Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Pennsylvania's ban on texting while driving goes into effect on Thursday. The law will prohibit drivers from using wireless interactive communications devices to read, write or send text messages or e-mails while operating a motor vehicle. Violators could face a $50 fine. The texting ban will be considered a primary offense, meaning law enforcement officials may pull over a driver solely for texting. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

It’ll be a windy day in the Twin Tiers. A high wind warning remains in effect until 10 o’clock tonight in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. A wind advisory remains in effect for McKean, Warren, Elk, Potter, Cameron and Clearfield counties until 7 o’clock tonight. The National Weather Service says a high wind warning is issued when sustained winds of 40 miles an hour are expected for at least an hour, with gusts as high as 60 miles an hour. In the warning areas, people can expect scattered power outages and downed trees and tree limbs. Minor property damage is also likely. In the advisory areas, gusts could be as high as 50 miles an hour. Broken tree branches are likely, and they could cause power outages. Outdoor furniture and other loose objects may be blown around if they are not secured. tan=wind advisory; gold=wind warning The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Salamanca man is facing charges after running from sheriff’s deputies early this morning. Deputies say they got a call about an assault on Catherine Drive in Salamanca, and were looking for 19-year-old Andrew Skye. When they found him he ignored orders and attempted to break a door to get into a house. Deputies caught up with him after a short foot pursuit on Center Road in Jimersontown. After they arrested Skye, deputies also learned that he was on parole. He was sent to jail on $500 bail and is scheduled to appear in Town of Salamanca Court on Monday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

More than 100 special athletes from McKean, Potter, Elk and Cameron counties gathered at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Sport and Fitness Center pool Friday for the annual Special Olympics Swimming Invitational. The invitational is the culmination of the swimming season for most of the athletes, who have been in training for several months for this event. Seven swimmers, whose names will be announced, will advance to the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Summer Games at Penn State, June 7-9. Gold medal winners were: 15yd Walk: Veronica Harris, Adam Rakieski, Art Garcia, Michael Samick 10yd Assisted: Kia Jefferds, Adam Rakieski, Evan Smith, Alex Rakieski, Rodney Meyer, Lauren Loveland 15yd Unassisted: Kim Langworthy, Evan Smith, Matt Latshaw 15yd Float: Kia Jefferds, Tristan Carney, John Sandlin, Zack Asti 25yd Float: Steph Schlopy, Tristan Carney, George Burton 25yd Freestyle: Andrew Wilson, Karen Smith, Vicky Nichols, Emily Dunkle, Chelsea Ogden, Ashley Peterson, Mitchell Rakie...

Harrisburg – First Lady Susan Corbett today marked the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts by applauding the organization’s positive impact on girls throughout Pennsylvania. “I have fond memories of being a Girl Scout and a troop leader,” said Mrs. Corbett, who is Pennsylvania’s Honorary Chair of the 100th anniversary celebration. “I have seen first-hand how Girl Scouting builds confidence and leadership skills and provides young girls with experiences that last a lifetime.” Mrs. Corbett was joined at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg by 50 members of Pennsylvania’s 100th Anniversary Honorary Committee, which is made up of political figures, business leaders and community members from across the state. “Bringing together this group of women to celebrate Girl Scouts reminds us that for the past 100 years, it has prepared our girls to be the leaders of tomorrow,” said Mrs. Corbett. Harrisburg-area Girl Scouts kicked off today’s event with a flag ceremony. Centennial events will be ...

Penn State campus police are looking for a driver who knocked down and stole the sign for "Paternoville" outside Beaver Stadium. Surveillance cameras captured images of a driver damaging gates, driving on grass and knocking over the Paternoville marker and another sign at about 4 o’clock Tuesday morning. Paternoville is the tent encampment outside Beaver Stadium where students wait to get the best seats for home football games. It's named for Joe Paterno, the longtime football coach who died of lung cancer earlier this year. More images of the car are posted on at www.psu.edu The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police are asking for help in finding a Jamestown man who’s been missing for more than a month. 48-year-old Michael Whitehill was last seen leaving his South Main Street apartment at around 8 p.m. on January 22. Anyone who may have seen or heard from Whitehill after January 22, or anyone who knows where he is, is asked to call Jamestown Police at 716-483-7537. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Jerry Sandusky’s attorneys are not satisfied with the information the state provided them with yesterday concerning the ages of his alleged sexual abuse victims and the times and places the abuse took place. Defense lawyers filed a motion today asking Judge John Cleland to order prosecutors to provide specific details. The motion says the information that was provided Thursday is not sufficient for Sandusky to prepare a defense using an alibi, statute of limitations, double jeopardy “or any other defense.” Prosecution documents say the 68-year-old former Penn State assistant football coach abused boys ages 8 through 17 on the university’s main campus, in his home and a variety of other places between 1998 and 2002. The attorney general’s office said they could not provide specific dates, times and locations in all instances because the victims were children when the alleged abuse happened. Sandusky denies the allegations. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 44-year-old Dayton, New York, man is accused of having sex with a 12-year-old girl in December, January and February in his home. Dwight Johnson Jr. is charged with first-degree rape, course of sexual conduct against a child and committing a criminal sexual act, all felonies. After he was arrested and charged by Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies he was arraigned and sent to jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A high wind warning remains in effect in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties from 7 o’clock tonight until 10 o’clock Saturday night. Wind gusts could be has high as 65 mph, especially near Lake Erie. The National Weather Service in Buffalo expects scattered power outages. Strong winds could also bring down trees and tree limbs. Minor property damage is likely as well. The National Weather Service in State College says there is a “slight risk” of severe thunderstorms in McKean County tonight and early tomorrow morning. The primary threat will be large hail and wind gusts of up to 60 mph. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman is accused of hitting a sheriff’s deputy who was arresting her for disorderly conduct. Deputies say they got a call about a woman in the road on Water Street in the village of Mayville at 7:30 this morning. When they arrived, 19-year-old Alexandria Earls was still in the road. They say while they were interviewing her she got belligerent and hit a deputy. She was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment and was sent to jail on $1,000 cash bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

John Schlimm, internationally award-winning author of 11 books on cooking/entertaining, history, how-to and fiction, will speak to the graduating class of 2012 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Schlimm, whose most recent books are “The Tipsy Vegan,” which was featured in The New York Times, and the upcoming “Grilling Vegan Style,” will deliver the keynote address during commencement exercises at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, in the KOA Arena of the Sport and Fitness Center at Pitt-Bradford. Schlimm was a hit with the students he spoke to during the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association’s Backpack to Briefcase program in January when he delivered his “There Are No Limits” address. Joshua Gray, a senior broadcast communications major from St. Charles, Ill., was one of the students at the program. “The spirit and drive that John brought to Backpack to Briefcase was amazing,” Gray said. “I have never listened to a speaker and wished he ha...

The owner of United Refining in Warren says he is thinking about bidding on Sunoco's refinery in South Philadelphia. United Refining Energy Corp. chairman and billionaire John Catsimatidis tells The Philadelphia Inquirer his company is deciding this month if it will make an offer for the refinery, which Sunoco plans to shut down on July 1 if they don't find a buyer. He is the first potential buyer to publicly acknowledge an interest in the refinery, which is the largest on the East Coast. It is one of three in the Philadelphia area threatened with permanent closure because their owners say they are unprofitable. In addition to the Philadelphia facility, Sunoco already shut down its Marcus Hook refinery. ConocoPhillips has shut down operations at its refinery in Trainer. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

RHP A.J. Burnett underwent surgery this morning to repair the fractured orbital bone in his right eye at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. The surgery was performed by Dr. Randall Beatty. “A.J. will work through the three step return to pitch progression,” said General Manager Neal Huntington. “The initial step will be to heal from the surgery. Secondly we will recondition his arm and body to where he was prior to the injury. Lastly, we will put A.J. through the same progression as he would have gone through here in spring training. The very rough timetable to complete this process and have A.J. prepared to compete without restrictions at the Major League level is 8-12 weeks.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Jamestown man wanted on burglary charges has been picked up in the state of Michigan. 31-year-old Jason Nasser is accused of going on a burglary spree with two other people in the Town of Stockton two years ago. They broke into homes and seasonal camps and stole ATVs, a 50-inch flat screen TV, power tools and a number of other items. Once he serves his sentence in Michigan he’ll be extradited to New York. Police did not say what charges he faces in Michigan. Nasser had been on the Chautauqua County Most Wanted list. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man is facing charges following a traffic stop Thursday night in the city. State police say they stopped 34-year-old Duane Gonzalez at Elm and Congress streets because he didn’t have a working head light. Police say they determined Gonzalez was driving under the influence and was in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A state police fire marshal says a Ridgway man set a house on fire then died of a drug overdose at the house. Police say 41-year-old John Darnell III set the fire using a pile of papers on the first floor of the house. The fire almost burned itself out, but firefighters went to the house when smoke could be seen coming from it. That’s when they discovered Darnell’s body. They say he previously shared the house with his girlfriend. Police say they are waiting for toxicology reports to determine what kind of drugs Darnell took. Damage to the house is estimated at $7,500. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG -- One year after 40,000 Pennsylvanians were booted from their adultBasic health coverage, state Sen. Mike Stack, along with several Senate Democratic colleagues and health advocates, called for reviving the low-cost state-run health plan. “This was a program that allowed working individuals an opportunity to afford health insurance. They just needed a hand up to stay healthy and go to work. Instead, they got a smack down from Governor Corbett,” said Stack (D-Phila.), the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. “One year later, these folks still need assistance.” The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center estimates that only 40 percent of former adultBasic recipients have found other health care coverage. Specifically, during recent budget hearings Pennsylvania Department of Insurance Commissioner Michael F. Consedine noted that only about a third of former adultBasic recipients were enrolled in the alternative health programs Special Care, Medical...

St. Bonaventure's Jim Crowley has been named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Women's National Coach of the Year award watch list by members of the USBWA on Thursday. Crowley, who was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year on Wednesday, has guided a team picked to finish sixth the league by his peers to a 27-2 record and perfect 14-0 mark in the A-10 for the first time in program history. The award was Crowley's second Coach of the Year award in the last four years. The Windsor, N.Y. native won the award in 2008-09, and has led SBU to 20 or more wins in each of the last four seasons. Crowley – one of just 10 head coaches in the nation named to the list – led Bona to the school's first regular-season title in any sport this year. The No. 19/22 Bonnies have set records for wins, road victories (13) and conference triumphs, and are currently riding a program-best 16-game winning streak. Joining Crowley on the watch list are a pair of coaches he opposed this year – D...

A Bradford man is in jail on 30 counts of sexual abuse of children and related charges. 22-year-old Justin Conklin allegedly had sexual contact with four children ranging in age from 14 to 17 over a period of a year in the City of Bradford as well as Bradford and Foster townships. The state police investigation revealed that in addition to possessing child pornography Conklin had sexual contact with some of the victims and agreed to pay one of them for a sex act. Besides the 30 counts of sexual abuse of children, Conklin is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor and one count each of statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and prostitution. He was arraigned by District Judge Rich Luther, who set bail at a quarter of a million dollars cash. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

I-86 near the Town of Ellery in Chautauqua County was closed for several hours this afternoon after a garbage truck flipped over and blocked the road. Sheriff’s deputies say at around noon a Pro-Waste Garbage truck driven by 40-year-old Lee Woodward of Fairview, PA, was on the off-ramp of Exit 10 when it went off the shoulder, hit several delineator markers and flipped over. Woodward was taken by ambulance to WCA Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. He was cited for driving at an unsafe speed, and deputies say further charges are pending. The road re-opened at around 3 p.m. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The state Attorney General's office has released the approximate dates, the locations and the ages of the 10 alleged victims in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. The documents filed in Centre County Court say the youngest victim was 8 years old when Sandusky allegedly started abusing him. The alleged abuse of two of the victims started in 1996. According to the documents among the places the alleged abuse happened were Sandusky’s home, locker rooms and dorms on Penn State’s University Park campus, hotels in Florida, Texas and State College and at the school of one of the victims. Sandusky denies the allegations. Jury selection in his trial is scheduled to start May 14. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Linda Kelly and Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio today announced the filing of criminal charges against fourteen suspected cocaine suppliers, distributors and dealers identified during an extensive grand jury investigation into drug trafficking between Maryland and Central Pennsylvania. Kelly noted that this drug network allegedly distributed approximately 2.5 kilos of cocaine per week in and around Altoona, including an estimated $2 million worth of drugs sold during the past year - the largest drug distribution network ever identified in Blair County. Kelly identified the principal figure in the organization as Damion Floyd, age 33, formerly of Baltimore and currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution Pine Grove. "Floyd is accused of obtaining bulk quantities of cocaine from sources in Maryland, coordinating the transport of drugs back to Altoona and then supervising the sale and delivery of smaller quantities to loc...

Andrew Nicholson bolstered his bid for Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, leading St. Bonaventure (17-10, 10-5) to a 98-93 double-overtime win over Saint Joseph's (19-12, 9-7) at the Reilly Center. Nicholson scored 32 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and made a barrage of clutch 3s to carry the Bonnies to a gutty, back-and-forth victory. The win, paired with Temple's overtime victory against UMass, guarantees SBU a top-four seed and a bye in the Atlantic 10 Championship in Atlantic City, N.J. March 9-11. An instant classic, the whole game was played within a six-point window with 14 lead changes and 18 ties. SBU bombed away three 3-pointers in four possessions of the second and final overtime - one from Nicholson, who canned three of five treys – to open up its biggest lead of the game with 90 seconds left. It was just enough to keep in front of a Saint Joseph's team in the hunt for a top-four seed of its own. Getting there, though, was an adventure. The Bonnies, who now own the A-...

Ridgway – The long-awaited Osterhout Street truck bypass project in Ridgway will get underway on Wednesday, March 7. Osterhout Street is also known as State Route 1014. Crews will be working to place project signage and implement the project detour. The detour will require drivers to use Route 120 and Route 219. Initial operations will include utility relocation, removal of asbestos –containing material from existing structures, and installation of erosion and sedimentation controls. All work is weather and schedule dependent. The contract for $2.75 million was awarded to New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co. Inc. of New Enterprise, PA. Work will include total reconstruction and realignment of Osterhout Street and intersection improvements at Route 219 (Broad Street) and Route 948 (Main Street). When the work is completed, heavy truck traffic will be able to bypass the center of Ridgway and access northbound Route 219 via the newly aligned & constructed Osterhout Street. This traffic f...

St. Bonaventure senior Jessica Jenkins has been named as one of just 30 finalists for the Naismith Women's College Player of the Year, Atlanta Tipoff Club members announced on Wednesday. The award, presented by AT&T, is given annually to the best player in Division I women's college basketball. Jenkins – who leads the Bonnies in scoring this year at 14.3 per game – is one of just five players on the list from non-BCS schools. The Naismith recognition came just hours after Jenkins was named to the Atlantic 10 First Team and Academic All-Conference Team earlier on Wednesday. Jenkins is the only player from the A-10 who was named a finalist. The Marion, Ohio, native currently owns the second-most career 3-pointers in the nation with 321, a total which ranks her 18th on the all-time NCAA list. In addition to her long-range shooting, Jenkins has established career highs in rebounds, field goals made and free throws made this season. The 5-foot-8 guard has started 95 consecutive ...

Bradford High is sponsoring rooters buses for students and the community to Saturday’s playoff games in Clarion. Sign up today and tomorrow at the Athletic Directors office and get a $5 McDonald’s gift card. It’s FREE for students and anyone in the community who wants to go. The buses will start loading at 11:30 in the school parking lot (auditorium side). After the games, the buses will stop at a McDonald’s for dinner. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources took its turn in front of the House Appropriations Committee this morning, and State Representative Marty Causer asked why the agency has not moved to increase the number of publicly accessible ATV trails in Pennsylvania’s state forests. "We pay ATV registration fees and yet we have limited opportunities in our area to ride those ATVs on legitimate legal trails," Causer said after the hearing. "And we all know that we have very significant amounts of state forest land; and if we’re going to have the state forest land, if we’re going to pay these ATV registration fees; we should have opportunities to ride those ATVs." Causer added that increased opportunities to ride ATVs on state forest trails would reduce problems caused by ATV riders trespassing on private land. He said he also wants to know how much money in the ATV fund and what it’s being used for. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) today announced the availability of mini-grants to support children and adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and families that include an individual with an ASD. The grants are provided by the Bureau of Autism Services within the Department of Public Welfare (DPW). The maximum mini-grant is $500, and can be used for the following services anytime between March 1 and Aug. 31 for grant applicants of any age: Respite care. Summer camp programs. Autism or advocacy related conferences, workshops or training opportunities. Recreational or community programs. Safety modifications or adaptations for home and/or community integration. For applicants age 18 and older, grants can be used to help pay for college-level coursework, personal job coaching, and public transportation to support group meetings or organized social activities. Applicants must be Pennsylvania residents, have an ASD or have a family member with an ASD, and must not...

On the coattails of a record-breaking regular season, a trio of St. Bonaventure women's basketball players were named to Atlantic 10 All-Conference teams on Wednesday, and Jim Crowley was named the league's Coach of the Year. Seniors Jessica Jenkins and Megan Van Tatenhove were chosen to the A-10 First Team and All-Academic Team, while junior Alaina Walker earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Jenkins and Van Tatenhove become just the third and fourth players in program history to land on the First Team, joining Hilary Waltman and Dana Mitchell, who rank No.1 and No. 2, respectively, on the program's all-time scoring list. Walker becomes the first player in program history to be named to the All-Defensive Team – an honor incepted by the A-10 for the 2001-02 season. It is the first time that St. Bonaventure has had more than one player on the First Team list, and also the first time that more than one player has earned a spot on the All-Academic Team. For Van Tatenhove, i...

By Joe Kosack Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist Pennsylvania Game Commission KLEINFELTERSVILLE – A sudden rising chatter signals the greater snow geese on Middle Creek’s calm, icy waters are synchronizing for their morning departure. The crescendo climaxes in the serenity and shadows of sunrise with a spectacular upheaval over the water that every nature-lover must see. With a force only nature could provide, tens of thousands of greater snow geese rise from the waters off Willow Point at the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in follow-the-leader formations that make more sense to watchers the further the geese get from the water. Amid the chaotic liftoff, though, there is calmness among the participants, almost to a bird. This is casual for them. Life as they know it, sort of like heading to work in Manhattan every morning. But the snow goose’s unflappable expressions neither cheapen the show at sunrise nor the sideshows that occur at Middl...