Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

04/04/08 - Two Men Facing Theft Charges Two Bradford men were charged Thursday with stealing a motor home and selling it to Goodman’s Recycling for scrap. Court records show that 39 year-old Joshua Everly and 40 year-old Anthony Defilippo took the motor home from a Bradford residence and sold it for scrap. The two are free on $5,000 dollars bail. 04/04/08 - Theives Steal 3,000 Feet of Copper Wire Thieves stole 3,000 feet of copper wiring from a wooded area in Warren County. State Police say someone cut the 3,000 feet of eighth-inch copper wire from electric poles in a wooded area near Brown Hill Road and Route 69. The copper wire is worth $600. 04/04/08 - Armory Groundbreaking at Airport Groundbreaking was held Friday afternoon for the Bradford Readiness Center at Bradford Regional Airport. Once fully operational, this 8.3 million dollar, 28,000-square-foot training facility will house the 140 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. 04/05/08 -...

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MEADVILLE -- A Meadville woman wants the gag removed and a third paternity test given in her fight to prove that retired basketball star Michael Jordan fathered her child. Lisa Miceli, 35, made a raucous appearance Friday morning before Crawford County President Judge Gordon Miller to file two motions in relation to a civil suit that Jordan filed against her in January. Her first motion sought to remove a temporary restraining order, signed in early February, which temporarily bars Miceli from having any further contact with Jordan, his family and others close to him. For the full story, visit GoErie.com

To anyone who might be wondering: I did not forget that Wednesday was the 2-year anniversary of Ralph "Bucky" Phillips' escape from prison. I was thinking about running a news story about it, but I changed my mind. I would rather concentrate on New York State Troopers Joseph Longobardo , Donald Baker Jr., and Sean Brown. When those anniversaries come up, I'll do stories.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A western Pennsylvania couple sued Google Inc., saying pictures of their home that appear on the Web site's "Street View" feature violated their privacy, devalued their property and caused them mental suffering. Aaron and Christine Boring bought the home in Franklin Park, a Pittsburgh suburb, in October 2006 for a "considerable sum of money," according to their 10-page lawsuit filed Wednesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. "A major component of their purchase decision was a desire for privacy," the lawsuit said. For the full story, go to pennlive.com

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a story on how the Peterson family, and the rest of the borough, is coping after Thursday's tragedy.

Parole has been denied for the man who killed Penny Brown as she jobbed near her Salamanca home on Mother’s Day of 1999. This week was Edward Kindt’s first appearance before the state parole board. He was 15 when he raped and murdered Brown. He was convicted in Cattaraugus County Court on May 1, 2000, after being tried as a juvenile. Brown’s family organized a letter-writing campaign in effort to convince the parole board that Kindt should not be released. They received more than 300 letters from friends and strangers. Note: I covered this case in 1999/2000 when I worked for another media outlet. I'm glad he's not getting out. I also wanted to mention that State Senator Cathy Young has done a great job seeing that Penny's Law got passed and that people found out about the letter-writing campaign. See? Some elected officials are OK.

Murder charges have been dismissed against a Sinnemahoning woman who had been accused in the drug-related death of an Emporium woman on January 1. The charges against Shawna Coffman stemmed from the death of 38-year-old Melissa Marshall, who was found dead the day after attending a New Year’s Eve party with Coffman and her husband, Jesse Coffman. Court documents indicate that Shawna Coffman crushed up several narcotic pills and gave them to Marshall, who snorted the powder. Coffman is still charged with several drug offenses and is in Tioga County Jail in lieu of 100 thousand dollars bail. Jesse Coffman also faces drug charges. He’s free after posting 10 thousand dollars bail.

I found this photo essay at CBS News on Thursday's fatal fire in Brockway.

Senator Arlen Specter wants an investigation into the NFL's destruction of evidence during September’s Spygate scandal involving the New England Patriots. This afternoon, Specter told WESB and The HERO that the issue is important because if an NFL team can cheat and not pay the consequences, that makes cheating OK for college teams, high school teams "and sixth graders on their math test." The NFL continues to pursue the Spygate case in their negotiations with former Patriots employee Matt Walsh, who has alleged he has information on illegal acts by New England that go beyond what has been acknowledged. Specter says he's planning his next trip to the area, as he does every year when he visits all of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. But, he says he appreciates invitations to be on the radio so he can talk to McKean County residents without making the long trip. You can hear the full interview with the senator on next weekend's Weekend Wrap.

State police are continuing their investigation of Thursday's house fire in Brockway that claimed the lives of 10 people. Trooper Bruce Morris says the fire is not suspicious, and is not related to any utilities connected to the house. Morris says fire marshals are focusing their investigation on the first floor living room at the front of the house. Authorities say space heaters were being used inside the two-story frame house, and that they did not know if the house had working smoke detectors. A viewing for all 10 victims was scheduled for Sunday and a memorial service for Monday afternoon in the Brockway High School auditorium.

Regular viewers of The Buzz Week in Review will be familiar with Toby Taylor. Here's an update: A York County man accused of electrocuting his wife during sex was charged yesterday with her murder, authorities said. Toby Taylor, 37, initially told investigators that his wife was killed Jan. 23 as she stepped out a shower and reached for her hair dryer, police said. Police found Kirsten Taylor, 27, unconscious in the couple's mobile home in Lower Windsor Township. She was rushed to York Hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said. The county medical examiner last week ruled her death was a homicide and determined the manner of death was electrocution. For the full story, go HERE

A federal judge has issued liens against a fundamentalist Kansas church and ordered two of its members to post cash bonds while they appeal a $5 million judgment resulting from the church's protest at a military funeral.The Westboro Baptist Church has filed a motion seeking to stay last November's verdict, in which a jury found that the Topeka, Kan.-based church intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Albert Snyder of York, Pa. Snyder's son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder was killed in Iraq in March 2006. The church frequently pickets military funerals, arguing that the deaths of U.S. troops overseas are part of God's punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. Six members of the church showed up in Bradford for the memorial service for Master Sergeant Thomas Maholic, who died in Afghanistan. Their efforts to protest were stymied by members of the community and the Patriot Guard Riders.

Investigators sorted through the charred ruins Friday of a western Pennsylvania home badly damaged by a fire that killed 10 people, most of them children. Fire Chief Chris Benson said he thought space heaters were being used inside the two-story frame house, and that the property's gas service was shut off, but that investigators could not yet pinpoint a cause. "I think we have a good idea," said Benson, who declined to offer further details Friday because he had to talk with state police. The fire appears to have started in the first-floor living room. Trooper Bruce Morris said Friday that is where investigators were focusing their efforts. The parents of State Senator Joe Scarnati say they often met Douglas Peterson Sr. for morning coffee at a local café. Yvonne Scarnati says the fatal fire is the latest in a string of recent tragedies that have hit the community. Late last month, Jacqueline Ehrgott of Brockway died in an accident on Route 219 in Elk County. The same da...

Today is the 40th anniversary of the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and I want to share a video that reveals how far we've come and how much this campaign owes to Dr. King's legacy. Students at a high school in the Bronx, who had no real interest in their government, have found new hope. They were surprised by their own excitement and engagement, but to me, they embody so many reasons why Barack and I decided to get into this campaign. It's truly moving to see young people inspired by a political leader -- someone who gives them hope and reminds them that they can be anything they want to be if they work hard. Watch what these kids have to say about politics and race in this country: On a related note: All week, WESB and WBRR have been running a series on the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination. For more on that go to CNN's Black in America .

Tim Crissman of Rew has been named Logger of the Year by the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group. Crissman has been a member of the wood industry since 1989. He was a wildlife firefighter in the western and southern states for many years employed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Crissman is a volunteer at the Rew Volunteer Fire Department where he has served as President, Vice President and Assistant Chief. In 2002, he was named the fire fighter of the year. AHUG presents this award to the logger who exemplifies professionalism and a strong commitment to safety, community and industry service.

Ten people died this morning after fire swept through a house outside Brockway, The 10 people killed ranged in age from 4 months to 40 years old. The dead were identified as Kimberly Peterson, 40; Rebecca Peterson, 17; Douglas Peterson III, 13; Isaac Peterson, 8; Grace Peterson, 6; Lillian Peterson, 11 months; Rebecca's daughter Kaylin Watson, 4 months; Desirre Delullo, 2; Dominic Delullo, 4; and Jason Mowry, 19. The Delullo children were the son and daughter of one of the two survivors, 20-year-old Elizabeth Peterson. Mowry was a family friend from Brockway, a town of about 2,000 people, authorities said. Witnesses said Elizabeth Peterson ran to a neighbor's house to get help. Her brother, James Peterson, 11, also escaped the fire. Kimberly Peterson's husband, Douglas Peterson Jr., was working a night shift when the fire broke out. Fire marshals were at the scene trying to determine the cause, but Trooper Bruce Morris told the AP the fire did not appear to be suspicious. ...