Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

No one was hurt in a two-vehicle crash on a slippery Route 6 in Mount Jewett this morning. State police say a pickup truck driven by 35-year-old Jose Rodriguez-Zapata of Pasadena, Texas, was traveling west near Pete Lane when it went out of control on the snow- and ice-covered road, spun around, and went into the opposite lane of travel, where it rear-ended a car driven by 68-year-old James McCormack of Mount Jewett. The pickup was moderately damaged, but the car was disabled. Image from Google Earth © The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Part of Route 6 near Youngsville is still closed after a truck carrying asphalt rolled over Sunday afternoon. The crash happened at about 4:45 p.m. The westbound lanes of Route 6 near the interchange with Route 62 and the Forge Curve re-opened at about 7:30 this morning. The eastbound lanes are still closed, and there is a detour from Youngsville to Starbrick. Police say 55-year-old Asa Brown of Fredericktown, Ohio, was traveling west when the tractor-trailer went out of control and hit a concrete barrier in the median, puncturing the tanker and spilling asphalt. Some of the asphalt went down a hill and into Brokenstraw Creek. A hazmat team was called in to help with the cleanup. Brown wasn’t hurt. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The driver of a tanker truck was hurt when his rig crashed just before 8 o’clock this morning on Route 6 in Warren County. Police haven’t released the man’s name, but say he was taken to Corry Memorial Hospital. The state Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Boat Commission were called to the scene because some fuel spilled. Route 6 was closed in both directions between Mead Run Road and Abraham Hollow after the crash. We’ll have more information as it becomes available. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Route 6 in Warren County is closed in both directions from Mead Run Road to Abraham Hollow Road in Brokenstraw Township due to a crash involving a tanker. PennDOT says the road is expected to reopen by 11 a.m. We don’t have any further information yet. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

You may remember a few years ago that a man walked along Route 6 from Cape Cod to Long Beach California. Well, Joe Hurley is making another trip another the historic highway, and this time he’ll be stopping at libraries along the way. Among the places he’ll be stopping are Bradford, Smethport and Port Allegany in McKean County and Coudersport and Galeton in Potter County. We’ll be talking with Hurley on an upcoming LiveLine about his trek, and the book he wrote following his last journey – “Ten Million Steps on Route 6.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 49-year-old Smethport man is dead following a one-vehicle crash late last night on Route 6. Police say an SUV driven by James Russell was just east of Pierce Brook Road at about 11:45 p.m. when it traveled onto the north berm and hit a tree in an embankment. The vehicle then rolled over a number of times while crossing both lanes of the road. Russell was pronounced dead at the scene by McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

SMETHPORT – On behalf of Governor Tom Corbett, PennDOT today announced that work to replace a bridge in Smethport on Route 6 will get underway soon, with activity expected to start this week or next. Once work is complete, PennDOT will remove the bridge from the list of structurally deficient bridges in McKean County. Replacement will also provide area drivers with safer, more efficient travel across a modern structure. The bridge spans Marvin Creek on the west side of Smethport Borough, near the Dollar General Store. The bridge was built in 1921, is 100 feet long and carries an average of more than 2,100 vehicles each day. A temporary road will be used to guide drivers through the area while the old bridge is demolished and the new one is built. Construction of the temporary roadway will be the first work done on the project. Work is expected to last through November and includes replacement of the old bridge with a new concrete box beam bridge, approach work, paving, guide rai...

Work to repair an earth slide and prevent future slides along Route 59 near Warren is scheduled to start Monday, weather permitting. Traffic will be restricted to one-lane. At first it will be controlled by flaggers but, as work progresses, temporary traffic signals will be used. Two-way traffic is expected to be restored by August 28. The project is scheduled for completion by May 1, 2014. The work includes building a 160-foot retaining wall, and a 135-foot slope wall along the section of Route 59 about 2 miles from the intersection with Route 6. Work in the 1,200-foot-long project area will also include road replacement, paved shoulders, improved drainage and updated guiderails and pavement markers. The $1 million project is being paid for with federal funds. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Warren man is hospitalized in serious condition after his vehicle crashed into a Mack truck in Clarendon Monday afternoon. 30-year-old Andrew Franklin is being treated at UPMC Hamot. State police say Franklin was on Route 6 at just before 3 o’clock when he crossed the center line and traveled into the path of the truck. Franklin was freed from the wreckage and was flown to UPMC Hamot. Two passengers in his vehicle, ages 3 and 1, were not hurt. The truck driver, 43-year-old Arthur Estus of Sheffield, was not hurt either. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

One person was hurt when a piece of ice flew off a truck on Route 6 just east of the Kane Country Club this morning. Police say the ice came off a large truck and flew through the windshield of a pickup truck driven by 23-year-old Deryk Smith of Kane at about 9:15 a.m. The ice hit Smith, who suffered minor injuries. He was able to pull the pickup off the road safely. The other truck did not stop and continued traveling west on Route 6. Police say the truck could possibly be a garbage truck hauling a Dumpster. Anyone with information on the truck is asked to contact state police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Six local organizations and municipalities have been awarded more than $1.03 million in state grants to make improvements to park and recreation facilities, promote snowmobile and other trail systems, and protect greenways, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25). The grants were provided through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnership Program (CCPP). The CCPP program is administered by DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, to provide financial and technical assistance to local governments, river and trail organizations, land trusts and other non-profits, for the planning, acquisition and development of park, recreation, conservation and greenway projects. “These state investments in local projects will help to improve the quality of life for area residents and build on the many recreational and natural resources we have in the region,” Scarnati said. “I am very pleased that CCPP has recognized the importance of these projects...

PennDOT advises drivers that three State Routes in and around the town of Kane, McKean County, are closed to truck traffic at this time due to an overturned tanker hauling butane. Routes 6, 66, and 321 in the Kane area are closed to commercial truck traffic. Passenger vehicles may use Routes 66 and 321 but Route 6 remains closed to all traffic. Area evacuations are taking place as a precaution and emergency personnel are on-site to assist drivers through local detours. PennDOT now expects these closures to last until at least 1 p.m. today. Drivers should proceed with caution and be prepared for stopped or slow-moving traffic and emergency personnel in the roadway. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Coudersport – A roadway improvement project on Route 6 in Potter County will enter a new phase next week, as temporary traffic signals are turned on mid-week. The roadway betterment work will extend the useful life of the roadway and bridges and result in a smoother, safer ride for motorists. The four-mile work zone stretches from the Potato City Inn to about one mile east of the Denton Hill Ski area. Temporary traffic signals are located on the bridge at the Denton Hill Ski area and on the bridge about one mile east of the ski area. The signals will be placed on flash mode Wednesday, May 16. The signals will be activated on Tuesday, May 22, enforcing an alternating traffic pattern so that crews can work in the closed lane of each bridge. For roadwork, daylight, alternating traffic patterns will be in place and drivers can expect to encounter flaggers on the roadway and short travel delays. Motorists need to be alert for sudden stops. Project work includes roadway and bridge repairs, r...

An Eldred man wasn’t seriously hurt when his tractor trailer went out of control on a curve on Route 6 in Hamlin Township early this morning. The truck driven by 59-year-old Howard Griffith tipped over onto its driver’s side when plastic pipes inside the trailer shifted. He was taken to BRMC for treatment of minor injuries, and was cited for driving at an unsafe speed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Coudersport – A roadway improvement project on Route 6 in Potter County will bring short travel delays, starting next week. The four-mile work zone stretches from the Potato City Inn to about one mile east of the Denton Hill Ski area. This betterment work will extend the useful life of the roadway and bridges and result in a smoother, safer ride for motorists. Temporary traffic signals are located on the bridge at the Denton Hill Ski area and on the bridge about one mile east of the ski area. The signals will enforce an alternating traffic pattern so that crews can work in the closed lane of each bridge. For roadwork, daylight, alternating traffic patterns will be in place and drivers can expect to encounter flaggers on the roadway and short travel delays. Motorists need to be alert for sudden stops. Project work includes roadway and bridge repairs, roadway resurfacing, drainage improvements, guiderail updates, line painting, and miscellaneous construction. All work is weather depende...

By SANDRA RHODES Kane may be the Black Cherry Capital of the World, but come May 11, it will be all about “sprucing” up the community. That is when the second KARE for Kane event will take place. This is when volunteers take time out of their day – whether it’s a couple of hours or the entire day – to work on projects throughout the Kane area. The project is spearheaded by Melanie Clabaugh, executive director the Kane Area Development Center and its offshoot – Kane Area Revitalization Enterprise, and Kathleen Prosperi, an AmeriCorps staff member at the Kane Area High School. The purpose of the day is two-fold – to gather volunteers for a spring cleanup in the community and to foster community pride amongst all the residents. Anyone is welcome to participate. “We want to encourage residents, students, businesses and visitors to come participate,” Clabaugh said. Clabaugh said they picked a Friday so businesses and their employees could participate. This gives the employees a chance to ge...

Work to repair and preserve two bridges – one in McKean County, one in Potter County - will get underway Monday, March 19. The preservation work will extend the serviceable life of each bridge for decades. The McKean County bridge is located on Route 6 in Liberty Township and spans Sartwell Creek. The Potter County bridge is located on Route 49 in Harrison Township and spans the north branch of Cowanesque Creek. Crews will replace the deck on the Sartwell Creek Bridge. The Cowanesque Creek bridge will see replacement of the super-structure. Overall work includes concrete repairs, paving, guide rail updates, pavement markings, and miscellaneous construction. PennDOT expects work to be complete by November. Each project will feature temporary traffic signals to control an alternating traffic pattern through the work zone. All work is weather and schedule dependent. L.C. Whitford Company, Inc., of Wellsville, New York is the contractor on this $1.1 million project. Drivers are reminded t...

McKean and neighboring counties will be receiving nearly a million dollars in state grant money to enhance trails, parks and other tourist attractions in the region. The Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Corporation will get $140,000 to provide technical assistance to communities in Bradford, Crawford, Erie, Lackawanna, McKean, Pike, Potter, Tioga, Warren, Wayne and Wyoming counties to implement their Heritage Work Plans and coordinate Artisan Trail for 2012. The money will also go toward coordinating the Mile Marker Maintenance program, develop printed materials to market Route 6 and its assets, update the Interpretive Plan and History of Route 6 and develop application for National Scenic Byway and All-American Road designation for Route 6. The Lumber Heritage Region of PA will receive $125,000 to provide technical support to partner organizations in Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga and Warren countie...

UPDATE: The woman who died is 80-year-old Bertha Ginnery of Oil City. The people who suffered major injuries are 76-year-old Thomas Ginnery of Oil City; an 11-year-old girl in the Ginnery van; 48-year-old Tina Wagoner of Salamanca; and 68-year-old Marilyn Brinkley. The driver of the SUV, Thomas Brinkley, was taken to Kane Community Hospital for treatment. One person is dead and four people suffered major injuries in a head-on collision at just after 2 o’clock this afternoon on Route 6 near Lantz Corners. Police have not released the names of the people, pending notification of family members. The crash happened as a van was traveling east on Route 6, crossed the center line and hit a westbound pickup truck. A front seat passenger in the van was killed on impact. The driver suffered major injuries and was flown to UPMC Hamot for treatment. Two back seat passengers also suffered major injuries. An 11-year-old girl was flown to Children’s Hospital in Buffalo for treatment. The driver of t...

A man is dead following a motorcycle crash Saturday afternoon on Route 6 in Wetmore Township. Police say 60-year-old Neil Phillips of Hartland, Minnesota, was traveling east when a wild turkey attempted to fly across the road but hit Phillips’ head and the upper part of his body. Phillips lost control of the bike, and it hit a guiderail. Phillips was thrown over the guide rail and went down an embankment. Phillips was pronounced dead at the scene.