Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A Jamestown man is in jail for allegedly having sex with at least one child. 30-year-old Jason Alexander is charged with three counts of second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child. Police did not release any further information. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A child playing with a lighter caused a fire that severely damaged a Conewango house last week. Ervin and Ava Raber and their nine children escaped the fire without being hurt, but are staying with relatives because of the damage to their home. The Cattaraugus County Fire Investigation Team says the fire started at just before 9 a.m. Wednesday in an upstairs bedroom of the house. Conewango and Randolph fire departments battled the blaze. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

I had the great pleasure of speaking with one of today's most prolific, entertaining and successful American authors -- Dean Koontz -- about the latest installment in his "Odd Thomas" series. We talked about this book, the series, Odd and the movie based on the book (He's seen it and tells us what he thinks of it). Listen to my conversation with Dean Koontz here . You can find more information at http://deankoontz.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Seneca Nation and the Cuomo administration could be going at it again. At the center of this potential dispute is a possible convenience store at gas station at the Niagara Falls casino. Governor Andrew Cuomo's director of state operations sent a letter to Seneca President Robert Odawi Porter saying a request for proposals for the new business is worrying local business people and community leaders. The Cuomo administration told the Senecas they were limited in the sorts of businesses they could locate at the casino, but Porter says the state's claim is absurd. Relations between the state and the Senecas have already been strained lately. The tribe has held back casino payments for several years because the state violated an agreement that gave the tribe exclusive gaming rights in the region. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Salamanca man has been convicted of taking his young relatives across state lines and repeatedly raping them. Following a two-week trial, a jury found 47-year-old Kevin Donaldson guilty of transporting minors across state lines for the purpose of sexually abusing them, and witness tampering. Between April 2004 and July 2007, he took three of his relatives across state lines. One of the victims was 13-years-old, and Donaldson raped the child for the next three years. Donaldson had previously been convicted of rape charges in Cattaraugus County and was sentenced to four years in prison. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for November. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The search continues in Cameron County for the man accused of holding a bank employee at gunpoint on Wednesday. 56-year-old Thomas Smith asked the 39-year-old victim for a ride, claiming his car broke down, and then demanded that she take him to the bank where she works. She refused, and eventually was able to get out of her SUV and call police. Smith ran from the scene after the SUV crashed into the front porch of a house. Smith is reportedly upset because his house is in foreclosure. According to papers filed in the Cameron County Courthouse, that happened in September of last year. The woman he is accused of holding at gunpoint works at the bank that is handling the foreclosure. Smith is also accused of threatening another person who works at a different branch of the bank. Emporium police Chief John Lovett says Smith is considered dangerous because he remains "armed and aggravated." He added that police have a car outside the bank in case Smith thinks about returning. Th...

For updates throughout the afternoon: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Endeavor-Media/101971879891091 Thomas Smith Still on the Loose Authorities say they are following up on possible leads to find a man who took a 39-year-old woman hostage Wednesday afternoon and is still on the run. Emporium Borough Police say 58-year-old Tom Smith of Clear Creek held the woman at gunpoint in her SUV, but she was able to jump out a few minutes later. Smith ran from the scene after the SUV went off the road and hit the front porch of a house. The woman, who police did not name, is an employee of a bank, and police say Smith also threatened another bank employee. Police called off the search overnight, but started it up again this morning. They say Smith is armed and agitated, and should be considered dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1. Police say because Smith is a wanted felon anyone who gives him food, clothes, money, transportation or shelter will face charges...

A bomb threat at a Jamestown beauty salon turned out to be a hoax by a man who says he’s not getting enough attention. 48-year-old Robert Wilson walk into Salon 2000 Wednesday morning, said he had a bomb and had placed other bombs down the street. Police say he told them he was upset because no one ever acknowledges him on the street. Later, he told police he is also upset about the theater shooting in Colorado. Shortly after police arrived, he walked outside and was arrested. He is charged with falsely reporting an incident, a felony. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Someone stole flags and flagpoles from the memorial for a soldier from Kane who died while serving in Afghanistan. Police say sometime between August 1 and Monday someone went to the VanGiesen Memorial in Gibbs Hill Cemetery, broke 2 20-foot flagpoles off at their bases and stole them, along with a POW flag, a Pennsylvania state flag and an American flag. Ken VanGiesen died July 11, 2011, from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his convoy with an improvised explosive device. He was a 1999 graduate of Kane Area High School, where he played football and he was honored at Saturday’s Big 30 game. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact Kane-based state police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A search is still under way in Cameron and surrounding counties for the man who kidnapped a woman at gunpoint Wednesday afternoon and forced her drive him away in her SUV. The woman was able to dive out of the SUV, and after that 58-year-old Thomas Smith of Clear Creek ran away from the scene. The woman, who police did not identify, was not seriously hurt. She is an employee of a bank, and Smith is also accused of threatening another person who works at the same bank. Emporium residents were told to lock their doors; band camp and other activities near Cameron County High School were moved inside, and the school was on lockdown. The Cameron County Fairgrounds was searched as well, but after the search the fair continued. Smith is 5 feet 10 inches tall with gray hair. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact 911 or Emporium-based state police. Tina Johns at the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce & Artisan Center is providing frequent updates on their Facebook p...

Workshops help ‘teams’ take local projects from vision to action A regional conference on sustainable tourism development will be held in early November in the Pennsylvania Wilds, and organizers are encouraging communities in the region to send teams to the two-day event to help advance local projects in their areas. “PA Wilds Fall Workshop: Connecting Nature, Economy, and Community Character,” will be held Nov. 8-9 at the Red Fern in St. Marys. The conference is designed to help communities advance sustainable tourism projects that are important to them. Participants will hear from state and national experts on topics relevant to the region, and then work as a group in a structured setting to flesh out their project ideas, budgets, and next steps. The conference, offered by the PA Wilds Planning Team, is similar to one the group held in 2007, which led to several successful community-driven tourism projects in the region, from the “Trail Central” branding and trail developments in McK...

If you’re headed to the Bills game Thursday, expect some changes before you get inside the stadium. Security officers will inspect all fans with hand-held metal detectors before they enter the stadium. Fans are being asked to hold their keys and cell phones in their hands to keep the process moving. And, a reminder that Abbott Road will be closed to all vehicle traffic between the south entrance of Lot B and the north entrance of Lot C starting at 4:15 on Thursday. You can hear the Bills/Redskins game on 100.1 The Hero starting with the pre-game show at 5:30 p.m. Steelers fans can listen to the Steelers and Eagles on 1490 WESB starting at 5:30 p.m. as well. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Olean School Board last night discussed parameters for selling ads in schools to help off-set a multi-million dollar budget deficit. Board members agreed that staff and students cannot be employed by companies who pay for the ads, and the ads that may appear on school websites and athletic scoreboards must be age-appropriate and not promote gambling or drugs. The board did not vote to move forward with purchasing ads, just to set guidelines for doing it. School districts across the country have been allowing ads on school buses and mailed report cards. Budget shortfalls have forced the district to lay off 48 employees this year, and some buildings had to close. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Three people were hurt in a two-car crash late Monday afternoon on Ford Road near Plymouth Road in St. Marys. Police say a car driven by 21-year-old Hannah Ellenwood of Spencer, Iowa, left a driveway behind the Aaron’s/Dunham’s Plaza and collided with a car driven by 33-year-old Joshua Knepp of Kersey. Ellenwood, Knepp and a passenger in Ellenwood’s car, 24-year-old Laura Franz of Spirit Lake, Iowa, were all taken by ambulance to Elk Regional Health Center for treatment of their injuries. Both cars were severely damaged. Knepp was charged for driving with a suspended license. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

In the "Oh, really?" story of day: The Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University has reported that the average temperature in the 12-state region was 49.9 degrees from January through July. That's the warmest seven-month period since 1895, the year systematic record keeping began. The second-warmest comparable period was 1921, when the seven-month average was 49.2 degrees. The data come after the Northeast endured a sweltering July with record-breaking temperatures around the region. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A North Carolina man is facing a number of charges following a traffic early Monday morning in Olean. Sheriff’s deputies say at 12:45 a.m. they stopped a vehicle and the passenger, 29-year-old Parris Mobley, refused to give them his name or birth date. When they asked him to get out of the vehicle he took off his shirt and pants, leaving only his underwear on, and was verbally combative with deputies. Deputies later learned Mobley had two bench warrants out of Jamestown. After being processed in Olean, he was turned over to Jamestown Police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 16-year-old Allegany County boy is in jail after allegedly shooting his stepfather twice. State police say the boy shot 60-year-old Robert Garrison Tuesday afternoon in their home in the Town of Wellsville. Garrison is in stable condition at ECMC. Police say the boy shot Garrison once in the stomach and once in the buttocks with a .40-caliber handgun. They are still trying to determine why the teen shot his stepfather. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Ulysses man who was found guilty of attempted rape in June has been reported missing. 53-year-old Roger Cole did not show up for work on Tuesday, and has not been seen since he left work at about 3 o’clock Monday afternoon. His truck was found near his home. A jury found Cole guilty of attempted rape, intimidation of a witness, endangering the welfare of children, all felonies, and a number of misdemeanors, including indecent assault. The incidents happened in February of 2009. Anyone with information is asked to contact Coudersport based State Police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Kiwanis Club of Bradford has pledged $10,000 to the Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center, continuing its collaborative efforts with the organization to support early learning and literacy initiatives. The contribution will fund a child-friendly reading area in the preschool classroom in the new facility, which will include a reading loft and an age-appropriate library. Members of Kiwanis, visited students at Rainbow Corner’s Preschool Fun Camp on Tuesday, taking some time to read to the kids, as well as present CARE with payment for half of the campaign pledge. Pictured are preschool campers Jake Whitlow and Ianna Schoonover with Kiwanis Board Members Gene Carll and Kathy Durner, and President Shane Oschman. Whitlow, 3, is the son of Jay and Krista Whitlow of Lewis Run. Schoonover, 3, is the daughter of Kari Schoonover of Limestone, NY. Photo provided by CARE for Children The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

"Perfectly blending nail-biting suspense with accessible science, bestseller Suarez establishes himself as a legitimate heir to Michael Crichton with this gripping present-day thriller. . . ” — Publisher's Weekly I couldn't have said it any better. You can listen to my conversation with Daniel Suarez here . For more information: http://www.thedaemon.com/ Later this week: Andrew Kaplan talks about the latest book in his "Scorpion" series; and Dean Koontz (Yes. That Dean Koontz!) talks about the long-awaited novel in the "Odd Thomas" saga. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947