Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Two weeks ago we told you about a Titusville police officer accused of fondling a clerk at a Tobacco store last month. The latest on that story is that the police officer, 55-year-old Clarence Peterson has resigned, and has been charged with indecent assault and harassment. State police say Peterson was on duty at around noon on July 24 when he went into Spanky’s Tobacco World and grabbed the buttocks of a woman as she was stocking shelves. Peterson resigned from the police department on August 1. He’s scheduled for a preliminary hearing on September 17. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Titusville Police officer is accused of harassing a store clerk last Thursday, and state police are handing the investigation. Troopers did not identify the officer but say a clerk at Spanky’s Tobacco World claims the officer touched her backside in an "unwelcome way" between noon and 1 p.m. She reported the incident the next day. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

In a continuing effort to help families cover the cost of college education, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has increased the amount of merit aid some in-state and transfer students will receive. The awards are provided to students at the time of their admission based on SAT and ACT scores, high school grades and whether or not they plan to live on campus. These awards are independent of whether they may qualify for additional, need-based aid. In 2014, full-time freshmen who are Pennsylvania residents and plan to live on campus and who meet the academic criteria will receive an award of $6,000 per year, up $500 from the current academic year. If they continue to meet academic criteria and live on campus for four years, they can receive a total of $24,000. Students transferring from the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville who meet the criteria and plan to live on campus will also have their award increased from $5,500 to $6,000 per ye...

One person was hurt, and is also facing charges, following a crash early Monday morning on Kinzua Road just south of Hawg Road in Clarendon. Police say 66-year-old Robert Olewinski of Johnsonburg was on Route 59 (Kinzua Road) at just before 2 a.m. when his vehicle crossed the center line and hit a trailer being pulled by 63-year-old Merle Smith of Titusville. Olewinski’s vehicle then went off the road and hit an embankment, trapping him inside. After he was freed he was taken by ambulance to Warren General Hospital. Police say he was driving under the influence and will be charged. Smith was not hurt. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Christine Wolski, a 1991 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s broadcast communications program, has won an Emmy Award from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Wolski won for a magazine program that she co-produced with John Begeny for WETA public television in Washington, D.C., “Washington Cherry Blossoms: A Gift of Friendship.” Wolski has been a producer of on-air fundraising at WETA for nearly 14 years. Prior to that, she was executive director of the Titusville Family Center from 1997 to 1999 and worked as a reporter and producer for WTIV in Titusville from 1994 to 1999. Before that, she was the executive director of the Titusville Area United Way from 1994 to 1997. “Christine easily remains as one of the very top students I have ever taught,” said Jeff Guterman, associate professor and director of the broadcast communications program at Pitt-Bradford. ...

Father is a Titusville Police Officer A 25-year-old man is accused of stealing more than a dozen guns from his father, who is a Titusville police officer. Ruel Root IV told police he stole, and then sold the 14 various kinds of guns, to get money for drugs and beer, according to papers filed in District Judge Amy Nichols’ office. Root is in Crawford County Jail on $75,000 bail. Charges against two friends who helped him are pending. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Three 17-year-old boys are facing charges for stealing a car and a mini-van. Police say between January 5 and 6 two of the boys stole a car from Titusville and drove it to Clarendon to visit the third boy. Then they stole a mini-van. The two Titusville boys drove the mini-van back to Titusville and the Clarendon boy disposed of the car. Both vehicles were later recovered by police. Charges against the boys were filed with Warren County Juvenile Probation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Clarion University administration, faculty and staff served a late-night breakfast to 1,050 students Dec. 9 to support them in having a successful finals week. “The purpose of the late-night breakfast is to give students a boost of encouragement the night before finals week,” said Dr. Karen Whitney, president of Clarion University. Whitney proposed the idea for the free breakfast and was one of 45 university employees who served the students. Brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity sang holiday carols, and an ensemble including Andrew Ortega of Titusville, D.J. Conrad of Morrisdale, Zach Ray of Franklin and Matt Younger of New Castle played seasonal music on tuba and euphonium. Photo provided by Clarion University The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Instead of leaving a wedding gift for a couple during their reception Saturday, a guest decided he was going to grab some of the bride and groom’s loot for himself. State troopers say a 31-year-old Titusville man stole wedding cards from a basket during the reception at the Harmony Township Community Center. Police haven’t released the man’s name yet, but say they plan to charge him with theft. Troopers haven't said how much money or what other gifts the cards contained, or whether any of that has been recovered. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Former baseball player Bobby Wyant of Titusville, Pa., and softball and golf athlete Kristy Zavinski of Warren, Pa., are the newest inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The two, who were chosen by a committee of coaches, alumni, and faculty and staff, will be inducted during Pitt-Bradford’s Alumni and Family Weekend. They will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 10:30 a.m., in the Mukaiyama University Room located in the Frame-Westerberg Commons. “I was fortunate enough to be here when both Kristy and Bobby began their career at Pitt-Bradford,” said athletics director Lori Mazza. “They both had certain intangibles you cannot teach. “Certainly, their athletic abilities speak for themselves, but what impressed me the most was their ability to balance the rigors of academics, the friendships they formed, their emotion for the game, and their passion to win, all while never losing sight of being a part of a team.” The Pitt-Bra...

A 43-year-old Cleveland, Ohio, man died after falling at a Titusville plant Thursday afternoon. Crawford County Coroner Scott Schnell says Mark Allen Whitley fell about 30 feet from a roof at International Waxes when he was removing beams from the roof and one of them gave way. Schnell says Whitley removed his fall protector so he could move to a new position. Whitley was taken to Titusville Area Hospital, where he was pronounced dead of multiple blunt force trauma to the head. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Here are more pictures, provided by Commonwealth Media Services, from the first day of Governor Tom Corbett's three-day kayak tour of western Pennsylvania. Pictured, First Lady Susan Corbett makes her way down the Allegheny River near West Hickory, PA; Aboard the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad, the Governor and First Lady had their State Park Passports officially stamped at the nation's only remaining, operating on-train post office. The Corbetts visited Oil Creek State Park and the Drake Well Museum during their three-day kayak tour. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Meadville - The Department of Environmental Protection has levied a $33,065 fine against Herbert L. Hasbrouck and Marion L. Hasbrouck of Oil Creek Township, Crawford County, and Hasbrouck Sand and Gravel Inc. of Titusville, Crawford County, for violations of the Solid Waste Management Act related to the improper handling and disposal of waste tires. “Proper disposal of waste is essential to preserving the quality of Pennsylvania’s air, land and water,” DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said. “The Solid Waste Management Act provides a mechanism for DEP to monitor and enforce appropriate disposal methods.” In January 2011, DEP conducted an inspection of the Hasbrouck property and observed a large pile of incinerated tires that had been reduced to ashes. Smoke and flames were visible during the inspection and additional waste tires were scattered throughout the burn area. DEP staff determined that the tires were generated by Hasbrouck Sand and Gravel and transported to the prope...

A 35-year-old Titusville man has been sentenced to 50 years in a federal prison without parole for trafficking in child pornography on his personal computer in 2010. Craig Finley was convicted in January after he was found with 30,000 images of child pornography, mostly involving young boys. One of the images he distributed over the Internet showed him fondling a sleeping 10-year-old boy. Assistant US Attorney Christian Trabold says Finley is a sexual predator and “every parent’s worst nightmare.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

UPDATE @ 3:30 p.m.: The road has reopened. PA 227 is closed in both directions from Rouseville to Merrick St. in Oil Creek Township due to an accident involving a tanker truck that has rolled over. Message boards are in place in Pleasantville, Rouseville and Grandview Rd. (SR 1001) to indicate the detour route. Traffic is being detoured north on Route 8 to Titusville and then east on State Route 27 to Pleasantville. Headed the other direction, traffic is detoured west on State Route 27 to Titusville and then south on Route 8. Traffic at Grandview and PA 227 is being directed south on PA 227 and from there will pick up Route 8. PennDOT expect the road to reopen by 4:30 this afternoon. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Titusville man was charged with disorderly conduct after a security guard at the Seneca Allegany Casino, and sheriff’s deputies, told him he was too drunk to drive. 37-year-old Samuel Roberts III and his girlfriend were in the front lobby of the casino at around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday when authorities told them they couldn’t drive. Roberts allegedly used obscene and abusive language, even after being warned to calm down. He was taken to the Salamanca Police Department and held pending arraignment The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Several well supplies were removed from a site in Jones Township in Elk County last week, during a dispute between business partners of the September Corporation of Titusville. Police say through the course of their investigation they learned the business partners owned each other money. Police told the victim and the suspect, who is from Kane, to handle the case through civil court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Titusville girl is hospitalized with serious injuries after allegedly falling out of her crib, but police are investigating the incident. They say the 3-year-old was taken to Titusville Area Hospital Wednesday afternoon with a fractured skull. After testing, hospital personnel learned the toddler also had bleeding in her brain and behind her eyes, bruising on her legs, buttocks, abdomen, back, sides and upper lip, and an old fracture that had healed. She was taken to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for further treatment. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Titusville woman has been charged in U.S. District Court in Erie with embezzling more than $40,000 from the PNC Bank where she worked. Patricia Eakin allegedly stole $40,925 from the Titusville branch of the bank between May of 2010 and April of this year. Eakin is charged with one felony count of embezzlement by a bank employee. She faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A former Titusville woman has been sentenced to 63 months in prison for sexually exploiting a 4-year-old girl. The US Attorney’s office says 31-year-old Michelle Neely received computer images depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Neely was originally charged with a number of other offenses for molesting the 4-year-old, according to court records. In an interview with police back in 2009, Neely said her boyfriend encouraged her to have inappropriate contact with the girl to teach her about sex. Neely told police she agreed to do it to get her boyfriend off her back.