Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Bradford High's Adam Barnes has been named a Wabash College Lilly Scholar. Barnes will be Bradford High's valedictorian. He has served as president of the school’s National Honor Society Chapter, captain of the Cross Country team, and captain of his YMCA swim team. For more on this story, you can go here

Someone used a BB or pellet gun to shoot at the windshield of Raymond Jordon’s vehicle as it was parked on Hickox-Ulysses Road, causing eight chips. Another BB gun incident happened at Martin Groff’s camp on Ellisburg Road in Genesse Township, when someone shot at, and damaged, two windows. Several articles of jewelry and other personal items were reported stolen from Angela Green’s Cobb Hill Road home. Someone took a concrete angel statue and a bird bath from Kathryn Green’s yard on Cow Hollow Road in Roulette, then threw the property off the Pomeroy Street bridge into the Allegheny River. all from faxes sent to WESB and The HERO from Coudersport-based state police

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director There was more trash talk at Monday’s Foster Township Supervisors meeting. Residents wanted more details on a plan that was introduced last month about changing the way trash is collected in the township. Last month supervisors voted to start a study to look into collecting its own trash instead of having several haulers do the pickups. Derrick Road resident Ron VanScoter said one of the reasons he’s against the township getting involved is that it would be taking business away from private enterprise. “You have private enterprise that works and they’re doing a good job. If the township collects their own, they’re going to put people out of work,” VanScoter said. “Once the government’s involved, it seems to go out of hand,” he said. Township resident Kira Leck said she hauls her own trash to the landfill, and thinks that people who don’t want to pay for trash collection shouldn’t have to. “I work really hard at lowering my trash output. I recycl...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Governor Ed Rendell says unless state lawmakers come up with new revenue sources, a “significant” number of state workers will have to be laid off. Rendell held a news conference this afternoon saying that the state revenue department received $290 million less than anticipated in April. That’s not including the $100 in table games license fees, which the revenue department projected would be paid, but are not required to be paid until June. That brings the deficit-to-date to $1 billion. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman says the deficit is likely to be $1.3 billion by the end of the fiscal year. " We really need to start over, start from scratch and figure out a way to put the budget together on time – before June 30th – that reflects the revenues we have as opposed to what was projected back in February,” Corman said in a news conference. Rendell says he's ready and willing to work with the Legislature to find ways ...

By Kathy Mohney ANF The Bradford Ranger District of the Allegheny National Forest will continue Earth Day events with several projects scheduled for this week with the Bradford School District. Today, two Allegheny NF employees visited the Bradford High School and Fretz Middle School to instruct students on what is planned and what is expected for each day in the field to better prepare them for the various projects. Following Monday’s introduction, the high school students will re-visit the planting site from last year’s Earth Day event and put seed down in an adjacent site which functions as a wildlife opening. Wildlife openings are created across the forest in order to provide a specific habitat which hosts a wide variety of animals such as grouse, deer, rodents, and pollinators. Students will plant with clover, wildflowers and grasses which flower at different times throughout the year in order to provide food throughout all seasons. At the adjacent site where last year’s Earth ...

Local oil prices are back up to $80. The price American Refining Group is paying today for a barrel of Penn Grade crude is $80 even. That’s a jump of $1.25 from Friday’s price, according to an e-mail sent to WESB and the HERO from ARG. The last time oil was in the $80 range was on April 7 when the price was $80.75.

From CNN -- Actress Lynn Redgrave died Sunday after a seven-year battle with breast cancer, according to her family. Read more at CNN.com .

Right, University of Pittsburgh football coach Dave Wannstedt gives the keynote address during commencement exercises Sunday at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Below, Andrew Hwang receiving his degree from Dr. Livingston Alexander, Pitt-Bradford president, and some of the other 286 graduates. Thomas R. Bromeley receives the Presidential Medal of Distinction from Alexander. The medal is the university's highest honor. The photo of Hwang and Alexander was taken by Alan Hancock. The others were taken by Wade Aiken. All are courtesy of Pitt-Bradford.

A Fredonia woman suffered a possible neck injury in an accident Sunday evening in the Town of Arkwright. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Chautauqua County sheriff’s deputies say 20-year-old Jeffery McSkimming of Derby didn’t stop at an intersection at hit another vehicle. The other driver, 37-year-old Molly Merrill, was taken by Starflight to ECMC in Buffalo for treatment of her injuries.

It was a disturbing, noisy Sunday for Bradford City Police, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers got reports of two disturbances on Mechanic Street and noise complaints from South Center Street and Cole Avenue. They also investigated a reported robbery on Congress Street and thefts on South Avenue and East Main Street. They also looked into reports of assaults on Chautauqua Place and Main Street, vehicle complaints on East Main Street and Mill Street, an animal complaint on Route 219 and a juvenile complaint on Bedford Street. Police also had a couple of requests to speak with an officer and were asked to check the welfare of two people.

Start your day with America's Sweetheart, Scott Douglas, and his trusty sidekick Frank Williams. They deliver news at the top and bottom of every hour and update you on sports at :15 and :45. Listen for birthday wishes at 6:29, 7:29 and 8:29. They also have weather from News 4 Meteorologist Mike Cejka. You don’t want to miss “The Stand-Up Break at Eight” right after the 8 o’clock news. And today – Monday, May 3 – Scott will announce details on TWO new contests! Listen on 1490 WESB AM, 100.1 FM, The HERO or live online at WBRRFM.com or WESB.com Pennsylvania Lottery New York Lottery

SOUTH DAYTON, NY -- A bee caused an accident Saturday afternoon. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say a bee landed on 17-year-old Nichole Scinta while she was driving. Her vehicle left road and traveled into a cornfield, where it rolled onto its side. Neither Scinta nor her two passengers were hurt. ELBON – Someone broke the driver’s side window of William Wolff’s 1987 Ford F-150 pickup truck sometime between April 22 and Thursday while it was parked on Elbon Road. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Ridgway-based state police. RIDGWAY—Someone cut the lock on a door of a camp at the intersection of Schaffer Draft Road and West Hicks Road in Benezette Township sometime between April 18 and Friday. Once inside, the burglar took a stainless steel coffee pot, brand new sleeping bag and a portable shower. The person also took a 5-gallon gas can from a shed, according to Ridgway-based state police.

A Clymer, New York, teenager was hurt in an accident Saturday afternoon in the town of North Harmony. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say they attempted to stop 17-year-old Eli Miller for a traffic violation, but he tried to elude them. He failed to negotiate a turn, fell off the bike and injured his right arm. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was treated and released. He was issued tickets for several violations.

A Cherry Creek man is facing charges after his vehicle broke a utility pole in half during an accident Saturday afternoon in Villenova. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say 30-year-old Keegan Lachut was speeding when his vehicle crossed the road, went over a small cliff and hit two utility poles, breaking one in half. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment of chest pain. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and a number of traffic violations.

A St. Marys man is facing burglary charges for incidents along Birch Valley Road in Jay Townships early Saturday morning. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, State Police say 22-year-old Robert Drabert attempted to break into a camp owned by Kevin Deitz of St. Marys, then started Michael Bauer’s truck at a neighboring camp. Estimated damages are $500. Drabert was sent to jail on $10,000 bail.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Even in today’s challenging times, the 286 people who got their diplomas from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford have at least one big thing going for them: The power of Pitt. That was one of the messages delivered by commencement speaker Dave Wannstedt, head coach of the University of Pittsburgh football team. “Do not let (the challenging times), in any way, discourage you or dampen your enthusiasm for what you want or what you can accomplish,” Wannstedt told the graduates. “There’s a reason people from this university have helped change the world in so many positive ways. That’s the power of Pitt. And you now own that power.” He said he realizes the graduates are living with quite a bit of uncertainty now, just as he was when he graduated from Pitt in 1974. He was drafted into the NFL by the Green Bay Packers, but didn’t know how long a pro football career would last. He knew he wanted to be a coach. He applied to graduate school because...

Bradford City Police investigated more thefts on Saturday, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO. This time, the thefts were on Main Street, Congress Street and Chautauqua Place. Officers also looked into a report of possible drug possession on High Street and a fight on West Washington Street. They also got reports of criminal mischief on Chestnut and East Main Street, harassment on East Main Street and public drunks on Main and East Main streets. Police also made traffic stops on Mill and Barbour streets, looked into a juvenile complaint on Pearl Street, a noise complaint on Cornen Street, a suspicious person on Pleasant Street and a road hazard on State Street. They were also asked to check on the welfare of people at seven locations throughout the city.

A Sheffield man is hospitalized after a motorcycle accident Saturday night on Route 6 in Hamilton Township. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, State Police say 52-year-old Richard Munoz and 30-year-old Adam Foster, both of Sheffield, were traveling together and while going around a curve, the front tire of Munoz’s motorcycle touched the rear tire of Foster’s bike, causing Munoz to put his bike down. Munoz was flown to Hamot Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries. Police say both men were driving under the influence of alcohol. Munoz was cited for following too closely.

This week's Book Talk is a little different. Instead of speaking with an author, I'm speaking with a woman who inspired an author. Barbara Huston is a recent recipient of the Harlequin More Than Words Award . The More Than Words recipients become subjects of a story written by some of today's most well-known authors. The story inspired by Barbara, written by Christina Skye, is a suspenseful tale of a woman determined to assist the elderly in her small, newly adopted community. Listen here .

State Police are looking into a theft of timber in Eldred Township. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, they say someone cut timber from Harry Martin Jr.’s property off of Smith Road without compensating him. The theft happened between February 1 and Friday. Police are continuing their investigation.