Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A two-year-old Amish boy is dead following a house fire Thursday afternoon in Busti. The Chautauqua County Fire Investigation Team says firefighters knew Eli Shetler was missing when they arrived on the scene, and knew he was probably on the third floor. But, because of the intensity of the blaze, they couldn’t get to him until it was too late. The fire was started by children playing with matches. 13 fire departments and the Chautauqua County Tech Rescue Team were on the scene. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An infant is being treated for multiple skull fractures after the Amish buggy he was in was hit by another vehicle. Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies say the buggy was on Route 62 in Leon late Monday afternoon when a pickup truck driven by 33-year-old Peter Riley of Conewango hit it. Marie Miller, her 5-week-old son and one-year-old son were all thrown from the buggy. The one-year-old suffered a cut to his eye and was taken to Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo for treatment. Miller and the infant were taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital. Charges are pending. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Amish shop owner was robbed at gunpoint late Thursday afternoon, and a Cherry Creek man is jail for committing the crime. Sheriff’s deputies say the owner of the shop on Chapman Road in the Town of Conewango went to the shop to help a person he thought was a customer, but was then confronted by a bandana-wearing man who pointed a pistol at him and demanded money. The robber then tied the shop owner up and left him on the floor while he emptied the cash register. The shop owner was able to give deputies a description of the getaway vehicle, which led them to the home of 22-year-old Michael Dybka, who was charged with robbery and sent to Cattaraugus County Jail on $100,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A tip from a Facebook follower led Olean-based state police to the woman they say hit and Amish horse and buggy last week on Route 16 near Ishua, and then drove away. Troopers say someone saw their press release on Facebook and called in a tip saying he knew who the driver of the minivan was, and where to find her. 31-year-old Tiffany Armstrong of Cuba, New York, is now charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, leaving the scene of an accident involving an animal, and a number of traffic violations. The horse, who was seriously hurt, and the three people involved in the crash are recovering from their injuries. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police are looking for the person who was driving a minivan that hit an Amish horse and buggy, injuring the people in the buggy as well as the horse. The incident happened on Route 16 in the Town of Ishua about about 3:45 Monday afternoon, when the buggy was hit from behind by the dark blue Chrysler van, sending the horse and buggy into at ditch. The operator of the buggy and his two sons were taken by Hinsdale ambulance to Olean General Hospital, where they were treated for scalp lacerations and other non-life-threatening injuries. The horse sustained internal injuries, but was able to walk, and was taken by trailer back his owner’s home. The buggy was destroyed. Troopers say the van is an older model with some rust and dark tinted windows, and it has the gold New York license plates. They say it will have heavy passenger side damage and, possibly, a broken windshield. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to call New York State Police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ......

A Cattaraugus woman is facing charges for hitting an Amish buggy while she was driving while intoxicated Monday night on Leon Road in the Town of New Albion. Sheriff’s deputies say 46-year-old Andrea McGlew failed several field sobriety tests and is scheduled to appear in court on August 21. No one was hurt in the accident. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department patrol car collided with an Amish buggy as it was responding to a report of an underage party Sunday evening. Sheriff's deputies say the Amish buggies were traveling in both lanes of Clymer Hill Road in Sherman when the patrol vehicle approached them. One of the buggies moved aside, but another one -- driven by 20-year-old Marty Troyer of Panaman -- moved into the other lane and collided with the car. The buggy flipped onto its side, and the horse separated from the buggy and ran to a nearby stream. A passenger, 19-year-old Marvin Byler of Sherman, suffered minor injuries when his leg was caught underneath the buggy. Two of the other buggies fled the scene after the crash. Deputies say Marty, Marianne and Leroy Troyer and Marvin Byler had been drinking alcohol, and there were several containers in the buggy. They were charged with possession of alcohol. Marty Troyer faces an additional charge of unlawfully dealing with a child because he...

A two-year-old boy is dead after the Amish buggy he was riding in was hit by an SUV on Route 62 in Leon. Sheriff’s deputies say the SUV driven by 59-year-old Susan Culver of Frewsburg hit the buggy from behind. Dan Wengerd was pronounced dead at the scene. 31-year-old Edna Wengerd of Leon was operating the buggy. She along with her daughters, 6-year-old Sarah and 1-year-old Rebecca, were taken to Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. Two boys, 3-year-old Andy and 3-month-old Roy, were taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk. 9-year-old Johnny was not hurt. Culver was not hurt. Deputies are continuing their investigation. ~~~~ A James City man is dead following a motorcycle crash Sunday on Route 66 in James City. Police say 61-year-old David Newpher lost control of his bike, which hit a guide rail. Newpher, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the bike. He was flown to UPMC Hamot, where he later died from his injuries. ~~~ A Crosby man is dead after a one-vehicle cra...

"The Queen of Amish Fiction" Wanda Brunsetter spoke with me about the second book in her Kentucky Brother series -- "The Healing." Listen here . To learn more about Wanda and her books go to WandaBrunstetter.com . And, remember to check out the Bradford Area Public Library . Next week: A Halloween treat with Stephanie Chong

The Cherry Creek man who tried to rob an Amish couple last July in the Town of Leon has been sentenced to two years in jail. 30-year-old Donald Pfaffenbach tried to forcibly steal property from an Amish couple by displaying a handgun and demanding their wallet. When the couple said they didn’t have a wallet, Pfaffenbach fired one round near the horse that was pulling the couple’s buggy.

A Cherry Creek man has pleaded guilty to trying to rob an Amish couple last July in the Town of Leon. 29-year-old Donald Pfaffenbach tried to forcibly steal property from an Amish couple by displaying a handgun and demanding their wallet. When the couple said they didn’t have a wallet, Pfaffenbach fired one round near the horse that was pulling the couple’s buggy. Pfaffenbach is in jail, and will be sentenced August 1.

Did you know there was an entire genre known as "Amish Fiction?" I didn't until I got the opportunity to speak with Wanda Brunstetter, the most popular author of Amish fiction. Her latest book, "The Journey," is the first in a new series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading the others in the series. Listen to my chat with Wanda here . For more information go to WandaBrunstetter.com . And, remember to visit the Bradford Area Public Library , too.

Five Amish teenagers are facing charges following a drinking party on Easter Sunday in Conewango Valley. Sheriff’s deputies say they were patrolling the area when they saw several Amish buggies parked along Dredge Road. Deputies learned the occupants of the buggies were intoxicated and had three 30 packs of beer. The youths are 19-year-old Noah Shetler, 17-year-old Emanuel Hostelter and David Miller of Conewango Valley, and 17-year-old Eli Miller and 17-year-old Henry Miller, both of Cattaraugus. They are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

An Amish man is facing charges following a traffic stop early Monday morning in the Town of Conewango. Sheriff’s deputies say 19-year-old Levi Hostetler of Leon was operating his horse-drawn carriage at just before 1 a.m. and failed to stop at a stop sign. Deputies learned that Hostetler was intoxicated and also had beer in the carriage. He’s scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

The first Amish person in Pennsylvania ever charged with homicide has been found dead of an apparent suicide. 45-year-old Ed Gingerich was found hanged inside a Crawford County barn on Friday at about noon. In 1993, Gingerich killed and disemboweled his wife, Katie, in their home. A year later, a jury found Gingerich guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but mentally ill. He was released from prison in 1998. In 2007, he took his daughter from her grandparents' home without permission. They were found 4 days later in Kushequa.

A man has been arrested for attempting to rob an Amish couple earlier this month. In an e-mail to WESB and The HERO, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies say they arrested 29-year-old Donald Pfaffenbach for attempted robbery and menacing. Deputies say on July 11, in the Town of Leon, Pfaffenbach, tried to forcibly steal property from an Amish couple by displaying a handgun and demanding their wallet. When the couple said they didn’t have a wallet, Pfaffenbach fired one round near the horse that was pulling the couple’s buggy. Pfaffenbach is in jail in lieu of $500 bail. Deputies say more arrests are pending after their investigation is complete.

An Amish teenager is facing charges after taking police on a chase – in his horse and buggy. Cattaraugus County sheriff’s deputies say 17-year-old Levi Detweiler of Leon ran a stop sign and refused officers’ attempts to stop the buggy. Deputies chased Detweiler for about three quarters of a mile, and when he tried an unsafe turn into a driveway, he crashed the horse and buggy into a ditch. He ran away but was found later in the area. Detweiler is charged with underage possession of alcohol, overdriving an animal, reckless endangerment and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. He’s free on $500 bail.

Four Amish 18-year-olds have been arrested for underage possession of alcohol and littering. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies say Eli Raber, Mose Miller, Raymond Hershgerger and Noah Coblentz were drinking and in possession of beer while in an Amish buggy, and had thrown empty beer cans from the buggy onto West Road in the Town of Leon. They’re scheduled to appear in Town of Leon Court at a later date.