Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has lifted the temporary prohibition on hunting and trapping within some portions of Pike County that previously were closed due to the ongoing search for a fugitive wanted in the shooting death of a state police trooper. Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough today amended the executive order he issued last week, providing for the immediate reopening of all hunting and trapping seasons in all of Lehman Township, and the eastern portions of Blooming Grove and Porter townships, all of which are in Pike County. The amended order also reopens to public use most of the previously closed portion of State Game Lands 180 within Pike County. The State Game Lands 183 shooting range in Palmyra Township, Pike County, also has been reopened to public use. Meanwhile, hunting and trapping remains closed within all of Greene Township, Pike County, as well as all of Price, Barrett and Paradise townships in Monroe County. Portions of State Game Lands 18...

A hoax bomb threat evacuated Fretz Middle School for a short time this morning. Bradford Area School District Assistant Superintendent Sam Johnson tells WESB someone called the FBI’s new reporting system saying he or she saw a bomb threat on Twitter. The school was evacuated while police and school district personnel did a sweep of the building. Police visited the home of the person purported to have called the FBI but learned it was not only a hoax but that the person had been “spoofed” – meaning another person used a program to make it look as if the call to the FBI came from the first person’s phone number, Johnson said. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Buffalo man is accused of stealing historical documents from museums and libraries in Western New York. 50-year-old Daniel Witek stole at least five historical letters from the Buffalo History Museum, and then tried to sell the letters to Lion Heart Autographs in New York City, according to the US Attorney’s office. Although the news release did not mention any other museums by name it did say Witek is “associated with various museums and libraries in Western New York.” It adds that any public or private collector of rare books, letters or artwork who is missing an item should contact the FBI. If convicted of mail fraud, Witek could face up to 20 years in federal prison. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The nationwide manhunt for a fugitive from Puerto Rico has ended in Dunkirk. 26-year-old Eric Garcia-Rivas was wanted by the FBI for running a large drug distribution ring. He was picked up at about 6 o’clock Sunday night in Dunkirk after police saw him acting suspiciously, and then trying to hide his face from them. The FBI says Garcia-Rivas is part of a violent street gang that used weapons, threats and intimidation to run its drug distribution ring out of a public housing project. He was turned over to the FBI Monday morning. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The FBI has been investigating the man charged with shooting and killing his ex-wife during a church service Sunday morning in Coudersport. Frank Burton confirms the agency has been investigating Gregory Eldred. Burton would not disclose the nature of the investigation, but unofficial sources say the FBI removed Eldred’s computer from Coudersport Elementary School, where he taught for many years. Eldred is charged with murder for shooting 53-year-old Darlene Sitler as she played the organ Sunday morning in the First United Presbyterian Church. Eldred’s preliminary hearing originally scheduled for tomorrow in front of District Judge Annette Easton has moved to January 15, four days after he turns 53. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Hornell man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for having more than 600 images and videos of child pornography on his computer. 26-year-old Taber Wells downloaded the images between September fo 2009 and June of 2010. The US Attorney’s office say some of the images depicted children younger than 12. Taber will be on parole for 35 years after he’s released from prison. The FBI handled the investigation. Read the news release here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

On Monday, police thought a bank robbery in Jamestown and another in Falconer were unrelated. Today, they believe both robberies were committed by the same man responsible for other robberies across New York State. The first robbery was at 12:15 p.m. at the First Niagara Bank in Jamestown. The second was at the Jamestown Savings Bank in Falconer at around 2:15 p.m. Authorities first thought the second robber was a black man, but now believe the man who robbed both banks is a white man about 5-feet 10-inches tall, weighing 160 pounds. He has light brown hair with a reddish-blonde goatee. He was wearing wire rim glasses, a black leather coat, black pants and a black Pittsburgh Pirates hat. The FBI and other agencies are now working together on the case. Jamestown Police photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Elk County Humane Society has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. 47-year-old Richard Danz of Matthews, North Carolina, was the financial advisor and accountant for the agency and, from September of 2008 to June of this year he allegedly embezzled the money from the humane society and another client for his own personal use. The eleven-count indictment named Danz as the sole defendant. He could face a sentence of 110 years in prison, a fine of $2.7 million, or both, if he’s convicted. The FBI and City of St. Marys Police Department conducted the investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 64-year-old man from Ireland has been charged with emailing dozens of bomb threats to the University of Pittsburgh. Adam Stuart Busby of Dublin has been charged with sending more than 40 emails targeting the University between March 30 and April 21. The threats forced more than 100 evacuations at Pitt’s Oakland campus, and one at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Busby faces 17 counts of wire fraud, 16 counts of maliciously conveying false information in the form of bomb threats and two counts of international extortion. U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton announced the charges alongside FBI Special Agent in Charge Gary Douglas Perdue and University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg during a news conference at FBI headquarters this afternoon. Busby is also charged with threatening Hickton and claiming bombs had been placed at courthouses in Pittsburgh, Erie and Johnstown on June 20 and 21. 24-year-old Alexander Waterland of Loveland, Ohio, and 26-year-old Brett Hudson of Hi...

An Ohio man has been charged with making Internet threats against the University of Pittsburgh, but not specifically with the bomb threats that had the campus on edge for months. 24-year-old Alexander Waterland of Loveland, Ohio, is accused of posting a YouTube video on April 26 that claimed the group known as "Anonymous" had hacked into the university’s computer system and stolen records related to students, faculty and alumni. Part of the video contained a demand that University ChancellorMarck Nordenberg issue a public apology for not safeguarding students' welfare or the stolen information would be publicly released. US Attorney David Hickton says the charges pertain to specific cyberthreats in April and May, and were part of the series of threats received since February. Hickton added that the investigation is comprehensive and ongoing. Waterland told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper today he has "no idea" why the FBI charged him. The charges carry...

The bomb threat received for Pitt-Bradford’s Hanley Library was one of six received by the university Friday morning. The main campus received the other five, bringing the total since February 13 to 85, according to The Pitt News, the daily student newspaper. Pitt-Bradford is the first of the university’s branch campuses to receive a threat. The other branch campuses are in Greensburg, Johnstown and Titusville. Pitt-Bradford spokeswoman Pat Frantz Cercone says the Hanley Library threat was similar to those received for the main campus. Friday’s threat for the Hanley Library was sent by e-mail to Pitt’s main campus and was forwarded to Dan Songer, Pitt-Bradford’s Director of Campus Police and Safety. Kathleen Schreiber, the university’s regional manager of campus police, also called Songer. The library, which houses the office of university president Dr. Livingston Alexander, was evacuated at just before 11 a.m. After a thorough search of the outside and inside of the building, people w...

The bomb threat that closed the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Hanley Library late this morning was similar to the threats received at the university’s main campus. Pat Frantz Cercone, Pitt-Bradford’s Director of Communications and Marketing, tells WESB and The Hero the threat came in an email, which was immediately forwarded to Campus Security Director Dan Songer, who was also contacted by phone. Songer ordered an evacuation of the building at just before 11 a.m. At the same time, voice, e-mail and text messages were sent to people in the campus community who subscribe to the emergency notification system, she said. Police sealed off the building and established a perimeter, and Bob Rinfrette of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department brought in his bomb dogs. The inside and outside of the building were thoroughly searched. No bomb was found, and people were told they could go back into the building at around 12:30 p.m., Cercone said. The Bradford Township fire and police ...

While authorities say they are making “significant progress” in the investigation of bomb threats at the University of Pittsburgh, Oakland Campus, two more threats have been reported. The mother of a Pitt-Oakland student tells us the threats were received at 11:30 last night and 5:30 this morning. She says the 11:30 evacuation left the students out of their dorms until 3:15 a.m. The Pittsburgh Joint Terrorism Task Force is working on the case. The University has is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The University of Pittsburgh is setting up security check points at building entrances after a series of more than 30 bomb threats have prompted evacuations of educational buildings and residence halls. Four more threats were received at 4 a.m. today. Students and faculty will now need a school ID to get into buildings, which will also have security checkpoints set up to search bags. Non-residents will not be permitted in dorms. The university is also urging faculty to make arrangements for students to make up work missed because of evacuations. The bomb threats started in mid-February. Local, state and federal officials are investigating. The university is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Pittsburgh’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is now investigating the string of bomb threats at the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus. US Attorney David Hickton released a statement this morning saying, “The safety and welfare of the University of Pittsburgh community is a top priority. The bomb threats since February 13 are being vigorously, aggressively and thoroughly investigated through every possible means." Since mid-February, someone has threatened to bomb several campus buildings, including the Cathedral of Learning and Litchfield Towers. As of last night, the number of building threats was 26. The threats have been written in bathrooms or emailed to university officials and local newspaper reporters. A Bradford resident whose daughter attends Pitt-Oakland tells us the bomb threats have left students, staff and parents on edge. "While the disruption and fear engendered by such threats is unconscionable, we commend the resilience of the University community," Hick...

For the 13th time since mid-February, a building at the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus had to be evacuated because of a bomb threat. This morning’s threat was for Thackeray Hall. The building was closed for an hour while police searched it. The Litchfield Towers dormitory, the Chevron Science Center and the Cathedral of Learning were all evacuated on Tuesday for three separate bomb threats. University police are working with the FBI and Pittsburgh police to find out who's making the threats, and the university is offering a $50,000 reward. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Tioga man is facing charges after being found with a loaded handgun and two knives in his carry-on baggage at the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport. 53-year-old Michael Rinehart is charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of a weapon, but authorities say it’s possible he could face federal charges as well. They have, however, ruled out terrorism. The Transportation Security Administration says the .38-caliber revolver, a 9-inch knife and a utility knife were found in Rinehart’s bag during screening. He told Chemung County sheriff’s deputies and the FBI that he forgot the gun and knives were in his bag. Rinehart was released on $100,000 bail. He's due back in court January 3. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Dunkirk man is jail for allegedly possessing and making child pornography. 31-year-old Roger Luczkowiak is accused of engaging in sexual acts with a 6-year-old girl, and is heard on a video giving the victim instructions on what to do. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.