Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today announced that he will not accept a salary for the duration of the Federal government shutdown. In a letter to the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, Thompson formally requested that his pay be withheld during the lapse of appropriations. “Pursuant to the 27th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, pay for a Member of Congress cannot be altered until a new Congress begins,” Thompson wrote. “However, it is clear that Congress has failed to fulfill one of its most basic responsibilities; making appropriations.” “I respectfully request that you withhold my pay for the duration of the government shutdown,” the letter concludes. Thompson addressed the action yesterday on the floor of the U.S. House, along with his co-sponsorship of H.R. 3160, the Government Shutdown Fairness Act, which would stop Members of Congress from receiving a salary during a government shutdown. “M...

A 4-car crash in the Town of Rushford seriously injured one person this afternoon. State police say the chain reaction crash happened in a work zone on Route 243 near Balcom Beach Road. The road will be closed for another couple of hours or so while an accident reconstruction team is at work. Detours are in place. Troopers say they will release more information later today. Image from Google Earth © The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Something special will be happening before tonight’s Karns City High School football game. Hall of Fame and former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly will be recognized as part of the hall’s effort to honor the hometown roots of its members. Kelly will take part in the coin toss before the game, present the school with a check, and be honored with a plaque that will stay at the school. Signs will be erected throughout East Brady, where Kelly went to school, and Karns City, welcoming visitors to the home of Jim Kelly. The events are taking place in Karns City because East Brady High School closed about 20 years ago. On a side note, Karns City beat Franklin last week 62-7. Franklin is visiting the Owls tonight. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police on Thursday investigated thefts on Welch and North Kendall avenues, harassment on St. Francis Drive, Lorana Avenue and East Corydon Street, and disorderly conduct on Pearl Street. They also got calls about criminal mischief on West Washington and Cornen streets, a disturbance on Chautauqua Place, an animal on High Street and suspicious activity on Constitution Avenue. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Cecil Wayne “Pappy” Beer 80, of Rt. 646 Gifford, went to be with his Lord, on Thursday, October 3, 2013, at his residence, with his loving family by his side. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. Online condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Wellsboro man suffered moderate injuries in a crash early this morning on Route 6 in Potter County. Police say 39-year-old Jason Grim was traveling west when his SUV left the road, traveled into a ditch and hit a dirt embankment. Grim was later arrested for DUI. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Our annual series on Domestic Violence Awareness started on today's LiveLine on 1490 WESB. Mickey Swackhamer of the YWCA Victims Resource Center gave an overview of the situation, as an introduction to the series, and also talked about the "PA Says 'No More'" campaign, a joint effort between PCADV and PCAR to get all Pennsylvanians to join voices and say NO MORE to domestic violence and sexual assault. Get information about the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence here . Get information about the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape here . Listen to today's LiveLine here (click on the Local Programs tab and scroll down to #50.) The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

PHILADELPHIA – Against the backdrop of Love Park, state Reps. Brian Sims, D-Phila., and Steve McCarter, D-Montgomery/Phila., were joined by supporters in announcing the introduction of H.B. 1686, the Pennsylvania Marriage Equality Act. "The majority of Pennsylvanians now support marriage equality, and that support continues to grow," Sims said. "Neighboring states, including New York, Maryland and Delaware, have all decided to be on the right side of history and have granted equal rights to their LGBT citizens. The time has come for Pennsylvania’s legislature to stand up and let our citizens know we see them as truly equal members of society and they have the right to choose whom they marry. "With the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, it became apparent that Pennsylvania cannot continue to be stuck in the past. This is a civil rights issue facing our LGBT community. Furthermore, this issue is holding back Pennsylvania’s economy. People and busin...

Professional Development Expert Michael Bevis chats with Anne Holliday about changing careers and creating a "brand" for yourself. Listen here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 17-year-old disabled youth from Warren had a dream come true in Clearfield County. Matt Bunk was hit by a truck at only 18 months of age leaving him partially paralyzed and only the use of his left arm. Matt has always wanted to go hunting but never thought he would get the chance to do so. In late September, thanks to the North Central PA Pheasants Forever Chapter 630’s Youth Foundation Hunt program, Matt was able to spend several days afield at Fork Ridge Ranch which is a new outdoor adventure and hunting complex near Frenchville. Pheasants Forever members provided Matt with ammunition, bird dogs and handlers, plus an ATV equipped with a special seat in front of the machine with an adjustable shooting rest. After some practice rounds and adjustments, Matt started his wing shooting adventure. Soon the dogs were pointing birds hiding in the dense cover. With some help from his brother Will, Matt was able to take aim and harvest several flushing pheasants and chukar part...

Elizabeth J. McCutcheon, 89, formerly of 118 Congress Street, passed away Wednesday, September 25, 2013, in The Bradford Ecumenical Home. Born April 4, 1924, in Bradford, she was the daughter of the late Howard D. and Helen Shay (Acker) Sears. On October 6, 1946. in Buffalo, NY, she married Sophronous A. 'Sam' McCutcheon, Jr., who passed away March 12, 1999. On November 5, 2006, she married Fred Hemingway, who passed away June 5, 2010. A 1941 graduate of Bradford Senior High School, she attended Margaret Morrison Carnegie College for Women in Pittsburgh. Upon completing her schooling, she was employed by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation and The Bulletin Index, a weekly news magazine, both in Pittsburgh. Upon returning to Bradford, she worked for Corning Glass Works as an executive secretary. She was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bradford. She was a gifted seamstress and enjoyed sewing. She is survived by four daughters, Martha (Edward) Smega, of Olms...

Kevin J. McGauley 60, of Bellview Ave., Bradford, passed away Sunday September 29, 2013, at his residence. Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am Monday October 7, 2013 in St. Bernard Church with the Rev. Raymond Gramata, Pastor as celebrant. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. Online condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

It was standing room only in the atrium of the new Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse in downtown Buffalo on Monday as more than 200 guests, including representatives of the federal and local governments, courts, legal community, Robert H. Jackson Center leadership and Jackson family and friends, gathered for the formal unveiling of its official name honoring the Supreme Court Justice and U.S. Chief Prosecutor at Nuremberg. The Honorable William M. Skretny, Chief U.S. District Judge for the Western District of New York, presided at the ceremony, as The Honorable Richard J. Arcara welcomed the attendees. Due to a growing workload in the Western District, Skretny and Arcara began making the case for a new federal courthouse in Buffalo well over 10 years before the approval for funding the structure passed congress in 2007. According to Greg Peterson, Jackson Center co-founder, the effort to name the courthouse for Jackson had its beginning in March 2008, with an editorial co...

After capturing medalist honors at last weekend's Little 3 Championship, St. Bonaventure redshirt sophomore Darren Simons has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference Golfer of the Week. Simons led the Bonnies to the title of the 60th annual Little 3 event, which was played on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Pine Acres Golf Club in Bradford. St. Bonaventure finished nine shots ahead of Canisius (593) and well in front of Niagara. Simons, a native of St. Marys, opened with a five-under par 67 in the morning round, then carded a 73 in the afternoon for a four-under par total of 140. His victory earned Simons a berth in next summer's Porter Cup, a prestigious amateur tournament held each year at Niagara Falls Country Club. This is the first time Simons has been named A-10 Golfer of the Week. St. Bonaventure's next action will be on Oct. 6-7 in the Binghamton Invitational at The Links at Hiawatha Landing. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

It was an unusual sight at Penn State DuBois on Wednesday as more than two dozen male students walked together around campus wearing red high heels. The walk also took them off campus, and down Liberty Boulevard, as women showing their support to the cause walked alongside the guys to cheer them on. The men were participating in 'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes', a men's march meant to raise awareness of the battle against rape, sexual assault, and gender violence. The event was organized by Passages of Clarion, Clearfield and Jefferson Counties, in conjunction with the Penn State DuBois Office of Student Life. The idea behind the march is to get men more involved in issues surrounding sex crimes. "Most of the time people think of sexual violence as a women's issue, but men are really the ones who can make a difference," said April Fleck, a prevention educator with Passages. "We want men to become aware of what they can do to step in and stop these th...

City of Bradford Police on Tuesday were called to disturbances on South Avenue and Harris Court and investigated a theft on Interstate Parkway and a motor vehicle accident on High Street. Officers also looked into people possibly driving while intoxicated on Forman and Barbour streets. They checked out suspicious activity on Bedford Street and a flim flam on South Avenue. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Concession sites in the Allegheny National Forest – including Willow Bay and all other campgrounds – have been given 48 hours to close because of the federal government shutdown. The forest supervisor contacted Allegheny Site Management today about closing. Law enforcement and fire personnel are exempt from a shut down, but all so-called non-essential services in the ANF are closed down, or will be soon. Government employees are still manning the Kinzua Dam because it’s an essential operation of the US Army Corps of Engineers, but the dam will not be open to tourists during the government shut down. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

American Refining Group, Inc. has successfully completed the Made in USA Certified proprietary supply chain audit process and is the first oil refinery to be granted license to use the Made in USA Certified® Seal for the following products: Brad Penn® Lubricants, Kensol® Naphthas and Distilates and Kendex® Base Oils, Custom Blends, Waxes and Resins. The American Refining Group, Inc.’s unique facility is situated on approximately 131 acres in Bradford, Pennsylvania, the heart of McKean County and the birthplace of the U.S. domestic oil industry more than 100 years ago. The refinery has a rated capacity of 10,000 barrels per day and processes 100% Pennsylvania Grade Crude purchased from sources in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia. American Refining Group stocks are converted into high quality waxes, lubricant base oils, gasoline and fuels, as well as a wide variety of specialty products. American Refining Group’s state-of-the-art blending and packaging facilities have the...

Washington DC - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement regarding the incident today on the Capitol Grounds. “My office has received countless calls of concern regarding the incident on the Capitol Grounds today. I was walking outside of the Capitol when I heard a popping noise that sounded like gunfire and the Capitol Police quickly directed us to appropriate nearby shelter. Once the Capitol Police gave the ok, I returned to my office. My staff sheltered in place during the incident. I appreciate the concern of Pennsylvanians. I am grateful for the fast action and professionalism of the Capitol Police and my thoughts and prayers are with officer who was injured in the incident.” Read the story from NBC News here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Williams Street man was hit in the face by shrapnel when bullets went off in his home during a fire this morning. City Fire Department Captain Rich Zmuda says they were called to 10 Williams Street at 11:08 a.m. and found a small fire in the living room, and that resident Roy Lawrence had been hit in the face. He was taken by ambulance to BRMC for treatment. Zmuda says the fire started because several shot guns and bullets were too close to a wood stove. Damage is estimated at $2,000. Firefighters were on the scene for about 40 minutes. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The South Center Street woman whose apartment was damaged by fire late last month is now facing charges for leaving the apartment while her four-year-old daughter was sleeping. 32-year-old Susan Hassek is charged with endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. The little girl, who was rescued from the fire by a neighbor, was not hurt. State Police fire marshal Greg Agosti says an electric burner on a stove was on for a significant amount of time while unattended, and that a pan on the burner melted. The fire spread from the cook top to the adjacent cabinets and wall behind the stove, before completely consuming the kitchen. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental but police say Hassek’s actions “placed the child in danger of death or serious injury.” The charges have been filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office, but she has not had a hearing yet. The Bradford City Fire Department and McKean County District Attorne...

An inmate at the Cattaraugus County Jail is dead, and the sheriff says it appears to be a suicide. A corrections officer found the inmate unresponsive in his cell and first aid was performed. But, the inmate was pronounced dead a short time later. The inmate's name has not been released. Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb says the investigation is ongoing. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The American Cancer Society is still looking for people in the area to participate in a new research study that will help them better understand the genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that cause or prevent cancer. Anyone between the ages of 30 and 65 who has never had cancer is eligible. Sign-up dates are October 22 and 23. You can go to http://www.McKeanCPS3.org  to make an appointment. To learn more about the study and, maybe, answer some of the questions you may have, listen to today's LiveLine with Shane and Kelsey from the local ACS chapter. http://www.wesb.com/listen/ Click on the "Local Programs" tab and scroll down to #49. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The need for a community college in an 11-county rural region – including McKean, Warren, Elk, Cameron and Potter counties – was the topic of a Senate Education Committee hearing this afternoon in Harrisburg. American Refining Group’s Bob Esch told the panel what a community college would mean to the area. "This regional community college will provide our business and industries a sustainable workforce with the necessary skills to support profitable business growth and contribute to the economic well-being of our communities," Esch said. The legislation that would help to create a community college initiative in the region was introduced by Senator Joe Scarnati. State Rep. Marty Causer has introduced a similar bill in the house. The 11-county region also includes Crawford, Venango, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield, counties. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 67-year-old woman is in jail after being accused of making bomb threats toward some employees at Hanover Town Hall. Chautauqua County sheriff’s deputies say Jeanne Polisoto of Forestville made the threat at 11:15 Tuesday morning. They didn’t elaborate on what she said. Polisoto is charged with terroristic threats, harassment and obstructing governmental administration. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Wilkes-Barre man faces charges for allegedly growing 170 marijuana plants on state game lands in Luzerne County. The Pennsylvania Game Commission, in conjunction with the state Office of Attorney General, today filed charges in the case. Thomas Dalton, 47, of Airy Street, is charged with one felony count of manufacture of a controlled substance, one felony count of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. Dalton also is charged with violating the Game and Wildlife Code by unlawfully traveling by motorized vehicle on state game lands, possessing a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, using game lands for commercial purpose, and additional violations. Charges were filed at the office of Magiste...

A state appeals court has ruled that Jerry Sandusky should not get a new trial on charges that he sexually abused 10 boys while he was an assistant football coach at Penn State. Sandusky was convicted and sentenced last year to 30 to 60 years in state prison. His current lawyer argued that his trial lawyers didn’t have enough time to prepare, that a prosecutor made improper references to Sandusky not testifying in his own defense, and that Judge John Cleland mishandled jury instructions. Today’s decision by a three-judge Superior Court panel came just two weeks after they heard lawyers’ arguments. Sandusky’s lawyer says he plans to ask the state Supreme Court to review the case. You can read the decision here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

KANE - Brenda L. Emer, 44, of 142 New Jersey Avenue in James City, died late Tuesday afternoon at UPMC Shadyside in Pittsburgh after a series of courageous battles with cancer. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Ronald McDonald II Funeral Home Inc. . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947