Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

UPDATE: Due to the death of Cpl. Bryon Dickson II during an ambush-style attack at the Blooming Grove station on Friday, the Purple Heart Ceremony for Trooper Bradley Wilson has been postponed. The state trooper who was shot and critically injured while serving a search warrant on a suspected meth lab near Brockway last year will be awarded a Pennsylvania State Police Purple Heart Award. Trooper Bradley Wilson will receive the award Wednesday in Punxsutawney. The incident happened on September 26 when the father of the suspect shot Wilson in the chest and neck. Trooper Bruce Morris says the gunshots resulted in significant paralysis, and Wilson’s recovery has been long and difficult, and is ongoing. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG - Museums and historical societies in Pennsylvania have been awarded a total of $2 million for 130 grants, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) and Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-66). Scarnati explained that the grants were awarded as part of the state’s Cultural and Historical Support program, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). The goal of the program is to strengthen the Pennsylvania museum community through providing general operating support to museums and official county historical societies that are not supported by other state agency funding programs. “Our Commonwealth is fortunate to have outstanding museums and historical societies across Pennsylvania,” Senator Scarnati said. “I am glad that these grants will help offer assistance to historical sites so that they can continue to provide excellent educational opportunities within our communities.” “Museums inspire curiosity and allow peo...

The man accused of killing and dismembering another man with a chainsaw is headed to trial. 32-year-old Michael Shugars of Punxsutawney waived his preliminary hearing on criminal homicide and other charges. He is accused of shooting 33-year-old Chet Haddow during a fight over a gun in a drug deal, then cutting up his body with a chain saw and scattering the body parts in and near Mahoning Creek last month. Two fishermen found one of Haddow’s arms a couple of days later. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A drug deal led to the shooting death of a Punxsutawney man, whose body was later cut up with a chainsaw and scattered in and near a creek in Jefferson County. 33-year-old Chet Haddow was shot and killed Friday. A fisherman found one of his arms in the Mahoning Creek on Sunday. Haddow was identified by finger prints. Other body parts were found below a bridge near the Village of Hamilton. 32-year-old Michael Shugars of Brookville is jailed on charges including criminal homicide, robbery and abuse of corpse after telling police he and Haddow met for a drug deal and got into an argument. They were fighting over a gun when Haddow was shot. Shugars says he left the car, and then returned with a chainsaw, cut up the body, scattered the body parts and burned the car. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The remains of a man’s body have been found in a creek just outside of Punxsutawney. Police say the remains were discovered in the Jefferson County Village of Hamilton. They have released very little other information, but have said they are classifying the incident as a homicide. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State Police in Punxsutawney are trying to locate 41-year-old Lisa Marie Braughler and her two children, 5-year-old Mariah Jane Martin and 1-year-old Lucas Reese Martin. Braughler is believed to be with her mother, Carolyn McQuown. The missing people were last seen at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in Punxsutawney. Police say they may be traveling in a metallic blue 2009 Honda Accord with PA license plate ERS 5319 or a 2007 Ford Fusion with PA license plate HLD 3694. If you see them, please contact Trooper Randy Powell at PSP Punxsutawney 814-9938-0510. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Three libraries in the 25th Senatorial District have been awarded more than $114,000 to make repairs and upgrades to their facilities, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25). Scarnati said the grants were awarded through the Commonwealth’s Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. The following libraries received grants: · Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library, Cameron County $28,000 · Ridgway Public Library, Elk County $26,847 · Punxsutawney Memorial Library, Jefferson County $60,000 Funding from these grants can be used to pay up to 50 percent of eligible costs in the planning, acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of public libraries. Eligible projects include new roofing, replacement windows, energy efficient upgrades to heating and air conditioning systems, facility expansion and new construction. “Providing access to valuable learning resources is one of the best ways that we can help our resident...

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) have announced that a $2 million state grant has been awarded to build a medical center in Punxsutawney Borough. The State Redevelopment Assistance Capitol Program (RACP) awarded $2 million dollars for the project, which will be put towards the building of a Federally Qualified Health Care-anchored multi-service, three-story 45,000 square-foot medical facility. According to the legislators, Primary Health Network (PHN) of Sharon, PA will own and operate the facility. PHN has worked closely with Punxsutawney Hospital, the Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson/Clarion Community Action Commission, the Borough of Punxsutawney, and other social service providers and individuals to collaboratively develop plans for the facility. “This project is an e...

1490 WESB and 100.1 The Hero will provide live coverage of Groundhog Day festivities from Punxsutawney Saturday morning. TC Clark will be at Gobbler's Knob and will call us with his report on whether Phil (pictured, left) sees his shadow. Maybe he can even tell us what it means if the furry little guy does see his shadow, because we can never remember. NBC News photo (and that is not TC with Phil) The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Pennsylvania First Lady Susan Corbett and Punxsutawney Phil visited with second grade students at Ben Franklin School in Harrisburg today. Corbett helps hand out hats to 2nd graders at Ben Franklin School, while Punxsutawney Phil and his handlers Ron Ploucha (left) and Bill Deeley talk about groundhogs. As part of the visit, Mrs. Corbett read a book about Groundhog Day to the students. Corbett gets a close up look at Punxsutawney Phil as handler Ploucha looks on. Provided by PA Internet News Service The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford High boys and girls basketball teams will host a playoff doubleheader Friday night. The top-seeded Lady Owls will host 4th seeded Punxsutawney at 6pm on WESB and WESB.com . The Lady Owls swept the Lady Chucks, including last Friday night's win at Punxsy that earned the Bradford girls a perfect 22-0 regular season. The Owls will entertain the #3 seeded Clearfield Bison at 7:30pm, also on 1490 WESB. It will be the first meeting of the season between the Owls and Bison. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford Lady Owls basketball team beat Punxsutawney 53-26 to finish the season at 22-0. Ali Rinfrette had 14 points; Emily Marshall scored 12 points; Kaserra Owens and Alex Vinelli each had 10 points. The first playoff is next Friday. If you're reading this before 11 p.m. -- The Lady Owls will be getting a police escort into town and down Main Street at around 11. Welcome them home!!

Punxsutawney – Governor Tom Corbett today kicked off Groundhog Day festivities, highlighting Pennsylvania’s unique tourism assets – including the annual Groundhog Day celebration – that attract millions of visitors to the Keystone State every year. “What started as a small gathering in 1887 has now evolved into tens of thousands of visitors from around the nation and even the world coming to Punxsutawney to participate in this time-honored Groundhog Day tradition,” Corbett said. “Regardless of whether Phil predicts an extended winter or early spring, tourists will have plenty of recreational opportunities in Pennsylvania to choose from in the coming weeks.” Pennsylvania’s world-famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow this morning in the Pennsylvania Wilds. Thousands watched as Phil made his highly anticipated weather prognostication, commemorating 126 years of Pennsylvania’s unique Groundhog Day tradition. According to holiday fol...

TC Clark won’t be the only TC at Gobbler’s Knob tomorrow. Governor Tom Corbett will be in Punxsutawney to hear Phil’s prediction about spring. What that means for revelers is that security will be extra tight, with the governor’s security detail as well as other state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement agencies on hand. As for TC Clark, you can hear his live reports from Gobbler’s Knob on The Morning Buzz at 6:15, 6:45 and 7:20 a.m. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

One firefighter was hurt while battling the blaze that destroyed the historic Punxsutawney Hotel early this morning. The injured fireman suffered minor injuries when debris from the building fell onto his head. Falling debris also damaged a couple of vehicles. Firefighters were called at just before 3 a.m. to Smugler’s Inn, which is right behind the hotel. Within half an hour the hotel started to collapse, and flames engulfed the building. A state police fire marshal has been called in to investigate. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The historic Punxsutawney Hotel was destroyed by fire early this morning. Firefighters got the call at around 3 a.m., and by 4 a.m. it ended up being a 6-alarm fire. Part of the building collapsed and several streets in downtown Punxsutawney were blocked off. Firefighters haven’t said yet if anyone was hurt. The original news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Punxsutawney woman has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months probation and three months of home detention for conspiracy to manufacture and use counterfeit money. 35-year-old Tessa Hartless and her co-defendants made thousands of dollars worth of fake money and used it at convenience stores throughout western Pennsylvania. They would buy small items with large denominations of the phony money to get substantial amounts of real money as change.

Punxsutawney native Devin Mesoraco has been called up to the major leagues, and will be joining the Cincinnati Reds when they play the Phillies this afternoon. For more on this story check out http://www.wpxz1041fm.com/ or http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110831&content_id=24009888¬ebook_id=24012500&vkey=notebook_cin&c_id=cin

Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Sam Smith (second from right) was the keynote speaker at the McKean County Republican Party Annual Spring Dinner Thursday night. Among the issues Smith addressed was the state budget. He said the Rendell administration left the state with many budget problems, making this budget difficult. He said, when the process is finished, most people probably won't be happy "but the bottom line is: We have an opportunity to get Pennsylvania back on the right track by putting a budget into place (that has) our spending in line with our revenues. That's the first real step to getting this Commonwealth back on track. Hopefully, we won't be left sloshing around in the wake of the Rendell administration for much longer. Listen here . Also pictured, from left, state representatives Kathy Rapp, Matt Gabler and Marty Causer. Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati also attended the event as did representatives for US Senator Pat Toom...