Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Arson is the cause of a fire that destroyed the former Suzy’s Furniture building in St. Marys early Friday morning. State Police Fire Marshal Robert Southern determined the fire was deliberately set after finding multiple points of origin. St. Marys City Police are continuing the investigation. Crystal Fire Department was called at 2:45 Friday morning to the building on Route 255. Eventually, every fire department in Elk County was called to battle the blaze. Cameron County firefighters responded as well. Damage is estimated at more than half a million dollars. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman has pleaded guilty to setting a garage on fire this past summer. 21-year-old Crystal Lore of Little Valley set the fire at a residential garage on Second Street in Little Valley on July 23. Lore is scheduled for sentencing in Cattaraugus County Court on December 8. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Seneca Nation of Indians has confirmed it will be demolishing the fire-ravaged former Erie Rail Depot in Salamanca by the end of the year. The building is on 3.1 acres of Seneca land between Atlantic Street and the railroad tracks. A 14-year-old Salamanca boy set the building on fire in late July. He is going through the Cattaraugus County Family Court system. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man found guilty of letting his infant get burned by hot water will spend an additional 18 months to four years in state prison, on top of the seven to 20 years he was sentenced to last month for starting four fires in Bradford last winter. 22-year-old Harvey Rose put a container of hot water next to his 11-day-old son before giving him a bath. Later, the babysitter discovered the baby’s hands were burned. The infant had to be treated at a Buffalo hospital. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man has been found guilty of causing burns to his infant in February. 21-year-old Harvey Rose was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and possession of marijuana after he left the two-week-old baby next to a container of hot water on a bathing table. The infant suffered second degree burns to his hands and had to be treated at Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. Rose will be sentenced on September 4. Last week in McKean County Court Rose was sentenced to seven to 20 years in state prison for four arsons in Bradford late last year and early this year. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man who started four fires in Bradford early this year and late last year has pleaded guilty to arson. 21-year-old Harvey Rose admitted to starting fires at 8 Thompson Avenue and 10 Congress Place, as well as 125 West Washington Street and 338 East Main Street. At the time of his arrest Rose told Assistant City Police Chief Mike Ward and State Police Fire Marshal Greg Agosti that “he was fascinated by fire. He liked to watch it burn and liked the colors.” He also told them he got uncontrollable urges to start fires and that he does not hold any regard for the safety of others outside of his family. He remains in McKean County Jail, and is also awaiting trial in connection to an incident when his infant son was burned by scalding bath water. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Chautauqua County man and woman are accused of setting an SUV on fire to get insurance money. Sheriff’s deputies say a week after the SUV co-owned by 46-year-old Terri Seekings of Sherman was damaged they learned the fire was probably intentionally set so she could collect the insurance money. 27-year-old Kenneth Brightman is accused of starting the fire. He was charged with arson and conspiracy and sent to jail. Seekings is also charged with arson and conspiracy, but was released on her recognizance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man has been sentenced to 10 days to 12 months in McKean County Jail and 12 months’ probation in two of the criminal cases against him. 21-year-old Harvey Rose was sentenced for theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property for stealing a cell phone. Police also found him with 10 dime bags of marijuana while conducting an investigation. But Rose’s legal troubles are not over. He is also charged in connection with four arsons in the city, and for an incident in which his 2-week-old baby was burned by hot water while he was preparing to bathe the infant. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford man charged with setting several fires in the city has pleaded guilty to unrelated drug and theft charges, but not guilty in connection to an incident that seriously burned his 2-week-old baby. 21-year-old Harvey Rose admitted to stealing a cell phone and also to having 10 dime bags of marijuana when police arrested him for assault after the incident with the baby. In that case, he claims he left the infant next to a container of hot water and, when he came back into the room the water had somehow spilled onto the baby. The trial in that case is scheduled for August 25 in McKean County Court. Rose is also charged with arson in connection to four house fires in Bradford in December and January. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Arson is the cause of a fire at an unoccupied South Avenue house Saturday morning. The fire at 64 South Avenue was reported at about 9:30 a.m. Damage was minimal and was limited to a small area on the first floor of the two-story house. The building has been unoccupied for a substantial period of time. Authorities do not know who owns the house. State police fire marshal Greg Agosti is investigating and asks anyone with information on the fire to contact him or City of Bradford Police. Agosti also asks area residents to contact police if they see any suspicious activity around vacant or abandoned buildings. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Arson, burglary and other charges against a Bradford man accused of starting at least four fires in Bradford have been bound to court. 21-year-old Harvey Rose told police he started fires at 8 Thompson Avenue and 10 Congress Place, according to court papers. He is also accused of setting a fire at 125 West Washington Street because he was upset with a resident he says owes him money. He is also charged in connection to a fire at 338 East Main Street. Surveillance video from nearby businesses captured Rose near the scenes at the times of the last two fires. Charges against his co-defendant in the case of the East Main Street fire have also been bound to court. 26-year-old Jeremiah Smith of Bradford and Rose each told police the other started the fire. Smith remains jailed on $250,000 bail. Rose remains jailed on more than half a million dollars bail for these cases as well as theft and drug charges, and charges related to the burning of his 2-week-old baby. The news leader of t...

The Potter County woman charged with murder for starting a fire that led to the death of her husband was trying to hurt herself. That’s according to papers filed in District Judge Delores Weiss’s office. During an interview with police on the night of the fire Catherine Miller of Harrison Valley said she started the fire in the living room of the house to harm herself. While still at the scene, Miller told police she “started the fire” and “set the fire” that destroyed the house on February 21, her 60th birthday. Her husband, Ronald Miller, was flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with critical injuries, and died on March 14. A cat and dog died in the fire. Miller is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, three counts of felony arson, and aggravated assault. She hasn't been arraigned yet. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Potter County woman is charged with murder in connection to a February fire that killed her husband. 60-year-old Catherine Miller of Harrison Valley is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, aggravated assault and three felony counts of arson. She hasn't been arraigned yet. Ronald Miller, who was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester after the fire, died on March 14 in the hospital. A dog and a cat died in the fire on February 21, Mrs. Miller’s 60th birthday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police say a Bradford man has confessed to setting two fires on December 17 and is charged in connection to two more fires last month. 21-year-old Harvey Rose, who is also facing charges after his two-week-old baby was burned by bath water earlier this month, told police he started fires at 8 Thompson Avenue and 10 Congress Place, according to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. Rose is also accused of setting a fire at 125 West Washington Street on January 8 because he was upset with a resident he says owed him money and wanted to scare her. Surveillance video from Oxley’s Service Center captured Rose riding a bicycle to and from the scene. He is also charged in connection to a fire at an apartment building at 338 East Main Street on January 11. 25-year-old Jeremiah Smith of Bradford is also charged in connection to that fire. Smith and Rose each told police that the other man started the fire. Surveillance video from the nearby Kwik Fill gas station shows the...

The man who tried to burn down an apartment house because he was jealous that his ex-girlfriend was living with another man has been sentenced to up to five years in state prison. 23-year-old Justin “Fuzzy” Schlopy went to 54 Elm Street in August of 2012, filled a garbage can with clothes and alcohol and set it on fire. The fire left nine people homeless and killed several dogs, cats and birds. In July of 2012 he tried to set the same building on fire using gasoline. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police are investigating a second arson within a week. The latest was Saturday night at 338 East Main Street, where a blaze damaged a three-apartment building. Only one of the apartments was occupied. The resident got out safely and is being assisted by the Red Cross. On Wednesday a fire in a vacant apartment on West Washington Street was determined to be arson. Anyone with information on either fire is asked to contact City of Bradford Police. You can use the anonymous tip line at CityofBradfordPolice.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Besides the arson on West Washington Street, City of Bradford Police on Thursday investigated motor vehicle accidents on Interstate Parkway and Main and Forman streets and a drug violation on Bushnell Street. They were also called about disorderly conduct on Main Street and harassment on Cornen and Amm streets. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Arson has been determined as the cause of a fire late last night in a vacant apartment on West Washington Street. City police were called to 125 West Washington at just before midnight and found smoke coming from the back of the building. An upstairs tenant was able to put the fire out before firefighters arrived. Four people were in the upper apartment at the time and one of them suffered an asthma attack from smoke inhalation, but did not require medical treatment. The building is owned by David Monago. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact City of Bradford Police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Salamanca woman has pleaded guilty to charges that she set fire to her mobile home. 50-year-old Tina Wagoner is charged with arson is connection to the November 8, 2012, fire in the City of Salamanca. She’s scheduled for sentencing on March 10 in Cattaraugus County Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Warren County man is accused of setting fires at his house, his brother’s house and another house early Friday morning. 67-year-old James Slagter of Grand Valley also allegedly broke into a fourth house and poured gasoline inside, but didn’t set it on fire. Police say two of the houses that burned were total losses. Damage is estimated at $400,000. Slagter is jailed on $100,000 on arson, burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief charges, all felonies. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947