Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A man who admitted to distributing indecent material to minors in two counties last year will spend the next year-and-a-half to three years in a New York state prison. 24-year-old Shawn Washington gave the material to a minor in Olean on August 23, according to previous WESB reports. The Cattaraugus County sentence will run at the same as the sentenced he’s currently serving for handing out materials in September in Belmont. In December in Allegany County Court he was sentenced to 2 ½ to 7 years for that. Washington was on probation for a string of burglaries in Allegany County in 2012 when he committed the other crimes. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A corrections officer found himself behind bars for stealing debit cards from an inmate and trying to use them at a store. State police say 28-year-old Benjamin Grover of Scio, New York, tried to use the stolen card at the Tractor Supply Store in Wellsville Sunday afternoon. Store personnel kept the stolen card and then contacted state police. Grover, who works at the Allegany County Jail, is now charged with two counts of grand larceny, and is jailed on $5,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man has admitted to distributing indecent material to minors in two counties earlier this year. 24-year-old Shawn Washington was in Cattaraugus County Court Monday, when he admitted to the August incident. He’ll be sentenced March 9. Today, he admitted in Allegany County Court that he violated probation on several occasions when he handed out the materials in September in Belmont. He was sentenced to 2 ½ to 7 years in state prison. He was on probation for a string of burglaries in Allegany County in 2012. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An early morning stabbing has landed one man in jail and another person in the hospital. Police say 58-year-old Robert Stanek of Wellsville stabbed the other person at least five times at around 2:30 this morning. He is charged with felony assault and criminal possession of a weapon. He is in Allegany County Jail on $20,000 bail. Police say the victim is in stable condition at Jones Memorial Hospital. They are continuing their investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The New York State Police based in Amity are investigating a robbery which occurred 3:25 this morning at the 7-11 Convenience store at 22 Main St. in the Village of Almond in Allegany County. Two white male subjects entered the store and demanded money from the cashier. The cashier then handed over an undetermined amount of cash and the two suspects fled the scene on foot. The suspects were last observed running north from this establishment. No weapon was threatened or displayed. The suspects are believed to be in their late teens or early 20s, approximately 5' 9 and 150 to 180 lbs. The State Police request that anyone with information or that can help identify the suspects to please contact the NYSP Amity BCI at 585-268-9031. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Shinglehouse man is facing drug and other charges following a domestic dispute in the Town of Andover last month. State Police charged 32-year-old Jared Clark with harassment, criminal mischief, unlawful possession of marijuana and possession of a hypodermic needle. He was sent to Allegany County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two people are in jail for robbing the Wellsville McDonald’s and several other businesses. State police say 32-year-old Ryan Schrader and 32-year-old Rebecca Baker, both of Wellsville, went into the back door of the restaurant in the early morning hours of August 11, displayed what appeared to be a handgun, and made off with about $357 in cash. During their investigation state police learned that the pair also burglarized the Just One More bar in Shongo and stole cash from Short’s Gas Station in Stannards, and village police learned they had broken into a Main Street establishment multiple times. Schrader and Baker are each charged with robbery, burglary and grand larceny. Schrader is also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance because he had crack cocaine with him when he was arrested. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

More than 100 marijuana plants were found growing in various places in Allegany County this week, and two men have been arrested for illegally growing them. State police, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, NY State Forest Rangers and a couple of local police departments found the plants in the towns of Alfred, Wellsville and Willing, and the Village of Wellsville. 25-year-old Stephen Rainelli of Alfred and 51-year-old Desmond McDowell of Wellsville are each charged with unlawfully growing cannabis, and have been scheduled for court appearances. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Casella Waste Systems has agreed to a list of reforms after the company was found to be in violation of New York State’s antitrust laws. State attorney General Eric Schneiderman says Casella unlawfully restrained competition through its restrictive contracting practices. The contracts under question involved the collection and disposal of solid waste from dumpsters. The Vermont-based waste management company does business across New York State, but is especially prevalent in Cattaraugus Chautauqua and Allegany counties. The company also operates in several places in Pennsylvania, including McKean County. One of the instances Schneiderman pointed out was that contracts required that the company serve as the exclusive provider to all customers’ waste hauling services for five years. Early termination of the contracts would result in customers paying up to six times the amount of their monthly bill. Besides the reforms, Casella also has to pay a $100,000 penalty to the state. The...

Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Allegany and 8 other New York counties have been approved for a federal major disaster declaration following severe storms and flooding in May that caused serious damage. Governor Andrew Cuomo says he’s pleased that President Obama has responded to his request, and that the declaration will bring much needed federal financial aid to communities that saw some of the worst flooding they’ve seen in decades. More than 6,500 homes and businesses were without power and more than 130 families experience significant property damage during the storms that started May 12. A state of emergency was declared the Village of Gowanda. FEMA’s preliminary damage estimate shows that the state and counties spent more than $28 million in response and recovery efforts. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A police standoff ended peacefully on Saturday but landed an Amity, New York, man in jail. State police say 36-year-old Reuben Stocking ran into the woods armed with a gun after a fight in his home. His family got out of the house while he was in the woods. Later, he went back to the house but kept troopers at bay for several hours before surrendering. Stocking was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing and endangering the welfare of a child, and sent to Allegany County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two convicted sex offenders from Wellsville have been charged for not registering with state police. 28-year-old Timothy Lewis was convicted of rape for having sex with a 15-year-old girl in 2008. 55-year-old Richard Foster was convicted of sodomy for having sexual contact with a 14-year-old in May of 2000. Both men are awaiting further court action. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Cuba, New York, woman is dead following a motorcycle crash on Westline Road Sunday afternoon, and her husband is in jail on a DUI charge. Police say the motorcycle operated by 50-year-old Raymond Maedl Jr. went out of control while rounding a curve and hit a guide rail. 50-year-old Jeanie Maedl was thrown from the bike, and into the guide rail. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Raymond Maedl was arraigned early this morning on charges of DUI, disregarding a traffic lane and careless driving. His bail is $50,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A domestic dispute in New York State has landed a Pennsylvania man in jail. 21-year-old Chet Anthony of Sheffield is charged with aggravated harassment in connection to the incident that happened on Friday in Allegany County. Anthony was sent to jail on $1,500 cash bail and is scheduled to appear in Wellsville Town Court on Wednesday. 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

By Susan Anderson Charles and Lorraine Joyce embodied the meaning of commitment. Married for nearly 64 years until Charles’ passing in June 2013, they worked hard and helped countless others. Now their strong legacy will live on at St. Bonaventure University through a newly established scholarship that bears their names. Beginning this fall, the Charles H. and Lorraine Hyland Joyce Endowed Scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving student from an Allegany County school district. The Joyce family has donated the funds to establish the endowed scholarship. They are committed to continuing their parents’ tradition of offering a helping hand where needed and giving back to the place the couple loved most — Allegany County. “We are all very emotionally connected to, strongly grounded in, and committed to Allegany County and want to help others who grew up there,” said daughter Teresa Joyce, who is a 1981 graduate of St. Bonaventure and a former faculty member in the...

A burglary investigation spanning two counties has led to weapons charges against seven people. State police say they recovered seven guns that were stolen as part of this investigation that started after a burglar in the Town of Alma is September. They also found two more guns from other crimes. They also recovered some electronics that were stolen. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at $3,000. 26-year-old Jamie Clark and 19-year-old Bryent Scotchmer, both of Wellsville, and 18-year-old Sara Morse of Andover, are each charged with burglary and criminal possession of stolen property for breaking into a house and stealing the guns and electronics. Clark is also charged with criminal possession of a weapon because a previous conviction precludes him from having a weapon. 25-year-old Casey Reynolds is charged with criminal possession of stolen property for selling a stolen gun to another person. 38-year-old Russell Irvin of Alma is charged with criminal possession of s...

A former town clerk in the Allegany County Town of Almond is accused of stealing nearly $4,000. 64-year-old Maureen Hayes of Almond is charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records. State Police say their investigation started after the state comptroller’s office performed an audit and discovered that $3,785 was missing. The money was missing during the time Hayes was the town clerk. Hayes was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in Town of Almond Court on February 10. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Cattaraugus and Allegany county district attorney’s offices are among 29 in New York State getting grant money to buy or upgrade video interrogation systems. Cattaraugus County will get nearly $40,000 to be divided between the Allegany, Ellicottville, Franklinville, Gowanda, Portville and Salamanca police departments, as well the DA’s and sheriff’s office. Allegany County’s $25,000 will be divided between the Alfred, Andover, Angelica, Friendship, Independence and Wellsville police departments. “With these grants, New York State is giving local law enforcement the resources they need to enhance the integrity, fairness and effectiveness of our criminal justice system,” Governor Cuomo said in a news release. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man is accused of stealing a John Deere utility vehicle and then leaving it in a ditch. State police say they believe 22-year-old Patrick Gallagher of Wellsville stole the 2008 John Deere Gator from Otis Eastern Service early Thursday morning and then traveled into Steuben County before abandoning it in a ditch in the Town of Howard. Gallagher is charged with grand larceny and is in Allegany County Jail in lieu of bail. Pictured, a John Deere similar to the one that was stolen. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947