Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A theft at Victoria’s Secret led to charges against a Mayville woman. Police say 29-year-old Misty Simko was seen putting 16 pairs of underwear in her purse at Victoria’s Secret in the Chautauqua Mall, and then leaving the store without paying. Police confronted her outside the store and charged her with petit larceny. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A homeowner chased a man out of his house, and now that man is jailed on burglary charges. State police say 28-year-old Tarik Ramadhan of West Valley broke into a house in the Town of Ashford on May 1. He’s charged with burglary and criminal mischief. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Warren man is in jail after being accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl. 20-year-old Allen Burnett allegedly had sex with the girl between May 5 and Monday in a wooded area of Pleasant Township. He’s charged with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors. Burnett is jailed on $50,000 bond. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man is in jail for assaulting both his mother and his girlfriend. Police were called to a Burnside Avenue at 2:20 a.m. on Sunday and learned that Chaz Zawatski left the home after the alleged assaults. While police were still at the house Zawatski called and spoke with officers by phone. He said he was “coming back to kill (his girlfriend) no matter what, and he did not care about going to jail," according to the police report. Officers found Zawatski outside the house moments later, yelling that he was going to kill his girlfriend and no one could stop him. Police attempted to calm him down, but he kept repeating his intentions. They were eventually able to take him into custody for terroristic threats and domestic violence. He’s jailed on $25,000 cash bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The City of Bradford has scheduled a second Spring cleanup for next week. Councilman Fred Proper explained that because of weather and other issues last month "we felt that there wasn't enough time for people to properly clean up." The extra items will be picked up on regular trash pickup days. "Basically, if it's under 40 pounds and not hazardous and neatly stacked at the curb, we can pick it up," Proper said. Electronics and tires are two exceptions. A tire cleanup will be held in August, according to DPW and Parks Director Chip Comilla. The third exception is lawn waste, which will be picked up on the day after regular trash pickup. Listen to the entire meeting here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man is in McKean County Jail as a fugitive from justice. City of Bradford Police executed an arrest warrant Sunday night at 138 East Avenue for Joshua John Elliott, who is wanted in Cattaraugus County for felony grand larceny. Elliott, who will turn 21 on Thursday, was arraigned by District Judge David Engman and sent to jail without bail to await extradition to New York. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

At 12:23 p.m. City of Bradford Police and firefighters/paramedics were dispatched to 86 Main Street for a report of a 2-year-old that had fallen from a third-story open window and was injured. Chief Chris Lucco and Lt. Steve Caskey went from the station to the scene on foot because it is near Subway. They found the child’s father, Andrew Lorenzi, who rushed both officers and paramedic J.D. Tehle upstairs to his apartment and showed them where the child had fallen, and was now trapped in between two buildings. The area were the child, Carlyn Lorenzi, had fallen was 12 to 15 feet down and was only a 2-foot by 2-foot triangle. Carlyn was crying and had visible bleeding wounds, but could not be accessed from where they were. Lucco and Caskey rushed down to the 2nd floor apartment, where they believed there was a window that could access the area where the child was trapped. They forced open a window, which would only go up 10 to 12 inches. But they were able to reach out and grab the ch...

The Bradford Family YMCA needs more parking spaces, and also wants some help from the city to keep people from parking in the "drop-off" area in front of their building. Y officials joined Bradford City Council for a work session on the issues Tuesday night. Jeff Alevy, CEO of the Olean-Bradford YMCA, said they do have a purchase agreement with Kessel Construction to buy the building currently occupied by the UPMC Hamot Medical Park. They would keep the building -- UPMC still has about 2 1/2 years left on its lease -- and use the space for their Child Care and Early Learning Center. He then said they were hoping to be able to move the fence in the Boylston Street parking lot by one row, and allow the Y to have those spaces. Mayor Tom Riel said he is concerned about having another tax exempt property in the city. Also, he, City Clerk John Peterson and Deputy City Clerk Teri Cannon explained how the city-run parking lots are run. By the end of the work session, the city off...

Charges against a Port Allegany woman accused of driving drunk and getting into an accident that killed her friend were bound court this morning following a preliminary hearing in front of District Judge Bill Todd. 21-year-old Emily Schultz is charged with felony counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and DUI. 21-year-old Emily Schena drowned after the car Schultz was driving hit a bridge on Fogels Crossing Road and ended up on its roof in the Lower Portage Creek. Schultz remains free on bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

About 12,000 Penelec customers in Potter, Tioga and Bradford counties are without power. We have a call in to Penelec to find out why power is out and when it’s expected to be restored. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

SMETHPORT – On behalf of Governor Tom Corbett, PennDOT today announced that work to replace a bridge in Smethport on Route 6 will get underway soon, with activity expected to start this week or next. Once work is complete, PennDOT will remove the bridge from the list of structurally deficient bridges in McKean County. Replacement will also provide area drivers with safer, more efficient travel across a modern structure. The bridge spans Marvin Creek on the west side of Smethport Borough, near the Dollar General Store. The bridge was built in 1921, is 100 feet long and carries an average of more than 2,100 vehicles each day. A temporary road will be used to guide drivers through the area while the old bridge is demolished and the new one is built. Construction of the temporary roadway will be the first work done on the project. Work is expected to last through November and includes replacement of the old bridge with a new concrete box beam bridge, approach work, paving, guide rai...

A two-year-old fell from a second story window on Main Street this afternoon. Bradford City Fire Department Captain Eric Taylor says there was Plexiglas in the window at 86 Main Street when the toddler fell. The child landed in some gravel below. The toddler was first taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center, but a helicopter was called to fly the child to an out-of-town hospital. Children and Youth Services and city police were called to the scene to investigate. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The first-ever PA Firefly Festival will take place June 21-22 on the grounds of the Black Caddis Ranch in Kellettville near Tionesta. This FREE event kicks off Friday, June 21, at 5 p.m., and firefly walks begin at 9 p.m. focusing on the rare and unique Synchronous Firefly. Saturday, June 22, the events begin at noon with family-friendly games, exhibits, arts and crafts, live music and firefly watching. For directions to and more information about the festival and accommodations, visit pafireflyfestival.blogspot.com . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

For the 12th year in a row, the Bradford Area School Board will not be raising taxes. The preliminary budget was introduced and approved during last night’s board meeting. It will be on display in the district office until it’s adopted at next month’s meeting. Also during last night’s meeting, the board tabled a proposal that would hire a second school resource officer for the next school year. Assistant Superintendent Sam Johnson asked the board to put the measure on hold because Bradford City Police Chief Chris Lucco is trying to get grant money to pay the officer’s salary. Current school resource officer Butch Bartlett was at last night’s meeting, and introduced some of the members of the high school’s Criminal Justice Club who recently traveled to Washington, D.C. The students presented a slide show and talked about the highlights of their trip. For more pictures, and video, of the trip you can go to the club's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BAHS-Criminal-Ju...

City of Bradford Police were called to a fight on Rochester Street and domestic incidents on High Street and South Avenue. They also responded to reports of disorderly conduct on McClellan Street, Chautauqua Place and South Kendall Avenue, as well as harassment on West Washing and Rochester Street. Officers were also alerted to suspicious activity on Constitution Avenue. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Arson is believed to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a medical complex Monday in Jamestown, and police are looking for a person who may have been burned while started the blaze. The fire on Ivy Street was reported at just before 2:30 Monday morning and destroyed three doctor’s offices and a laser surgery center. State fire investigators, including a K-9 officer, helped local investigators determine the cause. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Jamestown police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police think they know who stole from several cars and broke into a garage early last month. 25-year-old Alex Sam got into the cars and the garage in the Forestville area, and is now charged with burglary, grand larceny and petit larceny. Sheriff’s deputies say he was already in Chautauqua County Jail on unrelated charges. Sam will answer the charges in Town of Hanover Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man found asleep in his car is facing charges. State Police say 24-year-old Justin Austin of Emporium was found on East Allegany Avenue near the railroad crossing in the borough. They say the motor was running, the headlights and windshield wipers were on, and Austin was slouched forward and sleeping. Police found drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the car. Austin was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and reasonable suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Another alleged crack cocaine dealer is behind bars in Chautauqua County. The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force says 34-year-old Michael Gibson of Buffalo sold crack in Dunkirk to agents of the task force. He has been indicted on charges of criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance.

A Grand Island man accused of trespassing at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca. The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office says 29-year-old Mark Hajnos was arrested at around 5:30 Friday morning after being told previously to never return. He is scheduled to appear in City of Salamanca Court on May 22. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947