was 32-27. Republicans voted against the measure because it includes $4 million in new revenues from recycling fees and higher fees for large companies – like Eastman Kodak – that dispose of hazardous waste. Governor David Paterson is expected to sign the measure as soon as it reaches his desk.

Gary Coleman, the child actor who starred in the TV show Diff'rent Strokes has died, according to CNN and MSNBC. He was 42. For the full story, go to People.com .

The White House used former President Bill Clinton to offer an unpaid advisory position to Congressman Joe Sestak in hopes of persuading him to drop his Pennsylvania Senate primary challenge to Senator Arlen Specter, according to a report issued today by White House Counsel Robert Bauer. Bauer's two-page report said there was no improper conduct. The report says White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used Clinton as a go-between with Sestak. Clinton agreed to raise the offer of a seat on a presidential advisory board or another executive board if Sestak dropped his bid, "which would avoid a divisive Senate primary," the report says. The report goes on to say “By virtue of his career in public service, including distinguished military service, Congressman Sestak was viewed to be highly qualified to hold a range of advisory positions in which he could, while holding his House seat, have additional responsibilities of considerable potential interest to him and value to the ...

Early this morning, the New York State Assembly voted on a measure that would re-open state parks as early as today – if the Senate approves the measure, too. The Senate was scheduled to begin its session at 9 o’clock this morning, but hasn’t started yet. Governor David Paterson announced on Thursday that the agreement had been reached. Long Point State Park in Bemus Point and the Quaker swim area at Allegany State Park have been closed since May 17. The rest of Allegany State Park is opened.

Pirates outfielder Lastings Milledge, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Allegheny General Hospital Breast Care Center are teaming up to host the “Bats Against Breast Cancer” Women’s Baseball Clinic on Sunday, June 6 before the Pirates take on the San Francisco Giants at 1:35 p.m. The event will include a series of events and clinics that take place on the field, in the press conference room and in the Pirates World Series Suites at PNC Park. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Allegheny General Hospital Breast Care Center for cancer research. All participants in the event, which is scheduled to begin at 7:45 a.m., will: • Participate in a variety of baseball clinics on the field hosted by Milledge, his teammates and coaches. • Receive a commemorative “Lastings Ladies” t-shirt and a photo of their clinic team on the field at PNC Park. • Participate in a question and answer session with Pirates players, coaches and celebrities before the game. • Receive tickets to watch the gam...

An informational seminar presented by Pennsylvania Labor and Industry and United States Environmental Protection Agency Region III will be held next week. This seminar is will cover multiple aspects of ACT 165 of 1990/SARA title III reporting and Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know ACT (EPCRA) for Hazardous Materials inventory and storage both at the state and federal levels. This program, in conjunction with the McKean County, Warren County and Forest County EMA/LEPC Departments and North West Central Emergency Response Group, is designed to be an informational seminar about your responsibilities and your protection under ACT 165 and SARA title III reporting. Location: University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Theater 300 Campus Drive, Bradford Pa 16701 Date: June 8, 2010 Time: 10:00 Am Conclusion: 2:00 Pm There is no cost for this seminar and lunch will be catered by University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Please RSVP with your reservation by June 1, 2010 to McKean County Emergen...

MAYVILLE, NY -- Taking advantage of an early spring, construction work is in full swing across Chautauqua County, and should be finished by the end of the construction season in late November. Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards said completing the long list of projects being undertaken will help to improve all aspects of the County's highway system. "The volume of the work on our roads and bridges is an impressive contribution to our economy and underscores our determination to deliver results for Chautauqua County taxpayers," Edwards said. Millions of dollars in funds from the County, along with Federal and State government funds are being invested this year to repair and improve highways and bridges. Department of Public Facilities Director George Spanos said the continuation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded projects combined with this year's local funding represent a record investment in the County's transportation system....

Bradford City Police on Thursday investigated a reported assault on South Avenue, according to the compliant report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers also received reports of fights on Bushnell and High streets, an argument on South Center Street and a disturbance on Clarence Street. They responded to a motor vehicle accident and a gas drive off, both on East Main Street. Police were called to animal complaints from Calvin Court and Hobson Place, and were asked to look into criminal mischief on Amm Street, a bike theft on Walker Avenue and suspicious activity on Chautauqua Place.

Six juveniles have been arrested in connection to the former Fancher Furniture building fire in Salamanca earlier this month. The four boys and two girls, between the ages of 12 and 15, are all being charged with felony counts of arson, reckless endangerment, and burglary. They are also facing a misdemeanor assault charge. Four firefighters were injured during the fire. None of the injuries were life threatening, and they were all were treated and released. Four of the six were interviewed the weekend of the fire and confessed to starting it using aerosol spray paint cans and a lighter. The District Attorney's Office says the juveniles will be tried in Family Court, which means they won’t be sent to jail. They could be sent to a youth detention facility for up to a year and be subjected to electronic monitoring.

A Lewis Run man is dead after a crash at just before 9 o’clock Thursday night on Route 646, about a mile north of Route 59 in Keating Township. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, State Police say an SUV driven by 31-year-old Richard Irwin crossed the center line and traveled in the opposite lane of travel until it went onto the west berm, hit a ditch and then hit a tree. McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill pronounced Irwin dead at the scene. Police say Irwin was not wearing a seatbelt. The Hilltop and Smethport fire departments, Priority Care EMS and PennDOT were on the scene.

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. Despite his disability, he earned a degree in international business management from the American Graduate School of International Management in Phoenix as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology from Ohio University. Thursday, he was a guest speaker during both the Mental Health Awareness Fair and Mental Health Gala in Bradford. One of the topics he discussed was the stigma attached to mental illness. Dr. Frese currently holds psychology faculty appointments in psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University and the Northeastern Ohio University’s College of Medicine and Pharmacy, and has held teaching positions at Kent State University, Ohio University and the Ashland Theological Seminary. He also has published numerous articles and chapters, and serves on the advisory board for Schizophren...

The New York State Senate adjourned Thursday without voting on a bill that would re-open state parks. Earlier in the day, Governor David Paterson said lawmakers had agreed to a measure that would open the parks for the Memorial Day weekend, and keep them open for the rest of the year. The Senate will be in session again Friday. Long Point State Park in Bemus Point and the Quaker Lake swim area at Allegany State Park are among those that are closed.

HARRISBURG -- The departments of Environmental Protection and Health and the Fish and Boat Commission have issued a “Do Not Eat” consumption advisory for all species of fish taken from the Pymatuning Reservoir in Crawford County while officials investigate the cause of a large fish kill that has occurred over the past two weeks. The advisory was issued after approximately 2,500 dead fish were found in various locations in the reservoir beginning on Saturday, May 15. Water samples have been collected and are being tested at the DEP laboratory in Harrisburg. Fish samples are being tested by the Fish and Boat Commission and at Cornell University. The Ohio Department of Parks is assisting in the investigation. The Do Not Eat consumption advisory will remain in place until investigators can determine that there is not a danger to public health and safety.

A couple of reminders from PennDOT about work on the Route 219 Bradford Bypass Project: Starting next week, Bolivar Drive will be restricted to eastbound traffic only because the westbound lanes will be closed. Westbound traffic will follow the posted detour. Work will continue on the southbound Elm Street on-ramp. Expect delays during work hours. Crews will not be working on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. ~~~ PennDOT issues the following travel update for the Route 219/Bradford Bypass project in McKean County. This update is for the week of May 31. All work is weather and schedule dependent. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $28 million job. · The contractor will not be working on Monday, May 31, in observance of Memorial Day. · Work on the Route 219 southbound ON-ramp at Elm Street will continue. Traffic is using the existing shoulder. Contractor crew will be working close to the roadway, placing concrete for a new barrier wall. Expect delays d...

On Wednesday, June 2nd Safe Kids McKean will host “Ride Safe, Bradford Child Safety Fair’ at the CARE for Children offices on 20 Russell Boulevard from 3pm to 6pm. There will be car seat safety inspections, bicycle safety and helmet fittings, fire prevention activities, and other summer safety give-aways and information. The Pennsylvania State Police, Kane Barracks will have certified technicians available to provide on-site child safety seat inspections and education from 3pm to 5pm. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 3 to 6 and 8 to 14. In 2007, 6,532 passenger vehicle occupants 14 and younger were involved in fatal crashes. “It’s the responsibility of every parent and caregiver out there to make sure their children are safely restrained – every trip, every time,” said Corporal Robert J. Clinger of the Pennsylvania State Police Kane Barracks. “We are urging everyone to get their child safety seats inspected. When it comes to the safety of a child, t...

Twenty-two special athletes from McKean County have been selected to compete at the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Summer Games at Penn State University, June 10-12. The McKean athletes will join more than 2,000 Special Olympians from across the state for three days of competition. Qualifying to compete in bowling are Danyelle Trumbull, Tina Whitford and Jean Zumstein. Track and field athletes include Charlie Barr, Kim Daniels, Justin Conner, Bailey Kinner, Ashley Peterson and David Bryan. The swim team will consist of Andrew Wilson, Gary Stewart, Rebecca Buccolini and Stephanie Heffner. Playing golf for McKean County will be Joe Sostakowski, George Burton and Jesse Crum. Competing in softball individual skills will be Steve McQuone, Sharon Petitt, Robert Tubbs and T.A. Larson. Competing in basketball individual skills will be Glenn Lee and Robert McAlpine. Selections for State Games are based on performance in training and in local and regional competitions prior to the stat...

Police have arrested the man they believe stole a statue from a Marine’s grave site at St. Bonaventure Cemetery. 23-year-old George Leaf is charged with a felony count of desecrating a cemetery. He’s in Cattaraugus County Jail on $5,000 cash bail. Leaf is accused of taking a statue of St. Michael from the grave site of David Woods, who was a corporal in the Marine Corps. The statue has not been recovered.

Two Ellicottville Central School students are accused of making counterfeit $20 bills and using them to pay for their school lunches. Troy Studd and Matt Tagliarino, both of West Valley, are also accused of passing the bills at a number of area businesses. An investigation by state police and the Secret Service found that the boys made the $20 bills at Studd's home using computer equipment. Studd and Tagliarino were arraigned in the Town of Lyndon Court and released to their parents pending later court dates.

New York Governor David Paterson says an agreement has been reached to keep all 178 state parks open for the Memorial Day weekend. Paterson said negotiations that ended early this morning would provide $11 million for full operations this year, offset by money from the Environmental Protection Fund, which would be cut by about $74 million. Even Lawmakers, who wanted smaller cuts to the fund and didn’t vote for Paterson's proposal earlier in the week, are expected to vote on the plan later today. Long Point State Park in Bemus Point and the swim area at Quaker Lake in Allegany State Park are among those that have been closed since May 17.

HARRISBURG —The Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice today adopted its final Report on failures in the juvenile justice system of Luzerne County and made a broad series of recommendations for strengthening and improving the justice system statewide. The commission's recommendations include strengthening the disciplinary systems for judges and lawyers, improving services to victims of juvenile crimes, improving training for lawyers and judges who work in juvenile courts and establishing statewide ethical standards for juvenile probation officers. The Report and a summary of all recommendations are available on the Web site of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. "The Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice was created last August 2009 with a mandate to investigate the juvenile justice scandal in Luzerne County and to develop appropriate recommendations for reform," said Commission Chairman John M. Cleland, a senior judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court....

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director While the City of Bradford’s financial picture isn’t bright, budget figures are right where they’re expected to be through April. During Tuesday’s council meeting, city clerk John Peterson said that, as of the end of April, “Revenues are tracking on pace and our expenditures may actually be a little under what is budgeted currently for most line items.” “It’s a little early to process right now,” Peterson said, “but we haven’t had anything alarming show up in wage tax figures or anything else that would make us say ‘Oh my God, it’s the end of the world.’ We got the big shock last year with timber, and we adjusted the budget accordingly this year based on the best projected revenue we could.” On June 16 of last year, during a mid-year budget review city council work session department heads learned that timber revenues would be anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000 less than projections. Also last year, about 800 people were out of work, meaning wag...

WARREN – Recreation facilities on the Allegheny National Forest (NF) will be opened and fully operational Friday, May 28th, for the summer recreation season. Fees: Fees for campgrounds range from $10 to $28. Each campground has sites that are first-come, first-served, and many have sites that can be reserved. Group camping areas require reservations, except at Hearts Content, and fees range from $45 to $75 per night. Six rustic cabins are available at Willow Bay Campground for a fee of $45 per night. Please check our website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/recreation/camping or call 814-362-4613 for fee information. Double Sites: In response to many requests for adjacent family campsites, some double sites that can accommodate up to 14 people per night have been identified at Buckaloons and Twin Lakes Campgrounds. The double sites are listed with the National Recreation Reservation Service. Reservations: All reservations are handled through the National Recreation Rese...

Spaces are still available at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Science Camp to be held June 7-11 for children who have completed grades 1 through 6. The camp is being operated by Pitt-Bradford’s Office of Outreach Services but will be similar to the popular camps that had been run by the Science In Motion program. The camp will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon each day in Swarts Hall on campus. There is a $75 fee for one child and a $50 fee for each additional child who attends. Registrations will be accepted only until Friday, May 28. “The camp is a wonderful opportunity for children to experience science in ways they may not otherwise be able to,” said Brenda Brandon, who helped with the camp when it was part of the Science In Motion program and is directing this year’s camp. “I wanted to see the camp continue despite Science In Motion losing funding. With Pitt-Bradford providing this opportunity, the camp can continue, and we may inspire future scientists.” Children attending th...

By George Nianiatus Senior writer/media manager Marketing and Communications Department Upper Allegheny Health System Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC’s) McKean County Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) & Hospice has been named by the Pennsylvania Homecare Association as the winner of its first-ever 2010 Best Practices in Homecare and Hospice Award. A committee of state officials and healthcare experts selected McKean County VNA & Hospice for its initiatives to reduce avoidable hospitalizations. The VNA received the distinction during an awards ceremony attended by more than 200 peers and state officials at the PHA annual conference in Harrisburg on May 13, 2010. The McKean County VNA is the home health organization operated by BRMC. The Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA) represents home health, hospice and personal care providers across the state. “This Best Practice award for the McKean County VNA is very significant because it represents collaborative efforts amo...

The McKean-Potter Counties American Red Cross will be holding a Water Safety Instructor class starting June 7th, 2010. The class will run for two weeks from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day during the two week period. Anyone interested in registering for the class should contact the Red Cross office. Participants must be 16 years old or turn 16 by the last day of the class to be eligible to participate.

As spring rolls into summer, many people start to consider how they can shed some pounds to attain their “beach body”. There is one local man who has been shedding more than a few pounds for years. In the past 7 years, Bradford’s Justin Willoughby has lost 570 lbs. At age sixteen, Justin weighed a remarkable 800 lbs. Now, at 23, he’s weighing in around 230 lbs. This Saturday night, Justin will be sharing his weight-loss story during a live-taping session at 8:00 PM at Open Arms Community Church. Justin will share two versions of his story- one suited for a school audience and one geared towards a church setting. The messages will be recorded and become part of a press kit, to help Justin book speaking engagements across the U.S., which is part of his dream. “I would really like to go around inspiring and challenging people to overcome their issues, especially in the area of weight loss,” Willoughby says, “And becoming healthy overall.” Justin has spoken throughout the region in Brad...

A bridge replacement project on Route 555 in Cameron County will require a temporary one-lane roadway and temporary traffic signal, starting Tuesday, June 1. The signal will enforce an alternating traffic pattern on the one-lane, temporary road, as crews begin work to replace the Hicks Run Bridge on Route 555 in Gibson Township. The bridge is located on Route 555 about 7 and a half miles west of the village of Driftwood in Cameron County. L.C. Whitford of Wellsville, New York is the contractor on this $1.1 million job. PennDOT expects the new bridge to be open to traffic in early November. All work on the project is weather dependent.

WARREN – Kinzua Beach and Kinzua Point Information Center (KPIC) will be open to the public again in 2010 as free recreation sites. Both facilities will be open for the summer season beginning Friday, May 28th. In addition to the amenities added last season (new pavilion, sand volleyball courts, and horseshoe play area), Kinzua Beach now offers newly renovated restrooms with flush toilets. The Beach is a day-use area open from sunrise to sunset with no charge for admission or parking. KPIC, on the Allegheny Reservoir, will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. KPIC offers visitor information services and newly renovated restrooms, but does not sell permits of any kind. The view of the Allegheny Reservoir from KPIC is exceptional and provides some amazing photo opportunities, as well as a place to stop, walk around and relax. If you have additional questions, please contact the Bradford Ranger District at (814) 362-4613.

Bradford City Police picked up a fugitive from justice out of New York State this afternoon. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, Bradford Police Chief Chris Lucco says on Friday his department was notified by New York State Police that 25-year-old Michael Osby was possibly in Bradford staying at a Euclid Avenue residence. Officers were able to gather information on the residence in question. At 4 o’clock this afternoon, officers spotted Osby at the Kwik Fill on East Main Street operating a vehicle owned by one of the residents of the Euclid Avenue home. Osby was taken into custody on the warrant. He will be held at the McKean County Jail while awaiting extradition to New York. Lucco says while officers were securing the vehicle, they saw a small amount of suspected marijuana. The vehicle was impounded and officers got a search warrant issued by District Judge Dom Cercone. Charges in reference to the illegal drugs are pending, Lucco says.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director We’re under attack by caterpillars. Well, at least some of our trees are. Master Gardner Bob Harris says the infestation is due to the late frost, which weakened the trees and forced them to make more leaves. “We’re getting attacked by the forest tent caterpillar and Eastern tent caterpillar,” Harris said. “They’re going to chew on a lot of leaves.” “A lot of (the trees) can’t afford to have the caterpillars eat up the second set of leaves,” Harris said. “That will do them in.” He said just about every ornamental tree will be affected as will crab apple, cherry, beech and oak trees. Some trees it won’t touch are the horse chestnut and red maple, although they do like sugar maple. Harris said there are several things people can do to protect their trees. The first is putting a belt of grease around the trunk. “That’s very, very helpful because these caterpillars go up and down the tree every day,” Harris said. “They like to go up in the evening w...

A Portville man convicted of having sex with a minor in Florida turned himself into authorities in Cattaraugus County. Sheriff’s deputies say 37-year-old Terrence Harris turned himself in at the county court offices. Harris was charged as a fugitive from justice based on a warrant filed by the probation department in Brevard County, Florida. He’s accused of violating the terms of his probation. Harris is in Cattaraugus County Jail without bail awaiting extradition to Florida.

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department says foul play was not involved in the death of an Allegany toddler. The 1 ½-year-old boy died at around 2:30 Tuesday afternoon in a trailer park on Nine Mile Road. His mother and grandfather performed CPR after calling 911, but it didn’t work. Child protective services took two other children out of the home shortly afterward, but officials say that’s considered routine.

Jerry Clark of Sign DeSign of Westline puts the finishing touches on a new sign welcoming motorists to McKean County while traveling south on U.S. Route 219 just north of Bradford. The sign, which was installed Wednesday, was funded through a state grant awarded for $3,000 to the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of Community and Economic Development. The grant was administered through the Pennsylvania Wilds Signage Program. The project was a collaborative effort between the ANFVB, Pennsylvania Wilds, McKean County commissioners, Pennsylvania Lumber Heritage Region and the Foster Township supervisors. Clark said he made the sign from hemlock forested locally. Photo by Sandra Rhodes

Washington, D.C.—John Dippold, President of Innovative Sintered Metals in St. Marys today told the Committee on Small Business of the U. S. House of Representatives that “in crisis, there is opportunity.” Dippold testified at the invitation of U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, during a hearing entitled, “Heroes of Small Business.” Dippold asked, “Why didn’t we collapse when the auto industry tanked? The answer has a lot to do with our size, the way we positioned ourselves in the marketplace, and our steady growth.” “The powdered metals industry involves the production of a hard solid metal starting from powder,” Thompson explained to the Committee. “A much wider range of products can be obtained from powder processes than from direct alloying of fused materials. “Mr. Dippold and his company sintered Metals are a true testament to the resourcefulness that is so prevalent in the Fifth Congressional District,” added Thompson. Dippold’s success is evidenced by the fact ...

ALBANY - State Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C-Olean) today called for the immediate resignation of New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Gladys Carrion for sanctioning a state taxpayer-funded orgy that took place during a dance at a youth facility that houses killers and other violent criminals. At least one underage girl and a suspected prostitute were brought into the juvenile prison and performed a lap dance and possibly, other sexual acts. Senator Young also announced that she will be conducting a hearing in Albany to further investigate the incident, as well as reports of violent youths being released prematurely into less secure settings where they have murdered and viciously assaulted community members, and of numerous attacks by youths against OCFS staffers who work at state-run facilities. "It is shocking and outrageous that teenage girls are being escorted at the taxpayers' expense into youth prisons. These are gang me...

Bradford City Police are probably wishing people could just get along. Monday and Tuesday, officers received reports of harassment on Jackson Avenue, Chautauqua Place, Kendall Avenue and Congress Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. They also got a bike complaint from Pearl Street, a motorcycle complaint from Lincoln Avenue, and parking complaints from Jackson and Cole avenues. They received an animal complaint from Bushnell Street, a report of criminal mischief on Welch Avenue, a report of a stolen bike on Willard Avenue and a retail theft on West Washington Street. Officers also got reports of suspicious people on Interstate Parkway, South Avenue and Pleasant Street, and noise on Williams Street.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Bradford Mayor Tom Riel thinks, although the city’s landlord ordinance is only 18 months old, it could still use more teeth, and he also thinks the code enforcement department needs to give more attention to individual property owners. Bradford businessman John Kohler started the discussion during Tuesday’s City Council meeting by saying, “I’m just trying to get what the 'enforcement' means in 'code enforcement.'” Kohler wanted to know how much money had been collected in fines from landlords. Councilman Ross Neidich said he couldn’t provide those numbers, but will be meeting with code enforcement Wednesday and will have the numbers then. Kohler also said it’s not just bad landlords who are contributing to blight in the city. “There are a lot of blighted individual properties,” he said. “In our community, we have a lot of aging houses to begin with,” Neidich said. “We have people that sometimes don’t seem to care about what their...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Some changes are coming to downtown Bradford, as several business owners make improvements to existing buildings. Dianne Thompson, pending owner of the former Nusbaum Grocery building on East Washington Street, will be making a number of changes. Bradford City Council on Tuesday agreed to issue the building inspector permission to issue a building permit to Thompson for installation of new windows, siding and reconstruction of the entryway of the building, making an arched entry. The interior of the building will be totally renovated, adding living space on the first floor, and upgrades to the electrical, pluming and heating systems. The outside of the building will be painted green and cream, the same colors as The Corner Bar next door. “Good luck with that, Dianne,” said Mayor Tom Riel. “I think Al (Nusbaum) would be smiling if he knew you were doing this.” “I do, too,” Thompson said. “Thank you.” Thompson’s downtown neighbor Joe Fromach, owne...

Someone stole a statue of St. Michael the Archangel from the grave site of Marine Corporal David Woods at St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany over the weekend. Woods' family members pooled their resources to honor him with the statue of St. Michael, who is the patron saint of the military. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to call state police in Olean at 716-373-2550.

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a disabled vessel off Cedar Beach in Dunkirk at 3:40 this afternoon. Navigation division deputies responded and assisted the disabled vessel back to the Dunkirk city pier. 51-year-old James Deland of Brocton owns the boat.

This summer, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Office of Outreach Services will hold a series of six 90-minute web-based sessions in the popular “Your Business and Marcellus Shale” series, beginning June 2. This is the third set of webinars being sponsored by Outreach Services and the Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development. It will focus on “Building Business Connections.” Sessions take place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. June 2 and 16, July 7 and 21 and Aug. 4 and 18 in Room 162 of Swarts Hall on the Pitt-Bradford campus. There is a cost of $15 per webinar, which includes continental breakfast. Attend all six for $80. The series will help entrepreneurs and established small- and medium-sized businesses understand and reply to Marcellus Shale-related business opportunities. After a 60-minute webinar, there will be a 30-minute question-and-answer session. Individual session topics are: June 2, “Working with Industry – Experience in the Southwest”; June 16, “Working With In...