Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The Smethport man charged in connection to a crash that killed an 8-year-old Shinglehouse boy in February of 2013 has pleaded no contest. 22-year-old Tieler Raymo pleaded to a charged of involuntary manslaughter, which was added as part of a plea agreement that dropped eight other charges, including homicide by vehicle. District Attorney Ray Learn explained that the reason the no contest plea was offered is that experts have differing opinions on the circumstances of the crash. Raymo is scheduled for sentencing on July 9. He remains free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford City Water Authority along with Zippo President and CEO Greg Booth will be honored by the YMCA of the Twin Tiers with the organization’s George G. Blaisdell Community Service Award. The awards presentation will be during the annual breakfast on May 5 at Pitt-Bradford. Also, the 2015 Ray C. Uhler Outstanding Youth Award recipients have been named. They are Sarah Potter from Bradford Area High School, Lauren Kerr, Otto-Eldred; Dillon Mattis, Kane; Keenan Kost, Smethport; and Jefferson Stehle, Port Allegany. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Investigators are still trying to determine what caused a fire that destroyed a Smethport home on New Year’s Eve. State Police Fire Marshal Robert Southern says the blaze did about $100,000 worth of damage to the home of 85-year-old Donald Hull, but he hasn’t pinpointed a cause yet. The fire started at about 10:15 p.m. on the first floor of the house and then went up a wall and through the roof. Firefighters say the house was engulfed in flames when they arrived. No one was hurt. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Smethport man is facing charges after two incidents late Saturday night along Route 6. Police say 54-year-old Robert Kelly hit a large traffic sign in Smethport at around 11:30 p.m., and then drove away on Route 6 east. About 10 minutes later, while passing a car near the Route 6 intersection with Shunk Lane, a tire came off Kelly’s car and hit the other car’s bumper. Kelly drove away from that scene as well. State police, along with the Smethport and Port Allegany police departments, looked for the car, and found it in a driveway along Woodland Drive in Port Allegany. Kelly’s car was moderately damaged, but he wasn’t hurt. He was taken to Kane Community Hospital for a blood test, which he refused. Charges will be filed in District Judge Bill Todd’s office. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man is facing a number of charges for having inappropriate contact with a child. 32-year-old Paul Hensley of Bradford is accused of being in a bed with a boy younger than 13 while they were undressed and their genitals were touching. The alleged incident happened on January 9 in Hensley’s Elm Street apartment. Charges were filed after the child was interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Smethport. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

While investigating a property dispute in Smethport state police learned that one of the people involved was a Megan’s Law sex offender and required to register with them. 52-year-old Lawrence Meyer was arrested on a warrant and then sent to McKean County Jail on $10,000 cash bond. In 2007, Meyer was convicted of sexually abusing a child. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The McKean County Coroner’s Office needs your help. Coroner Mike Cahill says he is looking for relatives of Michael Spilak, who was born June, 3, 1933, maybe in Smethport. He says Spilak worked in sheltered workshops all his life and may have at least one brother. Anyone with information on heirs of Michael Spilak is asked to call Cahill at 814-362-6643. 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 mother of three will be charged after her children had to be rescued from a burning SUV while she was shopping in the Foster Brook Wal-Mart on Friday. Foster Township Police Chief Tom Munn says 32-year-old Stacey Nelson of Smethport was found inside the store. She told police she only left the children for five minutes. Nelson’s 10-year-old daughter started the fire while playing with a cigarette lighter. A two-year-old and three-year-old were strapped into their car seats. Passersby got them out. None of the children was hurt. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Smethport business has been cited for a liquor law violation. Police say employees of the Bucktail Inn sold alcohol after its restaurant liquor license expired on July 31. The charges will be brought before an administrative law judge. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Windows from a number of school buses were shot and cracked over the weekend in Wetmore Township. Police say the incident happened between 4 o’clock Friday afternoon and 5:30 Sunday afternoon while they were parked at 39 Old Smethport Road. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Kane-based state police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Local community members and businesses have shown their support for the Smethport Campaign for United Way, having raised nearly 50% of the $15,000 goal. This is the third year that solicitation efforts have been managed by the United Way of the Bradford Area. “I am pleased with the status of the Smethport campaign to-date,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “We’ve seen a positive response from our existing donors, but we’ve seen a significant increase in new donors, which has contributed greatly to the success so far.” Davis says that although they have raised the fundraising goal for the second year in a row, she anticipates reaching the $15,000 mark. “The residents of Smethport and the surrounding communities have shown how generous they are over the past several years,” said Davis, “and we know they feel very strongly about impacting the lives of their family, friends and neighbors through the agencies funded from our annual appeal.” 12 agencies located in or servin...

A woman suffered minor injuries when her van hit two trees Monday afternoon on Route 46 in Keating Township. Police say 44-year-old Heather Peterson of Smethport was traveling north at just after 3 p.m. when the van went off the road and into a grassy field, and then hit an embankment. The van went about 300 feet, where the passenger side mirror hit a tree. It went another 30 feet where it hit a tree limb, and then another 78 feet, where it hit a tree. She was cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Legal troubles continue to mount for a Port Allegany veteran suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. 45-year-old Diane Ayala is now accused of charged more than $3,500 on another person’s credit card and the Crosby’s store on South Avenue, Dollar General in Eldred and McKean County E-Sales in Smethport. She was sent to McKean County Jail in lieu of $35,000 bail. Last week she was charged by Olean-based state police with stealing $77 worth of merchandise from the Allegany Wal-Mart. All of these happened while she is on probation for confronted three non-American men inside the Bradford McDonald’s in November. In January, when sentencing her to a year of probation and 40 hours of community service, McKean County Judge John Pavlock urged Ayala to avoid further unlawful activity. In 2012, she was convicted of welfare fraud for receiving nearly $7,000 in medical assistance and transportation benefits. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Dorothy J. Chirillo, 77, of 130 Kennedy Street, Bradford, passed away on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at UPMC Hamot, Erie surrounded by her loving family. She was born on November 28, 1936, in Emporium, a daughter of the late Anthony and Mabel Striech Gennocro. She was a graduate of the Cameron County High School, Emporium. On June 28, 1958, she married Egidio D. “Gino” Chirillo who preceded her in death on January 11, 2001. She was a member of the St. Bernard Catholic Church. She loved spending time with her family and she also enjoyed cooking. Mrs. Chirillo and her husband were the former co-owners of the Colonial Hotel, Smethport. In Bradford they were the former co-owners of various restaurants including: The Brook Club, Togi’s Drive-in (which they started), Togi’s Old Barn, Dante’s at the Bradford Mall, Gino’s at the former Howard Johnsons, Gino’s Steakhouse and Gino’s at the DeSoto Motel. She is survived by one son, Anthony Chirillo of Bradford; three daug...

A man who punched another man in the head and then fired a gun into his truck has pleaded guilty to assault and criminal mischief in McKean County Court. 40-year-old Damin Parris of Smethport punched the man after he had been joking around with Parris’ dog. When the man said he was going to leave, Parris yelled, and then fired two shots into the man’s truck. The man ran into the woods. Parris then walked toward a woman’s car and, when she asked him to give her the gun, he started to point it toward her. She grabbed it, drove away in her car and met state police in the parking lot of District Judge Bill Todd’s office. Parris is scheduled for sentencing on October 30. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Gino Lucchetti, a graduate of Smethport Area HighSchool, is an environmental scientist by day and a professional singer by night. He is an avid sportsman with much musical ability. The McKean County Historical Society proudly presents Gino Lucchetti in an afternoon of songs, “Gino Sings!” The event is Sunday, Nov. 2, at 3:00 PM at the Court of Angels, Main Street, Smethport, Pa. $25.00 per person includes appetizers, punch, coffee, tea, and the performance. BYOB if you would like. Call 814-887-5142 to purchase your tickets. 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

HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) will host a Firearms Safety and Rights Seminar on Monday, Oct. 27, at the Smethport Fire Hall. People who wish to attend must register in advance by visiting www.RepCauser.com or calling 1-866-437-8181. Seating is limited. “This region is home to many gun owners, and it is important for all of us to be knowledgeable about our rights and responsibilities, and to practice safety when using or storing our firearms,” Causer said. “The free seminar is an opportunity to refresh our memories and discuss these important issues.” The seminar will feature a presentation by Ray Learn, McKean County District Attorney, and Roger Sager, McKean County deputy sheriff and long-time firearms instructor. The two will discuss Pennsylvania’s concealed carry laws, the Castle Doctrine and other valuable information regarding state gun laws and gun safety. The seminar runs from 6-8 p.m. The fire hall is located at 109 S. Nelson St. in Smethpor...

Two McKean County residents have been sentenced in federal court for violating federal explosives laws. 29-year-old Jarred Major of Bradford will spend six months on home detention and three years on probation. 32-year-old Rechelle Judd of Smethport will spend two years on probation. According to the US Attorney’s office, the pair distributed explosives to a person who wasn’t licensed to have them. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947