Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Former McKean County Sheriff Brad Mason had been scheduled to appear in McKean County Court on Friday for a Last Day to Plea conference, but that has been moved to next month. Mason is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl who was renting a house from him in Bradford Township. The relationship was consensual. Mason resigned as sheriff in July of last year. The charges were filed in January. His next court appearance is now scheduled for June 18. 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

The hearing for a Bath, New York, man accused of taking nearly $30,000 for home improvement work he didn’t do in Bradford and Foster townships had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing today in McKean County Central Court, but that hearing has been moved to next month. 51-year-old Shannon Donahue, who had previously lived in Lewis Run, did appear in court today for a bail hearing and, after being in McKean County Jail all month, has been released on unsecured bail. In all three incidents he allegedly took advance payments from the victims and never ordered materials or did any work. Donahue is scheduled to be back in court on January 28. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man who tried to hide from police in a small wooded area off Seaward Avenue because he didn’t like the state parole program he was in has waived his preliminary hearing. Earlier this month on Seaward Avenue near 6V Sales and Service 55-year-old John Crocker got into a fight with his daughter after she told him she was going to take him back to Erie so he could turn himself in. He got out of the car and hid from police for about half an hour, until Bradford Township Police Officer Jeff Shade found him and took him into custody. City and Foster Township Police were also searching. Crocker told police later that he would rather be in jail than in the parole program. He is on parole after serving time for drug charges. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

UPDATE (Friday morning): The fire is being considered suspicious, and Agosti says they are still investigating. City Fire Department Assistant Chief Rich Zmuda tells WESB that firefighters and four state police fire marshals -- three from PA and one from NY -- left the scene of the South Avenue fire at about 9 p.m. The cause is still under investigation and he expects PSP Cpl. Greg Agosti to issue a news release either later tonight or tomorrow. The New York fire marshal was called in because he has a fire-investigating dog whose services were needed. More than 40 firefighters from the city, Bradford Township and Derrick City battled the blaze at 103 South Avenue, starting at about 7:45 a.m. Neighbors heard an explosion shortly before that. The fire spread to 105 South Avenue, where it melted the siding and did other damage. No one was hurt. We'll pass along more information when we get it.

A man who tried to hide from area police officers because he said he’d rather be in jail than the state parole program he was in, got his wish. For now, anyway. 55-year-old John Crocker got into an argument with his daughter at about 6:30 last night on Seaward Avenue near 6V Sales and Service. Police were called to the scene, but by the time they got there Crocker had gotten out of the car and was running toward the wood line near Route 219, according to court papers. Bradford City Assistant Police Chief Mike Ward had officers from Bradford, Foster and Bradford townships set up a perimeter, while others searched the wooded area, which is about 50 yards by 100 yards. About half an hour after the original call, Bradford Township Police Officer Jeff Shade found Crocker lying on the ground trying to hide, and took him into custody. Police say he was slurring his speech and smelled strongly of alcohol when he told them he absconded from parole because he couldn’t stand the program he was...

A man who threatened nurses at Bradford Manor and spit in the mouth of a police officer who was trying to take him into custody is headed to state prison. 44-year-old Shannon Shroyer of Eldred waved a pocket knife at nurses and inappropriately touched one of the nurses last August while he was a patient at the manor. Shroyer has hepatitis C, so the police officer had to be tested to see if he contracted it. He was sentenced to one to two years in prison but given credit for 264 days of time served. He has also been ordered to register as a sex offender. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Work to replace two bridges on Route 770 in Bradford Township is continuing, with temporary traffic signals scheduled for installation next Wednesday, May 7. The bridges span Minard Run about a half-mile apart near the village of Aiken. They carry an average of more than 3,000 vehicles daily. Originally built in 1927, the bridges will be replaced one side at a time. Beginning Wednesday, May 7, temporary traffic signals will be in place, enforcing an alternating traffic pattern at each bridge. Traffic will be controlled in this manner until the completion of the new structures sometime this fall. Under the traffic signal control, work to build the new bridges will continue one side at a time. Overall work includes replacement of the bridges, roadway and approach paving, guide rail updates, pavement markings, and miscellaneous items. The contractor for this $2.5 million job is L. C. Whitford of Wellsville, New York. All work is weather and schedule dependent. Drivers are rem...

A dump truck and a car collided at the intersection of Minard Run Road and High Street this afternoon, injuring four people. The car driven by 47-year-old Paula Lannager of Shinglehouse was traveling south on High Street, where it stopped at the stop sign and then pulled onto to Minard Run Road, where the truck driven by 42-year-old Jack Kilby of Great Valley, New York, was traveling east. Bradford Township Police say Kilby tried to avoid the collision, but the truck started to tip over and then landed on the back on the car in the east ditch on High Street. Lannager and her passengers, 27-year-old Diana Causer and 4-year-old Alessia Norton, were taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries. Kilby suffered minor injuries. The Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department, Bradford City Ambulance and PennDOT assisted at the scene. Police are still investigating. Photo provided to WESB by Bill Robinson The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 19...

Work to replace two bridges on Route 770 in Bradford Township starts on Monday. The work on the bridges near the village of Aiken will start with sign setting, erosion and sedimentation controls and utility works. PennDOT says flaggers will be in place. In early May, temporary traffic signals will be in place to enforce an alternating traffic pattern at each bridge. The bridges will be replaced one side at a time. L.C. Whitford of Wellsville is the contractor for the $2.5 million project, which is expected to be finished next summer. All work is weather dependent. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

This is a picture from the crash at Minard Run Road and High Street. The crash happened at around 1:30 p.m. and police were still on the scene at just before 4 p.m. Photo provided to WESB by Bill Robinson The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Fire damaged a house at 4 Osborne Place this morning, but no one was hurt. City Fire Department Captain Matt Rettger tells WESB they got the call at 8:18 a.m. He says the first fire hydrant they went to was frozen, but they were able to operate with water from their tank and it didn’t hinder the battling of the blaze at all. “It didn’t change the outcome,” he said, adding that damage is estimated at $20,000. They don’t know the cause of the blaze yet, but are going back to the scene this afternoon and may have a determination later today. The house is owned by Neil Reynolds. The occupant, Vincent Reynolds, was home at the time but was able to get out safely. Sixteen Bradford firefighters were on the scene until 10:40 a.m. Six Bradford Township firefighters were also on the scene. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man died in a one-vehicle crash Monday morning on Congress Street in Bradford Township. Police say an SUV driven by 29-year-old Cody Frantz slid off the road and hit a tree. Frantz was pronounced dead at the scene by McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill. Frantz’s passenger, 23-year-old Kyle Dewyer of Bradford, was flown to UPMC Hamot in Erie for treatment. Police are continuing their investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

It appears George Hocker has defeated current Foster Township Supervisor Chairman John Sullivan by a count of 431 to 308 in today’s election. Bradford Township Supervisor Gayle Bauer, however, held off her challenger Richard Yovichin by a count of 410 to 248. It appears Michael Angelo squeaked by Timothy Newhouse in the race for Lafayette Township supervisor by a vote of 58 to 56. In Liberty Township, Fred Ernst defeated Charles Safford by a vote of 106 to 84. Election results are not official until the Board of Elections certifies them on Friday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford woman is accused of going into the home of an acquaintance and leaving with several items that didn’t belong to her. 33-year-old Jennifer Coldren was in the garage of another woman’s home at 1 a.m. on October 20 without permission when the woman got home, according to papers filed in District Judge Rich Luther’s office. The victim says Coldren then said she needed to use the restroom and went into the house. About half an hour later, a friend of the victim gave Coldren a ride home. Later, they learned that Coldren had taken clothes, which she claims the victim gave to her, along with a bottle of perfume and a bottle of prescription medication. Coldren is charged with burglary, theft and prowling at nighttime and is jailed on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Five people were seriously hurt in a two-car head-on collision this morning on Route 219 near Browntown Road. Bradford Township Police Chief Rob Shipman says a vehicle driven by Carol Mix of Kane was traveling south when, for unknown reasons, it crossed the center line and hit a northbound vehicle driven by Ralph Tressler of Jefferson, Ohio. Mix was first taken to Kane Community Hospital but will be taken to UPMC Hamot in Erie. Tressler and his passengers, Diane Tressler, Roland Ferguson and Louise Ferguson were first taken to local hospital but the Fergusons and Diane Tressler will be taken to ECMC in Buffalo. The Fergusons are also from Jefferson. Shipman said that although everyone suffered serious injuries none of them appear to be life-threatening. Shipman is still investigating and will release more information later today. The accident happened at just before 11 a.m. Route 219 from Irvine Street in Lewis Run to Route 770 in Custer City was closed until about 1 o'clock th...

A Bradford man sentenced last week on drug charges waived a preliminary hearing today on a different set of charges. 20-year-old Zachery Dahlke allegedly had a baggie of marijuana at a Crosby’s store in Bradford Township on Christmas Day last year. He’s charged with a felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He’s free on $25,000 unsecured bail. Last week in McKean County Court he was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and 120 hours of community service for possession with intent to deliver. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Eldred man is jail following an incident in Bradford Township on Saturday. 44-year-old Shannon Shroyer is charged with a felony count of aggravated assault plus numerous misdemeanors, including recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and resisting arrest. He was arraigned early Sunday morning and sent to jail on $50,000 bail. He’s scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Thursday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

William F. Neatrour Sr., 83, formerly of 460 Interstate Parkway, passed away, Tuesday, July 30, 2013, surrounded by his loving family, in the Bradford Ecumenical Home. Born November 9, 192,9 in Apollo, he was a son of the late Victor and Beatrice (Saxon) Neatrour. On April 17, 1948, in Apollo he married Harriet J. (Burns) Neatrour, who died on August 21, 2012. Mr. Neatrour attended Apollo Schools. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on November 11, 1947 served with the 18th Air Police Squad APO 74. He was station in the Philippines and was honorably discharged on February 1, 1950. He moved to Bradford and worked at the Northeast Container, and Dresser Manufacturing. He was Chief of Police for Bradford Township for ten years and later worked for the McKean County Sheriff's Department for 20 years. He attended First United Methodist Church, and was a member of the Police Chief's Association, Seneca Law Enforcement Agency, Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department, a...

Bradford Township firefighters were called to a wildfire behind the DeSoto Holiday House on South Avenue at just after 1 o’clock this afternoon. Derrick City and Lewis Run sent a utility vehicle and firefighters as well. Jason Bange, executive director of the McKean-Potter & PA Heartland Chapters of the American Red Cross, tells us it appears that 2 to 3 acres burned. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947