Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

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...

Nursing students from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford took time off from their nursing studies this week to make fleece blankets for Project Linus, a non-profit organization that delivers blankets to children in need. The Student Nurse Organization held a fall fundraiser to purchase materials for 22 blankets, which will be sent to seriously ill children at Pittsburgh Children’s hospital. Shown here, from left, are Mary Boser, assistant professor of nursing and SNO advisor, Amber Steward of Bradford, Chris Augustine and Francine Augustine of Custer City, and Laura Morris of Sheffield. Pitt-Bradford photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Three people have waived preliminary hearings on assault charges in two separate cases. 62-year-old Michael Griffin of Custer City and 55-year-old Jill Patton of Bradford are accused of assaulting a man at the Italian Club on July 2. Court papers say they stopped attacking the man only when the bartender called 911. In another case, 32-year-old Charles Johnson of Bradford is accused of knocking a person unconscious while that person was trying to stop him and another person from fighting on September 4 at the VFW Club. All three people are free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Custer City man is in jail for having sex with a 13-year-old girl. Travis Butters, who turns 20 next month, had sex with the child at 7:30 p.m. on October 10 in the park on Rochester Street in Bradford, according to court papers. Butters is charged with felony counts of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors, as well as a misdemeanor count of indecent assault of a person younger than 16. District Judge Dominic Cercone set bail at $15,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday in McKean County Central Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Motorists traveling along two routes in McKean County in the coming weeks will be reminded of one of the most common types of aggressive driving behavior: speeding. PennDOT recently placed radar-controlled speed display signs on Route 770 (Warren Road), near Custer City, where truck speed is 20 mph; and Route 155 in Eldred Township near the Larabee Y, where the speed limit is 55 mph. The speed display sign uses radar to determine the speeds of oncoming traffic. Vehicle speeds are then posted on the lighted section of the sign. The speed display signs in McKean County will remain on location for up to four weeks. PennDOT says Speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors are among the leading causes of crashes and fatalities in Pennsylvania. Other aggressive driving behaviors include running stop signs or red lights, passing illegally and tailgating. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Drivers in McKean County will encounter a lane restriction beginning Monday, August 9 on Route 219 between the villages of Lewis Run and Custer City. The restriction is necessary for paving to begin across a three-mile section of Route 219 in this area. Motorists should expect traffic delays and be alert for flaggers and stopped or slow-moving traffic. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor on the $2.9 million project. Lane restrictions are expected to be lifted by Friday, August 20. To date, other project work has included guide rail upgrades, drainage, and shoulder upgrades. PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions before heading out.

The McKean County Management Agency reports numerous trees down in the Bradford and Duke Center areas, as well as flash flooding and wind damage in some areas due to Saturday evening's storm. In Bradford, trees were reported down on West Corydon and Congress streets. More trees were down on Pram Hollow Road. Trees and wires were down on Minard Run Road near Custer City. Trees were down in Duke Center at Oil Valley Road and Main Street. Because of Saturday’s weather, the fireworks scheduled for the Otto Township Old Home Days were postponed until tonight.

Fire destroyed a West Warren Road home early Sunday morning. The blaze started at about 1:30 a.m. at the home of Nick and Brandi Perkins. No one was hurt. The Red Cross is helping the family of four. Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Chief Dan Burkhouse says firefighters were on the scene for about 8 hours. A state police fire marshal is investigating to determine the cause of the blaze.