Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

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

On the busiest shopping day of the year several Wal-Marts – including one in Elk County – have had to close because of bomb threats. A criminal investigation is underway at the Fox Township store. Bomb-sniffing dogs were called to the scene. Wal-Marts near Philadelphia, as well as in Florida, Virginia, Texas, and the company’s hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, were also closed because of bomb threats. All the stores were evacuated and employees were sent home. Customers were reportedly told to leave their carts and get out. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Port Allegany woman on probation in McKean County for drunkenly confronting three non-American men inside the Bradford McDonald’s in November is now facing charges in Cattaraugus County. Olean-based state police say 45-year-old Diane Ayala took $77 worth of merchandise from the Allegany Wal-Mart without paying for it. She was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail and scheduled to appear in court. After the incident at McDonald’s Ayala attributed her behavior to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She is a US Army veteran and served in Operation Desert Storm. In January, when sentencing her to a year of probation and 40 hours of community service, 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

An 81-year-old guy just couldn’t handle Wal-Mart anymore. Or, more specifically, his wife shopping there. Ralph Ross of West Salem Township near Sharon is accused of pushing a shopping cart into the electric car is wife was driving, and then choking and shaking her. Police say Ross told them he got fed up with his wife wandering around the store and just lost it. He’s charged with assault, harassment and disorderly conduct and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Salamanca woman has pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and petit larceny for stealing from the Allegany Wal-Mart. On December 12, state troopers got a call from the store saying 30-year-old Misty Luce was, who was already a suspect in several thefts, was in the store again. Before police got to the store, she left and was on her way to Salamanca. Troopers tried to pull her over but she did not stop until she got to a house in Salamanca, and ran inside the building. Police were able take her into custody without further incident. She is scheduled for sentencing on September 9. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Olean woman spent her birthday in Cattaraugus County Court, and will spend the next two to four years in state prison for going into a Wal-Mart after being banned from all Wal-Marts. 27-year-old Andrea Warrior went into the Allegany store back in February. She was charged with four counts of burglary. Warrior was sentenced as a second felony offender. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two people are charged with identity theft for allegedly using another person’s ATM card. State police say Ronald Jason and Shartisha Wagner took out money at the Allegany Wal-Mart and from a bank in Bolivar. Police used surveillance video from Wal-Mart to identify the suspects. Jason and Wagner are scheduled to appear in Town of Allegany Court on Monday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Olean woman has been sentenced to six months in jail on an assault charge. 20-year-old Samantha Cossairt assaulted the person in Olean on August 20. In two separate cases, she is facing charges for stealing from both the Foster Brook and Allegany Wal-Mart stores. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Olean woman accused of selling a stolen iPhone is now charged with failing to appear in court to answer of the charge of criminal possession of stolen property. Sheriff’s deputies say 21-year-old Stephanie Cossairt sold the iPhone to the Game Stop store in the Town of Allegany on December 1. The iPhone was stolen from a vehicle in the City of Olean. She was arrested on the new charge late Wednesday afternoon, and sent to jail to await her next court appearance. Her sister, 20-year-old Samantha, is the woman accused of stealing from the Foster Brook Wal-Mart. She was picked up on a warrant from McKean County after allegedly stealing from the Allegany Wal-Mart. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Salamanca woman is facing a number of charges after allegedly stealing from the Allegany Wal-Mart. Olean State Troopers say they got a complaint from the store on Sunday saying Misty Luce, who was already a suspect in several thefts, was in the store again. Before police got to the store, she left and was on her way to Salamanca. Troopers tried to pull her over but she did not stop until she got to a house in Salamanca, and ran inside the building. Police were able take her into custody without further incident. Luce is charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of possession of a hypodermic instrument, along with criminal contempt, criminal possession of a controlled substance and several vehicle and traffic law violations. She’s jailed on $10,000 cash bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A customer and an employee of the Allegany Wal-Mart are accused of theft in separate incidents. State troopers say 40-year-old Jeramy Howard of Portville had been stealing laptops, stereo equipment and TVs over a seven-day period. The value of the stolen items is more than $4,000. He’s charged with nine counts of petit larceny and is jailed on $1,000 bail. 32-year-old Amber Vincent of Olean is accused of stealing $400 from a cash register she was running at the store. The money was then transferred to a Wal-Mart debit card she allegedly took and used. She was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in Town of Allegany Court Monday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman is facing charges for stealing from the Allegany Wal-Mart. State troopers say they received a call on Friday saying a woman attempted to leave the store without paying for $356 worth of merchandise. They arrested 59-year-old Christine Brunck and charged her with petit larceny. She is scheduled to appear in Town of Allegany Court on Monday.

Some early Black Friday rage bought a Falconer man some time in police custody. Police say Matthew Minekime was using profanity at Wal-Mart at around 10:15 on Thanksgiving night. They say he was loud and making a scene so they asked him to stop swearing. When they walked away he started yelling profanities again. He was taken into custody, but was later released and issued an appearance ticket for Town of Busti Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Four St. Marys residents are facing charges for stealing about $1,000 worth of food, candy and beef jerky from the St. Marys Walmart between Christmas Day and last week. A 38-year-old woman stole $110 worth of items between Christmas Day and October 14. A 60-year-old man stole $264 worth of items from Christmas Day through November 14 and, during the same period, a 42-year-old man stole $165 worth. A 23-year-old man stole $434 worth of items between April 3 and November 14. Police say the four all ate the food, candy and beef jerky in the store. Their names were not released. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man has pleaded guilty in federal to court to the theft of mail. 60-year-old Dean Meacham took a Wal-Mart gift card, a $20 bill and a $5 bill from cards that were being mailed last July. Meacham faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both when he’s sentenced on August 14. He is free on bond. http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/news/2012/2012_march/2012_03_05_01.html The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Elk County woman kept herself busy at the St. Marys Wal-Mart for about a week. 46-year-old Suzanne Catalone of St. Marys is accused of shoplifting from the store from February 19 through this past Monday. All the thefts happened between about 12:30 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. She’s charged with eight counts of retail theft and police say more charges are pending. She apparently took Saturday off because police did not have a report of a theft for that day. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Tops Friendly Markets said today that the company does not carry the potentially affected 12.5-ounce cans of Enfamil Newborn Powder with the lot number ZP1K7G recently recalled by Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart announced that the company pulled the product off of store shelves after a newborn Missouri boy who was fed the formula died from what preliminary tests indicate was a rare bacterial infection. “We want to reassure customers that Tops Markets does not carry the potentially affected Enfamil product,” said James DiMartino, Tops senior manager of regulatory, environmental services and food safety. “We understand that any recall, whether Tops is affected or not, has the potential to cause much concern and we are committed to protecting the health of our customers.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two Lewis Run women were hurt when they were hit by an SUV Monday afternoon in the parking lot at the Foster Brook Wal-Mart. Foster Township Police say the SUV driven by 56-year-old John Cannon of Limestone hit the women as they were walking in the crosswalk on the grocery side of the store. 71-year-old Edith Chartreau was taken by Mercy Flight to UPMC Hamot for treatment of head and hip injuries. 69-year-old Shirley Mackey was taken by ambulance to BRMC for treatment of head injuries, according to a news release sent to WESB and The Hero by Foster Township Police. No charges have been filed yet, but police are continuing their investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Cary R. Kaber, 76, of 624 Seaward Ave., passed away, Thursday, December 1st, 2011 at the Bradford Regional Medical Center. Born September 30, 1935, in Bradford he was a son of the late David C. and Helen (Allen) Kaber. On June 16, 1962 in Bradford he married Patricia Kaber who survives. Mr. Kaber was a 1956 graduate of Bradford High School. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged. He had worked at Litton Business Machines, then owned and operated Kaber Electric. In 1994 he was employed by Foster Township Highway Department until his retirement in 1997. He was elected to the Foster Township Board of Supervisors in 1988 and served his birthplace for 12 years. During his tenure as Supervisor he was instrumental in the development of the Wal*Mart shopping plaza, the construction of the Tuna Crossroads bridge and the clean up of the tire/junkyard on Tuna Crossroads. As Vice Chairman of the Board Supervisors, he served as President of the McKean County Associa...

An Olean man was sent to jail this morning after allegedly stuffing his pockets with stolen merchandise from the Allegany Wal-Mart. 19-year-old Matthew Mowery was arrested after he set off the electronic article surveillance alarms at the exit. Sheriff’s deputies were on patrol at the store and witnessed the incident. They found Mowery with five pockets “literally stuffed with stolen merchandise.” Mowey’s bail is set at $250 cash.