Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Even in today’s challenging times, the 286 people who got their diplomas from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford have at least one big thing going for them: The power of Pitt. That was one of the messages delivered by commencement speaker Dave Wannstedt, head coach of the University of Pittsburgh football team. “Do not let (the challenging times), in any way, discourage you or dampen your enthusiasm for what you want or what you can accomplish,” Wannstedt told the graduates. “There’s a reason people from this university have helped change the world in so many positive ways. That’s the power of Pitt. And you now own that power.” He said he realizes the graduates are living with quite a bit of uncertainty now, just as he was when he graduated from Pitt in 1974. He was drafted into the NFL by the Green Bay Packers, but didn’t know how long a pro football career would last. He knew he wanted to be a coach. He applied to graduate school because...

The man and woman responsible for the death of Alissa Cameron in December of 2007 have been sentenced to jail time. 20-year-old Nikole Smock and 20-year-old Zachery Coon, both of Bradford, were each sentenced to 12 to 24 months in McKean County Jail. They both pleaded no contest. The vehicle Smock was driving hit Cameron in the parking lot of The Option House. Coon was inside the vehicle. They both say they didn't know Cameron had been hit when they left her in the parking lot. Cameron died several days later at Hamot Medical Center.

11/14/08 - Woman Hit By Bus, Dies A Spring Creek woman died after a bus hit her Thursday night near Warren. State Police say 43-year-old Shirley Cearfoss was walking in the southbound lane of South State Street at its intersection with Ditmar Street when she was hit by a Brinks Tour & Charter bus. Cearfoss was taken to Warren General Hospital, where she later died. 11/14/08 - Antrim Pleads Guilty A man pleaded guilty Thursday in McKean County court to improper sale of fishing licenses at his Lantz Corners store. 66 year-old Wilber Antrim pleaded to failure to make required disposition of funds, issuing a license without proper fees and issuing a license without adhering to regulations. The State Fish and Boat Commission was unable to obtain over $3,800 in fees that Antrim’s Allegheny Crossroads business had collected from the sale of fishing licenses in April and May of this year. He’ll be sentenced on Decmeber 11. 11/13/08 - Smock and Coon Plead No Contest The Bradford man and wom...

The former owners of the Option House are facing more charges related to underage drinking. The state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement says that on September 16, November 24 and December 2 and 23 of last year, as well as many other occasions, the bar sold alcohol to 4 20 year olds and allowed them to frequent the premises. Last month, similar charges were filed against The Option House. One of the other incidents happened on the day 19-year-old Nikole Smock backed her SUV over 20-year-old Alissa Cameron in a nearby parking lot. Cameron died several days later at Hamot Medical Center.

The Option House has been cited for serving alcohol to minors on December 7 and December 30 of last year, as well as other occasions during the past year. The state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement says the current citation involves selling alcohol to two female minors and two male minors. They were 19 and 20 years old at the time. Although not specifically mentioned in the police report, one incident happened on the day Nikole Smock backed her SUV over 20-year-old Alissa Cameron in a nearby parking lot. Cameron died several days later at Hamot Medical Center. The case against the Option House, which has since been sold, will now go before an administrative law judge.

The sorority sisters of Alissa Ann Cameron, a University of Pittsburgh at Bradford student who died in January as the result of an accident late last year, are working to establish a scholarship in her memory. Lambda Xi president Amy McCoys says the sorority wanted to do something in memory of Alissa and a scholarship seemed perfect. A sophomore at Pitt-Bradford, Cameron majored in the athletic training program. In addition to being a member of Lambda Xi, she also participated in the Bradford City Softball League and volunteered in many community service programs. In order to permanently endow the scholarship, the sorority has committed to raising $10,000. The sorority should be up to the challenge, having raised $2,700 to benefit the Cameron family with a spaghetti dinner held last month on campus. To make a contribution to the scholarship fund, contact the Pitt-Bradford Office of Institutional Advancement.