Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) commended Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for the Department of Transportation’s recent decision to eliminate a federal mandate for replacing street signs that did not comply with federal reflectivity standards. Department of Transportation Sec. LaHood stated, “A specific deadline for replacing street signs makes no sense and would have cost communities across America millions of dollars in unnecessary expenses. After speaking with local and state officials across the country, we are proposing to eliminate these burdensome regulations. It’s just plain common sense.” The announcement to eliminate the mandate comes after Sen. Toomey has raised concerns about the effect the street signs mandate would have on cash-strapped local budgets. In March of this year, Sen. Toomey wrote Secretary LaHood on behalf of Lower Merion Township, requesting that the “Department carefully consider the local economic impact of these new rules.”...

There was a tense situation at the Olean Airport this afternoon. At about 12:30 state police got a report saying a twin-engine plane with two people on board was having trouble with its landing gear, and was possibly going to have to make an emergency landing. The plane circled the airport to burn off fuel, and then landed safely at about 1:20. Pilot Justin Grenert and passenger Robby Cushing were taking aerial photographs of potential Marcellus Shale drilling sites in Pennsylvania.

An Olean man has been sentenced to two years in state prison on drug charges. 22-year-old Deon Maul was charged with criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance. He possessed and sold the substance on December 22, 2010, in Olean.

A Franklinville man has been sentenced to two terms of 1 to 3 years in state prison for attempting to break into Franklinville High School on May 8. 18-year-old Johnathen Wilcox pleaded guilty in June to attempted burglary. He’s serving two terms because he also violated his probation.

A Conewango, New York, man who attempted to have sex with a person younger than 11 will spend two to five years in state prison. 38-year-old Jason Bishop tried to have sex with the child in January and February of this year. Bishop will also be on probation for 5 years.

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, thousands of people have turned to the American Red Cross for help. Many communities from North Carolina to New England are suffering from significant flooding, wind damage and widespread power outages. We are putting the full force of the Red Cross into action to provide relief. Our response to this storm could last for weeks, helping people get back on their feet. Right now, our main focus is to continue providing people with shelter and food. Last night, the Red Cross operated or supported approximately 340 shelters with more than 8,600 residents from North Carolina to New England. This number will fluctuate as we go through this disaster. Since Friday, we’ve provided more than 48,000 overnight shelter stays. We’ve also made arrangements to have about 1.3 million meals available in North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and New York through our partners. We have approximately 260 feeding vehicles ready to go into neighborhoods. We’ve eng...

Attorney General Kelly announces arrests in "Operation Border Bargains;" 19 charged in Ohio to PA meth lab & pill-shopping investigation ERIE - Agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, along with officers from local police departments across Erie County, are in the process of arresting 19 Pennsylvania and Ohio residents allegedly involved in two separate interstate methamphetamine production and pill-shopping networks. Attorney General Linda Kelly said the 15-month long investigation, known as "Operation Border Bargains," focused on organized efforts to conceal the purchase of large quantities of pseudoephedrine - a primary ingredient for meth production which is most commonly found in various cold and allergy medicines. Evidence and testimony was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which identified two independent groups, both regularly moving meth ingredients and drugs back-and-forth between Ohio and Pe...

The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) is coordinating a “Welcome Back Pitt Students” Downtown Hunt to welcome University of Pittsburgh at Bradford students back to town. The event, open to all University of Pittsburgh at Bradford students, will kick off at 4pm on Friday, September 2nd. The starting point for the Downtown Hunt will be the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce office at 121 Main Street, where hot dogs and soda will be served to participants by the BACC staff. Students who take part in the Downtown Hunt will receive a game card at the BACC office. By visiting participating businesses in the downtown area, they will collect stickers in an attempt to fill their cards, with special stickers indicating businesses who are part of the university’s Panther Post program. The Downtown Hunt is designed to help students become more aware of what downtown has to offer, while welcoming them back to Bradford in a fun way. The Downtown Hunt will conclude in Veterans’ Square...

Governor Tom Corbett today declared a statewide disaster emergency to enable state, county and municipal governments to respond effectively to the impact of Hurricane Irene, a massive storm expected to impact much of the eastern half of the state. The proclamation authorizes state agencies to use all available resources and personnel as necessary to cope with this emergency situation. Corbett issued the disaster proclamation this morning after meeting with Glenn Cannon, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and other emergency officials at their headquarters in Harrisburg. “We are urging all Pennsylvanians to take action now to be prepared,’’ Corbett said. “We will continue to monitor this changing situation statewide and plan for all possible emergencies. Should the need arise, we will be able to help as quickly and efficiently as possible.’’ Citizens can find a full list of helpful suggestions on how to plan for an emergency by visiting the state’s pre...

Smethport – Starting Monday, Aug. 29, McKean County drivers will encounter road crews along Route 3011 near the village of Ormsby. Crews will be performing drainage work from Ormsby south for 2 ½ miles in Keating Township. Flaggers will be on site to enforce an alternating traffic pattern and short travel delays can be expected. A detour will go into effect on Wednesday, Aug. 31, so that milling and paving work can take place. Southbound drivers will follow Route 59 east and Route 6 south before returning to Route 3011. Northbound drivers will follow Route 6 north and Route 59 west before returning to Route 3011. Signs will be in place to assist drivers on the detour. This roadwork is expected to last through early September. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this roadway improvement project. All work is weather dependent. Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL .

For the fifth year in a row, the Bradford Chapter #330 Women of the Moose “adopted” CARE for Children as part of their annual community projects. The Women of the Moose purchased school supplies, including pencils, glue sticks, crayons, construction paper, notebooks, and binders which were distributed to school-aged children with special health care. Pictured from left to right are: Sandy Roulo, Chaplin; Taylor Sevrey, 6; Alexis Sevrey, 10; Rose Caswell, Senior Regent; Mandi Wilton-Davis, CARE for Children Development & Marketing Coordinator; Nean Wolcott, Secretary and Project Coordinator; and Vickie Cromley, Recorder. Taylor and Alexis Sevrey are the granddaughters of Vickie Cromley, and were in attendance to help organize the supplies. CARE for Children is a non-profit organization providing services and programs for children of all abilities in McKean County. Courtesy of CARE for Children

AMITY, NY – On Thursday, Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Jason Dunham was honored by over a hundred family, friends, elected officials, military personnel and veterans during a special road and bridge dedication ceremony spearheaded by Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I-Olean). A section of State Route 19 and the bridge that crosses over Interstate 86 in town are now known as the “Corporal Jason Dunham Memorial Highway" and "Corporal Jason Dunham Memorial Bridge” respectively - a designation signed into law by Governor Cuomo in early August. “Corporal Dunham is a true American hero. This bridge and roadway will not only honor Corporal Dunham for his sacrifices, but also will serve as a reminder to anyone traveling the roadways here that they are living in a free society because of the men and women who are willing to fight, and sometimes die, to protect our freedoms,” said Senator Young. In April 2004, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. Marine Corps. Cor...

Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jack Butler has been nominated by the Seniors Committee to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 83-year-old and guard Dick Stanfel are the two senior finalists for election in the Hall's Class of 2012. They will join 15 modern-era candidates on the ballot; the other candidates will not be chosen until December. The two seniors do not compete with the modern candidates for a spot in the Hall but are voted on separately and often both seniors are elected. Butler, a cornerback who played at St. Bonaventure University, played nine seasons with the Steelers from 1951-59. Pictured, Butler in his playing days at St. Bonaventure. ( St. Bonaventure Football -- Undefeated Since 1952 )

The Community Blood Bank is reducing the hours at the fixed site location in the BRMC Out Patient Lab, located at 24 Davis street Union Square in Bradford. The Community Blood Bank will no longer be open Thursdays for donors dues to staffing issues and lower donor turnout. "As the only supplier of blood in Mc Kean County AND the lowest cost blood provider in the United States," said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. "We have to be as efficient as possible with our limited resources." The Community Blood Bank is located at 24 Davis Street in Union Square across from the Sports Café in the BRMC Laboratory. Hours every week: Saturdays 9am to 1pm. No appointment is necessary. Everyone over 17 is strongly encouraged to donate.

Governor Tom Corbett today launched a two-day kayak tour of the Susquehanna River through central Pennsylvania to promote the state’s vast natural resources and recreational opportunities. The governor set off this morning from the Sweigarts Island Boat Access in Paxton. He’ll talk with residents and visit local attractions during the trip. Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services

The Ashville, New York, man accused of traveling to Warren County and approaching young girls will be held in a federal detention facility until his trial. 40-year-old David Lopus waived a detention hearing in federal court in Erie. No date for the trial has been set yet. Lopus was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he attempted to lure young girls in Warren County in June of 2010 and twice in May of this year. A fourth alleged incident happened in Corry in March of 2010. After charges were filed in late May Lopus left the area but was picked up at a homeless shelter in Cleveland on June 9 and extradited to Warren County.

State Police have released more information about the crash that killed 21-year-old Bryan Hannon of Bradford Sunday night. They say Hannon was traveling south on Route 219 just north of Wilcox at 9 p.m. when, for unknown reasons, his car went into the oncoming travel lane. He tried to get back into his own lane but couldn’t, and hit a tractor-trailer head-on. The car and the truck both went off the road and into a guide rail, where the truck rolled onto its side. Hannon was pronounced dead at the scene by Elk County Cornoer Lou Radkowski. The tractor-trailer driver, 32-year-old Jeremy English of Woodland, suffered minor injuries. Funeral services for Hannon will be held Friday morning at St. Bernard’s Church. Visitation is tomorrow at the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Home on East Main Street.

Harrisburg – PennDOT bridge inspectors in each of the agency’s 11 districts are doing precautionary inspections of bridges around the state after today’s 5.9 magnitude earthquake that was centered near Richmond, Virginia. “We have no reason to believe the Virginia earthquake caused major damage to any state roadways or bridges,” said Scott Christie, P.E., PennDOT’s Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration. “But to err on the side of caution, we are assessing those bridges that could be susceptible to quake damage.” The first bridges to be inspected are those that are at least 200-feet or longer and at least 60-feet high. PennDOT is starting these inspections today and will continue through at least tomorrow. In Berks County, police closed the Penn Street Bridge in Reading after noticing cracks in the pavement on the bridge approach but the cracks may have been there before the earthquake. PennDOT inspectors will thoroughly assess the bridge to make sure it was not damaged...

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit in Virginia at just before 2 o'clock this afternoon and it was felt, and felt hard, in the Twin Tiers. We got calls immediately after the shaking stopped from all over Bradford and all over McKean County and beyond. Mayor Tom Riel says he was on the second floor of city hall, where pictures on the walls were swinging back and forth. Ralph Bottone of Limestone was sitting at his restaurant talking to a friend, and the friend's pickup truck and the building where Rafael's is located were all shaking. The epicenter was in Mineral, Virginia, between Fredericksburg and Charlottsville. At the WESB studios we felt the shaking for at least 10 seconds. What did you feel? Let us know here, or on our Facebook page.

Bryan Timothy Hannon, 21, of 646 South Kendall Ave., passed away Sunday, August 21st, 2011 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born March 28, 1990, in Bradford, he was a son of Robert J. and Tammie (Hedlund) Hannon. Bryan was a 2008 graduate of Bradford High School. He was on the Bradford High tennis team, golf team and a member of the Ski Club. After high school he attended Penn State Behrend in Erie. He was a snow board instructor at Holiday Valley, and had formerly worked at B&T Contracting. He was currently employed by Venturi Technologies in New Jersey. In addition to his parents Bryan is survived by a brother, Jonathan R. Hannon of Bradford, a sister, Erin N. Hannon of Lincoln, NE, paternal Grandmother Beverly J. (the late Matthew) Hannon of Bradford, maternal Grandparents Jack and Linda Hedlund of Kane, maternal Great Grandmother Freda (the late Lawrence) Hedlund of Kane, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Family will be receiving friend...