Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The National Weather Service says there were reports of at least four tornadoes in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties Saturday evening. During a news conference at 9 p.m., the NWS said the first was spotted in the area of the Chautauqua Institute. One of the twisters had a seven-mile path of destruction that was 150 yards wide. They estimated the wind speed of that tornado at 125 miles per hour. So far there are no reports of injuries. Bradford resident Kristin Asinger told The Buffalo News she saw the funnel cloud descend from the sky and touch down near Chautauqua Lake. Tornadoes also made their way to Randolph in Cattaraugus County, where a twister knocked down gas pumps at a Sugar Creek store. http://www.buffalonews.com/weather/article80888.ece Photo by Brandon Teribery, used with permission from Kristin Asinger

The Otto Township Old Home Days fireworks show that was postponed Saturday because of the weather will be held Sunday.

Bradford Michele Barger Michael Cary Todd Davis Kylie Hogue Stephen Summers Timothy Swick Smethport Thomas Alcock Paul Isadore Steven Kimble Scott Kinney Jennifer Sisson Justin Stuck Port Allegany Robert Hamilton Allen Kelley Patricia Larson Thomas Manning Wendy Kay Manning Reletta McGarvey Ronald Metzler Brandon Nelson George Roach Christopher Safford Sam Sherwood Robert Wilfong Other Paul Fero (Crosby) Robin Gordon (Crosby) Charles Michael (Crosby Brenda Mitchell (Roulette) Billie Jo Sherwood (Roulette) William Sherwood (Roulette) All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MDJ.aspx Only the 2 people who were not listed in the paper are on the online docket so far.

Kaye Cowher, wife of former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach and current The NFL Today analyst Bill Cowher, died after battling skin cancer. She was 54. Kaye Cowher is survived by her husband and three daughters, Megan, Lauren and Lindsay. The couple met at North Carolina State in 1976 where both were student-athletes.

A Salamanca man is facing drug charges. Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies picked up 27-year-old Brian Donner on a warrant at 4 o’clock Friday afternoon. He was charged with criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance. He’s in Cattaraugus County Jail awaiting arraignment.

An Eldred man is accused of trying to hit two people with his car in Ellicott, New York, on Sunday. 37-year-old Ryan Brooks is charged with reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, tampering with physical evidence and trespassing. Police say there was a child present when Brooks tried to hit the people with his car. They say when he was taken to the police station for processing he tampered with evidence. When he was being taken to Chautauqua County Jail, police found a small amount of crack cocaine. Brooks remains in jail in Mayville. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/eldred-man-charged-in-chautauqua-co.html

McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn just issued the following news release: Today, the McKean County Drug Task Force arrested thirty-one (31) suspected drug dealers from various parts of McKean County. In the first operation of its size, seventeen officers from the McKean County Drug Task Force, assisted by thirteen law enforcement officers from other county and municipal law enforcement agencies, made arrests in nearly fifty (50) cases for Felony drug delivery charges. These charges span from early 2009 to June of 2010. The sweep resulted in the seizure of five vehicles, quantities of cocaine and cash, prescription pills, and drug paraphernalia. Participating in the operation was the McKean County Drug Task Force, McKean County District Attorney’s Office, Bradford City Police Department, Bradford Township Police Department, Foster Township Police Department, Port Allegany Police Department, Smethport Police Department, McKean County Sherriff’s Department, Cattaraugus County Sher...

Mackenzie Smith of Bradford will compete tomorrow in the 73rd annual All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. Mackenzie will race against Thomas Ferguson of Missouri and Emily Bigley of the state of Indiana. Mackenzie won the stock division at the Bradford Mastercraft All-American Soap Box Derby in June. Winners advance out of each competition until the champion is crowned tomorrow afternoon. Updates will be available on the derby’s website at www.aasbd.org .

The McKean County Drug Task Force spent the better part of Friday rounding up suspects in Bradford. McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn is compiling all the information, and is getting ready to issue a news release. As soon as we get that information, we’ll pass it on to you. Pictured, Bradford City, Bradford Township and Foster Township police cars at York and Mill streets this afternoon.

Someone set a mattress on fire outside a Johnsonburg house while a couple and their four children were sleeping inside at 3:30 this morning. State Police Fire Marshal Greg Agosti says the mattress was propped against the back of the house at 321 First Avenue awaiting disposal. 32-year-old James Jordan, 31-year-old Holly Stahli and the children were awakened by the smoke and put the fire out before the fire department arrived. No one was hurt. Damage to the building is estimated at $10,000. Agosti says a Molotov cocktail was found burning in an alley between First and Second avenues about 3 ½ hours before the fire was started.

New York Governor David Paterson is calling the Legislature back to finish the state budget that is now 15 weeks late. Paterson announced an extraordinary session for 6 p.m. Wednesday. He says that if a budget isn't finished in that session, he'll call another one for Thursday. He says the Legislature must agree on a contingency plan in case $1 billion in Medicaid funding from Washington doesn’t come through. He also wants action on his plan to allow the public universities to raise tuition without Legislative approval. Senate Democratic spokesman Austin Shafran said in a prepared statement that Paterson’s call for a special session “is a positive indicator that he is willing to negotiate a fair and responsible budget with Legislative leaders.” He said Senate Democrats plan to attend the session. http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/072310Stmnt.html

A Westfield, New York, woman is accused of trying to hit a sheriff’s deputy who was trying to arrest her early this morning. Deputies say they were called to Sunset Bay for a report of two women fighting at about 1 a.m. While they were talking to 20-year-old Alexa McMurray she attempted to hit one of the officers. As she was being taken into custody, she tried to fight with deputies and had to be restrained. McMurray then refused to provide any information to deputies about her identity. She was issued appearance tickets and released to a family member after they confirmed her identity.

The Pavilion at Bradford Regional Medical Center is hosting a free Ultraviolet (UV) Awareness Day. The event is in observance of National UV Awareness Month. The UV Awareness Day will be held Friday, July 30 from noon to 2:00 p.m. in The Pavilion’s lobby located at 200 Pleasant Street. Informational literature, displays, skin cancer detection photographs and a free prize drawing for a basket of skin protection items will be offered. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun causes sunburn and other health effects, including skin cancer and cataracts. The Pavilion’s goal is to provide preventive information to protect the public from over exposure to the sun. No reservations are required. For more information about this event, call (814)362-8293.

Bradford City Police looked into a disturbance at an East Main Street establishment; a parking complaint on Congress Street, loud bikes on Cornen Street; and a motorbike complaint on Willard Avenue. Officers also received calls reporting criminal mischief on Chestnut Street and Elm Street, and harassment on Chautauqua Place and Kiwanis Court. They also investigated a theft on Cornen Street. Police also received several requests to speak with an officer, checked the welfare of a number of people, assisted Children and Youth Services and served a couple of subpoenas, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department.

As we've been tellilng you on 1490 WESB today, a newly released report by the American Petroleum Industry claims that 280,000 jobs and $6 billion dollars can be added to the economy due to gas reserves in the Marcellus Shale. A large crowd is expected to attend a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hearing in Cononsburg, PA, tonight on a controversial the natural gas drilling technique of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." A hearing will also take place in the Binghamton, NY, area with the next few weeks. You can read the report here .

Frank Williams Sports Blog: Pirates Youngsters Producing : "Everyone knows how bad the Pirates have been over the past 18 seasons. But, there may be hope ahead. The Pirates have won all three series'..."

Two McKean County projects are getting nearly $1 million from the state. The Kessel Athletic Complex will receive $500,000 while the McKean County Multi-Tenant Facility will receive $400,000. Senator Joe Scarnati said the funding is being made available through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which is intended to assist in the immediate creation of quality, family-sustaining jobs. To date, $1.5 million has been released for the Kessel project, bringing the total amount of state assistance secured to $2 million. Scarnati says the Kessel project will create construction jobs and ultimately provide new opportunities for recreation. He adds that even in a tight budget year, economic development and job creation must remain a top priority. The money for the Kessel project is being released to the Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development. The money for the multi-tenant center is being released to the McKean County Industrial Development Authority.

A Franklinville man is dead after an accident this morning on Route 16 in the Town of Franklinville. Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies say 42-year-old Timothy Chase was operating a GMC Dump truck at 10:10 a.m. when it went off the road and hit a tree. Chase was pronounced dead at the scene by coroner Cleon Easton. The accident remains under investigation.

The FBI has doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever attempted to derail an Amtrak train July 5. The reward now stands at $20,000. On the morning of July 5, an Amtrak passenger train hit a pair of railroad ties deliberately placed on CSX railroad tracks on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation about 200 yards from the Cattaraugus Creek railroad bridge. No passengers or crew members were injured in the incident, but it launched a federal investigation into whether it was related to a new federal law prohibiting mail order cigarette sales (The PACT Act). Signs were found near the tracs that said “No Mail – No Rail.”

Police in Jamestown are asking for the public's help in finding a rape suspect. The victim tells police she was waiting for a ride late Wednesday night on North Main Street when she was picked up by a man in a newer blue Jeep Grand Cherokee. She says she was then driven to McRea Point Park and attacked. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 20s with short brown hair, about 5'8” to 5'9”. He has heavy acne on his face and a blue and black tattoo on his right forearm. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to call Jamestown Police at 716-483-7537 or 716-483-7531. All calls and tips will be kept confidential.

St. Marys Police are investigating an act of agricultural vandalism. They say sometime between noon Wednesday and 9 a.m. Thursday someone entered a field adjacent to the Camp Owners office and meeting hall with ATVs and damaged unharvested oats. The oats were then intentionally pulled and placed across the road at Camp Owners. Anyone with pertinent information on this incident is asked to contact St. Marys City Police.

In-state tuition at the 14 state-owned universities of the State System of Higher Education will go up 4.5 percent this fall. The system's board of governors today approved the $250 increase, which will bring tuition to $5,804 for two semesters for in-state students. About 90 percent of the 117,000 students in the system are Pennsylvania residents. The tuition increase is part of a $1.5 billion budget for 2010-11. California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana, Lock Haven, Mansfield and Slippery Rock are among the 14 schools in the system. http://www.passhe.edu/executive/systemrelations/Communications/media/Pages/nrd.aspx?q=440

The Bradford Farmer’s Market will be held on Saturday, July 24 from 8 a.m. to Noon and will run the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month through October 9. The event is coordinated by the Downtown Bradford Business District Authority, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Center for Rural Health and is sponsored by Avista Realty. The location for the Farmer’s Market is the Old City Hall parking lot located on Boylston Street. Naturally grown fresh produce from Canticle Farms in Allegany, NY will be available at each market. Additional items for sale include blueberries, vegetables, shrubs, herbs, plants, fresh baked breads and baked goods, canned goods, jams, pies, sugar-free pies, baled hay, honey, honey products, hand made jewelry, cookbooks and art work. New vendors are invited to join the group. Vendor set up will be from 7 – 7:45 a.m. Reservations are not required. For more information contact the Main Street Manager at 598-3865.

The state Game Commission is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the prosecution of the person who shot a DuBois-area hunter and his 9-year-old son back in May. The incident happened on the DuBois Beagle Club property on the first day of spring gobbler season. The game commission says Orlando Prosper and his son Garrett were walking along a logging road and, as they crested a rise they noticed another hunter so they turned to leave the area. When they began to walk away, the pair was hit in the face, back and side with shotgun pellets. As the father got back up on his feet, he saw the unidentified shooter leaving. Prosper and his family contributed $1,000 toward the reward fund. For more information, go to the Game Commission's website .

Two former Brookville area residents have been arrested and charged in Virginia and Texas in a murder for hire plot. Authorities say they investigated a tip that Larry Lingenfelter hired Joseph Frampton to murder his estranged wife who lives in Texas. Police say Frampton was to be paid cash for traveling to Texas and committing the crime. Both men are 1988 graduates of the Brookville Area High School. Frampton was first arrested on a charge of attempted burglary at the home of Lingenfelter’s estranged wife, but during their investigation police and the FBI uncovered the murder-for-hire plot. Lingenfelter is in the Portsmouth, Virginia, Jail. Frampton is still behind bars in Texas but will be served with warrants from Virginia this week. Both are facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder for hire.

A former Bradford man and his mother have been sentenced to three years in federal prison after admitting to international parental kidnapping. 63-year-old Linda Wynn of Jamestown and 40-year-old William Amacher took a then-8-year-old girl to Mexico in 2007 during a custody case. Wynn had custody of the child but the girl’s biological mother was in the process of regaining custody, which prompted Wynn and Amacher to leave the country with the child. Authorities found them in April of 2009 after a Texas law enforcement officer reported that he had seen a disheveled white girl begging for food in a Mexican border town.

The United Way of the Bradford Area has completed the first steps of campaign 2010, announcing the campaign chairs, Scott and MaryAnn Quinn, and conducting the 2010 Speakers Bureau Training. The Speakers Bureau Training was held on Tuesday, July 20 at Fretz Middle School. The United Way campaign speakers are representatives from CARE for Children, McKean County Family Center, Bradford Ecumenical Home, Futures, CNB, YWCA, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services and Red Cross to just name a few. “A successful annual campaign is the key to a successful United Way,” said Executive Director Kelly Case. “We depend heavily on our volunteer speakers bureau; without them we would not be this successful at conveying our message.” During the training session, the individuals received a booklet of information detailing the history of the United Way, agencies the United Way currently provides for, and tips and tricks to be successful speakers. “Although we provided the speakers with tips and tricks, the ...

Community members from the Bradford area are invited to attend a volunteer planning meeting to learn about the WPSU-TV Our Town project. The meeting will be held Thursday, July 22 at 7 p.m. at Grace Luthern Church. Anyone interested in the production is invited to attend. Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ron Orris says he would like to see at least 51 people there -- so we can be the town that showed the most interest. The biggest turnout for an Our Town meeting to date has been 50 people. http://wpsu.org/index.php/blogs/comments/our_town_series_returns_to_bradford/

SALAMANCA, N.Y. – Seneca Gaming Corporation welcomes its newest addition to the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, N.Y. – the TEN store. The new retail outlet mirrors the successful store of the same name that opened earlier this year at the Seneca casino in Niagara Falls and offers a variety of high-quality items all for $10. The store, open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., is located off the east lobby near the Thunder Mountain Buffet and the Events Center. Items inside include watches, sunglasses, handbags, ties, blankets, Native crafts, bracelets, and more. “TEN is already a success because it offers a winning combination of quality, variety, convenience, and low price,” said Cathy Walker, president and CEO of Seneca Gaming Corporation. To celebrate TEN’s opening, Walker and Kevin Seneca, chairman of the board for Seneca Gaming Corporation, joined officials in a celebratory “dime toss” into a new wishing well outside the store this afternoon. The well’s proce...

The juveniles who committed crimes at Allegheny Arsenal, Bisett Building Center and Harris Oil have confessed to the crimes. Bradford City Police Chief Chris Lucco says after interviewing several suspects and receiving multiple tips, they were able to identify the suspects on surveillance video, and subsequently obtain confessions. Their names are not being released because of their ages. The crimes happened over the weekend. Early Sunday morning, officers responded to an alarm at Allegheny Arsenal on Main Street and found evidence that someone had broken into the store. The owner reported that nothing was missing. Later Sunday morning, officers responded to a report of a vehicle stolen from Harris Oil on Williams Street, and learned that a pickup truck and a 4-wheel ATV had been taken overnight. Throughout the course of the investigation officers watched surveillance video from the areas around the burglaries and saw the juveniles taking the 4-wheeler and pickup from Harris Oil as wel...

State police say a fire that destroyed part of a camp in Elk County was not arson, as the owner originally reported. They say a property dispute between the camp’s owner Gerald Hosack and the adjacent property owners prompted the arson report. Police say Hosack attempted to use the arson report to influence Edward Metz of Charleroi and George Toth of Carmichaels to grant him a right-of-way through their properties. Hosack is charged with making false reports to law enforcement and disorderly conduct.

The state of New York has agreed to a $20 million settlement with food service provider Sodexho for overcharging 21 New York school districts as well as the State University of New York system. An investigation by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office determined that from September 1, 2004, through August 31, 2009, Sodexo received significant rebates from its suppliers without acknowledging or passing the savings on to the schools -- in violation of the contracts, as well as state and federal laws. Both the Salamanca City and Dunkirk City school districts will receive more than $2,000 from the settlement. http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2010/july/july21a_10.html

New York Governor David Paterson has laid the ground work to recall state lawmakers to Albany to finish the state budget. The Legislature has said Paterson can’t recall them for a special session because they didn’t officially gavel out of the last special session he called in January. Today Paterson revoked the order for the January special session so he can call a new one. Paterson accused Legislative leaders of playing "parliamentarian games" to block him from ordering them back to Albany. The budget was due in April. http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/072110Session.html

MEADVILLE -- The Department of Environmental Protection this week gave Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. 60 days to permanently fix the water supplies that were affected by the company’s natural gas drilling operations in Dimock, Susquehanna County. The directive is part of a modified consent order and agreement between the agency and the company that requires Cabot to continue providing temporary water services until the permanent solution can be implemented. The 60-day timetable represents an extension that was made necessary when residents in the affected area objected to the company’s previous proposal to fix the water contamination issue. “This week’s modification to the consent order and agreement gives us more time to find a water supply solution that will address the needs and concerns of residents,” said DEP Secretary John Hanger. “Our goal is to find a permanent solution that will be agreeable to all parties.” In April 2010, DEP and Cabot entered into a modification of the original c...

Harrisburg – With a little hard work this summer, legislative leaders can solve Pennsylvania’s transportation funding problem without fiscal pain, Governor Edward G. Rendell today told members of the Senate Transportation Committee in Harrisburg. “One in five bridges in the state is considered ‘structurally deficient,’” Governor Rendell said, noting that there are structurally deficient bridges on most of the major and secondary roads in the state. “And, if we lined up all the miles of Pennsylvania roadways in need to repair, they would stretch across the entire country three times. “I believe the best strategy is to identify the resources necessary to address the entire transportation funding gap of $3 billion,” Governor Rendell said. “I am willing to work on solutions that generate fewer funds. But I am not willing to let this issue be ignored. “I urge you -- as leaders and committee members -- to work every day this summer so that by before the end of this year, a real and lasting t...

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After another 23-win season that featured its second trip to the WNIT, the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team learned that it also succeeded off the court by producing the 17th-best team grade-point average in 2009-10, according to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. The Bonnies team GPA of 3.35 put them in 17th place, marking the fifth straight year and the seventh time in the past eight seasons the Brown and White have worked their way into the WBCA Top 25 academic poll. "This honor reinforces what a special group of student-athletes we have in our program," said head coach Jim Crowley. "They are truly dedicated to being successful in the classroom and on the court and are great representatives of what we look for in our student-athletes and of the St. Bonaventure community." The Bonnies are the only school from the Atlantic 10 to qualify for the honor and just one of six teams to make the postseason in 2...

The Bradford Main Street program has been designated an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Each year, the National Trust and its coordinating program partners announce the list of accredited Main Street programs that have built strong revitalization organizations that have demonstrated their ability to follow the Main Street methodology. “We congratulate this year’s nationally accredited Main Street programs for meeting our established performance standards,” says Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center, “Accredited Main Street programs are meeting the challenges of the recession head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive, revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable.” The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center in Harrisburg, which works in partners...

1 of 2 men charged with killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child at the Riddell House in September has pleaded guilty. 21-year-old Greggory Theobald will be sentenced in August to two life terms in prison as part of the plea deal in which McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn agreed to not pursue the death penalty. Theobald and 29-year-old Thomas Haggie were charged with killing Megan Konopka and her unborn son. The case against Haggie is still pending.

Just in from News 4 Meteorologist Mike Cejka ... Anne, Just want to let you know that you are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 p.m. -- The main threat being from potentially strong, damaging wind gusts and hail. Mike

3rd Annual Summer Soiree- Wednesday, July 21, 5:00 – 7:30 pm at Heritage Suites 139 Minard Run Road, Bradford ~ Admission $10 or FREE with 200 Club Ticket Food by Andy Mascioni Catering, Beverages by Bradford City Beers and Tortuga’s Restaurant, Music by Take 3. Additional sponsors include: Heritage Suites, Northwest Savings Bank and Bisett Building Center/Just Ask Rental FUN! NETWORKING! DOOR PRIZES! Open to Public! For more information or to RSVP please call BACC office at 368.7115

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo plans to sue a Pennsylvania power plant he says violates federal environmental regulations and creates a major source of air and water pollution. His office is targeting the Homer City Station in Indiana County. Cuomo says the current and former owners failed to install pollution controls required by the federal Clean Air Act after modifications during the 1980s and 1990s increased emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and soot. Among the former owners are Penelec and the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG). Cuomo says the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will join the action. The law requires 60 days notice before a suit is filed. http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2010/july/july20a_10.html

A Port Allegany teenager is one of 104 teens from across the state who graduated from a week-long program that gave them opportunities to explore careers in the military and law enforcement. Tyler Smith attended the annual American Legion/State Police Youth Week at York College of Pennsylvania. It was conducted by personnel from State Police, the American Legion and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. "The cadets, ages 15 to 17, participated in physical training and learned lessons about discipline and leadership," said State Police Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski. "They attended sessions teaching them about self-defense, firearms safety, the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, forensic sciences and other topics related to military or police work." For more information, go to the PSP website .

A Cattaraugus woman who stole thousands of dollars from an Orchard Park nursing home while she worked there will spend the next five years on probation. 32-year-old Rhonda Skiver pleaded guilty in February to stealing nearly $164,000 between 2005 and 2009 while she was the chief financial officer for Absolut Care of Orchard Park. Skiver must also pay back the money she stole. She avoided jail time because she already started paying the money back.

A Salamanca man has been sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison for vehicular assault following a crash in April of 2009. 24-year-old Curtis Zolner crashed into the Whig Street Bridge in the Town of Little Valley following a chase involving Salamanca City Police. Zolner and his three passengers were seriously injured in the crash.

An Erie County judge has scheduled a hearing to determine how much information county prosecutors and child welfare workers must reveal about child sex abuse findings by a forensic nurse that have been called into question. Prosecutors in Erie, McKean, Warren and Crawford counties are reviewing at least 42 child sex cases investigated by forensic nurse Rhonda Henderson. She's denied wrongdoing, but a panel of experts says Henderson repeatedly overstated injuries on victims that weren't supported by video evidence. Judge Ernest DiSantis Jr. scheduled a hearing Friday to review Henderson's work in the case of a 39-year-old man accused of raping a 3-year-old girl. The findings in that case might affect how much information defense attorneys in other cases can get about Henderson's work.

A lawyer for Facebook says she’s not sure whether founder Mark Zuckerberg signed a contract that a Wellsville man says entitles him to 84 percent of the company. Paul Ceglia filed a sworn complaint against Facebook and Zuckerberg in state court in Allegany County on June 30. In the suit, Ceglia claims that a contract he and Zuckerberg signed in April 2003 entitles him to ownership of most of the company. During a hearing this morning in federal court in Buffalo Facebook lawyer Lisa Simpson said Zuckerberg did work for Ceglia as a computer coder, but that Ceglia’s claim is too old to pursue. During the hearing, Ceglia’s attorney produced the purported original copy of the contract.

Two friendly leaf-shaped characters will be making the rounds at local fairs and festivals as well as welcoming visitors at the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau Welcome Center in Bradford. These characters, which are actually life-size, stand-up, leaf-shaped figures, have a circle cut out for faces, so people can poke their heads in and get their picture taken. The adult-size cutout is a leaf with an acorn on top. The child’s version is an acorn with the top of the nut shaped like a hat. “We are very excited about our new ‘employees,’ said Linda Devlin, executive director of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau. “They are going to be great ambassadors for tourism in McKean County. I think visitors, both young and old, will enjoy taking their pictures with the leaf cutouts as a reminder of visiting the Allegheny National Forest.” A set of the leaf characters is available for use at local fairs, festivals and events, courtesy of the “Fun with Trees & Leaves” program...

A Jefferson County man is dead after a crash early this morning on Route 322. State police say 21-year-old Joshua Culp of Corsica was driving his SUV near the Moonlight Drive-In at about 1:40 a.m. when it went off the road and hit a tree. Culp was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say he was not wearing a seatbelt.

Frank Williams Sports Blog: A Summer Classic is Only a Couple of Saturday's Aw... : "The 37th annual Don Raabe Big 30 Charity Classic is Saturday August 7th at Bradford's Parkway Field. A new kickoff time is in effect for th..."

An Eldred man is facing drug charges after Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Deputies discovered he had crack cocaine while he was being taken to jail on unrelated charges. 37-year-old Ryan Brooks was being transported to the jail on Sunday evening when deputies found a small amount of crack cocaine. Brooks was arraigned in the Town of Chautauqua Court on the additional charges and remains in jail in Mayville.

Five states, including Pennsylvania, are suing the federal government and Chicago's water department, demanding stronger action to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and Pennsylvania filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in northern Illinois. The lawsuit seeks an order to close Chicago shipping locks and gates that could provide a pathway to Lake Michigan for the voracious fish. The U.S. Supreme Court refused twice this year to order the locks closed. But state officials say the situation has become more urgent since a live Asian carp was found within a few miles of Lake Michigan last month. Asian Carp are a significant threat to the Great Lakes because they are large, extremely prolific, and consume vast amounts of food. They can weigh up to 100 pounds, and can grow to a length of more than four feet. They are well-suited to the climate of the Great Lakes region, which is similar to their native Asian habitats. "The spread o...

As the summer continues to sizzle, there’s one place you can go to cool off. That place is the Allegheny National Forest region, located in northwestern Pennsylvania, just 1.5 hours south of Buffalo, N.Y. The Allegheny National Forest region not only has unbelievable scenery, it also has many opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast to recreate. The Allegheny Reservoir offers the visitor a chance to cool down. There are six boat launches along the Allegheny Reservoir. Each of these areas is a launching pad for fun. The gentle currents of the reservoir and the cool breezes will whisk away the summer heat. The canopy of the forest trees offer shade from the blistering sun. But the Allegheny National Forest region not only provides the scenery, but also the means to enjoy it. For swimming, Kinzua Beach is just the right place to set down your beach blanket and soak in the sun. Located just off of Route 59, 17 miles east of Bradford, there is no admittance cost and the parking is convenien...

Tammy Haley, an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, presented her research on the use of a screening to diagnose anxiety in rural adolescents. Haley presented her research at the National Conference for Nurse Practitioners and at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Ph.D. Program Second Annual Research Day. Haley explained that she examined rural data for results of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related to Emotional Disorders (SCARED) to see if it was a valid and reliable tool in detecting anxiety in rural adolescent populations as it is in urban. She said that the SCARED was developed at the Western Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh and had been tested primarily with urban populations. “Any time you take something from one population to another, there may be differences,” Haley said. Haley said that she determined the screening is as valid for high school-age stud...

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today was notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack has agreed that there were sufficient production losses in Clarion, Venango, and Warren Counties to warrant a disaster designation. The designation was based on losses that occurred due to a late season frost in the second week of May, 2010. “This secretarial designation makes farm operators eligible for assistance from the Farm Service Agency, including emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE),” Thompson explained. “Farmers have eight months from July 16, 2010--when the Secretary made the designation, to apply for assistance.” The contiguous counties of Armstrong, Butler, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean and Mercer also qualify for emergency loans. Contact the FSA office in Clarion at 814-226-8160 and in DuBois at 814-375-1297

An Amish teenager is facing charges after taking police on a chase – in his horse and buggy. Cattaraugus County sheriff’s deputies say 17-year-old Levi Detweiler of Leon ran a stop sign and refused officers’ attempts to stop the buggy. Deputies chased Detweiler for about three quarters of a mile, and when he tried an unsafe turn into a driveway, he crashed the horse and buggy into a ditch. He ran away but was found later in the area. Detweiler is charged with underage possession of alcohol, overdriving an animal, reckless endangerment and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. He’s free on $500 bail.

A State Supreme Court Judge ruled this morning that Nushawn Williams will stay in jail as a dangerous sex offender even though he already served his 12-year prison term. Williams argued that it’s unfair to keep him in jail under New York's recently passed civil confinement statute. His attorney argued that the new law was passed after Williams' rape sentence was completed. Williams was convicted of knowingly infecting 13 Chautauqua County residents with HIV in the late 1990s.

Kane Garden Club, Kane, PA of The Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania, District VIII, will host their Tea & Garden Tour this Saturday, July 24, 2010, 1-4 p.m. Tea will be served at the Kane Manor at 230 Clay Street, Kane. Garden tours will be held at five gardens in Kane. For tickets ($15 each) and tour map call Judith Lyle at 837-7897 or e-mail skipnjudi@verizon.net ; or Jeanne Iannuzzi at 837-6177 or e-mail james.iannuzzi@verizon.net ; or call Janet Bard at 837-9379. The objective of the Kane Garden Club is the advancement of gardening, the development of home grounds, the furthering of city beautification, and aiding in the protection of forests, wildflowers and birds. The proceeds of this tour benefit the many beautification projects of the Club including the Florence Newcomer Memorial nature sanctuary in Evergreen Park, Evergreen Park Urns, Soldiers' Memorial, the Children's Garden Plot and uptown Kane Planters, Lutheran Home plantings, and the annual bulb planting ...

Father Leo Gallina, pastor of St. Bernard Church, celebrated the 45th anniversary of his ordination as a priest Sunday with the help of many of his parishioners. The St. Bernard's Catholic Women's Club hosted the gathering. Pictured, Father Gallina and Father Christpher Barnes of St.Michael Parish in Greenville look over the memorabilia ( Photo coutresy of Sandra Rhodes ); Father Gallina making sure everyone gets enough to eat; Father Gallina chatting with several guests including, Francie Long, Elmer and Ann DeLucia and Frances Sweeney; and Father Gallina thanking everyone for attending the gathering. Among those looking on are Ann Cavallero, Dick Cavallero, Bill Chapman, Dave Fuhrman and Nancy Fuhrman.

These are just some of the sights from the 2nd Annual Community Block Party hosted by the Church of the Ascension on Saturday. This little cutie looks as if she's ready to drive against her opponent. There were plenty of arts and crafts activities. Bubbles the Clown was busy all day face painting, making balloon animals and sharing candy with the kids. The giant water ball was a big hit. Sharing is good. I wish I could have been at 4 places at once on Saturday. Alas, that was impossible. I apologize to the people I missed.

This Mom at the Church of the Ascension Community Block Party gives her baby a taste of his first Sno-Kone. What did he think of it? You be the judge. ;) However, this guy (and I) and dozens of other people agreed the Sno-Kones were perfect for a steamy Saturday afternoon.