Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A Kennedy, New York, man is accused of sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl over several months this summer. 28-year-old Dale Johnson has been charged with course of sexual conduct against a child for alleged incidents that happened between June and August. He's in Chautauqua County Jail pending a court appearance

An Emporium man has been charged with failing to register his employment under Megan's Law. 56-year-old Ralph Bennett of West Allegany Avenue was charged with failure to comply with registration of sexual offenders requirements. He was arraigned and sent to Potter County Jail, unable to post bail.

Warren, Pa. – The Allegheny National Forest announced today that the Rocky Gap, Timberline and Marienville ATV trails will remain closed until further notice. These three trails were scheduled to re-open for the winter season on December 20th; however mild temperatures over the past several months have not allowed portions of the trails to freeze completely. Trail conditions will be re-evaluated after January 1, 2010, to determine whether conditions have improved sufficiently to allow safe operation without risking trail and resource damage. The Forest encourages all winter-season ATV riders to call one of its offices or check the Forest website prior to riding as trail conditions can change rapidly. Trail conditions can be obtained by calling the Supervisor’s Office in Warren at (814) 723-5150 or the Marienville Ranger District at (814) 927-6628, or by visiting our website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/ .

An arrest in the murder of a Delevan man is imminent, according to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department. In a news releases, Lt. Tom Bradigan said the sheriff's office is still investigating various aspects of the case but is prepared to say that "we are very encouraged and optimistic that an arrest of a person of interest is … forthcoming following the results of forensic evidence testing that is currently underway." On December 1, 80-year-old Wilbur Norton was found dead in his home at the Delevan Terrace Apartments by a Meals on Wheels worker. Autopsy reports indicated that Norton's death was a homicide.

An Eldred woman is featured in an MSNBC story about the cost of "air ambulances." You can read the story here .

With Christmas just a week away, it's time for a reminder about NORAD's Santa Tracker .

New York dairy farmers will be getting a Christmas present from the federal government. Senator Chuck Schumer says the USDA will soon start mailing $40 million in emergency money. It's part of a bill that passed in October that's providing $290 million in direct relief to the nation's struggling dairy farmers. http://schumer.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=320968 &

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The cafeteria in Pennsylvania's state Capitol had to be shut down after inspectors found evidence of a rodent infestation. Get the full story from The Associated Press . ( Then come back here and leave your jokes in the comments. )

Pennsylvania voters say allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes is a good idea, according to a Quinnipiac University poll. 67 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of independent voters favor the use of medical marijuana. Republicans are pretty much split with 49 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed. According to the poll, medical marijuana wins support from all age groups, ranging from 62 percent among voters 18 to 34 years old to 56 percent among voters over 55. State Attorney General Tom Corbett says he opposes a House bill that would legalize marijuana for medical purposes, saying that even limited legalization of marijuana could compound the dangers that drugs present to society. http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1327.xml?ReleaseID=1406

Two Shinglehouse men are facing charges for stealing from a number of camps in Potter County and one in McKean County. 24-year-old Nicholas Brown and 20-year-old Ethan Turner also allegedly took items from a scrap yard owned by Gas Field Specialist. Brown is accused of burglarizing 7 camps and conspiring with Turner in 4 of those burglaries as well as the scrap yard theft. Police say most of the thefts were of gas, scrap metal and tools, but Brown's alleged crimes also included theft of guns and generators. Turner is free on bail. Brown is in Potter County Jail.

The man who carjacked a vehicle from a Barbour Street parking lot in August has pleaded guilty in McKean County Court. 24-year-old Michael Blum took the vehicle from its owner at knifepoint. He was caught in Limestone, New York, the next day after a police chase. Blum will be sentenced January 13. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/accused-carjacker-waives-hearing.html

A former PennDOT equipment manager has pleaded guilty to stealing from the department. 48-year-old Timothy Brem of St. Marys bought items with state money for his personal use between March of 2004 and April of 2007. The cost of the items is about $6,000. Brem will be sentenced in January in Potter County Court. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/ex-penndot-supervisor-charged.html

OLEAN, NY -- COED 4 A Cause, a private group funding sports-related projects in the area, is looking for softball teams to participate in a 2010 WINTER MUSH BALL SOFTBALL TOURNEY. The tourney, scheduled for Saturday, January 2, at the Forness Fields in Olean, seeks co-ed teams. Team Entry Fee is $150 per team which must be paid before first pitch with all waivers signed. Winners receive Championship shirts and second place gets tourney shirts, which will also be on sale. Entry rules include rosters with five men and five women with a man and woman as designated hitters for a total of 12 people. Any type of bat is allowed for both men and women. The ball is a mushball, a lot like softball, except the ball is so much softer and larger. There is also an unlimited arc. Spectators are welcome with coffee, hot cocoa, hamburgers and hot dogs for sale. The cause also seeks tournament sponsors and volunteer umpires. The tourney is being held to purchase a break away fence for Forness 1 f...

Chris Abrams is a Limestone resident who volunteers his time with several youth minstries in Bradford. He has served as a volunteer with First Nazarene church's Club Naz, Open Arms Community church's Revolution and Youth for Christ's Campus Life ministries. Chris also spends times with students at Grace Lutheran Church's Community Life Center on a daily basis and has been involved in service trips to Guatemala. Chris plans to attend Elim Bible Institute in Lima, NY in 2010 in order to further his credentials for working with young people. A benefit show is planned both to thank Chris for his work in the community and raise funds for his schooling. "A lot of time, we put on benefit shows for people when something really terrible has happened. We're excited to put this on to help someone do something good!" says Larry Petry, Director of Youth for Christ of the Bradford Area. The concert will take place Saturday, December 19th at Grace Lutheran's Comm...

For the 12th consecutive year, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Alumni Association has earned a Gold Banner Award from the University of Pittsburgh’s Alumni Association. “A Banner Award at the Gold Level comes with a $500 scholarship, so we are most proud to be able to provide a student with financial assistance in this meaningful way,” said Lindsay Hilton Retchless ’98, director of alumni relations. The Pitt Alumni Association gives the Gold Banner to constituent alumni groups in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in serving as the link between alumni and the university. The Association’s Gold Banner Status is the highest level of award and is reserved for those groups demonstrating exceptional performance in alumni communications, student involvement and other partnerships. Alumnus Christopher Luke, who is the PBAA’s representative to the Pitt Alumni Association, said, “Being a recipient of the Gold Banner Award for the 12th consecutive year is a true testament to the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A dozen members from the Pennsylvania House and Senate who represent districts along the Interstate 80 corridor met with four high-ranking members of the Federal Highway Administration about their concerns regarding the tolling of the highway on Thursday during a meeting on Capitol Hill. That agency currently is considering an application on behalf of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to toll the 311-mile highway. The meeting included Reps. Martin Causer (R-McKean/Potter/Cameron), Michele Brooks (R-Crawford/Mercer/Lawrence), Mario Scavello (R-Monroe), Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong), Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk), Brad Roae (R-Crawford), Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean), Dick Stevenson (R-Mercer/Butler), Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango/Butler), Russ Fairchild (R-Union/Snyder), Merle Phillips (R-Northumberland/Snyder), along with Sens. Bob Robbins (R-Mercer) and John Gordner (R-Columbia) and Congressmen Glenn Thompson (R-Centre), Paul Kanjorski (D-Luzerne) a...

U.S. Representative Glenn `GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today joined 13 members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly for a briefing with the Federal Highway Administration, FHWA, to let them know of their strong opposition to the plan to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s recent application to toll I-80. “Eleven representatives and two Commonwealth senators made the trip to Washington, despite the fact that they were in session in Harrisburg, in order to let the people who will make the decision on advancing the application for tolling I-80, know just how much this topic means to them and the people they represent,” said Thompson. At the conclusion of the meeting, Thompson told the Deputy Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, Greg Nadeau, that there are two ways to make this decision. “It can be made under the rule of law, or it can be made based on politics. I hope you follow the intent of the law in your decision.” On November 19th, Thompson and his House of Represent...

Forest Road 123 that runs between the Kane Experimental Forest and Twin Lakes Campground near Wilcox will be closed temporarily beginning today. Officials with the Allegheny National Forest say the road will be closed for two to three months while major road reconstruction and repairs are done. The project was one of the local projects funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

After the fifth round of play at School Street Elementary, Wal-Mart is in first place. Only half a point behind in second are Pharmacy at Union Square and Dexter’s Service Center. Five of the eight team captains in the varsity remain with perfect scores. In the JV section, Jessica Yost (member of Drs. Rhinehart team) is in first place. A half point behind in second is Brent Kennedy (captain for Smith’s Watch & Clock Repair). Nate Evan, a member of the Edmond Chevrolet Team, is in third place. The top JV team at the end of round 5 is Lang Surveying followed closely by Smith’s Watch & Clock Repair and Dragonfly Guitar Studio. There will be no chess club over the holiday break. Matches will continue on Wednesday, January 6. For additional information about the league, email execdir@amchess.org or visit www.bradfordchessclub.com. Results and Standings after round 5: Varsity Division Dr. Laroche defeated Bradford Window Company, 1.5-0.5; Parkview Super Market tied with the Pharmacy ...

A group of teachers and education advocates is suing New York Governor David Paterson over his plan to withhold state aid to schools. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Albany challenges Paterson's ability to delay 10 percent of upcoming aid payments. It claims that Paterson is illegally withholding funds already set aside by the Legislature. Paterson says holding back $750 million is needed to keep the state from running out of cash