Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Nushawn Williams wants his civil confinement case moved out of Chautauqua County, and into Buffalo. Williams was in state Supreme Court Monday for the change of venue motion, and to say he wants his case to be heard by a jury. However, he doesn't think a Chautauqua County jury would be objective. Williams has finished serving a 12-year sentence for knowingly infecting more than a dozen Chautauqua County residents with HIV in the late 1990s, but the state wants to keep him in civil confinement because prosecutors say he is still a threat to society. The court reserved decision on the matter, adjourning the change of venue motion until April 1 to give the attorney general’s office a chance to respond. The trial is scheduled to start May 9.

The controversy over the 814 area code came up during today’s House Appropriations Committee budget hearings. State Representative Marty Causer asked members of the Public Utility Commission how they came to their decision to split the area code instead of doing an overlay. “My mother is in Eldred, and even she gave me a hard time,” joked Commissioner James Cawley before giving his answer. He explained that the commission thought it was doing the right thing by making the split and assigning a new area code (582) to the western part of the region. “We thought we were splitting it in the area up there that we thought was going to grow, including Eldred – believe it or not – and Erie, (and) they would need lots of new numbers,” he said, “and then the part that was left at 814 – we thought that’s not going to grow very much.” Cawley also said the commission didn’t hear from businesses before their decision, and that public hearings on the matter were sparsely attended. The PUC will be hol...

George B. Duke, owner of Zippo Manufacturing Co. and a generous benefactor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will receive the university’s highest honor at this year’s commencement ceremony. Duke will receive the Presidential Medal of Distinction from Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, at the commencement exercises, which will be held at 2 p.m. May 1, in the KOA Arena of the Sport and Fitness Center. “Presenting the medal to George Duke is an honor I look forward to with much anticipation,” Alexander said. “His generosity is legendary, and we at Pitt-Bradford are fortunate to have been the beneficiary of his philanthropy on numerous occasions. This is yet another opportunity to both say ‘thank you’ and place the spotlight on his generosity.” Duke said, “I am very honored to receive the Presidential Medal of Distinction from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. To follow in the footsteps of the past recipients of this eno...

An Olean man has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for having sex with a child younger than 13. 34-year-old Timothy Jerge had sex with the child between 2004 and 2009 in the city of Olean. Jerge will also be on probation for 10 years when get gets out of prison. District Attorney Lori Rieman said she would like to thank St. Michael Marsfelder and Officer Sean Paar of the Olean Police as well as the Southern Tier Child Advocacy Center for their hard work on the case.

An Olean man who tried to rob a taxi driver back in September has pleaded guilty. 22-year-old Jordan Stebbins got in an Alle-Catt Cab in Olean and wanted to go to the Crosby’s in Hinsdale. When the driver, 59-year-old Vernon Outman, stopped the cab in the Crosby's parking lot, Stebbins punched him several times in the face and head. During the assault, the taxi accelerated through the parking lot and hit a canopy beam covering the gas pumps. Stebbins then tried unsuccessfully to rob Outman of his money. Outman was treated at Olean General Hospital for cuts to his face and head, and had to have stitches on his upper lip. Stebbins will be sentenced May 23.

Another person has pleaded guilty in connection with the October 17 fire-bombing of an apartment and the assault of a St. Bonaventure University student. Andrew Piccirillo of Portville entered his plea today to arson and assault charges. He and six other men are accused of throwing the fire bomb into the apartment early in the morning, and assaulting student Barrett Telford who was running after the suspects’ car to get the license plate number. Piccirillo is scheduled for sentencing on May 23.

State police are investigating a reported rape in James City. They say a known 18-year-old boy raped a known 17-year-old girl. Police say the incident happened between 8 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

By SANDRA RHODES \Murders of the past and how they are solved now will be the topic of the next One Book Bradford event. One Book Bradford — Murders in Our Valley — is a two-part event set for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, in the community room at the Bradford Area Public Library. A representative from the McKean County Historical Society will give a presentation on local murders titled Tales of Murders in the Bradford Area. Dr. Tony Gaskew, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will talk of Insights to Modern Day Sleuthing Techniques, drawing inspiration from “Still Life.” Gaskew gave a preview of his presentation on today's LiveLine at 12:35 on 1490 WESB. Listen here . “Still Life” by Louise Penny of Quebec, Canada, was chosen for this year’s One Book Bradford season. In its fourth year, One Book Bradford is a community-wide reading initiative in which a book is picked and the community is encouraged to read it. Several activities are held thro...

Bradford City Police are looking into a report of an indecent assault on Jerome Avenue on Saturday, according to the complaint report and request sheet. Officers also got calls thefts on Barbourt and West Corydon streets, theft froma vehicile on Barbour Street, an attempted theft from a vehicle on Pleasant Street and a retail theft at a downtown store. Police got a call about underage drinking on Tibbetts Avenue, a distrubance on Interstate Parkway, harassment on West Washington Street and a dispute on Brennan Street. Officers were called about child custody issues four times, got several requests to speak with an officer and assisted other agencies on a few calls. They were called about parking problems at Rockland and Jerome avenues and on Jackson Avenue, a road hazard on Jackson Avenue and a disabled vehicle on Oxford Street. Police were also called about an erratic driver on West Washington Street and a suspcious vehicle on Williard Avenue. And, they assisted a motorist on Congres...

Three Atlantic 10 teams, including St. Bonaventure, will play in the College Basketball Invitational Tournament. On Wednesday, St. Bonaventure plays Central Florida in Florida. Duquesne plays at Montana and Miami (Ohio) plays at Rhode Island. Also Wednesday, Weber State plays at Oregon. The tournament starts on Tuesday with James Madison at Davidson, San Jose State at Creighton, Austin Peay at Boise State and Hofstra at Evansville. This is the fourth year of the CBI. Previous winners were Tulsa , Oregon State and VCU.

Nushawn Williams will be in court again today. A judge is considering a motion to keep Williams in custody, although he has already served time for knowingly infecting more than a dozen Chautauqua County residents with HIV in the late 1990s. Proscecutors want to keep Williams in civil confinement because they say he is still a threat to society.

A Salamanca man is accused of breaking into a house in the city Friday afternoon. Sheriff’s deputies say 21-year-old Jesse John used a credit card to pop a door open. John was released on his own recognizance and is scheduledl to appear in court tomorrow.

An Irving, New York, man is facing charges for punching the front door of a bar and breaking it early Sunday morning. Sheriff’s deputies say 25-year-old Morgan Montour was at a bar on Routes 5 and 20 at just after midnight when he became disorderly and was asked to leave. On his way out, Montour allegedly punched the glass front door, breaking it. He was arraigned in Hanover Town Court and released on bail.

An Ohio couple is jail in after breaking into three camps and taking police on a high-speed chase Saturday in Warren County. Police say 49-year-old Timothy Kolat and 48-year-old Charlene Maple of Youngstown stole guns, TVs and other items from the camps near Tidioute earlier in the day. They led police on a chase from Tidioute to Russell speeds of more than 100 miles an hour on Saturday. They were arrested after Kolat crashed the truck, ending the chase. Police say most of the stolen items were recovered from a nearby residence where the couple had allegedly stashed them.

In the depths of the Great Depression is the true story of the Bonus Army, a collection of World War I veterans who came from across the country to gather before Congress and demand the wartime service bonuses that had been promised to them. Georgia Lowe was inspired to write this novel by her parents, who were actual Bonus Marchers. Listen to Georgia talk about the book here . Remember, for any questions about books, go to the Bradford Area Public Library , and "like" them on Facebook .

Twitter Backgrounds Harrisburg – Pennsylvanians are reminded to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when they move their clocks ahead by one hour this weekend, State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann said. “Buying, installing and maintaining smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are among the cheapest things you can do to protect yourself and your family,” Mann said. “Thousands of lives have been saved.” After replacing the batteries, homeowners should test the alarms. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home, especially inside each bedroom and hallways near sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide, or CO, detectors should also be installed near sleeping areas. Mann suggested replacing a smoke alarm if it’s more than 10 years old, even if it seems to work properly. The useful life of a smoke alarm is usually 10 years. After making sure the alarms work properly, Mann recommends creating and practicing a home fire escape plan. Each member of t...

Bradford High’s Mark Havers lost to Chance Marsteller of Kennard-Dale in York County 9-4 tonight in the PIAA Class Triple A wrestling championships in Hershey. I think most of us can agree that we're very proud of Mark and that watching him wrestle over the last few years has been very exciting. (And, some of us learned more about wrestling that we ever knew we wanted to know.) Good luck at Clarion, Mark! Pictured, Havers (in red) got the better of Marstellar a few times. (taken while watching PCN's broadcast)

Two juveniles are accused of breaking into a seasonal residence in Elk County and defecating on a sofa. Police say the two known juveniles from Brockport and Brockway broke into the camp on Bundy Settlement Road in Horton Township by breaking a window. Once inside, they defecated on the sofa then smeared feces on the walls. They also shot a window with a BB gun. The incident happened sometime between December 10 and today. Damage is estimated at $800. Police are continuing their investigation.

Pittsburgh – Governor Tom Corbett today fulfilled his friendly Super Bowl wager with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker while helping to deliver a $25,000 check on behalf of Coca-Cola to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania and the Sarah Heinz House Boys & Girls Club. Because the Steelers lost the Super Bowl to the Packers, Gov. Corbett, a lifelong Steelers fan, appeared at the check presentation wearing a Green Bay jersey. “I’m here today to pay off a bet. I promise you: this is the only time you’re going to see me in a Packers jersey,” said Corbett. “But the governor of Wisconsin and I made a bet, and when you make a bet you have to keep your word.” “Although my beloved Steelers lost the Super Bowl, I’m happy to turn that loss into a win for the children of the Pittsburgh region who are served by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania and the Sarah Heinz House Boys & Girls Club,” Corbett added. The money was donated through the nationwide “Coke Cheers” prom...

A Mills, PA, man accused of firing a gun in an apartment while five children were present is facing another charge. Police say 36-year-old John Huggler was heavily intoxicated when got into to a fight with a 33-year-old woman on March 2 on Route 49 in Harrison Township. They ended up outside, where Huggler allegedly went into the road and disrupted traffic. He then allegedly got a rifle and fired one round into the ceiling of an apartment, when five children, ages 3 to 11, were present. Huggler was originally charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person and several summary offenses. The additional charge is illegal possession of a firearm, a second-degree felony. Huggler remains in jail on $100,000 bail.