Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

This Thursday, April 3rd at 5:30p.m-8:00p.m, Open Arms Community Church will be hosting Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children, brought to you by The Olean-Bradford YMCA and The McKean County Collaborative Board. The training will be held at the church which is located at 1289 East Main Street, in Bradford, PA. This is a one time, 2-hour evidence-informed training program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The program is designed for parents, youth serving organizations, and other concerned individuals. “As a representative of Open Arms Community Church, I speak for all of us, we are excited to host this event and bring awareness to our community. We hope that as organizations and adults who care about children, you will join us in confronting this epidemic.” says Assistant Pastor Justin Willoughby. Open Arms Community Church desires to produce transformed lives by addressing spiritual needs, health, finances, education, and...

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania’s annual Elk License Drawing will be held at the Elk County Visitor’s Center this summer, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25). The 2014 drawing will take place at the Elk County Visitor’s Center on Saturday, August 16, 2014, in conjunction with the Keystone Elk Country Alliance Elk Festival. “I am very pleased that the Game Commission has followed my recommendation and decided that the Elk License Drawing will take place in Elk County this year,” Scarnati said in a news release sent to WESB. “Year after year, Pennsylvania residents and visitors from out-of-state, come to the northwestern region of our Commonwealth to see the impressive herds of elk and other wildlife. Holding the Elk License Drawing during the Keystone Elk Country Alliance Elk Festival will encourage a larger number of people to visit the region to experience the Festival, while also spurring greater economic development for this rural portion of our state.” Scarnati explained that l...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold its annual Health and Wellness Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 3 in the Mukaiyama University Room of the Frame-Westerberg Commons. More than two dozen health and wellness providers will offer information, screenings and demonstrations. Attendance is free of charge and open to the public. There will also be door prizes and giveaways. Free health screenings include blood pressure, bone density, Body Mass Index/body fat, glaucoma and mental health. Other activities include Tai Chi demonstrations, snacking on healthy foods, massage therapy and paraffin hand dips. Vendors include Bradford Regional Medical Center, including its Center for Diabetes and Nutrition Education, Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine, Dental Center, Healthy Beginnings, School of Radiology, Sleep Disorder Center and Women’s Health Services. Other organizations attending are Alcohol and Drug Abuse Servi...

Residents who rely on a private well, spring, or cistern for their drinking water can learn about the basics of testing and protecting their private water supply during a two-hour Safe Drinking Water Clinic, sponsored by Penn State Extension, and offered at the 911 Center in Smethport, PA. The clinic will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, from 1 to 3PM only. The clinic will provide information on proper location, construction, testing, maintenance, and protection and will feature Penn State Extension Water Specialist, Bryan Swistock. Several residents have had their water tested through this program and are registered already, but walk-ins will be accepted for the workshop, as well. A small cover charge will be payable at the door. For further information you can contact Jim Clark at Jac20@psu.edu or by calling 814-887-5613. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A free screening of the documentary “Triple Divide” will be presented by co-directors and journalists Joshua Pribanic and Melissa Troutman at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in the Dresser Auditorium of the Murphy Professional Building at St. Bonaventure University. The 90-minute documentary is a project by PublicHerald.org, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization. “Triple Divide” is built on evidence from cradle-to-grave investigations that attempt to answer the question, “How are state regulations and industry handling impacts from fracking?” It is said to be the only documentary of its kind on the controversial subject of fracking capable of speaking to all sides, with exclusive interviews from members of the fracking industry, experts and Americans suffering in the wake of shale gas development. Narrated by actor and advocate Mark Ruffalo, the film’s major findings include stark negligence and endangerment of public and environmental health due to shale gas extraction. Spo...

The third time was the not the charm, but the last straw, for a man accused of threatening staff in the BRMC emergency room this month. Early this morning Richard Lewis said he was going to “take … out” the doctor on duty, according to papers sent to WESB by District Judge Rich Luther’s office. The statement, along with Lewis’s tumultuous behavior caused serious inconvenience and diverted the ER from its normal operations. Lewis had been warned by police on March 2 and March 8 to refrain from violent or threatening behavior while in the ER after they had been called because he was out of control and threatening the staff. He’s in McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford woman who made counterfeit $20 bills and passed $400 worth of as real money will spend the next 60 days to 23 ½ months in McKean County Jail. 38-year-old Elizabeth Skok was arrested on forgery and related charges after police found the counterfeiting operation in her while executing a search warrant in an unrelated case, as previously reported by WESB. Her co-defendant, 30-year-old Shad Gutshall of Bradford, waived his preliminary hearing on Wednesday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford man who stole guns and other items from a Keating Township home will spend 30 months to eight years in state prison. 35-year-old Ronald Bliss Jr. pushed in a locked door at the home, then stole two rifles, ammunition, a flat screen TV, some tools and two jars full of change, as previously reported by WESB. The incident happened in December. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford woman who said she and her husband turned to drug dealing to make ends meet will spend the next one to three years in state prison. 41-year-old Susan Byerly had nearly 5 grams of cocaine and almost 75 grams of marijuana packaged for sale when members of the McKean County Drug Task Force searched her home last February, as previously reported by WESB. A 9 mm pistol was also found in the home. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A jury has found a 40-year-old Bradford man guilty of some charges related to his having sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl, and not guilty of others. Gerald Pope would lie down on the couch or floor, expose his genitals and tell the girl to perform a sex act on him, according to court papers obtained by WESB. He was found guilty of unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors. The jury found him not guilty of aggravated indecent assault, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault. Pope is scheduled for sentencing on July 3 in McKean County Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Eldred man is facing drug charges following a traffic stop in the Town of Friendship on Thursday. State police say they stopped 26-year-old Christopher Caldwell on Interstate 86 and subsequently charged him with criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to a news release obtained by WESB. He’s scheduled to appear in Town of Friendship Court on April 8. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Port Allegany man is accused of stealing more than $10,000 from the Bradford Invitational Pool League. Bradford City Police Officer Steve Green says members of the league contacted police in February saying checks had been stolen from their organization and they were being passed in the Bradford area, according to a news release sent to WESB. After reviewing financial statements, and through multiple interviews, Green was able to identify the suspect as 34-year-old Stacy Allan Yeager of Vine Street. Green says Yeager took a book of checks from the pool league between November and February and then passed several of them by forging the signatures of Ben Skaggs and Robert Kontz. The total amount withdrawn was $10,593 and, to date, none of the money has been repaid or returned. Yeager was arraigned by District Judge David Engman on felony charges of forgery, theft and receiving stolen property, and then released on $25,000 unsecured bail. He's scheduled to appear in McKean Count...

City of Bradford Police on Thursday looked into reports of harassment on York Street and Homestead Avenue and a disturbance on Cole Avenue. They also got a report about criminal mischief on Congress Street and suspicious activity on Route 219. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

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

A man who stole more than 70 guns from a Clearfield County store has been sentenced in federal court to five years’ probation. 36-year-old Justin McElheny of Irvona stole the guns from December of 2007 to October of 2011. They included revolvers, pistols and rifles of various calibers. Prosecutors say, at the same time McElheny had the stolen guns he was unlawfully using Percocet, Oxycontin, Roxicet and Vicodin. http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/news/2014/2014_march/2014_03_21_02.html The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Private funeral services for Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson will be held in his hometown of Detroit on Saturday. The team made the announcement today. The 95-year-old Hall of Fame owner died in his Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, home on Tuesday. The Bills are planning to hold a public celebration and remembrance honoring Wilson, but haven’t set a date yet. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two people camping out with a Boy Scout troop got lost while hiking on Saturday, but police and other agencies were able to find them. State Police say they got the report at 10 p.m. about the hikers in the area of Bolton Road in the Town of Ashford, according to a news release obtained by WESB. With the terrain being very dangerous, the extreme cold and inclement weather, Trooper Dean Nolte and K9 Officer Nugent, with the assistance of New York State Forest Ranger Officer Rogers, began to track the area with K9 Nugent leading the way. They found the hikers at about 1:30 a.m. on the south bank of Cattaraugus Creek, about three miles from the Boy Scouts. They were evaluated by West Valley Ambulance personnel, and were both OK. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Cheektowaga, New York, man accused of threatening a Bradford woman with a knife back in 2011 has waived his preliminary hearing. 27-year-old Jason Rohdafox is accused of holding a knife to the throat of the woman who was his girlfriend then and threatening to kill her. He also punched, choked and scratched her while they had been fighting about money, according to papers provided to WESB by District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. In another case, this one from 2010, he was in a Jackson Avenue house without permission. He returned to the Buffalo area after the second incident, and was arrested last week and then sent to McKean County Jail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

From Coudersport-based State Police: At around 10:30 Tuesday night in Roulette, someone in a red car similar to an older style Camaro, Trans Am or Firebird drove off Main Street, broke a bush at 197 Main and left tire markings in the grass. Between noon on Saturday and 7:30 Sunday morning someone accessed the Verizon Wireless account of 41-year-old Tammy Bice of Ulysses and added three additional phone lines. 63-year-old Michael Barto of Lilitz facing a summary charge of Control of Alarm Devics after police went to a property he owns in Sweden Township at just after 9 o'clock Monday night and found the house was secure with no signs of intrusion. This was the fourth false alarm in a year. Sometime between December 15 and March 13 someone damaged plywood siding on a hunting shed owned by 88-year-old Lewis Eccher on Town Line Road in Eulalia Township. From Emporium-based State Police: Someone took numerous lengths of scrap corrugated pipe from the Portage Township Cemetery ...

New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation received information from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office regarding possible burglarizes that occurred at the Genesee Community College, Village Apartment Complex, in the Town of Batavia. Investigation has revealed that Matthew P. Lenhard, 28, of Corfu, while working as a security officer at the apartment complex entered at least 6 apartments to steal undergarments and swim suits. Several pieces of garments were recovered from Lenhardâ's residence, according to a news release obtained by WESB. The Director of the College Village Apartment Complex, upon learning of the burglaries cooperated with the investigation and stated "We are assuring students that safety is our top priority. We are encouraging students to bring any concerns they might have to members of our staff, or to discuss safety issues with our staff." Lenhard has been charged with six (6) counts of Burglary 2nd a Class C Felony, and one...

A two-year-old Bradford boy has a concussion and other serious injuries, and the man accused of causing those injuries is in jail. 45-year-old Olivar Gonzalez-Iriarte hit the child in the abdomen and head, and also choked him, according to papers provided to WESB by District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. He blamed the little boy’s four-year-old sister for the injuries. The child is being treated at an out-of-town hospital. Gonzalez-Iriarte is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. He is in McKean County Jail without bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Warren – The Allegheny National Forest announced today the regularly scheduled closure of all motorized trails on April 1, 2014. Snowmobile trails will remain closed until the start of the winter season in December 2014, while ATV and motorbike trails are scheduled to reopen on Friday, May 23 and will remain open through the last Sunday in September, weather dependent. Daily or Annual Passes for the ATV trails can be purchased at any Allegheny National Forest office, or by visiting any of the local participating vendors. A full list of vendors is available by contacting any office or by visiting the following link on our website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/allegheny/recreation. We recommend contacting the Supervisor’s Office at (814) 723 5150 or Marienville Ranger District at (814) 927 6628 for updated trail conditions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police on Wednesday investigated assaults on Summer and East Main streets, and were called to a disturbance on Rochester Street and disorderly conduct on Bushnell Street. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Dr. Denny Wilkins’ first novel is a love story in more ways than one. Without the supportive embrace of a respected peer and two former students, “mapping Utah” still would be just a Word file on his computer, said Wilkins, now in his 18th year as a professor of journalism and mass communication at St. Bonaventure University. Wilkins will talk about “mapping Utah” at the Olean Public Library at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 9. Read more at Anne's Book Club . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Effective at noon Friday PennDOT will post weight limits on a Columbia Hill Road bridge in McKean County. The bridge spans the North Branch of Cole Creek in Keating Township, near the village of Wrights Corners, according to a news release sent to WESB. As of noon Friday, the bridge will be posted for 33 tons for single vehicles and 40 tons for combination vehicles. The Wrights Corners Bridge was built in 1941, is 33 feet long, and carries an average of more than 300 vehicles daily. In August of 2013, PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch authorized the transportation department to add or increase weight restrictions to about 1,000 structurally deficient bridges statewide. Reducing the weight traveling on these bridges will slow their deterioration and preserve safety until repairs or replacement can occur. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) urged the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a study to determine whether a successful strategy in place in the southern U.S. to combat an invasive species, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), could be used in the northern U.S. as well. If effective this strategy could help the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) which is battling the HWA. The HWA is rapidly destroying hemlock trees which are a major part of the ANF’s ecosystem. The ANF is a key source of Pennsylvania’s timber industry which accounted for $7.2 million in sales in 2012 that have been as high as $25.6 million in the last decade. The new strategy, in place in West Virginia, has deployed a beetle to biologically control the HWA. “The Allegheny National Forest is one of Pennsylvania’s great natural treasures and an important element of Northwestern Pennsylvania’s economy,” Senator Casey said in a news release sent to WESB. “Conducting this study has the potential to determi...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has created a new award for qualifying students from Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties in New York that will reduce their tuition costs, enabling them to pay standard Pennsylvania tuition rather than higher out-of-state rates. Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, explained that the new award decreases the cost for qualifying students from the current out-of-state tuition rate of $22,812 per year to the current Pennsylvania in-station tuition rate of $12,208 per year. “This is a great opportunity for students residing in our neighboring New York counties,” he said in a news release sent to WESB. “We’ve strived to make our high-quality college education affordable and accessible for all students who seek to ‘go beyond.’ This award will make attending Pitt-Bradford even more affordable for students in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties who are looking for an emphasis on teaching quality, the support of one of the nation’s...

Walleye, be warned – the award-winning walleye fishing team from Bradford, PA, is coming to a lake near you. Zippo® Outdoor has signed Doug Yohe and Charlie Brant to their 9th consecutive sponsorship agreement for the 2014 Cabela’s Master Walleye Circuit (MWC) Tournament Series. “It all started back in 2006 when I still owned my restaurant,” Yohe said in a news release sent to WESB. “I had fished a tournament in Henderson Harbor, NY, and it was being televised in my restaurant in Bradford. I had asked some of the small local businesses if they would be willing to sponsor me. George Duke, the owner of Zippo, just happened to be in the house that night and offered to sponsor me in a big way.” “Zippo has continued to support Doug Yohe and teammate, Charlie Brant, since then because they are gutsy guys in a sport fishing category known for extreme conditions. This kind of adventurous lifestyle is a great fit for our Outdoor product line,” said Chris Funk, Zippo Outdoor Brand Manager. ...