Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The substitute teacher fired from the Gowanda Central School District when officials learned he had been convicted of manslaughter, lied to get the job. The state education department says Harold Eisenman told them the conviction stemmed from a reckless driving incident. In fact, Eisenman used a 2-year-old girl in a karate demonstration and she died the next day from internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen. He spent six years in prison after the non-jury conviction. The department says if they were allowed to do background checks as thoroughly when Eisenman was hired as they do now, he would not have been hired. The department is considering legal action.

Feel free to leave comments ... you can do it anonymously. Go HERE to vote. I put myself into an interesting competition here. Mo John is already president of a nation so, obviously, he's got experience. Dr. Alexander is president of a successful university (and getting more successful by the minute!). Senator Scarnati is president pro tempore of the PA senate so he's got government experience, too. Steve Ackerman is Bradford's beloved football coach but I needed to put another homegrown candidate in the mix so I wouldn't have an unfair advantage with the hometown voters. So why vote for Anne Holliday? Although I've never been elected to a government position, I have reported on local and state government for about 10 years. Any reporter will tell you that you really have to know your subject if you want to do a good job. (One of my opponents in this poll -- Joe Scarnati -- did say -- and I quote -- "You know about state government, that's for sure." ...

Three Arkansas men accused of burglarizing a Cameron County store have waived their preliminary hearings. 25-year-old Edward Whitten, 26-year-old Travis Fisher and 52-year-old Scott Fisher allegedly broke into the Lakeview Store on Route 872 in Grove Township on June 23 and July 21. They are accused of stealing cigarettes, cigars, cash, candy bars and other items worth more than $1,000. They also allegedly did nearly $6,000 worth of damage to the store. They were arrested after atraffic stop on August 18 when they were dressed in camouflage clothing and had two-way radios with ear pieces. Troopers also found gloves, flashlights, toolboxes and other items in the vehicle. The men are in jail on $25,000 bail each.

The half brother of Buffalo Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson has lost an appeal to have his jail term reduced. 55-year-old Donald Gipson was charged in January with the murder of 81-year-old Louis Jones of Buffalo in 1996. Gipson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on March 28 in Warren County and was sentenced to five to ten years in state prison. Gipson filed a motion to reduce the sentence, which he is currently serving at the state correctional facility in Mercer. The motion, which Gipson filed himself and not through an attorney, was denied because he filed it after the 10-day limit. Jones' was found in a wrecked station wagon along Route 62 in Warren County with a puncture wound in his chest. Gipson originally told investigators he and Jones were carjacked. A state police cold case team confronted Gipson with new evidence in January.

Police are investigating the death of a Port Allegany man Friday morning. They say 35-year-old Mark Higley was found unresponsive on the living room floor of his cousin's home in Roulette. Roulette Ambulance transported Higley to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

A Coudersport man has been arrested in connection with the bomb scare at the Potter County Human Services building in Roulette Friday morning. 55-year-old James Boothby has been charged with causing or risking a catastrophe, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. He's in Potter County Jail on $100,000 bail. Employees were evacuated as a precaution after an employee discovered suspicious items in the building. Nearby residents were sent to the Roulette Fire Hall. Bomb squads from Erie and Harrisburg were called to the scene and neutralized a device that was later determined not to contain explosive material. A bomb-sniffing dog from Corry checked the rest of the building.

Pitt-Bradford President Dr. Livingston Alexander invites people to take tours of Fesenmyer House following the ribbon cutting in front of the newest residence hall. Below are videos of the ribbon cutting, the unveling of the sign and (as soon as it's uploaded) remarks by Howard Fesenmyer.

The McKean-Potter Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross will be holding a disaster assessment drill in the Foster Township area on Saturday. The drill will focus on the Bolivar Drive and Derrick Road areas. Red Cross volunteers, along with local Amateur Radio Emergency Services volunteers will be driving through these areas doing mock damage assessments. The scenario for the drill is based on a severe weather incident. Red Cross Interim Executive Director Jason Bange says the more they practice, the better prepared they will be when it strikes for real.

The State House has passed legislation that will help some health care clinics. State Representative Marty Causer says the facilities that would benefit from the bill are the Central Potter Health Care Center in Coudersport, the Misty Valley Health Center in Smethport, the Cameron County Health Center in Emporium and the Community Health Center in Sinnemahoning. Causer says if passed by the state senate, the bill would enable the centers to see patients at a reduced cost.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are calling on a Republican congressman from Georgia to apologize for referring to Barack and Michelle Obama as "uppity," but the lawmaker stood by his comments and said he meant no offense. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Grantville, Ga., described the Obamas as members of an "elitist-class ... that thinks that they're uppity," according to The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper. Asked to clarify whether he intended to use the word, he said, "Yeah, uppity." For the full story, go to The Associated Press . Seriously, Congressman? Seriously?

The Cuba, New York, man who was injured in a construction accident Tuesday on Ho Sta Geh Road is in stable condition at ECMC in Buffalo. 22-year-old Corey Comes was drilling a well next to Kellner Well Services when a 25-foot pipe fell from a crane and hit him on the head. A company official says they have been in business since 1988 and this is the first serious accident. The well that Comes was drilling will be used to test explosive devices used in oil and gas drilling.

Two men are hospitalized after a stabbing early this morning in Allegany. Police say 26-year-old Matt Zawatski of Kill Buck was stabbed four times by 37-year-old Dana Rickey of Allegany at about 2:15. Zawatski was stabbed twice in the chest and twice in the groin area, but is expected to make a full recovery. Rickey suffered an apparent heart attack at Olean General Hospital after the incident, and was sent to ECMC. Police haven't filed charges yet because they haven't been able to interview Rickey.

A Jamestown soldier has died in Iraq. The Department of Defense says that 22 year-old Pfc. Patrick May died Sept. 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. May was with the Division of Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division of Fort Drum, N.Y.

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital’s Northern Potter Health Center in Ulysses has announced the addition of Patricia Thum, MSN, CRNP, to its staff. Thum will be working with Dr. Amit Khanna. Thum has been working at CCMH since June at Coudersport Pediatrics where she will continue to see patients on Fridays with Dr. Ekta Khanna, Dr. Mary Ann Rigas and Dr. Marlene Wust-Smith. Thum has over 20 years of nursing experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York Regents College, a master’s degree in community health administration and wellness promotion at Independence University, California College for Health Sciences, and a master’s degree in the family nurse practitioner program at Indiana State University. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call the Northern Potter Health Center at 814/848-7555 or Coudersport Pediatrics at 814/274-9198.

Jill Kelly, wife of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, will be at the Smethport United Methodist Church during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday. She will share her test of faith and hope. Kelly is chairman of the Hunter's Hope Foundation.

Interested in becoming a part of the Potter Players and acting in sensational productions? Want to learn acting basics but don’t know where to start? Then this workshop is for you. Acquaint yourself with the basic rudiments of the acting craft. The topics covered will be basic skills, walking, pantomime, gestures and voice; actors goals and tasks; actors trinity (mind-body-voice); and performance. These classes will be held at the Potter County Education Council’s Coudersport office and will begin Wednesday, October 8 and run through October 29th. Times for the classes will be from 6;30 to 9:30 p.m. and the cost will be $50 per person with financial assistance available. Please call 274-4877, 435-9490 or 642-2295 with questions or to register.

The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce announces their 16th annual “open to the public” auction. The event is crafted following the objectives of the chamber. Through donations and sponsorship, area businesses, retailers, professionals, and organizations have an opportunity to acquaint the public with their products and services, advancing the economic welfare of the area. The evening flows to enable those attending to meet potential new customers and show civic support. As the Chamber’s primary fundraiser, monies raised allow the Chamber to create a broad understanding and appreciation of the great opportunities in the Bradford area and to promote the advantages and assets of our region. The auction will be held October 22 at the Masonic Center at 625 South Avenue in Bradford. Doors will open at 5:00 pm; bidding will begin at 6:00 pm. The evening is a mixture of bucket, silent, surprise, and traditional auctions. Hearty hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and door prizes make this a “must ...

The Southern Tier Symphony strings, under the direction of conductor John Whitney, will present "A Celebration of Priesthood" at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 14 at St. Mary of the Angels Church on Henley and First Streets in Olean. The program is a gift to the community from the church parish and Reverend Gregory J. Dobson, in honor of the 25th anniversary of his ordination. Father Greg is well known in the area as a cleric whose love of music runs very deeply. His leadership role with the Friends of Good Music has helped to bring exceptional talent to our area. This program is an addition to the annual three concerts usually given by the orchestra, now in its sixth season. The group is currently promoting its "Subscribe NOW!" campaign, which offers patrons a large discount from regular ticket prices. Details may be found at the symphony website: www.southerntiersymphony.org or by calling 716 372-1110. The concert at St. Mary's will spotlight treasures fo...

CARE for Children will partner with Presque Isle Rehab Technology to hold the Verner W. Smith Wheelchair and Adaptive Equipment Clinic for children with disabilities on Monday, September 8th at their offices on 20 Russell Boulevard in Bradford. This free clinic is a community service to provide expert evaluation to assess needs for custom seating, positioning, and mobility. The annual clinic was renamed in memory of Verner W. Smith of Bradford who passed away in June 2008. Smith was a long time supporter of CARE for Children as well as a recipient of services from the agency as a child. Jim Noland, Certified Rehab Technology Specialist and Owner of Presque Isle Rehab Technologies will be conducting the clinic. Noland, a licensed Physical Therapy Assistant, specializes in many fields including wound care, brain injury and spinal cord injury. The clinic includes assessment of the current equipment being used, as well as the functional status, social history and seating/mobility needs ...

Ridgway/Cyclone Pa. (September 5, 2008) PENNDOT ELK/McKEAN COUNTY Has announced work for the week of September 8, 2008 through September 12, 2008. Maintenance work planned by McKean County employees includes: Ø PIPE FLUSHING – SR 46, Rew Hill Ø CRAFCOING – SR 6, Port Allegany to Potter Co. Line – SR 770 Marshburg Ø FILL LOW SHOULDERS – SR 3002, Wetmore Road Ø BRIDGE DEPOSITION REMOVAL – SR 346 Corydon Township Ø SIGN REPAIRS – Various Routes, County wide Ø SIDE DOZING – SR 6, Mt. Jewett to Port Allegany – SR 219, Lantz Corners to Tack's Inn Ø SHOULDER CUTTING – SR 46, Rew Hill Ø KANE STOCKPILE – Kane, Repair Salt Building Ø GUIDERAIL REPAIR – Various Routes, County Wide Maintenance work planned by Elk County employees includes: Ø JOINT SEALING – SR 255, Million Dollar Highway ...