Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Police are reporting two burglaries in Potter County – one solved; one still under investigation. They say at about 8:30 on May 10 21-year-old Cody Plants of Roulette went into Silverbrook Storage on River Street in Roulette Township and took an ATV from a storage building. He was taken into custody and placed in Potter County Jail on a probation detainer. Burglary and related charges will be filed. Earlier in the month, someone broke into Mildred Williams’ Roulette home and damaged the ceiling. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact state police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two Potter County residents are in jail after their indoor marijuana growing operation was discovered Thursday in Genesee Township. State police executed a search warrant at 214 Main Street in Genesee and then seized 197 marijuana plants, two pounds of processed marijuana and numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia. Then they arrested 46-year-old Matthew Andrews and 36-year-old Chelah Ryan. They’re both jailed on $100,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

About 50 people attended the Administrative Assistant Luncheon on Wednesday, coordinated by the Potter County Education Council at the beautifully renovated Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Galeton. Those in attendance enjoyed an inspiring presentation by Julie Mader, PA Wilds Juried Artist (pictured). Julie spoke to the group about her journey as an artist and the value she finds in journaling. Each guest received the gift of a journal to commemorate the day and to discover the joy of journaling. Photo and information courtesy of the Potter County Education Council The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Agencies in McKean, Elk, Warren and Potter counties are among those sharing more than $300,000 in grant money that will go toward educating young people about environmental issues. Conservations districts in McKean, Elk and Potter counties will all receive $3,000, as will the Austin Area and Warren County school districts. The Department of Environmental Protection says the money will be used for a variety of initiatives, including summer camps, farm field days and exploratory learning activities. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Potter County couple died in a house fire this morning in Bingham Township. State police say at 6 a.m. a passing motorist saw the fire at 1405 Genesee Mills Road and called 911. When firefighters arrived the house was engulfed in flames and starting to collapse. State Police Cpl. Nicholas Loffredo says firefighters found 67-year-old Gary Briggs and 70-year-old Mary Briggs in debris after the fire was out. Police say no further details are available at this time. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A log truck and a plow truck collided Tuesday afternoon in Potter County, but no one was hurt. Police say the log truck driven by 35-year-old Andrew Lawton of Duke Center was traveling east on West Branch Road in West Branch Township while the plow truck driven by 32-year-old Ryan Hershey of Gaines was facing east while plowing snow at a pull-off along the road. The plow truck went into the road in reverse at the same time the log truck crested a hill. Lawton was not able to stop the log truck because of the weight of the load and hit the front passenger side of the plow truck. No charges were filed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man who killed his friend for being in bed with his girlfriend has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in state prison. 28-year-old Greg Riehl of Coudersport pleaded guilty in November to involuntary manslaughter for killing 27-year-old Anthony Palmieri in April of last year. He had originally been charged with murder. Riehl told police he and 35-year-old Michelle Nelson and had been drinking at Palmieri’s house. Riehl passed out and, when he woke up, found Nelson and Palmieri in bed together and shot the other man. Riehl then drove to Lancaster County, where his father lives, to “tell him something.” After the father and son had breakfast together, Riehl turned himself in. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Coudersport couple is accused of having a marijuana growing operation at their home. 50-year-old Stacey Amidon and 46-year-old Susan Amidon of Toad Hollow Road are each charged with a number of violations of the state’s drug laws. Police found the marijuana growing operation earlier this month. The Amidons are free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman was sent to jail for not registering with Megan’s Law. 26-year-old Kylie Ann Silsby of Coudersport was convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in May of 2011 for an incident that happened in November of 2010, according to Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law website. State Police say she didn’t register with them between December 15 of last year and Saturday. She was sent to Tioga County Jail on $5,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A two-year-old was hurt in a one-car crash Monday afternoon in Potter County. Police say 22-year-old Joseph Boldt of Coudersport was traveling west on Route 244 in Allegany Township at 4:30 p.m. when his car went out of control while rounding a curve, traveling off the road, hit an embankment and then rolled onto its driver’s side. Boldt wasn’t hurt, but one of his passengers, a two-year-old girl from Coudersport was taken by ambulance to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Boldt was cited for driving too fast for conditions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State police reported three accidents on icy roads – all involving vehicles that went out of control and slid off the road. In Potter County, neither 78-year-old Martin Sweigart of Galeton nor 21-year-old Kira Sutton of Austin was hurt. Sweigart was cited for not staying in his lane; Sutton for driving too fast for conditions. In Elk County, 31-year-old Holly Hutchins of Johnsonburg suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Penn Highlands Elk. No charges were filed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 26-year-old McKean County man is accused of sexually abusing children in Potter and Elk counties. 26-year-old Christopher Mitchell of Port Allegany is charged with sexual abuse of children, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and indecent assault. The alleged incidents happened between August of 2011 and August of 2013. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced a settlement with Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (TGP) for multiple violations of the Clean Streams Law during the construction of a natural gas pipeline in 2011 and 2012 through four counties in northeast and north-central Pennsylvania. The violations occurred during construction of the company’s “300 Line Project.” According to the agreement, TGP will pay a penalty of $210,000 and will fund a $540,000 clean-up program of illegal dumpsites in Pike, Potter, Susquehanna and Wayne Counties. The fund will be administered by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council over a four year period. TGP has also agreed to pay cost recovery monies to four Conservation Districts and the Department in the amount of $50,002. “This civil penalty is two-fold in its benefit to the public,” DEP Northeast Regional Director Mike Bedrin said. “It eliminates unsightly and illegal dumpsites that are problematic for many communities across the ...

The Lakeview Motel in Sinnemahoning was heavily damaged by fire early this morning. The fire was reported at about 2:45 a.m. and volunteers from Sinnemahoning, Emporium, Coudersport and Austin were on the scene for about four hours. Although the roof caved in, most of the damage was confined to the hotel area and not the storefront. When they got this call, firefighters had just gotten back from battling a blaze in Coudersport that did $175,000 worth of damage to a house on Crandall Street. Coudersport fire Chief Bryan Phelps says the house is a total loss and very little personal property could be salvaged. A state police fire marshal was called in to investigate, and could not determine a cause. Port Allegany, Roulette and Galeton firefighters also responded. Austin Volunteer Fire Department photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A malnourished and injured horse had to be put to sleep after it was found on Deering Road in Summit Township on Monday. State police in Coudersport say the horse did not have appropriate food, water or shelter, and also had a number of injuries they suspect were from neglect. A veterinarian said the horse had to be euthanized because of the injuries. Police are continuing their investigation, and animal cruelty charges are pending. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Coudersport man is in Potter County Jail for raping a woman over the weekend. Police say 27-year-old John Mayernik raped the 28-year-old woman at around 11 o’clock Saturday night in Summit Township. Besides rape, Mayernik is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Seneca Highlands IU9 will be offering a Child Development Associate Certification Program starting January 6, 2015 and running through June 9, 2015. This program is the most widely recognized certification program for early childhood educators and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in the field of early childhood education. Over 300,000 early childhood education professionals from throughout the United States have earned this certification. Graduates of this program will have increased confidence as a teacher because they will be able to implement best practices for teaching young children. This program is also a great way to earn a credential to advance your career or add to the list of credentials you can show to potential employers or parents, demonstrating your commitment to the quality of education you provide. Members of the STARS Program may qualify for a $50 discount off the cost of the program. For more information about this progr...

A Grand Opening Celebration will be held at Cole Memorial’s Shinglehouse Community Health Center from 3 to 6 p.m. on December 16. A special ceremony will start at 3 p.m. followed by tours, staff introductions, free screenings and refreshments. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Port Allegany man is facing child pornography charges in Potter County. 26-year-old Christopher Mitchell is accused of having inappropriate contact with a child younger than 16 in August of 2011 in Ulysses. He is facing five felony child pornography and child sex charges. Mitchell is in Potter County jail on $75,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A hunter was hit in the leg by a bullet Thursday morning after getting into a fight with another hunter on state game lands in Potter County. Police say 28-year-old Jarrett Rapp of Marietta was leaving a wooded area of Pike Township when he got into an argument with another hunter, who fired a bullet that grazed Rapp’s leg, causing a minor injury. The unidentified man then hit Rapp, who then hit him in the face with his rifle. The man is white and is in his 40s. He drove away in a light blue pickup truck. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Coudersport-based state police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947