Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A driver who lost control of his vehicle and ended up in a front yard is accused of texting while driving. Sheriff’s deputies say 35-year-old Carl Simons Jr. of Kill Buck was texting Tuesday night when his vehicle went off North Authority Road in Kill Buck, crossed a ditch and ended up in a front yard. They say Simons also had two controlled substances with him. He was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail in lieu of $1,500 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A snowmobiler who didn’t return home Thursday night was found dead this morning near a creek in the woods of Sherman, New York. Sheriff’s deputies say several agencies, including their K-9 division, searched for 31-year-old Kyle Chimera of Sherman, after getting a missing person report at about 11 a.m. They learned that his snowmobile had been traveling on the marked trail, but then went a short distance off of it, hit a bush near a creek and got stuck. The investigation showed that when Chimera tried to get off the snowmobile he fell into the creek. The cause of death has been ruled accidental drowning. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man charged with shooting and killing his son-in-law literally had a bullet with the man's name on it. According to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office, while investigating the crime scene where 62-year-old Stephen Stidd allegedly shot 42-year-old Mel Bizzarro, state police found “the letters ‘MEL’ carved into the lead portion of the remaining live round” in the handgun. City police got a call at about 9:30 a.m. from Barbara Stidd saying that her son-in-law had been shot behind Togi’s Restaurant at 412 East Main Street. When they arrived and Lt. Steve Caskey asked what happened, Stidd said, “I told him I had a gun.” Stidd then pulled a handgun out of his right front pocket and handed it to Caskey. A witness, Kevin Rhebergen, was unloading his truck and told police he heard a verbal fight and then heard a gunshot. Rhebergen subsequently saw Bizzarro lying on the ground and Stidd standing near him. State Police Trooper Nicholas Jordan, who is investigating...

4:55 UPDATE: After being arraigned, he was released on $100,000 bail. 3:45 UPDATE: A charge of criminal homicide has been filed against 62-year-old Stephen Stidd of Bradford. He has not been arraigned yet, but is expected to be later today in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. 1:15 PM UPDATE: Local and state police are still on the scene of a fatal shooting in the parking lot behind Togi’s Restaurant on East Main Street. We will not be broadcasting or printing the names of the victim and shooter until we get the official statement from police. A person was shot in the parking lot behind Togi’s Restaurant on East Main Street this morning. The victim was reportedly shot in the chest at around 9:30. There’s no word on the person’s condition. The shooter was taken into custody shortly afterward. We’ll have more information as it becomes available. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Winterfest Event Committee announced today that a new event will happen at this year’s Winterfest for the first time. The new event is the Outhouse Races which are scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM on Sunday January 18th at 2:00 PM at Chapman State Park. The event is designed to be both a fundraiser to help support the Winterfest Event and a humorous, but competitive addition to the slate of events at Winterfest. The event will basically involve a five person team racing a cut down version of an outhouse mounted on cross country skis. The team will consist of one rider sitting on the throne in the outhouse with two team members pushing the outhouse and two people pulling the outhouse by attached ropes. Each team will be timed for covering the 50 yard race course. Team contestants must be a minimum of 18 years old, except that the rider on the throne can be a minimum of ten years old, provided that a parent is also a participant in the event. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to...

Heroin, a weapon and marijuana were found during a raid of a Salamanca house. The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force found the drugs and a .40-caliber Glock 27 handgun at 94 Jefferson Street, where they arrested 19-year-old Thomas Oldshield. Police say the serial number of the gun had been removed. They also found, and removed, ammunition for the gun. They also found counterfeit money. Task force members say the investigation has been going on for quite some time, and is continuing. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

St. Bonaventure University will save an estimated $100,000 or more a year on its electric bill thanks to a new solar electric project being developed in Olean. BQ Energy of Poughkeepsie, a leader in developing renewable energy on brownfields and landfills, will construct a pair of 2.7-megawatt solar arrays on a 24-acre portion (Parcel 3) of the Olean Gateway Site off Buffalo Road near Interstate 86. The longtime industrial site has been undergoing a massive cleanup over the past several years to make the land usable again for development. The project, called Solean, is among eight projects in Western New York and 141 in the state receiving support through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative. “It couldn’t be more of a win-win situation for us,” said Brenda McGee, senior vice president for finance and administration at St. Bonaventure. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with BQ on this clean-energy initiative, which reaffirms our commitment to sustainability and the redu...

Besides arresting the man accused of punching a woman in the face, City of Bradford Police investigated a motor vehicle accident on West Corydon Street, a theft on Lorana Avenue and disorderly conduct on West Corydon Street. Officers also looked into complaints of harassment on Jefferson Street and Lorana Avenue. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man escaped from his burning home Wednesday morning by jumping from a second-floor window. State police say Roy Pfoutz of St. Marys was asleep when a smoke detector woke him up at around 10:30 a.m. When he realized he couldn’t get out any other way, he jumped from the window. He was later treated at Penn Highlands Elk and then released. His wife, 12-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter were not home at the time. Fire marshal Greg Agosti says the fire started in an old refrigerator in the basement, and there was nothing suspicious about it. Damage is estimated at a quarter of a million dollars, and home was deemed a total loss. The Red Cross is helping the family. The Crystal Fire Department was assisted by the Fox Townships and Johnsonburg fire departments, as well as St. Marys Ambulance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man who killed his friend for being in bed with his girlfriend has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in state prison. 28-year-old Greg Riehl of Coudersport pleaded guilty in November to involuntary manslaughter for killing 27-year-old Anthony Palmieri in April of last year. He had originally been charged with murder. Riehl told police he and 35-year-old Michelle Nelson and had been drinking at Palmieri’s house. Riehl passed out and, when he woke up, found Nelson and Palmieri in bed together and shot the other man. Riehl then drove to Lancaster County, where his father lives, to “tell him something.” After the father and son had breakfast together, Riehl turned himself in. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Former McKean County Sheriff Brad Mason is accused of have a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl was a tenant at a rental home he owns in Bradford Township. A state police news release says the “consensual sexual relationship” went on from December 6 of 2012 to May 12 of last year. He retired as sheriff in July. Mason, who is 52 years old, is also accused of providing alcohol to the girl. State police say the accusations came to light during investigation of an unrelated civil matter. An arraignment date has not been set as of this morning. The charges against Mason are misdemeanors. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man is in McKean County Jail for punching the mother of his child in the face. According to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office, 41-year-old Roger Kline of Bradford was walking with the woman on South Avenue on Tuesday when he became aggressive and punched her, injuring her eye. Kline is charged with simple assault and harassment. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

One of the people accused of staging a robbery to get $200 from a Bradford man has waived his preliminary hearing. According to court papers, Timothy Wright tried to get money from the victim while the victim was in the shower with 21-year-old Breanna Miller of Bradford. Next, Wright tried to get the money while Miller and the victim were having sex. Wright and Miller finally got the by staging a robbery in June, when Wright held a knife to Miller’s neck and threatened to kill her if the victim didn’t hand over the money. Miller waived her preliminary hearing last month. Wright and Miller are both in McKean County Jail on $25,000 bail each. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Charges against a man accused of punching a nurse and a doctor at Bradford Regional Medical Center have been bound to McKean County Court following a preliminary hearing this morning. According to records in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office, back in December 23-year-old Chad Reed of Bradford punched a registered nurse in the face several times and gouged her eye, causing swelling and a number of bruises. He also told another nurse he was going to rip her arms off and shove them up her buttocks. The court records also say he punched a doctor in the face, causing a nosebleed and bruising to his nose and lips. Reed also fought with emergency responders before being restrained. His bail is set at $50,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Coudersport couple is accused of having a marijuana growing operation at their home. 50-year-old Stacey Amidon and 46-year-old Susan Amidon of Toad Hollow Road are each charged with a number of violations of the state’s drug laws. Police found the marijuana growing operation earlier this month. The Amidons are free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman was sent to jail for not registering with Megan’s Law. 26-year-old Kylie Ann Silsby of Coudersport was convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in May of 2011 for an incident that happened in November of 2010, according to Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law website. State Police say she didn’t register with them between December 15 of last year and Saturday. She was sent to Tioga County Jail on $5,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A two-year-old was hurt in a one-car crash Monday afternoon in Potter County. Police say 22-year-old Joseph Boldt of Coudersport was traveling west on Route 244 in Allegany Township at 4:30 p.m. when his car went out of control while rounding a curve, traveling off the road, hit an embankment and then rolled onto its driver’s side. Boldt wasn’t hurt, but one of his passengers, a two-year-old girl from Coudersport was taken by ambulance to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Boldt was cited for driving too fast for conditions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man and woman from Mount Jewett are accused of trying to kill a dog. 34-year-old Tyler Rush and 24-year-old Ashley Reinard are each charged with cruelty to animals in connection to an August 8 incident when Reinard allegedly told Rush to kill a dog that had been injured because she said there was no saving it. According to court records, Rush tried to snap the dog’s neck, and when that didn’t work he tried to cut its throat with a pocket knife. The dog survived. Rush and Reinard are both free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford City Fire Chief Chris Angell has retired, and assistant chief Rich Zmuda is now in charge of the department. Although no official announcement was made, the fire department’s pension board met before last night’s City Council meeting and voted unanimously to award Angell his pension. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

More than a dozen bridges in McKean County – including one in Bradford – will be replaced under Pennsylvania’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project. PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch announced today that the agency has finalized terms for the $899 million project that will replace 558 bridges across the state. The Bennett Brook Bridge in Bradford, Shep Run Road bridges in Custer City, and the Pennbrook and Foster Brook bridges in Derrick City are among those targeted for replacement. Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners and its team of 11 Pennsylvania-based subcontractors will lead the project, and will be responsible for getting the money to start replacing the bridges, as well as maintenance for 25 years after construction. HAZELHURST SR 6-US 6 MARVIN CREEK Mar 2017 > Oct 2017 MARVINDALE SR 6-US 6 WARNER BROOK Mar 2017 > Oct 2017 3 MI SE BETULA SR 46-PA 46 HAVENS BROOK May 2017 > Jan 2018 1 MI W ORMSBY SR 59-PA 59 TRIB KINZUA CREEK Jun 2016 > Aug 20...

Starting today, residents of the Twin Tiers won’t have to go far to receive world-renowned cancer care. They’ll have access to UPMC CancerCenter’s advanced clinical care and the latest research, close to home, under a new affiliation agreement with the Patterson Cancer Center located on Cole Memorial’s campus. “The staff of the Patterson Cancer Center at Cole Memorial has a long history of providing evidenced-based cancer care for residents of north central Pennsylvania,” said Cole Memorial’s President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Pitchford. “This new affiliation will link Cole with UPMC, an international research based organization. By doing so, we will deploy the same support programs and use the same researched based protocols afforded cancer patients at other UPMC CancerCenter locations.” The local management, physicians and staff will remain at Cole Memorial however they will now have a professional, formal collaborative relationship with oncology colleagues at UPMC Ca...

Fretz boys basketball game scheduled for 4 p.m. has been cancelled.

City of Bradford Police over weekend checked possible activity with illegal on Mill Street, and incidents of disorderly conduct on Congress and Rochester streets. They also investigated a theft on East Main Street, harassment on Mechanic Street and disturbances on Mechanic Street and Jerome Avenue. Officers were also called to domestic disturbances on High and East Corydon streets. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947