Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Today is Police Memorial Day, and Bradford Area High School hosted a service honoring police officers in both Pennsylvania and New York. The keynote speaker was Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, who talked about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He started by talking about his friend, former Sheriff Dennis John, who took his own life in August of 2009. He then talked about some of the threats police officers face every day including natural disasters like floods and other weather events. He said while the general public is told to stay inside and be safe, emergency responders are out making sure everything is safe. Whitcomb also mentioned traffic accidents, and people who try to harm or kill police officers. He told the police officers in the auditorium that to protect and serve the public, they need to protect and serve themselves, and their brother and sister law enforcement officers, and said sometimes a person who needs help is closer than they think. Fallen officers f...

An inmate at the Cattaraugus County Jail is dead, and the sheriff says it appears to be a suicide. A corrections officer found the inmate unresponsive in his cell and first aid was performed. But, the inmate was pronounced dead a short time later. The inmate's name has not been released. Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb says the investigation is ongoing. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department is still asking for the public’s help in the death investigation of Traci Douglass, the Salamanca woman whose remains were found in the Allgeheny Reservoir in 2009. Sheriff Tim Whitcomb held a news conference this morning saying the case is still active, and they have gotten more than 400 leads, but they are hoping people will come forward with information that would help them determine how Douglass died. Although her body was found four years ago, Douglass was not identified until last February because the remains were so badly decomposed. Douglass was last seen in Salamanca in January of 2007 The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Authorities are treating the death of a Salamanca woman as an unnatural death investigation. During a news conference Tuesday Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb said the death of 45-Traci Douglas could have been an accident or suicide but, more than likely, foul play was involved. Douglass’ remains were found in 2009 in the Allegany Reservoir but weren’t positively identified until earlier this week. She was last seen in Salamanca in January of 2007. Whitcomb said since Douglass’ name was released to the media Monday his department has received numerous leads they are pursuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Bill Welling at the sheriff’s office. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating an attempted kidnapping by a man posing as a police officer. Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb says that at around 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon a woman was driving on Route 394 in the Town of Coldspring when the man pulled her over and ordered her to get out of her car. When she refused, he grabbed her wrist and tried to force her to get out of the car. She fought him off and he fled the scene. Whitcomb says the man was driving a large, dark-colored sedan with a flashing blue emergency light in the windshield. The car did not have any police markings on it. The man is white, in his 40s and about 5-feet, 10-inches tall with a medium build and blue/green eyes. He was wearing a light blue uniform-type shirt, dark-colored uniform-type pants and a gray Stetson hat. Whitcomb asks that anyone with information about the man or the vehicle contact the sheriff’s office. He also urges people to use caution and common sense when being pulled over by a...

Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb has issued the following travel advisory: Snow county wide has made travel conditions difficult and motorists are urged to use caution. Lake Effect Snow that is forecasted for today and tonight will make roads more treacherous in the northern portions of the county. Unnecessary travel in these areas is not advised. Drivers should be aware of the possibility of sudden changes in road conditions due to the winter weather. At this time, most roads in Cattaraugus County are snow covered and slippery. No roads are closed at this time. This travel advisory is in effect until 6:00 a.m., Thursday, December 2, unless otherwise extended.

Timothy Whitcomb has been sworn in as Cattaraugus County sheriff. Judge Larry Himelein administered the oath of office this afternoon. This is Whitcomb's first full term as sheriff. He replaces Dennis John, who died last summer. William Nichols has been appointed undersheriff.

Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb will take the oath of office at 2 p.m. Friday in Little Valley. After being sworn in, Whitcomb is expected to appoint William Nichols as undersheriff. Whitcomb has been acting sheriff since the death of Dennis John last summer, and was elected to the post in November.