Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Multiple suspects have been arrested in connection with recent bomb threats made at the Brookville Area High School. Brookville Area School District Superintendent Dr. Robin Fillman released a statement this afternoon saying potential charges include misdemeanors and felonies, and restitution could be as much at $35,000 to cover costs to the school district and emergency responders. Although no information about the suspects has been released, Fillman’s statement says the school district’s discipline code states that consequences will result in a full year of expulsion. Since October 3, three bomb threats have been made at the school, causing officials to evacuate students each time. The first prompted the school district to reschedule a football game. The Bradford Owls travel to Brookville Friday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

One driver was hurt in a fiery crash involving three trucks on Interstate 80 in Jefferson County this morning. State police say a propane tanker drifted across the white line along the berm and clipped the back of a water tanker, causing the propane tanker to roll onto its side. A box truck then t-boned the water tanker and exploded into flames. One of the drivers was flown from the scene by helicopter. There’s no word on his condition. The crash happened at about 8 a.m. in the eastbound lanes between the Brookville and Hazen exits. That section of the road re-opened at 7:45 p.m., according to PennDOT. Pine Creek Volunteer Fire Department photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

27 people across Pennsylvania have been arrested for a variety of insurance fraud offenses, and one of them is from Brookville. 42-year-old Theresa Clark is accused of lying to her insurance company about the time of a car crash on Interstate 80 after realizing her coverage had lapsed, according to the state attorney general's office. She tried to get the insurance company to pay for more than $8,000 in estimated repairs. A man from Jersey Shore in Lycoming County is charged with 823 counts of workers’ compensation fraud. 35-year-old Adam Worden allegedly operated his business – American Nature care Tree Service – without having workers’ comp insurance as required by law. Read more here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) has approved a total of $2,594,832 for eight energy, transportation and water and sewer projects in the 25th Senatorial District, announced Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson). The projects approved for funding are a part of three different programs that are administered by the CFA, including the Alternative and Clean Energy Program, Multimodal Transportation Fund Program and PA Small Water & Sewer Program. “I am pleased that eight projects in our region have received state funding for important public improvements to better serve area residents and businesses,” Scarnati said. “These investments will provide needed growth and updates while also helping to generate local economic development.” Scarnati explained that in the 25th Senatorial District the following projects were approved across five different counties: Cameron County Mid Cameron Authority - $40,000 grant (PA Small Water & Sewer Program) The...

BROCKWAY – The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission today placed a marker recognizing the country’s first-ever training school for conservation officers. The marker, placed in Jefferson County at Game School and Empire Ridge roads, is about 1½ miles from the site of the original Ross Leffler School of Conservation – the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s training school for law-enforcement officers. The Brockway training school not only was the first of its kind dedicated to the training of Game Protectors – law-enforcement positions that today are referred to as Wildlife Conservation Officers – it would quickly become the model for similar facilities nationwide. Addressing a crowd that gathered at a dedication ceremony at which the marker was unveiled, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough said the Ross Leffler School of Conservation has contributed immeasurably to the advancement of wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania, and it’s a contribution t...

The 20-year-old bartender who was shot by a customer who later shot and killed himself, is still hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Frank Bianco of Brockway tells the DuBois Courier-Express newspaper that his granddaughter Cera Bianco is continuing to recover at UPMC Altoona after the August 13 shooting. Police reports say 31-year-old Eric Carlson of Brockway got upset with Bianco when she was trying to close the Brockport Army & Navy Club so her shot her. As she lay bleeding on the porch of the establishment, he fatally shot himself. Information from: The Courier-Express, http://www.thecourierexpress.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) has issued the following statement regarding the Flatirons Development, LLC decision concerning the Brandon-Day well: “Flatirons Development, LLC, has agreed to discontinue Marcellus drilling operations of the Brandon-Day well which is located upstream of the Brockway Borough Municipal Authority Rattlesnake Reservoir. The existing bore hole will be abandoned, sealed and reclaimed to eliminate the possibility of watershed contamination. “This recent decision by Flatirons Development to stop plans for drilling at the Brandon-Day well is a good and responsible decision for our community. Earlier this year after taking part in numerous discussions and meetings regarding this well, I reached out to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to express serious reservations with permitting any further drilling at the proposed site or any nearby site which could potentially compromise the reservoir. “Toby Creek W...

Three State Troopers have received the Pennsylvania Narcotics Officers’ Association Heroism Award for rescuing another trooper who was shot while executing a search warrant in Jefferson County last September. Corporal Dennis Ulery, Corporal Joseph Alessandro and Trooper Dustin Sosak were presented with the award, which has been given out only three other times in 25 years. On September 26, 2013, a Pennsylvania State Police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team was assisting the Troop C Vice Unit and the Jefferson County Drug Task Force with the execution of a drug search warrant just outside of Brockway. The suspect’s father shot Trooper Bradley Wilson twice in the upper chest and neck area. As troopers and officers from the Jefferson County Drug Task Force used suppression fire, the other troopers pulled Wilson away from the line of fire and moved him to a secure location. State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said, “Had it not been for the actions of these three men foregoing the...

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) has issued the following statement regarding disaster assistance for Elk County flood victims: I am grateful that today, Governor Corbett has sent a letter to the United States Small Business Administration to request a disaster declaration for local areas that were impacted by the severe flooding that took place on May 21 and 22, 2014. This disaster declaration would enable residents and business owners with property damaged by the massive rains to be eligible for low interest loans through the US Small Business Administration. If the request is granted, counties that are contiguous with Elk will also be eligible for the loans, including Cameron, Clearfield, Forest, Jefferson, McKean and Warren counties. As this process moves forward, I will continue to work with Governor Corbett and PEMA to find ways to best help our community and local residents with clean-up and recovery. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG - Museums and historical societies in Pennsylvania have been awarded a total of $2 million for 130 grants, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) and Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-66). Scarnati explained that the grants were awarded as part of the state’s Cultural and Historical Support program, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). The goal of the program is to strengthen the Pennsylvania museum community through providing general operating support to museums and official county historical societies that are not supported by other state agency funding programs. “Our Commonwealth is fortunate to have outstanding museums and historical societies across Pennsylvania,” Senator Scarnati said. “I am glad that these grants will help offer assistance to historical sites so that they can continue to provide excellent educational opportunities within our communities.” “Museums inspire curiosity and allow peo...

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo announced today that John Guth, Environmental Program Manager for Air Quality, has been named regional director of the agency’s Northwest office effective today. “John’s strong background working with the regulated community, coordinating with local governments, directing and managing staff and serving with the region’s emergency response team has more than prepared him for his new role as regional director,” Abruzzo said. “His vast experience and dedication to the department’s important mission has earned him respect both inside and outside DEP. I am confident that he will continue to serve with diligence.” Guth began his career at DEP conducting field investigations for the Waste Management Program in 1985, and was promoted to Solid Waste Supervisor in 1993 to supervise employees conducting municipal, residual and hazardous waste inspections, compliance assistance and enforcement. Guth was again promoted ...

Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in at least one deer on a farm about five miles west of DuBois. The state Department of Agriculture says a 5-year-old deer that died on the Reynoldsville farm tested positive for CWD, and now the farm is under quarantine. Deer legally may not be moved on or off the property, and the ongoing investigation may lead to additional farms being quarantined. Chronic Wasting Disease is always fatal, and attacks the brains of deer, elk, moose and other antlered animals. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Brookville man is in jail for kidnapping a woman at gunpoint. Police say they got a report at around 7 o’clock last night that a woman was being kidnapped, but she was able to jump out of the vehicle and run to a nearby store for help. 39-year-old Shawn Whitenight fled the scene and police found him at his home, where he kept them at bay until around 1 o’clock this morning when he surrendered. He is charged with felony counts of kidnapping, aggravated assault and terroristic threats as well as a number of misdemeanors. His bail is set at $150,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

No one was hurt when a pickup truck and a Peterbilt roll-off truck collided Thursday morning on Route 219 near the Elk/Jefferson County line. Police say the Peterbilt truck driven by 42-year-old Ronald Huey Jr. of Brockway was traveling north at 6:44 a.m. when a pickup truck driven by 35-year-old David Rosensteel of Brockway pulled out from the Brockport Post Office into the path of the other truck. Route 219 from Brockway to Brockport was closed until around 11 a.m. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A crash on Route 219 near the Elk/Jefferson County line downed utility lines and closed the road for several hours this morning. The road was closed in both directions from Brockway to Brockport after the crash that happened at around 6:40 a.m., according to PennDOT. It re-opened at around 11 a.m. Police haven’t released any details on the crash yet. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two people were killed in separate crashes this morning. State police say 56-year-old Brenda Boyer of DuBois died in a head-on crash on Route 36 in Jefferson County at just before 7 a.m. when a car driven by 19-year-old Taylor Cudworth of Sigel crossed the center line. Cudworth was taken to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh for treatment of major injuries. Two hours later in Forest County, 67-year-old John Zang of Butler was driving on Route 62 in Tionesta Township when his pickup truck went out of control, hit an embankment and rolled over. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man accused of killing and dismembering another man with a chainsaw is headed to trial. 32-year-old Michael Shugars of Punxsutawney waived his preliminary hearing on criminal homicide and other charges. He is accused of shooting 33-year-old Chet Haddow during a fight over a gun in a drug deal, then cutting up his body with a chain saw and scattering the body parts in and near Mahoning Creek last month. Two fishermen found one of Haddow’s arms a couple of days later. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The preliminary hearing for the man whose father shot and critically wounded a state trooper has been moved to next month. Kenneth Lees II had been scheduled for a hearing on felony charges of aggravated assault and fleeing or eluding police as well as a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment and six traffic offenses. Lees’ father shot state trooper Bradley Wilson in the neck and torso as he was trying to serve a warrant on Lees’ Brockway house to look for evidence of a meth lab on September 26. After the shooting, police were looking for the younger Lees, who eventually took them on a chase that lasted nearly half an hour. Lees’ father shot and killed himself inside the house. Wilson remains hospitalized in Pittsburgh. Lees has not been charged with any drug offenses. He is in Jefferson County Jail on $75,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

It was an unusual sight at Penn State DuBois on Wednesday as more than two dozen male students walked together around campus wearing red high heels. The walk also took them off campus, and down Liberty Boulevard, as women showing their support to the cause walked alongside the guys to cheer them on. The men were participating in 'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes', a men's march meant to raise awareness of the battle against rape, sexual assault, and gender violence. The event was organized by Passages of Clarion, Clearfield and Jefferson Counties, in conjunction with the Penn State DuBois Office of Student Life. The idea behind the march is to get men more involved in issues surrounding sex crimes. "Most of the time people think of sexual violence as a women's issue, but men are really the ones who can make a difference," said April Fleck, a prevention educator with Passages. "We want men to become aware of what they can do to step in and stop these th...

A Ridgway man is dead following a crash Monday morning in Jefferson County. Police say 37-year-old William Duffeild was making a left turn in Reynoldsville at about 7:45 a.m. when his SUV went out of control, hit an embankment and rolled multiple times. Duffield was thrown from the SUV and was pronounced dead at the scene. Route 310 was closed for two hours for cleanup and investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947