Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A Tidioute man is accused of raping a Warren County woman earlier this month. 33-year-old Robert Lee Crane Jr. is charged with rape and indecent assault. He’s in jail on $75,000 bond. State police say Crane rape the woman at a home in Tidioute on November 6.

One man is dead and another is hurt following a crash in Chautauqua County last night. State police say Steven Warecki of Cattaraugus died at Hamot Medical Center in Erie. Warecki’s car was hit by a van at around 6 o’clock last night in the Town of Poland. The van's driver, Daniel Hart of Binghamton, was taken to WCA in Jamestown for treatment of head and chest injuries.

New state investments and loan guarantees approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority are providing an influx of capital to help make projects in Pennsylvania's two leading industries a reality, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Austin Burke announced today. In total, the CFA approved $1.6 million in loans and $2.5 million in loan guarantees to benefit 13 different projects throughout Pennsylvania. The state funds will be leveraged to attract more than $19 million in additional private investments. "These are important investments in the state's two largest industries: agriculture and tourism," said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Austin Burke. "They encourage job creation, sustain our rural communities, and bring visitors and their tourism dollars to the state." The funding was approved through the state's First Industries program, which provides loans, loan guarantees and grants to strength...

A trial date is expected to be set in January for the Emporium man accused of fatally shooting a Brockway couple in April. 45-year-old Steven Rebert is scheduled to be in court on January 5. He is accused of killing Wayne and Vicky Shugar while burglarizing their home. Back in September, Jefferson County District Attorney Jeffery Burkett announced he will seek the death penalty in the case. Rebert is also a person of interest in the unsolved murders of Bill Fickel of Genesee County, New York, and Kevin Smith of Orleans County.

A wind advisory is still in effect until 6 o’clock tonight for McKean, Cameron, Potter, Warren and Elk counties, and for 9 o’clock tonight for in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. An advisory means we can still expect sustained winds of 31 to 39 miles an hour and gusts of up to 57 miles an hour, and some property damage is possible. So far, we’ve gotten reports of trees down on West Corydon Street, on Route 770 near Pine Acres and several areas along Interstate 86.

A former Bradford woman already jailed in Warren is facing another charge after allegedly trying to escape. 39-year-old Doreather Skaggs, who is an inmate work trustee at the Warren County Prison, left the prison grounds during her cleaning detail on Sunday. She was found later that day at the Glade Kwik-Fill and returned to the prison. Her preliminary hearing on the escape charge is scheduled for December 15. She was originally jailed after pleading guilty to a theft charge. In July, she took a Clarendon man's car and $200. The car was found in Bradford.

AAA projects approximately 1.18 million Pennsylvanians will travel at least 50 miles from home for their turkey and pumpkin pie this year; an 11.4 percent increase over 2009 when 1.06 million traveled. The automobile is the preferred method of transportation as 1.11 million plan to drive to their destination. Approximately 54,000 are expected to fly (up 3.5 percent) and 16,500 will travel by an alternative method of travel. “Many Americans are in a better financial position than they were last year, although high unemployment and lingering economic uncertainly are still lingering concerns,” said Jim Lehman, executive vice president, AAA East Central. “Thanksgiving has always been a special time for families to visit their friends and loved ones. The trip will be even more special since some travelers elected to postpone their Thanksgiving celebrations last year.” Nationally, AAA projected 42.2 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home over the holiday weekend;...

A federal judge has ruled that Bradford Regional Medical Center, an acute care hospital located in Bradford, Pennsylvania, violated federal law by submitting claims to Medicare based upon referrals from physicians with whom the hospital had a prohibited financial relationship. As a result, the damages owed by the hospital could be well in excess of $20 million plus millions of dollars more in False Claims Act mandatory penalties. In a 69-page opinion issued November 10, 2010, Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr. held that the hospital's relationship with Drs. Peter Vaccaro and Kamran Saleh and their medical practice, V&S Medical Associates, LLC, violated the federal Stark Act, which generally prohibits hospitals from submitting claims to Medicare based on referrals from physicians with whom the hospital has a financial relationship. In addition, the court held that a jury will have to determine whether the relationship also violated the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits h...

HARRISBURG - Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) is pleased that legislation reinforcing a person's right to defend himself or herself in the face of an intruder is on its way to the governor's desk. "In current law, a person under attack in his or her own home has to retreat before taking action in self defense - that simply does not make sense," Causer said. "I hope the governor will sign this measure into law, further solidifying our citizens' Constitutional right to keep and bear arms." The so-called "Castle Doctrine" creates in law a presumption that an attacker or intruder intends to do great bodily harm and therefore force, including deadly force, may be used to protect oneself, one's family and others in the face of an attack while at home or in an occupied vehicle. The presumption also applies if a person is trying to unlawfully remove an occupant, against the occupant's will, from a home or vehicle. The presumption would not ...

A retired New York State Trooper convicted of killing a Bradford woman while driving drunk will start serving his prison sentence on Wednesday. David O'Brien of Allegany had been allowed to remain free pending his latest appeal, which has been denied. He had been sentenced to one to seven years in priosn. Prosecutors say O'Brien was drunk and driving the wrong way in the 2008 crash that killed Wendy Karnes on Route 219 in Cattaraugus County.

Two McKean County men convicted of sexually assaulting children were in McKean County Court today for post conviction relief action hearings because evidence presented in their cases came from a forensic nurse who is under investigation. A jury had previously found Johnnie Gale Lee of Mount Jewett guilty of 12 counts of rape, and related charges, in two child rape cases. Michael Fanning of Bradford was accused of raping a child in Lewis Run. Authorities allege that nurse Rhonda Henderson’s medical findings were incorrect and, in some cases she identified injuries that did not exist or overstated evidence of injury. McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn says Senior Judge William White did not render a decision in either case today. The records are to remain open until additional documents are submitted. Briefs are due in 30 days. White will render a decision after that.

The woman involved in a murder-for-hire plot to kill her husband is has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. 47-year-old Cheryl Gasper pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection to the death of her husband Andie Gasper, back in 1994. Gasper paid her lover, 56-year-old Randall Knight, to muder her husband. Knight stabbed Andie Gasper in a shopping plaza in Yorkshire. He was sentenced earlier this month to 22 years in prison. fax from DA's office

The Allegany man who shot and killed an Olean man back in August has been sentenced to 22 years in prison. 33-year-old Martez Johnson admitted to shooting 27-year-old James Williams in the chest and chin with a sawed-off shotgun. The shooting happened on August 3 in Williams’ Olean apartment. fax from DA's office

The Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held on Thursday, November 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 54 East Corydon St., Bradford. This year’s theme is “This Place Called…Home,” and will feature speakers from area churches. Participating speakers will include Dr. Gautam Mukerjee, Dr. Javed Akhtar, Mr. Rick Weinberg, Rev. Stacey Fussell, Rev. Mary Houck, and Rev. Lee Beckes, all representing various faiths. Churches participating will be Emanuel Lutheran, Church of the Ascension, First Presbyterian Church, and Temple Beth El. This annual event has become an inspirational service during the approaching Thanksgiving time of year with significant messages being shared. A special choir presentation will be performed by members of area churches. Mac Sue, director of music and organist of the First Presbyterian Church, will be the organist. Child care will be available for small children. A reception will be held following the service with ethnic desserts being served. T...

New York Congressman-elect Tom Reed is resting comfortably in a Washington area hospital after taking ill last night, according to a news release sent by his office. Reed’s wife Jean called for help after he awoke in the middle of the night feeling ill and short of breath. He was taken to a nearby hospital from the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, where he is staying in connection with orientation for freshman members of Congress. The Congressman-elect has been diagnosed with some blood clotting in his lungs and is receiving the appropriate treatment. Reed has no prior history with blood clots, and hopes to be released from the hospital in the next day or two to be officially sworn in. His district includes Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. Reed is a former mayor of Corning who won both a special election to fill the unexpired term of Eric Massa, and a regular election for a full two-year term. Massa resigned in March amid allegations that he sexually harassed male staff members.

Bradford City Police are reminding people to lock their vehicles when they’re unattended. Assistant Chief Mike Ward says police have received multiple reports of thefts from unlocked vehicles in the downtown area. Police are investigating, and charges will be filed against the people responsible.

The Allegany man who pleaded guilty to shooting and killing an Olean man in August will be sentenced today in Cattaraugus County Court. 33-year-old Martez Johnson admitted to shooting 27-year-old James Williams in the chest and chin with a sawed-off shotgun. Johnson faces up to 22 years in prison.

Two McKean County men found guilty of sexually assaulting children are in McKean County Court for post conviction relief action hearings because evidence presented in their cases came from a forensic nurse who is under investigation. A jury found Johnnie Lee Gale of Mount Jewett guilty of 12 counts of rape, and related charges, in two child rape cases. Michael Fanning of Bradford was accused of raping a child in Lewis Run. Authorities allege that nurse Rhonda Henderson’s medical findings were incorrect and, in some cases she identified injuries that did not exist or overstated evidence of injury. Senior Judge William White is hearing the cases, according to the weekly court scheduled faxed to WESB and The HERO.

Students from Bradford Area and Port Allegany High Schools took top honors at the 9th Annual College Mathematics Competition held Thursday at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The competition is organized each year by the mathematics departments of Pitt-Bradford and the Jamestown (N.Y.) Community College Cattaraugus Campus. Forty-nine students coming from five different high schools competed by taking a two-hour math examination. According to their size, the schools were divided into two different divisions. Patrick Hoover of Youngsville High School was the overall individual winner, earning a $1,500 scholarship to Pitt-Bradford. Hoover was also the first-place winner in the small-school division. Elliot Binder of Port Allegany came in second in the small-school division. Dan Tingley of BAHS took first place in the large-school division and also earned a $1,500 scholarship to Pitt-Bradford. Coming in second in the larg...