Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

An inmate at the Chautauqua Jail is facing more charges after allegedly being found with drugs and then threatening guards Friday night. Sheriff’s deputies say 19-year-old Joshua Roach of Brocton had 3 Gabapentin pills hidden in a bandage on his arm during a routine search of the jail. During the search, Roach allegedly tried to resist the officers to prevent them from finding the contraband. He also allegedly said he would “swing on the officers.” This is the third month in a row Roach has been in trouble with law enforcement. In April he was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly yelling vulgarities at deputies who were investigating a fight. He also allegedly obstructed traffic throughout the investigation. Last month, he was charged with harassment for allegedly calling a student at Brocton Central School and threatening the person. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Dr. Tony Gaskew, director of the criminal justice program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will speak on “360-Degree Crime Investigation” this month at Pitt-Bradford. The program, which is a part of the Alumni Lecture Series presented by the Pitt Alumni Association, will take place at 6:30 p.m. on June 14 in the University Room of the Frame-Westerberg Commons. The presentation, which is free and open to the public, is being made in partnership with the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association and Liberty Mutual. Gaskew will speak about the criminal justice system, how crimes are solved, and demonstrate how Pitt-Bradford’s Crime Scene Investigation House and Lab are used to teach modern criminal forensic science techniques for investigating crimes. The CSI House features some of the most advanced criminal forensics equipment in the country. Tours of the CSI House as well as complimentary refreshments will be offered immediately following the lecture. In addit...

From the Huffington Post: The three-day gathering, Become Your Place, Defend Your Self!, was filled with workshops, discussions, keynote speakers, field trips to oil and gas drilling sites in the Allegheny National Forest, late-night revelry at the campfire, live music, and the greatest local and organic vegetarian food prepared by chefs Shane McElwee and Mia Manion. Read more here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

From the Erie Times-News: It's easy to see why Zippo, which has since been featured in more than 1,500 movies and television shows, emerged as a cultural icon when the war ended. But logic might suggest that the company's sales would have crashed into a cultural brick wall by now. This, after all, is a device designed to light cigarettes in a nation that's trying hard to kick the habit. But the Zippo remains. Read the full story here The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man is dead after a one-vehicle crash earlier today on Route 59, about a mile west of Route 321. Police say a pickup truck driven by 57-year-old Keith Lyberg was traveling east when it left the road on a curve and hit a group of trees. McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill pronounced Lyberg dead at the scene. State police were assisted by the Lafayette and Corydon township fire departments and Bradford City EMS. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) today introduced the Forest Products Fairness Act of 2012, bipartisan legislation that would open new opportunities for American forestry producers by allowing their products to qualify for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Biobased Markets Program, also known as BioPreferred. USDA’s Biobased Markets Program was originally designed “to increase the purchase and use of biobased products.” The program requires USDA to set federal procurement standards and a voluntary label for biobased products, which allows producers to market their products as “USDA certified biobased.” As currently implemented by USDA, most forest products are excluded from both the federal procurement preference and the “USDA certified” label. As a result, foreign-produced, imported materials are given preference in the program, rather than U.S.-made forest products. The Forest Products Fairness Act of 2012 would mo...

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is asking that 34 New York counties be considered federal disaster areas because of the spring freeze that destroyed cropland. Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany counties are among those Gillibrand says need help. She said in the Lake Erie Grape Belt alone, more than $13 million in market value has been lost. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Gillibrand pressed for the disaster declarations so New York farmers can access federal funds to help them recover losses and stay afloat this season. Read more here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are looking for information about anyone who may be missing a wallaby, which was captured around 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 30, along King Road near Cambridge Springs, Crawford County. The wallaby was tranquilized by officials from the Northwest Region, including Information and Education Supervisor Regis Senko, Crawford County WCO Mark Allegro and Northwest Region Wildlife Management Supervisor Roger Coup, and transferred to a licensed facility until the owner is identified. Resembling a small kangaroo, a wallaby is a member of the marsupial family, and a native of Australia and surrounding islands. “My landlord saw it, so I went down and took a photo of it,” said Sarah Dippold, former Game Commission biologist aide. “I forwarded the photo to the Game Commission’s Northwest Region office.” Anyone with information about where the wallaby originated is encouraged to call the Northwest Region Office at 814-432-3187. Th...

Jerry Sandusky trial judge known for calm demeanor, fairness Cleland’s courteousness, his attention to detail, watchful eye for the law, and his handling of court cases have drawn praise from those who have presented cases in front of him or have worked beside him. Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2012/05/27/3209400/man-overseeing-sandusky-trial.html#storylink=cpy The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State Troopers will conduct a FREE child car seat check from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Zook Motors on Route 6 just west of Kane. No appointment is necessary. The checks will go on rain or shine. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Emporium man has been charged with breaking into a house in July of 2010 and stealing a gun and money. Police say they believe 20-year-old Michael James Hallowell forced his way into the home of Edward Niebaur and stole a handgun and an undisclosed amount of money. He is charged with felony counts of burglary, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property. Hallowell is free on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Cattaraugus County girl is hospitalized after being hit by a minivan late Wednesday afternoon in the Town of Mansfield. Sheriff’s deputies say it appears that 11-year-old Grace Dowdell of Mansfield turned her bike into the path of the van, driven by 49-year-old Kenneth Minnekine of Little Valley. Grace was taken by Mercy Flight to Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo for treatment of injuries to the left side of her body. No report is available on her condition. Deputies say no charges will be filed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Kimberly Marcott Weinberg Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing Betsy Matz is not the kind of person to just let an idea fester. She likes to do something about it. So when the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford professor saw a Facebook post about The Compassion Project in Appleton, Wis., the wheels in her mind started turning of how to do something similar in Bradford. The Art of the Heart project in Bradford is now involving hundreds of people throughout the community, including students from every school, Pitt-Bradford and the Kiwanis Club of Bradford. At the center of the project is a simple idea: Have children talk and learn about compassion, then depict that in art on 4-inch square tiles. Each child painted his or her own tile with paint markers. The hundreds of tiles that make up the “Art of the Heart” show can be seen from June 4 through June 15 in the KOA Art Gallery of Blaisdell Hall at Pitt-Bradford. Gallery ...

From a reader/listener: Hi, our daughter Morgan is doing a prom dress drive for a camp for special needs children. They hold a “prom” for the campers and their dresses are worn so she is collecting dresses, jewelry and shoes to donate to them. So, if anyone has prom dresses just hanging in the closet and would like to donate them to a worthy cause, they would be so grateful! Call 814-966-3312 Thank you! The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

St Marys – Work to improve Route 255 in Fox Township and St Marys will get underway next week. Crews will be working to set project signs and begin milling roadway pavement from the Route 948 intersection in Fox Township to the intersection for Tractor Supply. Milling is expected to start on Thursday, June 7 and lane restrictions will be in place. Once the project completes in late summer 2013, travel along this section of Route 255 will be smoother and more efficient. PennDOT will issue regular updates on this project as work schedules and traffic impacts require. Overall work includes concrete repair, paving, installation of overhead signage, drainage improvements, concrete curbing, guide rail updates, and pavement markings. This project is expected to overlap with PennDOT’s other Route 255 project that will begin in 2013. That project will stretch from the Tractor Supply intersection to Route 120 in downtown St Marys. All work is weather and schedule dependent. New Enterprise Stone ...

St. Bonaventure Athletic Department officials will induct three new members into the Hall of Fame this Saturday, June 2, at 1 p.m. in the Reilly Center as part of the University’s Alumni Weekend. The event is free and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend. As originally announced in February, women’s basketball standout Hilary Waltman ’99, men’s soccer great Jim Meicke ’87 and women’s basketball player and trailblazing head coach Mary Jane “M.J.” Telford ’75 will be the latest class welcomed into the Hall of Fame. For those unable to attend the event, it will be streamed live and free of charge for the first time on GoBonnies.com by clicking here or by selecting the “Multimedia” tab and then choosing “All-Access” from GoBonnies.com. The event will also be archived and available to watch following the ceremony. Below is more information about each of the inductees: HILARY WALTMAN ’99 Waltman is the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,106 ...

A Bradford man kept Erie police busy Wednesday after escaping from custody while he was being questioned about burglaries in the city. 25-year-old Alex Wells, who had been in a prison pre-release center, fought with police investigating burglaries at Schmid Towers, then escaped while being interviewed at the Erie police station. Authorities say Wells was able to escape when a detective walked out of the interview room and the door didn’t lock properly. Wells was on the run for about three hours. Police found him at around 5 o’clock at Boston Store Place. Wells is now facing charges of escape and burglary, and is jailed on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford City Council has approved a bond issue that will go toward a street restoration project and improvements to several city buildings. The new borrowing is $5.2 million. At the last city council meeting, when the measure was passed on first reading, council explained that the ordinance as it read then also included refinancing of the city’s 2008 bonds, which would have brought the amount up to $7.4. At that time they said they would not know until today if refinancing of the 2008 bonds was feasible. The city’s millage rate will go up by about 2 mils, but no tax increase is expected. $2 million of the money will go toward street restoration projects. Also, improvements will be made to several municipal buildings, including the fire station, and the ice skating rink floor will be replaced. Council approved the measure in a special meeting at 7 a.m. today. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Carl A. Hultberg, 82, formerly of 40 Wildwood Ave., passed away Tuesday, May 29th, at The Pavilion at BRMC. Born September 13, 1929, in Cyclone, he was the son of the late Oscar and Agda (Johnson) Hultberg. On September 5, 1953 in the Asbury United Methodist Church he married Harriette (Hanson) Hultberg who survives him. He enlisted in the United States Army on July 11, 1949, served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged on November 28, 1952. Mr. Hultberg was a 1953 graduate of Bradford High School. He had worked for the Bradford Era, local construction companies, including Kessel Construction, Curly Walters and then for 14 years for the Bradford Area School District and retired as a maintenance supervisor. In addition to his wife Harriette, of 58 years, he is survived by four children; Kenneth (Ann) Hultberg of Bradford, Donald G. (Mary) Hultberg of North Huntington, Karen Hultberg and Linda (the late James) Lamb both of Huntington Station, four grandchildren; Greg (Br...

Eleanor J. McDowell, 89, of 15071 Shell Point Blvd. Fort Myers, FL, formerly of South 2nd Street, Bradford, passed away Monday, May 28, 2012 at Shell Point Pavilion. Born on March 17, 1923, in Lewis Run, she was a daughter of the late John and Ella (Kutchmire) Kemick. On November 24,1963, in Bradford she married James R. McDowell, who died in 1980. She was a member and past president of the Bradford Hospital Auxilliary, former member of Bradford Hospital Board of Directors, YWCA and McKean County Republican Women. She was a member of St. Bernard Church. Eleanor was Vice President and partner at Barnsdall's Inc. in Bradford. Surviving is a daughter, Barbara J. (Terry) Brown, of Fort Myers, FL, three step daughters, Karen Phillips, Bradford, Marsha Sands, of Norwalk, OH, Barbara Lockman, of Ellicott, MD, and a step son, James McDowell, of Sherman Oaks, CA, sixteen grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded...

HARRISBURG - Four state Senate leaders are looking to make changes to Pennsylvania's pension system. Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Brubaker will soon introduce legislation to change Pennsylvania's pension system for government employees from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan, similar to a 401(k) or 403(b) plan. The new defined contribution retirement system will be provided for all state employees and public school employees hired on or after December 1, 2012. "Significant policy decisions regarding Pennsylvania's pension system must be made soon," Senator Browne said. "Without significant changes in the design of Pennsylvania's pension system, including a switch to a defined contribution system, the long-term costs will be unaffordable to Pennsylvania taxpayers." "Over the past few dec...

Governor Tom Corbett has signed execution warrants for three men, each of whom were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Darien Houser, John J. Koehler Jr. and Willie Clayton are incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Greene. Darien Houser, 49, is scheduled to be executed on July 24. In March 2004, Philadelphia Warrant Officer Sgt. Joseph LeClaire was attempting to serve a warrant on Houser for failing to appear at his trial on rape charges. Houser opened fire, killing LeClaire and wounding two other officers. Houser was arrested a short time later. In March 2006, Houser was sentenced to death. John Koehler Jr., 51, is scheduled to be executed on July 25. In April 1995, Koehler's girlfriend, Regina Clark, and her 9-year-old son, Austin Hopper, were killed in Bradford County by William Curley at the urging and insistence of Koehler. Koehler told Curley he worked for the mob and persuaded Curley to enter the profession, killing the pair as part of h...

Norristown - Governor Tom Corbett today signed House Bill 1610, which sets new guidelines for protecting Pennsylvania's student athletes from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). SCA happens when the heart stops beating suddenly and unexpectedly. It is the number-one killer of student athletes, claiming up to 7,000 young lives each year, nationwide. At a bill-signing ceremony at Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary Elementary School in Norristown, Governor Corbett was surrounded by students, teachers and parents who have lost children to SCA. Read more here Photo provided by Commonwealth Media Services The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Charges against the Bradford man accused of hiring someone to burn property he owns so he could collect more than half a million dollars in insurance money have been bound to court following separate hearings in front of District Judges Dominic Cercone and Rich Luther. 54-year-old Edward Panighetti is charged with several felony arson-related crimes. Panighetti allegedly hired someone to start fires at two houses he owns on South Avenue. He also allegedly reported that a classic car he owns was stolen. The burned car was recovered in July of last year on the Allegheny National Forest. The three cases involve more than $574,000 in insurance company funds from three separate companies. Panighetti is jailed on $200,000 bond. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Topeka, Kansas, couple both suffered injuries during an accident Monday evening on Cowley Hill Road in Keating Township. Police say 47-year-old David Lemon failed to negotiate a turn and had to lay the bike down on its side off the north edge of the road. His passenger, 37-year-old Dawn Lemon, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for treatment. Police did not know the severity of the driver’s injuries. An earlier news release said Dawn Lemon was charged with DUI, but a corrected release says David Lemon was charged. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

UPDATE: The fire has been ruled arson A Ridgway woman was hurt during a house fire early this morning. 69-year-old Pauline Smith suffered minor injuries in the blaze at her West Main Street home that started at around 5:15 a.m. The fire did about $100,000 worth of damage to the two-story building. A state police fire marshal has not determined the cause of the blaze but is continuing his investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today launched a new tourism advertising campaign featuring a reinvention of the iconic "I Love NY" logo in order to promote the New York’s unmatched vacation destinations and attractions. For the first time ever, the State has asked New Yorkers and visitors to help remake the "I Love NY" logo by submitting personal sketches depicting what they love about New York State. The "I Love NY" logo has not been used in television ads in over three years. The ads feature destinations in all regions of the state. After years of cuts to tourism promotion, this ad campaign fulfills Governor Cuomo’s campaign promise to support tourism across the state this year. Visit www.iloveny.com to explore the new campaign and watch the ads. "Tourism is vital to the economy of our state, supporting nearly 500,000 jobs and generating tens of billions of dollars in revenues for the state and businesses," Governor Cuomo said. "This campaign ...

Judge John Cleland has denied a request by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky to delay the start of his child sex abuse trial, which is scheduled to start on Tuesday. Cleland’s ruling this morning said that he, the defense and the prosecution met in the judge’s chambers yesterday to discuss the reasons the defense thinks the start of the trial should be delayed. One of the defense arguments is that reviewing the significant amount of discovery material provided by the attorney general’s office is difficult. Cleland wrote that, “No doubt sorting the wheat from the chaff has been time consuming. … (H)owever, the defense team is assuredly capable, even as the trial is ongoing, of sorting through the material to determine what is useful to the defense and what is not. Sandusky is charged with 52 counts involving 10 boys he allegedly abused over a 15-year period. He denies the allegations. A hearing is being held this afternoon to hammer out last-minute details regard...

BUFFALO – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that 24 individuals have been arrested on narcotics trafficking charges in connection with drug distribution networks in Erie, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Genesee Counties. Today’s two indictments are the result of an investigation known as “Operation Babcock” run by the Attorney General Schneiderman's Organized Crime Task Force and the New York State Police's Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (C-NET) unit. Babcock is the nickname of a neighborhood in South Buffalo where much of the investigation took place. Attorney General Schneiderman's office is prosecuting the 24 individuals who participated in two separate cocaine distribution networks centered in and around the Buffalo area. During the course of this investigation, several kilograms of cocaine, and approximately $58,500 in cash were seized. "Operation Babcock has led to the arrests of dozens of individuals who infiltrated the streets of Western N...

UPDATE: Jeffers is back in custody as of 10:40 a.m. The man who escaped from the Potter County Jail Tuesday afternoon was spotted this morning in Ulysses. 18-year-old Andrew Jeffers was seen at 5:15 a.m. in the woods off Empson Road. Police say he was wearing a blue shirt with jeans and a dark-colored hoodie. He is 5 feet, 6 inches tall with brown hair and a light brown beard. Jeffers escaped from the jail at about 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. He was sent to jail on burglary and theft charges. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Smethport man is accused of stealing a woman’s wheels and tires, and then selling the wheels for scrap. Police say sometime between last Monday and Wednesday 31-year-old Shaun Dinch sole four wheels and tires belonging to Lisa Burkhouse of Bradford. Dinch allegedly cut the tires of the wheels, damaging the wheels, and sold them. He is charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Fire destroyed the home of an Elk County woman Tuesday afternoon. The fire started at just after 1 p.m. at the mobile home of 73-year-old Dorthy McKinney. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental. It did more than $60,000 worth of damage. No one was hurt. The Red Cross is assisting the victim. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Olean man has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a corrections officer. 52-year-old Bruce Ferguson was indicted on an assault charge for allegedly injuring a corrections officer at the Cattaraugus County Jail on November 12. The matter has been adjourned for motions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Saturday at FlickerFest at the Flickerwood Wine Cellars & Lounge in Kane the Zampogna family unveiled their new wine, Kinzua Journey, a semi-sweet white wine. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the wine will be donated to the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau to help promote tourism in McKean County and the ANF Region. Sharon Zampogna, Ron Zampogna, Sue Zampogna, Sandra Rhodes, Tammy Zampogna-Liberato, Tim Zampogna (Standing), Rick Zampogna and Julie Julie Zampogna-Wehner (kneeling). ANFVB photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Hamburg man suffered a serious foot injury while riding his motorcycle Monday evening in Forestville. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say the bike operated by 57-year-old Leonard Mann apparently got into the gravel on the shoulder of Hanover Road, which caused it to go out of control and crash. Mann was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC in Buffalo for treatment of the injury. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police are looking for a man who escaped from the Potter County Jail this afternoon. 18-year-old Andrew Schuyler Jeffers of Ulysses escaped at around 1 p.m. and was last seen heading north through the woods near the Coudersport Consistory. He was last seen wearing his yellow jail uniform. Jeffers is about 5 feet, 6 inches tall with brown hair and a light brown beard. He was sent to jail on more than a dozen felony charges related to burglaries and thefts last month in the Ulysses area. Jeffers is accused of stealing three dirt bikes from different homes, diesel fuel, gasoline and a motocross helmet. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

UPDATE: A Severe Thunderstorm WARNING is in effect until 2:45 p.m. for Shinglehouse, Port Allegany, Roulette, Keating Summit, Genesee, Coudersport, Denton Hill State Park. The National Weather Service in State College has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 7 o'clock tonight for McKean, Elk, Cameron, Jefferson, Warren, Forest and Potter counties. The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued the warning for Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany counties until 7 p.m. Some of the storms could produce large hail and strong wind gusts. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

200 stocked trout were fish-napped from Wildcat Park in Ludlow over the weekend. Police say someone parked along Route 6 and removed the trout from a pond, which had been stocked for a youth fishing derby scheduled for June 20. The Ludlow Community Association bought the trout and stocked the pond. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman is hospitalized and a man was burned after a boat exploded on Chautauqua Lake near Smith Boys Marina Monday afternoon. Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies say 41-year-old Stephanie Mummert of Fairfield and 43-year-old Thomas Meyers of Mechanicsburg grabbed life vests and jumped into the water. Nearby boaters pulled them from the water and called 911. Mummert is being treated at WCA Hospital in Jamestown for burns to her lower legs. Meyers suffered minor burns and was treated and released. photos from Facebook The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947