Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A Chautauqua County National Guardsman who was an outspoken opponent of the military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was killed in a car crash in Rochester. 36-year-old Darren Manzella died after he was hit by an SUV while pushing a car on Interstate 490. Thursday night. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Manzella was a graduate of Brocton Central School and West Virginia University and an Iraq War veteran. In December of 2007 while serving in Iraq Manzella appeared on “60 Minutes” and talked about his opposition to “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” In June of 2008 he was discharged for “homosexual admission,” which was prohibited then, but isn't now. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Warren County man is accused of setting fires at his house, his brother’s house and another house early Friday morning. 67-year-old James Slagter of Grand Valley also allegedly broke into a fourth house and poured gasoline inside, but didn’t set it on fire. Police say two of the houses that burned were total losses. Damage is estimated at $400,000. Slagter is jailed on $100,000 on arson, burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief charges, all felonies. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Kane’s police chief is accused of falsifying records. 42-year-old Brian Hillard is accused of submitting false information regarding firearms certification for three borough police officers. According to papers filed in District Judge David Engman’s office Hillard did not qualify three officers for firearms in 2012, but listed that he had on the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission’s Officer Recertification roster. If he’s found guilty, Hillard could spend up to two years in prison, be fined up to $5,000 or both. He is free on his own recognizance and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 9. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police on Friday looked into disturbances on East Main Street and Cole Avenue, motor vehicle accidents on Bishop, Davis and Elm streets, a theft on Tibbetts Avenue and trespassing on Maplewood Avenue and Williams Street. They got reports about vandalism on Barbour Street, disorderly conduct on Interstate Parkway, harassment on Jackson Avenue as well as High and Bushnell streets and underage drinking on West Washington Street. Officers also received complaints about a public drunk on East Main Street, loitering on Euclid Avenue, suspicious activity on Linwood Avenue and a public nuisance on Bedford Street. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Coudersport woman is dead following a motorcycle crash Thursday afternoon on Dry Run Road in Potter County. Police say 71-year-old Judith Shunk was traveling east when her bike went out of control and crashed. She was flown to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, where she died. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Kimberly Marcott Weinberg Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will celebrate the campus’s history as Bradford’s original airport as part of celebrations for its 50th anniversary. Today’s Pitt-Bradford is located on a tract of land that served as Harri Emery Airport from the 1920s until the Bradford Regional Airport was constructed in the early 1950s. Pitt-Bradford retiree and local historian Linda Delaney has researched and curated an exhibit with the help of Bruce and Beverly Perry and Bernie Picklo. The exhibit will open Tuesday as part of Founders’ Day events planned at Pitt-Bradford for its 50th anniversary and remain on display in the KOA Gallery in Blaisdell Hall through Oct. 6. The gallery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. Special hours are planned for Alumni and Family Weekend Oct. 4 through 6, when the exhibition will be op...

Reminiscent of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” a man went to his camp in Potter County and found someone sleeping in his cabin. 62-year-old William Sheeley of Littlestown found 29-year-old Stephen Zummuto of Allentown at about 11 o’clock Wednesday night and discovered that Zummuto, who Sheeley does not know, had been living in the cabin. Zummuto is charged with felony counts of burglary and criminal trespass, as well as giving false identification to law enforcement and theft of services. He’s jailed on $2,500 bail and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for September 13 in front of District Judge Delores Weiss in Galeton. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Warren, Pa. – The Allegheny National Forest announces the temporary closure of Forest Road 141 (Mudlick Road), effective September 3, 2013. This temporary closure will only affect the Forest Service section of Mudlick Road. Forest Road 141 will remain closed for approximately 30 days due to culvert replacement and road surfacing. If you have any questions regarding this closure, please contact the Supervisor’s Office at 814-723-5150. Image from Google Earth © The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man is in jail for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house and beating her up this morning. 40-year-old John Hitchcock actually broke into the Fisher Court home twice, according to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office, but no one was home the first time. The second time he pushed the victim’s house mate out of the way to get into the house and started fighting with her. At one point, he threw her to the floor, got on top of her and punched her. She told police her head and the right side of her body hurt. She later went to the BRMC Emergency Room for treatment. Hitchcock is charged with burglary, assault and harassment. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

After agents in a helicopter found marijuana growing operation a Ludlow man found himself facing 47 charges. Police say Customs and Border Protection agents in the helicopter discovered the operation on August 10 in Hamilton Township. They contacted members of the McKean County Drug Task Force, who arrested 47-year-old Todd Haight for having 23 marijuana plants and a jar containing harvested marijuana. Haight is free on $10,000 bail. Image from Google Earth © The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Home Depot employee in Allegany is accused of letting two other employees leave the store without paying for several items. 28-year-old Jenna Holly of Portville is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy for letting the others leave with merchandise twice while she was working as a cashier. She was released on her own recognizance and will answer the charges in Town of Allegany Court. Charges are pending against the other people. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Three Youngsville High School graduates have admitted to doing at least $700,000 worth of damage to the school back in June. 19-year-old Duston Miller of Youngsville, 18-year-old Tylor Keyes of Grand Valley and 20-year-old Derek Gifford of Greensburg emptied fire extinguishers in the gym and cafeteria, computer lab, hallways and principal’s office; and spray-painted computer screens, chalkboards, doors, tables and walls. A sentencing date hasn’t been set yet, but the three have agreed to pay for the damage. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Texas man arrested for driving while intoxicated is also a fugitive from justice. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say a vehicle operated by 54-year-old David Keene of Mesquite, Texas, was parked in the middle of Route 430 in the Town of Mina at about 9:15 Wednesday night. After they arrested him for DWI, parking on the highway and other traffic violations, they learned he was wanted in Dallas County, Texas. Keene was arraigned as a fugitive from justice and is in Chautauqua County Jail awaiting extradition. Image from Google Earth © The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Allegheny National Forest announces the seasonal closing of the following facilities: Dew Drop Campground – September 3, 2013 Kiasutha Campground and Day Use Area – September 3, 2013 Kinzua Beach Concessions – September 3, 2013 Wolf Run Marina – September 15, 2013 Please note that although the Kinzua Beach Concessions will be closing on September 3, the beach and picnic area are open year round. For more information about these closures or the recreation sites remaining open, please call the Bradford Ranger Station at 814-362-4613 or visit the following page on their website http://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/allegheny/recreation . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Temple Beth El in Bradford will hold services for the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Services will be conducted by Rabbi Susan Stone of Cleveland, Ohio, with music provided by Charles Stone. Evening services will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at the temple, which is located at 144 Clarence St. in Bradford. Morning services will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 5 at the temple, followed by taschlich in Callahan Park and the dedication of a Holocaust memorial at the Hebrew Cemetery in Bradford. Yom Kippur services will begin with Kol Nidre at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 and continue with morning services at 10 a.m. Sept. 14 at the temple. Yizkor and concluding services will begin at 4 p.m. Sept. 14, followed by a break-the-fast meal. For more information, contact Kimberly Marcott Weinberg at 814-331-5664. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 17-year-old Chautauqua County boy is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a relative’s safe. Sheriff’s deputies say Tyler Conway of Mayville broke into a safe in a relative’s home and stole about $3,500. He is charged with grand larceny and criminal mischief. Conway was arraigned in Town of Chautauqua Court and released to his father. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Travis Lau PA Game Commission Year after year, Labor Day weekend kicks off a period of increased activity on Pennsylvania’s elk range. As elk begin ramping up their routines ahead of peak bugling season, visitors flock in greater numbers to areas where they can see the wild spectacle unfold. In a typical year, an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 people visit Elk County alone during the two-month span between Labor Day and Halloween. But 2013 isn’t a typical year in regard to Pennsylvania’s elk. Rather, it’s an extraordinary one. This year marks the 100th anniversary of efforts to restore elk to Pennsylvania, and in commemoration of that landmark anniversary, special events are planned each weekend through Columbus Day at sites on the elk range. With the added attractions and excitement over the anniversary, it’s hard to say how many people might make Pennsylvania’s elk country a destination this year. But there seems this year to be even more of a buzz than usual surroundin...

City of Bradford Police on Wednesday investigated an assault on Congress Street, a motor vehicle accident on West Washington Street and a disturbance on North Center Street. They were called to domestic incidents on Kennedy and West Corydon streets and an animal complaint on Marion Avenue. Officers were also called about trespassing on Cornen Street, a public drunk on Walker Place, harassment on Tibbetts Avenue, as well as Summer and Bushnell streets and suspicious activity on Bushnell and West Corydon streets. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 40-year-old Bradford man is accused of forcing a 13-year-old girl to perform a sex act on him at least 20 times between January and earlier this month. Gerald Pope is accused of telling the girl she could not see her boyfriend unless she performed the act. Papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office say Pope would lie down on the couch or the floor, expose his genitals and require her to put baby lotion on her hands before performing the act. Pope is charged with one felony count each of criminal attempt at involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault with a person younger than 16; 20 counts of unlawful contact with a minor; 20 felony counts of corruption of minors; and 20 misdemeanor counts of indecent assault of a person younger than 16. He is jailed on $20,000 bail and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Thursday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 79-year-old Bolivar, New York, man is dead after an industrial accident Wednesday afternoon in the Town of Andover. State police say Douglas Wightman was servicing a hydraulic oil rig with three other people at just before 4 p.m. when steel pulleys and guidelines on top of the rig’s mast snapped, fell about 40 feet and hit him. Wightman was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy will be performed at the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester. Image from Google Earth © The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bridges on Dorothy Lane, Sullivan Road, Columbia Hill Road, Barnum Road and Kushequa Avenue are among those in McKean County that will be posted with new or lowered weight restrictions. Last week, PennDOT secretary Barry Schoch said 1,000 structurally deficient bridges across the state had been authorized for new or added weight restrictions in order to slow down deterioration and ensure safety. He said the move is necessary because the state Legislature has not acted on transportation funding. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate say that is one of their priorities for the fall session. McKean County • Route 1011 (Barnum Road) over Meeks Run, just south of the New York state line, 32 tons or 40 tons for combination loads. • Route 146 over Potato Creek, near the intersection with Route 46, tentative posting of 35 tons or 40 tons for combination loads. • Route 1015 (Columbia Hill Road) over North Branch of Cole Creek, near the village of Wrights Corners, tentative posting of 33 ...

A Clarion man accused of injuring two people while he was committing a burglary in Eldred has waived his preliminary hearing. On July 4 police were called to an assault in progress on Chris Drive and learned that 20-year-old John Forehand went into an apartment without permission and knocked a stereo speaker onto the floor. When he was leaving, he saw the resident returning home, went to the vehicle, pulled a passenger from the back seat and kicked him, injuring his arm and kidney area, according to papers filed in District Judge Bill Todd’s office. He also kicked a woman, injuring her leg. Forehand is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, and simple assault, as well as harassment, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. He is free on $5,000 bail. Also today in McKean County Central Court, three women waived their preliminary hearings. 22-year-old Samantha Mott of Bradford is charged with theft by deception; 21-year-old Amber Jones of Smethport is charged with recklessly...

Sheriff’s deputies say they found syringes and other drug paraphernalia in a car they stopped for speeding early this morning. They say they stopped the vehicle at 1:20 a.m. in the Village of Mayville and saw what appeared to be narcotic packaging material in the wallet of 43-year-old Edward Wood of Westfield while he was getting his driver’s license out. They searched the vehicle and found a quantity of a controlled substance, as well as two syringes and the other paraphernalia. Wood was arrested driving while ability impaired by drugs and criminal possession of a controlled substance and a hypodermic instrument, as well as a couple of traffic violations. Image from Google Earth © The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947