Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A Warren man has been charged with 20 counts of sexual abuse of children by possession of child pornography. The state police computer crime unit was conducting an investigation into the sharing/distribution of child pornography over the Internet, and executed a search warrant at the home of 20-year-old Benjamin Hanes on Jackson Run Road. Police seized several digital storage devices, and an examination revealed the child porn. A preliminary hearing has been set for February 9, according to a fax sent to WESB and The HERO by state police.

Harrisburg – Motorists are cautioned to avoid unnecessary travel and equip their vehicles with emergency kits due to ice, sleet and snow forecast for the next few days, acting PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch, P.E., said today. “Extremely dangerous weather is expected over the next few days, and although we will have crews treating roads around the clock, motorists should remain prepared for exceptionally icy conditions,” Schoch said. “All it takes is one stuck vehicle or crash to halt traffic and create lengthy delays. “If you must travel, vehicle emergency kits are essential and motorists should ensure that their vehicle’s gas tank is as full as possible,” he added. According to Schoch, PennDOT has a specific strategy for coping with ice storms: Interstates and Expressways: On major roadways where salt residue no longer remains, PennDOT will pre-treat with salt brine (anti-ice) before the storm. Once the storm begins, salt will be spread over the entire length of the road until all ...

A judge has denied the request of Nushawn Williams to set aside the 1999 guilty plea that put him behind bars. Last week Williams asked a judge to vacant the plea, in which he admitted to knowingly infecting more than a dozen Chautauqua County residents with HIV in the late 1990s. Williams says he was forced to take a plea deal and claims his rights have been violated. He has completed serving his sentence last spring, but is still in jail while the state fights to keep him in civil confinement, arguing that he is still a threat to society.

HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection today released a report on a four-week air quality study conducted near Marcellus Shale natural gas operations in Susquehanna and Sullivan counties. “This short-term study of the air emissions at surveyed sites shows no emission levels that would constitute a concern to the health of residents living near these operations,” DEP Director of the Bureau of Air Quality Joyce Epps said. “This study provides us with good information as part of our ongoing effort to gauge the impact these operations have on our air quality, public health and the environment.” The report notes that the sampling effort was not meant to address potential cumulative impacts. DEP’s assessment focused on concentrations of volatile organic compounds, including benzene, toluene and xylene, which are typically found in petroleum products. The department also sampled for other pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide near natural gas extraction and...

The following letter was sent to WESB/WBRR Monday morning: The police officers of the City of Bradford Police Department would like to clarify some misleading facts that have appeared in The Bradford Era. We are not doing this to get into a war of words with anyone, nor will we make any further comments regarding these issues. First is the issue of concession asked for by the city. Yes, we have rejected insurance concessions offered by the city in the past couple of years. The last concession offer made by the city was on December 17, 2010. Representatives of our bargaining unit were told by the city clerk and city solicitor that they needed an answer by December 18, 2010. Department representatives were also told that the insurance was not the main concern of the city, but that a retirement package was. A retirement package of 2 years post-retirement benefits for any officer age 55 years or older was offered to our department. Representatives were also told that the officer had to be ...

The Pennsylvania division of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel) has announced a quarterly adjustment to Gas Supply Charges effective February 1, 2011. This increase raises the monthly bill of a typical residential customer in northwestern Pennsylvania using ninety-five thousand cubic feet annually from $82.93 to $84.22 or by 1.6 percent. This adjustment will bring the National Fuel Price to Compare to $6.7189 per thousand cubic feet. This is important for those customers who are shopping for an alternate gas supplier. "This increase is based on recent marketplace forecasts of the price of natural gas," said Nancy Taylor, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications. As is the practice for all Pennsylvania utilities, National Fuel projects annual natural gas prices and then performs quarterly reconciliation of actual costs against what had been estimated. National Fuel is required by law to pass any increase or decrease in Gas Supply Charges on to cu...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold a “Fieldhouse Frenzy” highlighted by a men’s alumni basketball game and Panther Athletic Auction on Feb. 12. The day will begin with the women’s basketball game versus the LaRoche Redhawks at 1 p.m. The men’s basketball game against LaRoche will follow at 3 p.m. At 5 p.m., alumni will suit up under the guidance of two honorary coaches, Dr. Michael Stuckart and Dick Danielson. Stuckart, associate professor of anthropology, is a former soccer coach and announcer for men’s basketball games. Danielson was the Panthers’ head men’s basketball coach from 1975 to 1985, a former athletic director at Pitt-Bradford and a member of the Pitt-Bradford Athletic Hall of Fame. At 7 p.m., the action shifts to Tortugas Restaurant on Main Street in Bradford for the Panther Athletic Auction Cost for admission is $25 per person or $40 per couple, which includes a tailgate reception, beer and wine. All events are open to the public. Reservations are apprecia...

WARREN- Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) announced today that Drew Crompton will be his Chief of Staff. It was also determined that Crompton will continue to serve as Chief Counsel to the President Pro Tempore. “I am pleased that Drew has decided to accept the position in a permanent capacity, as it has been clear over his tenure that he has shown the ability to effectively carry out his duties in a professional manner,” Scarnati stated. “Without question, I fully trust in Drew and am confident he will lead the staff and caucus with integrity as we continue to assist the citizens of the Commonwealth.” Scarnati mentioned that Crompton has been his Acting Chief of Staff for the past year and performed his responsibilities admirably. Crompton joined the Pennsylvania Senate in 1993 as a policy advisor and has played a major role in the development of legislation relating to state taxes, healthcare, and lobbyist disclosure. He is also a graduate of Dickinson Col...

The Olean man who had been missing since Wednesday has been found in a remote area of Venango County, but died on his way to a hospital. 74-year-old Frederic Seamans left an Olean car dealership at around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon, and was last seen in Clarion County, PA, at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Pennsylvania State Police found Seamans’ pickup truck at about 7:30 this morning, and a search party found him in a remote, wooded area at about 10:30. He died as they were trying to get him to a hospital. Foul play is not suspected. Seamans was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Bradford City Police on Thursday were called to motor vehicle accidents on East Main, and Davis and Boylston streets, a possible accident on Poplin Avenue and a disabled vehicle on South Avenue. Officers also investigated an assault on East Main Street and an attempted burglary on Main Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers got a complaint about a juvenile on Belleview Avenue and reports of harassment on Bushnell Street and South Center Street – three from the same address.

President Obama is coming to central Pennsylvania on Wednesday, according to White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki. She says Obama will visit a leader of the energy innovations hub that will be located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. A Penn State team is getting $122-million, over the next five years, to establish the Philadelphia "hub," which will work on making America's buildings more energy efficient. The President's trip is part of a push for his 'Win the Future' agenda. Psaki says the President plans to tour campus facilities and make some remarks during the trip. From RadioPA's Matt Paul

Members of the state House Timber Caucus toured the Domtar paper mill in Johnsonburg on Thursday, Jan. 27, as part of an examination of Pennsylvania's forest industry. The Johnsonburg facility is the biggest mill owned by the Domtar Corporation, the largest integrated producer of uncoated free sheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity. Pictured (left to right) are Jack Hedlund of the Allegheny Forest Alliance, Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk), Kathy Rapp (R-Forest/McKean/Warren), Brad Roae (R-Crawford), Martin Causer (R-McKean, Potter, Cameron), Gary Haluska (D-Cambria), Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango), Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion) and Ridgway-resident Dale Anderson of the Pennsylvania Forest Industry. Photo provided by House Republican Communications

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Bradford residents are sick of crime and mischief-makers, and they’re not going to take it anymore. That was one of the themes of last night’s “interest meeting” for a Neighborhood Watch program in the city. Issues from drug dealers and burglaries to barking dogs and loud music were discussed by Bradford City Police Chief Chris Lucco, Officer Dave Feely, Project Pride Manager Lisa Keck and Main Street Manager Anita Dolan. Keck said as the program progresses and more people get involved “the comfort level for (the people causing trouble) to be out and doing something and getting away with it should diminish.” She said they will be saying “We don’t want to do this – they’re obviously paying attention.” “We’re not chasing people down the street with a club and hitting them over the head,” Keck said. “It’s coming together and being aware.” Dolan added that people don’t know their neighbors like they used to. This is “a process of becoming more obser...

SALAMANCA, N.Y. – Seneca Allegany Casino announces the addition of two guitar virtuosos to its entertainment lineup at the Seneca Allegany Events Center. Blues icon Kenny Wayne Shepherd will perform on Mar. 26 and country-pop legend Glen Campbell visits Salamanca on April 30. Shepherd, a Gold- and Platinum-selling artist, achieved tremendous success at a young age with hit singles “Blue on Black,” “Slow Ride” and “Somehow, Somewhere, Someway.” Campbell has a storied 50-plus-year career in show business, including his starring role in The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour variety show on CBS, sales of 45 million records, and 27 Top 10 singles such as “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “Southern Nights” and “By the Time I Got to Phoenix.” Both shows start at 7 p.m. and offer affordably-priced tickets starting at $20. Tickets for Kenny Wayne Shepherd are now on sale, and tickets for Glen Campbell will go on sale starting at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Fans can purchase ticke...

For the second consecutive term, Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) has been appointed to serve as a deputy whip by House Majority Whip Stan Saylor (R-York). As deputy whip, Rapp will be called upon to handle a variety of House floor responsibilities, including helping to monitor floor attendance, assisting in obtaining accurate vote counts and communicating caucus positions prior to House floor debates. For the latest legislative updates, visit RepRapp.com .

The State Senate Majority Policy Committee held a hearing Wednesday about how drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation has affected Pennsylvania communities within the last few years, and what more needs to be done. Sandy Thompson from the McKean County Conservation District said they are trying to better understand the impacts of drillling on streams in the county by establishing a real-time water quality monitoring system in the Potato Creek Watershed and they hope to expand the system to other parts of the county. Thompson also said the state has cut funding to conservation districts by 25 percent over the last few years, at the same time drilling activity is increasing. She said that as of January 5, 66 Marcellus Shale wells have been permitted and 24 have been drilled. Photo provided by Senate Republican Communications

A Mayville teenager is facing assault charges for breaking another teen’s jaw during a fight. Sheriff’s deputies say a 16-year-old got into a fight with an 18-year-old from Bemus Point, and during the fight the 16-year-old punched the 18-year-old in the jaw and broke it. The 18-year-old was taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital then transferred to Hamot Medical Center in Erie. The 16-year-old turned himself in. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.

The University of Massechusetts baketball team had a little trouble getting to St. Bonaventure to play last night’s game with the Bonnies. The team was on a charter flight to Bradford when the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Albany because of smoke in the cockpit. The Minutemen waited in the airport for six hours until they could get a replacement plane, and didn’t arrive in Olean until 1:30 Wednesday morning. UMass went on to win the game 78-69.

An Olean man has pleaded guilty to impersonating a firefighter. 31-year-old Bradley Thomas claimed to be a firefighter during the blaze that destroyed the former Fancher Furniture building in Salamanca in May. Thomas was wearing a helmet from the Kill Buck Fire Department and a jacket and airpack from the Salamanca Fire Department when he was arrested. He told police he was a Machias firefighter.

Watch the video: Family Grows With Each Steelers Super Bowl Win - Sports News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh To read the story, go to WTAE.com .