|
n WFRM NEWS ARCHIVE |October, 2003 3 Back
to Archive (Past Months) |
|
12/31/07 In the news this Monday, a Shinglehouse man has been arrested for allegedly burglarizing three downtown businesses in that community. Ryan Dexter, 25, is accused of breaking into Newton's Subs and Pizza, Vinny's Auto, and Hunt's Car Wash. After a short investigation, police searched Dexter’s house and found several items taken from the businesses, along with burglary tools. He's also accused of taking about $1,300 in cash and causing approximately $1,000 in property damage. After arraignment, Dexter was remanded to Potter County Jail. Members of the Potter County Planning Commission will take another crack at regulating the wind-energy industry next week. Planners have been trying to come up with regulations to control where wind turbines can be constructed. The issue has taken on new urgency as AES Corporation seeks to install as many as 80 of the massive turbines on high-altitude farmland in northern Potter County. Other wind-energy companies also have designs on Potter County, including sites near Dutch Hill and Inez, south of Coudersport; and the Crandall Hill area, between Coudersport and Coneville. The turbines would stand more than 400 feet high and cost millions of dollars. They would generate electricity that would be fed into the national grid. Some citizens want limits on wind turbines, including substantial setbacks from adjoining property. Planning Commission members have been unable to reach a consensus on the issue. Any regulations that agency approves will go before the incoming board of county commissioners for approval.
A spokesman for the Movie Gallery chain, which operates a store in Coudersport, said it’s too soon to say whether any of the area stores will survive the company’s bankruptcy. The spokesman said, quote, “Over the next several months, we may close certain stores in order to improve our competitiveness and profitability,” end of quote. Movie Gallery, an Alabama-based movie rental company, has 4,700 stores nationwide, hopes. Movie Gallery filed for bankruptcy in October after two years of losses and an accumulation of $1 billion in debt. On its website, Movie Gallery describes its business strategy of targeting small towns and rural areas to knock off independent movie renters and smaller chains.
Lawyers have worked out a settlement between two convicted arsonists from Cameron County and the victims of a major fire they set in Bradford more than a year ago. Terry Bornheimer and his mother, Debra Miczo, both of Emporium, must pay the seven victims a total of $200,000. McKean County Judge John Yoder approved the deal last week. Miczo was represented by Harold B. Fink of Coudersport. Bornheimer’s lawyer was Ron Langella of McKean County. Bornheimer had pleaded guilty to setting the August 2006 fire at his mother’s vacant home. The blaze spread to three neighboring homes, destroying them all. He testified that his mother persuaded him to burn the house so she could qualify for Social Security and welfare benefits. Both have been sentenced to prison terms. State police from Kane have charged a Ludlow man with driving under the influence of alcohol. Police say 39-year-old Keith W. Newton III was intoxicated when he was pulled over for speeding Saturday night on Rt. 6 near Wildcat Park in McKean County.
Kane-based state police also charged 27-year-old James L. Umbaugh of Shinglehouse with harassment following an altercation on Sunday morning in the Borough of Eldred. Police are also probing the theft of a registration plate from a pickup truck belonging to Jeffrey Mackey of Lewis Run sometime on Friday or Saturday.
With New Year’s Eve upon us, area police say they will be out in force today, tonight and tomorrow, looking for unsafe drivers. State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller said troopers will be on the lookout for speeders, drunk drivers and aggressive drivers during the holiday period, which continues until midnight Tuesday night. A stepped-up public relations and enforcement campaign is designed to cut down on the 659 traffic crashes investigated by police during last year’s New Year’s holiday period. Three people died and 245 were injured last year. Police said those New Year’s holiday observers who plan to drink alcohol should make arrangements for safe transportation. A company that was eying Coudersport for location of a customer call center has instead opted for a site in Olean, N.Y. The Connection, based in Minnesota, was a finalist to occupy the former Tennis Center, vacated by Time Warner in Coudersport. After state and county officials chose another firm, Empereon Marketing, The Connection worked out a plan to open its center at the former Cattaraugus County Empire Zone business incubator in Olean. About 600 jobs will be filled over a two-year period. Leadership changes are coming with a regional organization that oversees economic development, job training and related government programs. Five seats on the executive committee of Northcentral Pa. Regional Planning and Development Commission and a deputy director post must be filled. The board consists of representatives from Potter, Cameron, Clearfield, Jefferson, Elk and McKean counties. Five county commissioners are leaving the board, including John Torok of Potter County. Each will be succeeded by a county appointee from the new boards of county commissioners. Meanwhile, Deputy Director Howard Glessner, who has been with the agency since 1976, has retired. In local sports, both Coudersport High School basketball teams carry some momentum into this week’s opening of Northern Tier League play. The Falcons swept the boys’ and girls’ divisions of the Coudersport Holiday Basketball Tournament on Friday night with wins over Northern Potter. Attention now turns to league play. Northern Tier girls’ teams open on Wednesday night with Coudersport traveling to Austin, Northern Potter at Smethport, Port Allegany at Cameron County, and Otto-Eldred at Oswayo Valley. Northern Tier boys’ basketball teams open on Thursday night with Austin at Coudersport, Northern Potter at Smethport, Oswayo Valley at Otto-Eldred, and Cameron County at Port Allegany.
12/28/07 Investigation of an armed robbery in McKean County on Christmas Eve didn’t last long, as police nabbed the thief within a matter of minutes. State police from Kane say 48-year-old Dennis Fuino of Bradford entered the Crosby Mini-Mart in Lewis Run at about 4:10 p.m. Monday, threatened two employees with a knife, and made off with the contents of two cash registers. Bradford City Police spotted a vehicle and suspect matching the description given by the employees and apprehended Fuino in the city. A search of his pickup truck found resulted recovery of the money from the convenience store as well as women’s jewelry and garments that may have been stolen in a separate. The investigation by state troopers at Kane continues. With one of the world’s largest energy companies eying the ridgetops of Potter and Tioga counties for location of massive industrial wind turbines, citizens’ groups from the two counties are joining forces to fight what they call a common enemy. The situation took on a sense of urgency for the turbine foes last month when a plan to build 124 of the machines on hilltops in Tioga County was granted conditional approval by the county’s Planning Commission. AES Corporation, a global energy firm, has also announced plans to build approximately 80 of the turbines on high-altitude farmland in northern Potter County. A citizens’ group in Tioga County plans to contract with an attorney specializing in land use issues to block the turbine and plan and is asking Potter County residents to join the fight. Additional information is available from the Tioga Preservation Group in Wellsboro at Area Code 570-724-0626. Meanwhile, the Potter County Planning Commission continues to grapple with amendments to the county’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, geared toward regulating the wind energy industry. That debate will resume when the planning agency holds its next meeting on Jan. 8.
Potter County's 2008 operating budget of about $6.75 million is scheduled for adoption by Commissioners Ken Wingo, Cathy Bowers and John Torok during a special meeting at 11 am on Thursday. Although the budget includes a nine-percent increase in expenses, the county's real estate tax will hold steady. This is due, in part, to an increase in state payments in lieu of taxes for forest, game and park land. Those annual payments, starting this year, went from about $120,000 to $360,000. That helps to offset higher operating expenses at the county jail, which may reach the $1 million mark next year. There’s also an additional $50,000 in expenses for Potter County Human Services; higher wages and benefit expenses for county employees; and a $200,000 allotment to operate the new Gunzburger Annex in the former Coudersport Elementary School. A new board of county commissioners takes office on Jan. 7 and has the option of reopening the 2008 budget and adjusting the allotments.
Officials in McKean County are being pushed to support a plan to import garbage from a broader area and dispose of it in a landfill near Mount Jewett. If expansion of the Rustick LLC landfill in the community of Hutchins goes through as planned next year, the county could receive upwards of $1.7 million more in royalties. Rustick purchased the former county landfill in 2006 and has applied for a permit to expand the facility by another 336 acres. That would allow Rustick to bury almost 20 million tons of additional trash. A separate part of the plan involves building a railroad siding to allow the importation of garbage from Philadelphia and New Jersey. The current board of McKean County Commissioners strongly supports expanding the landfill and has recommended that the incoming board continue that support. The new commissioners have already announced that they intend to make many changes, including the elimination of the county administrator position.
Heavier security is now in effect at the McKean County Courthouse in Smethport. In order to enter the building, all visitors must use the main entrance. Personal belongings must pass through an X-ray-style optical scanner, while individuals are being checked with a metal detector. A grant from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts covers a portion of the equipment costs, while McKean County is responsible for staffing.
State police from Emporium report that a Cameron County resident is facing harassment charges stemming from an incident on Christmas Eve. According to troopers, 21-year-old Steven Crespo of Emporium struck Terry A. Wankel, 22, of Bradford several times in the parking area of a downtown convenience store Monday afternoon at about 4 o’clock. The Borough of Kane is building a high-tech communications system to link current and incoming businesses to modern voice, data and Internet capacity. The Coudersport-based Zito Media has been designated to build and maintain the fiber-optic network. Zito Media also plans to service business and government users in St. Marys, Ridgway, Johnsonburg and other northcentral Pennsylvania communities. They’ll have access to modern digital telephone services, high-speed data connections that accommodate everything from tele-medicine in hospitals to distance learning and other real-time services in schools. In local sports, high school basketball teams in the region swing back into action during holiday tournaments. Port Allegany hosts Austin, Galeton and Smethport in a boys’ and girls’ basketball tournament today and tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Coudersport Holiday Basketball Tournament is on tap for Thursday and Friday. Thursday’s schedule opens with a pair of girls’ games, Northern Potter vs. Kane at 3 o’clock and Coudersport vs. Cowanesque Valley to follow at about 4:30. We’ll carry that girls’ game between the Falcons and the Cowanesque Valley Indians live on AM600 Thursday afternoon, with airtime at about 4:15. Also on Thursday, the boys’ competition tips off with Northern Potter meeting Eisenhower at about 6:15, followed by Coudersport taking on Cowanesque Valley’s boys at around 7:45. We’ll also have that game live on AM600. Consolation games and two championship contests will be held on Friday. All of the action takes place at the Coudersport High School gym.
12/27/07 Potter County's 2008 operating budget of about 6.75 million dollars is scheduled for adoption by Commissioners Ken Wingo, Cathy Bowers and John Torok during a special meeting this morning at 11 o’clock. Although the budget includes a nine-percent increase in expenses, the county's real estate tax will remain the same, at 12.3 mills. This is due, in part, to an increase in state payments in lieu of taxes for forest, game and park land. Those annual payments, starting this year, went from about $120,000 to $360,000. That helps to offset higher operating expenses at the county jail and Potter County Human Services, higher wages and benefit expenses for county employees, and a $200,000 allotment to operate the new Gunzburger Annex in the former Coudersport Elementary School. The commissioners raised real estate taxes by 14 percent a year ago to cover 2007 expenses. A new board of county commissioners takes office on Jan. 7 and has the option of reopening the 2008 budget and adjusting the allotments.
Meanwhile, next door in McKean County, the incoming board of commissioners has already been meeting and making several preliminary decisions. They plan to eliminate the high-paying county administrator position that the current board of commissioners established. In addition, Al Pingie, Judy Church and Joe DeMott plan to hire a new county solicitor and look closely at some of the other professional positions established by the outgoing commissioners.
A team of researchers from Kent State University will be coming to Potter County early next year for a study that could determine what caused the Bayless Pulp & Paper Company dam near Austin to give way. The flood of Sept. 30, 1911, claimed upwards of 80 lives and destroyed much of the Borough of Austin. Kent State researchers want to extract core samples from the dam ruins to evaluate the concrete. Those findings will be combined with studies of the subterranean structure to better assess why the dam failed. The Kent State team is working with the Austin Dam Memorial Association to arrange for the study.
On a related note, discussions are continuing between Austin Borough Council and the Austin Dam Memorial Association over a parcel of land where a paper mill once operated north of the borough. The association is interested in acquiring the property for potential expansion of the Austin Dam Memorial Park. It’s possible that the property could become a southern gateway to the ruins of the Austin Dam, allowing tourists to walk a long nature trail between the borough and the park. Several local officials will be meeting on Jan. 16 for further discussions.
State police from Kane investigated a one-vehicle crash on Rt. 219 near the village of Halsey in McKean County Wednesday morning. Gary Gusmerotti, 52, of Jerome, Pa., was southbound when he dozed off and his sedan drifted off the road, struck the guardrail and crashed into an embankment. Gusmerotti was treated for minor injuries. His car sustained severe damage. A Port Allegany man is facing harassment charges stemming from an incident at his home on Two Mile Road Christmas night at about 8:20. State police from Kane were summoned to the home of 39-year-old Steven Crum after he allegedly shoved a woman and caused property damage. With the deadline to apply for the state's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program nearing, a large proportion of senior citizens who are eligible for the money have not applied. That deadline is Monday, Dec. 31. Eligibility standards have been relaxed this year and the maximum rebate has been increased to $650. The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years or older with disabilities. Claim forms are available from State Assemblyman Martin Causer's office in Coudersport at 274-9769. Northern Tier Mission Team has put out a call for donations to support the team's trip to South Dakota in May to repair homes on the Sioux Indian Reservation. In the past, the team has traveled to Nicaragua, the Pine Ridge Reservation, and West Virginia to build or repair homes. The need for help with adequate housing is widespread in Central America, Appalachia, Indian reservations, as well as the Gulf Coast. For more information on the Northern Tier Mission Team, call Roy Heimel at 274-4239. Norma Cobb Nichols of Sweden Township has returned as chair of the Potter County Democratic Committee. She succeeds Bruce Robbins of Coudersport, who resigned. Nichols has been active in party activities and community affairs for many years. She has been honored for her decades of service to the American Legion Auxiliary at Coudersport's Post 192 and also volunteers at The Christmas House. In agreeing to return to the Democratic leadership post after serving as vice-chair, Nichols said she is hoping for greater participation by Democrats in each of Potter County's 33 voting districts. The Pennsylvania Climate Office needs more people to help monitor and report on the weather in northcentral Pennsylvania. Weather trends such as warmer winters and more frequent heavy rain have generated concern about changes in the environment. So, Pennsylvania is increasing the network of volunteer weather observers. Plans call for establishing about 20 new observation sites throughout northcentral Pennsylvania. Assisting with the expanded network will be the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Forest Service, Pa. Emergency Management Agency and other public organizations. Additional information is available by calling toll-free 1-888-868-8800. In local sports, high school basketball teams are back in action during holiday tournaments. Port Allegany hosts Austin, Galeton and Smethport in the final rounds of boys’ and girls’ basketball tournament today. Meanwhile, the Coudersport Holiday Basketball Tournament is on tap for today and Friday. Today’s schedule opens with a pair of girls’ games, Northern Potter vs. Kane at 3 o’clock and Coudersport vs. Cowanesque Valley at about 4:30. We’ll carry that girls’ game between the Falcons and the Cowanesque Valley Indians live on AM600 this afternoon, with airtime at about 4:15. Also on tap tonight, the boys’ competition tips off with Northern Potter meeting Eisenhower at about 6:15, followed by Coudersport taking on Cowanesque Valley’s boys at around 7:45. We’ll also have that game live on AM600. Consolation games and two championship contests will be held on Friday. All of the action takes place at the Coudersport High School gym.
12/26/07 Investigation of an armed robbery in McKean County on Christmas Eve didn’t last long, as police nabbed the thief within a matter of minutes. State police from Kane say 48-year-old Dennis Fuino of Bradford entered the Crosby Mini-Mart in Lewis Run at about 4:10 p.m. Monday, threatened two employees with a knife, and made off with the contents of two cash registers. Bradford City Police spotted a vehicle and suspect matching the description given by the employees and apprehended Fuino in the city. A search of his pickup truck found resulted recovery of the money from the convenience store as well as women’s jewelry and garments that may have been stolen in a separate. The investigation by state troopers at Kane continues.
With one of the world’s largest energy companies eying the ridgetops of Potter and Tioga counties for location of massive industrial wind turbines, citizens’ groups from the two counties are joining forces to fight what they call a common enemy. The situation took on a sense of urgency for the turbine foes last month when a plan to build 124 of the machines on hilltops in Tioga County was granted conditional approval by the county’s Planning Commission. AES Corporation, a global energy firm, has also announced plans to build approximately 80 of the turbines on high-altitude farmland in northern Potter County. A citizens’ group in Tioga County plans to contract with an attorney specializing in land use issues to block the turbine and plan and is asking Potter County residents to join the fight. Additional information is available from the Tioga Preservation Group in Wellsboro at Area Code 570-724-0626. Meanwhile, the Potter County Planning Commission continues to grapple with amendments to the county’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, geared toward regulating the wind energy industry. That debate will resume when the planning agency holds its next meeting on Jan. 8.
Potter County's 2008 operating budget of about $6.75 million is scheduled for adoption by Commissioners Ken Wingo, Cathy Bowers and John Torok during a special meeting at 11 am on Thursday. Although the budget includes a nine-percent increase in expenses, the county's real estate tax will hold steady. This is due, in part, to an increase in state payments in lieu of taxes for forest, game and park land. Those annual payments, starting this year, went from about $120,000 to $360,000. That helps to offset higher operating expenses at the county jail, which may reach the $1 million mark next year. There’s also an additional $50,000 in expenses for Potter County Human Services; higher wages and benefit expenses for county employees; and a $200,000 allotment to operate the new Gunzburger Annex in the former Coudersport Elementary School. A new board of county commissioners takes office on Jan. 7 and has the option of reopening the 2008 budget and adjusting the allotments.
Officials in McKean County are being pushed to support a plan to import garbage from a broader area and dispose of it in a landfill near Mount Jewett. If expansion of the Rustick LLC landfill in the community of Hutchins goes through as planned next year, the county could receive upwards of $1.7 million more in royalties. Rustick purchased the former county landfill in 2006 and has applied for a permit to expand the facility by another 336 acres. That would allow Rustick to bury almost 20 million tons of additional trash. A separate part of the plan involves building a railroad siding to allow the importation of garbage from Philadelphia and New Jersey. The current board of McKean County Commissioners strongly supports expanding the landfill and has recommended that the incoming board continue that support. The new commissioners have already announced that they intend to make many changes, including the elimination of the county administrator position.
State police from Emporium report that a Cameron County resident is facing harassment charges stemming from an incident on Christmas Eve. According to troopers, 21-year-old Steven Crespo of Emporium struck Terry A. Wankel, 22, of Bradford several times in the parking area of a downtown convenience store Monday afternoon at about 4 o’clock. The Borough of Kane is building a high-tech communications system to link current and incoming businesses to modern voice, data and Internet capacity. The Coudersport-based Zito Media has been designated to build and maintain the fiber-optic network. Zito Media also plans to service business and government users in St. Marys, Ridgway, Johnsonburg and other northcentral Pennsylvania communities. They’ll have access to modern digital telephone services, high-speed data connections that accommodate everything from tele-medicine in hospitals to distance learning and other real-time services in schools. In local sports, high school basketball teams in the region swing back into action during holiday tournaments. Port Allegany hosts Austin, Galeton and Smethport in a boys’ and girls’ basketball tournament today and tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Coudersport Holiday Basketball Tournament is on tap for Thursday and Friday. Thursday’s schedule opens with a pair of girls’ games, Northern Potter vs. Kane at 3 o’clock and Coudersport vs. Cowanesque Valley to follow at about 4:30. We’ll carry that girls’ game between the Falcons and the Cowanesque Valley Indians live on AM600 Thursday afternoon, with airtime at about 4:15. Also on Thursday, the boys’ competition tips off with Northern Potter meeting Eisenhower at about 6:15, followed by Coudersport taking on Cowanesque Valley’s boys at around 7:45. We’ll also have that game live on AM600. Consolation games and two championship contests will be held on Friday. All of the action takes place at the Coudersport High School gym.
12/24/07 Ownership of the massive Adelphia Operations Center in downtown Coudersport did not change hands, as scheduled, last week. No one from Adelphia or from the real estate company handling the sale was available to respond to questions from WFRM about the sale. One source did confirm that a schedule closing on the property did not take place. 12/20/07
The Potter County Visitors Association (PCVA) is
encouraging area groups to have their events listed in its Calendar of Events.
The Calendar of Events is printed four times per year as well as being available
online at
www.visitpottercounty.com. There are no fees and there
are no limits to the number of submissions a group makes. PCVCA Communications
Director Cindy Capatch told WFRM PCVA is hoping groups will use the calendar as
a point of reference to avoid scheduling conflicts and that PCVA is attempting
to make the Calendar of Events a tool the entire County can use, not only to
inform visitors, but residents as well. The Calendar of Events is an easy
way to gain free publicity, for all types of public events. Since Jan 1st,
2007, there have been over 3500 event calendars mailed out along with our
Visitors Guides. People like to plan their activities ahead of time and
the Calendar of Events is an easy way to reference local activities, which PCVA
hopes will result in increased public participation. If you have an event you
would like added to the Calendar, you are asked to submit the information by
Friday, Jan 18th, 2008. The events can be submitted
electronically to
potter@penn.com, by phone at 814-274-3365 or stop in
personally. The office is located on North Main Street in downtown Coudersport.The Northern Tier Cultural Alliance (NTCA) is
celebrating "2008: The Year of 12/19/07 An elderly McKean County man died Tuesday morning when his car collided with a tractor trailer on Route 219 about a half mile south of Route 59 in Lafayette Township, McKean County. Kane-based state police said 82 year old Edward Fabic pulled his Kia from Huskins Road onto Route 219 into the path of a semi driven by Earl Geisler of Cheektowaga, NY. The compact was forced off the east side of the highway upon impact. Fabic was pronounced dead at the scene by McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill. Geisler was unhurt. Both lanes of 219 were closed to traffic for a time as a result of the collision. Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday watched the video appeal produced by a local citizens’ group in an effort to save the JCPenney store in Coudersport. The 10-minute video, featuring testimonials and interviews with community leaders, customers and JCPenney employees, will eventually be delivered to senior executives at the company’s corporate headquarters in Plano, Texas.Tom Lamb, a member of the Renaissance Committee that has been working for the long-term betterment of the community, introduced the video and updated Chamber members on the effort to save the local store.Lamb said earlier plans to hand-deliver the video to Texas have been put on hold. Committee members are instead working to determine which JCPenney leaders should be approached. He also pointed out that, even if the push to save JCPenney fails, the issue has helped to galvanize the Coudersport community to work together in facing economic challenges. Both Lamb and Renaissance Committee member Doug Morley invited Chamber members to attend the organization’s meetings, held every Wednesday morning at 7:30 in the Potter County Education Council offices. At this point, the JCPenney store in Coudersport will close in February, removing a key attraction to the downtown business district and putting 12 people out of work. Potter County Director of Veteran Affairs, Joe Becker has
been notified by 12/18/07 A Shinglehouse resident, suspected of burglarizing the Shinglehouse IGA last month surrendered to state police yesterday. 19 year old Nicholas Matasich of 427 Horse Run Road who was accompanied by Public Defender Brent Petroski, was committed to the Potter County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail after being arraigned before District Judge Barbara Easton on charges of burglary, theft, and criminal trespass. Earlier this month, a warrant was issued for Matasich’s arrest of in connection to the theft at the Shinglehouse IGA on November 16. State police allege Matasich stole 36 cartons of cigarettes valued at $1500 and about $50 in rolled and loose change from the store at about 10:00 p.m. that night. His identity was determined after a photo of him from the store’s video surveillance camera was published in area newspapers. State police credited Shinglehouse Police Chief Brad Buchholz for his role in negotiating the surrender. Both lanes of Route 219 south of Route 59 in Lafayette Township, McKean County were closed to traffic for several hours earlier today following a serious crash. Details were not available from State Police at Kane at news time. State police here have charged both people involved in an argument over the weekend with harassment. Authorities claim 46 year old Thomas Perry of Friendship and 38 year old Eric Schweigart argued over the phone on Sunday with each threatening to kill the other. In recent McKean County Court action, 18 year old Joshua Windsor of Turtlepoint was ordered to spend a year on probation and to perform 100 hours of community service for reckless endangerment and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Windsor was arrested last July after taking someone’s car without their permission and operating it in a dangerous manner. Daryl Grimes, 21, of Smethport was ordered to serve 12 to 24 months in state prison for burglary and conspiracy. Windsor and three co-defendants stole some guns during the fall of 2006 from a home on Annin Creek Road near Port Allegany; tried to burglarize Dave’s Gun Shop in Eldred and planned a burglary at the Army Navy Store in Bradford.
12/17/07 A couple of New York State residents have been committed to the McKean County Jail in lieu of $15,000 cash bail each after being arraigned before on-call District Judge Rich Luther over the weekend on charges of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief. Kane-based state police allege a witness saw 43 year old Kandace Mabee of Hinsdale and 26 year old Nicholas Wilber of Olean cutting copper wire Sunday afternoon from along the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad tracks next to Route 155 about three miles south of Route 6 in Liberty Township. The pair was allegedly observed loading the wire onto a sled, and putting it into Mabee’s vehicle. The witness summoned police and the suspects were detained by Port Allegany Borough Police until state troopers arrived on the scene. Minor injuries were reported for a 17 year old passenger following a one-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Route 6 in Wetmore Township, McKean County. State police said David Fowler of Kane was a passenger in a sedan driven by Nick Collins of Bradford which slid off the road into a snow bank. Fowler was treated at Kane Community Hospital. Collins was not hurt. A Genesee woman has been charged with failing to drive her vehicle entirely within a single lane following a crash Friday evening on Route 449 about a mile south of Gold. State police locally said Christie Kerschner was driving north when her Jeep Grand Cherokee hit a patch of ice, skidded off the road, and hit a tree. She was wearing a seatbelt and escaped injury. Dennis Ayers, 52, of Shinglehouse has been cited for harassment for an incident allegedly taking place early Saturday morning at the home of Daniel Harris on Wheeler Hill Road in Sharon Township. State police claim Ayers threatened bodily harm toward Harris during a disagreement. A criminal mischief taking place at the Highland Road railroad crossing in Wetmore Township, McKean County is being probed by troopers at Kane. Vandals intentionally ran over three railroad crossing signs owned by Wetmore Township and the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Company and pulled a fourth sign from the ground, using a chain or rope.
12/14/07 Potter County EMA officials advise WFRM that, according to a briefing with the National Weather Service this afternoon, this weekend’s storm will be mainly a “snow event” for the listening area. There may be some sleet and freezing rain associated with the storm, but forecasters believe the biggest concern will be travel. Snow is expected to begin falling early Saturday afternoon and continue through the night into Sunday morning. Based on the current track of the storm, some 6-12” are expected here. Officials are encouraging residents to be prepared with enough food, water, heat and medicines to get through the weekend and to, most of all, avoid unnecessary travel. The National Weather Service late this afternoon issued a Winter Storm Warning for the entire listening area predicting upwards of six inches of snow. But the temperature will determine whether there is more snow or more sleet so storm totals are hard to predict at this point. An elderly McKean County man died Thursday afternoon in a collision near Kane. State police said the collision occurred on Route 321 at about 3:00 p.m. when a tractor trailer driven by 26 year old Craig Boschert of St. Marys crossed the center line while rounding a curve and struck a Chevy S-10 driven by 80 year Carl Danielson of Kane. Danielson and his wife, Erma, were taken to Kane Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead and she was treated for her injuries. Boschert was not hurt. Injuries were reported in two-weather related mishaps occurring within minutes of each other Thursday morning here in Potter County. Coudersport-based state police said Delores Broscius of Shinglehouse suffered minor injuries at about 8:45 a.m. when her Chevy Blazer went off of ice and snow-covered Route 44 in Hebron Township, traveled into a ditch and rolled onto its side. She was taken to Charles Cole Hospital for treatment. About 15 minutes later, Fannie Yoder of Genesee lost control of her Jeep Grand Cherokee while rounding a curve on snow and ice covered Route 449 in Ulysses Township. The SUV skidded off the road and struck a utility pole before coming to rest. Yoder was taken to Charles Cole Hospital by a passing motorist for treatment of moderate injuries. A Port Allegany driver escaped injury Thursday evening when his GMC Safari hit a deer on Route 6 near Freer Road in Liberty Township. Troopers said Kenneth Main was headed east when the whitetail bounded into his path. The theft of a 30 pack of prescription pain pills from Sean Kane Manor this week is under investigation by state police at Kane. The 4 mg. Dilaudid pills were taken sometime between midnight and 12:45 p.m. Thursday.
12/13/07 Snow began falling in the WFRM listening area at around 5:00 o’clock this morning, and continued steadily until early afternoon. By then, six or more inches had fallen in the downtown Coudersport area. Northern Potter, Galeton and Austin school districts cancelled classes for the day while Wellsville Central dismissed students at 2:00 p.m. Penn College of Technology closed the North Campus at 2:00 p.m. also, and cancelled activities for the evening. Coudersport School district remained in session but cancelled or postponed evening activities. The band and choral concert scheduled for tonight will be held Tuesday night at 7:30 and the wrestling match scheduled for that evening will now take place at 4:00 p.m. IU9 Pre-school classes in Coudersport and Smethport were cancelled. Coudersport and Galeton Senior Centers were closed for the day. The Galeton District Judge’s office and the Cameron County Courthouse were closed. All Potter County offices closed at 2:00 p.m. First Citizens National Bank closed all bank offices at 1:30 and “in-store” offices closed at 3:00 p.m. Bowling at Old Hickory Lanes in Coudersport scheduled for tonight has been cancelled as has bingo at the Norwich Fire Department. Therapeutic touch scheduled for tonight at Charles Cole Hospital’s Women’s Center has been cancelled. Potter County Treasurer Krista Miller has cancelled her dog license writing session at the Genesee fire hall. Dog owners can go online to apply or call her office at 274-9775 for more information. She plans on writing dog licenses tomorrow night at the Austin Fire Hall from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Austin Borough postponed garbage pickup until Friday. The fish fry scheduled for Friday night at the Tri-Town Fire Hall in Ulysses has been cancelled and the Fire and Ambulance Recognition dinner scheduled for Saturday night has been cancelled due to more anticipated bad weather. The area remains under a winter storm warning until 10:00 o’clock tonight. There will be a brief respite on Friday with mostly sunny skies and a high near the freezing point expected before a second, possibly more powerful storm, roars into the region over the weekend. Significant amounts of snow are possible but forecasters say it is too early to predict the exact track of the system which will determine snowfall amounts. In other news, a Port Allegany woman suffered minor injuries in a weather-related crash Wednesday afternoon on Route 6 near the Open Brook Road in Liberty Township. Troopers said Mary Gregg was a passenger in a 2006 For Ranger driven by her husband, Duane, which slid out of control after hitting a patch of ice caused by water flowing onto the road. The truck rolled onto its side after hitting an embankment. Mrs. Gregg was taken to Charles Cole Hospital. Mr. Gregg was unhurt. Another Roulette woman has been cited for theft of services for putting garbage into a dumpster used by the Friendly Inn on Main Street. State police claim 49 year old Pamela Lanphere used it without permission early Monday morning. Cynthia Sullivan has also been charged in district court with depositing garbage into the dumpster, also without permission. Troopers are charging 40 year old Danette Sauners of Genesee with writing bad checks to the State Line One Stop in that town. Authorities claim Saunders wrote four checks about $100 during a two-week period in early October which were returned due to insufficient funds. 12/12/07 The National Weather Service has posted a “Winter Storm Watch” for the entire WFRM listening area through 7:00 p.m. Thursday. The original area was expanded from Tioga County to several counties in Northcentral Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York. Forecasters believe that after a an early mix, snow will fall heavily during the mid-day hours with 3 to 6 inches accumulation possible. Meteorologists are also closely watching a developing system, which if conditions are right, could deliver double digit amounts of snow over the weekend in this area. However, most say it is too early to tell at this point. Stay tuned to WFRM for further updates on both storms. Coudersport based state police are investigating an access device fraud victimizing a local resident. Authorities say unknown persons obtained identity information belonging to Norma Hicks of Dingman Run Road and used it earlier this week to purchase numerous items over the internet in the amount of $136.80 and then attempted to have the items shipped to a known Kentucky address. The investigation continues. Kane-based state police are investigating a burglary taking place over the weekend at the Otto-Eldred Head Start building on Indian Creek Road. Burglars entered the building through an unlocked rear window and once inside, damaged a picture, tampered with desk drawers and computer but apparently left empty-handed. A McKean County mother-daughter team was arraigned earlier this week on charges of theft, conspiracy to commit theft, and bad checks. The daughter was additionally charged with three counts of forgery. Joan Pessia, 70, and Sally Pessia Ramadhan, 47, of Bradford were released on $5,000 unsecured bail each pending a preliminary hearing on January 2. Authorities claim the mother deposited two checks amounting to $6700 from a Dale Smith drawn on an account at North Fork Bank and then wrote a check for $6000 to her daughter which was then cashed. About a month later, Pessia deposited another check from Smith, this one for $14,000 into her account at the Bradford office of Hamlin Bank and wrote a check for $13,000 to Ramadhan which she in turn cashed. Authorities were notified by a Hamlin Bank official when North Fork Bank declined the checks because they had been drawn on a closed account. Details about a one-vehicle crash taking place last Tuesday on Route 6 in Coudersport Borough were just released overnight by state police here. Authorities claim Kimberly Buchsen of Galeton was speeding when her Ford Ranger went off the road near Paul’s Motel at a round 6:15 a.m. and struck an Allegheny Power electric pole. She was taken to Charles Cole Hospital by an unknown person for treatment of moderate injuries
12/11/07 Potter County Commissioner Catherine Bowers tells WFRM that the Department of Environmental Protection has signed off on the re-filling of Lyman Lake. Rich Adams, manager of DEP Watershed Programs in Williamsport told Bowers the Bureau of Dams last week issued an approval for filling the lake which is now scheduled to begin sometime next spring. The original earthen dam was intentionally breached several years ago due to safety concerns. Local officials were successful in convincing three different Governors to okay state funding for the re-building which was completed last spring. However, surface cracks were discovered in early summer and experts from Lehigh University, after inspecting the new structure, recommended filling the cracks with a special epoxy. That project was completed too late to begin the fill process this fall. A Genesee man was arraigned last Thursday before on-call District Judge Annette Easton on charges of violating Megan’s Law. State police claim 56 year old James Enty was four days late in updating residence, employment and other information required annually for convicted sex offenders. Enty was released on $5,000 unsecured bail pending a preliminary hearing before District Judge Barbara Easton. Enty’s original conviction followed the discovery by law enforcement authorities of child pornography on his personal computer. Criminal Trespass charges have been filed against 50 year old Cynthia Sullivan of Roulette. State police claim she deposited garbage into a dumpster owned by the Friendly Inn without permission. Her identity was discovered when items with her name were found in the garbage. The charges are being filed before District Judge Barbara Easton. Troopers are probing the theft of a jacket from a coat rack at a local bar late Saturday night. A blue Columbia jacket belonging to Susan Breck of Dingman Run Road Coudersport was taken sometime between 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 3:00 a.m. Sunday at the Northwoods Tavern. State police at Kane have charged 43 year old Kevin Saulter of Port Allegany with public drunkenness for an incident allegedly taking place Monday morning at around 11:30 on Mechanic Street in Smethport. Troopers claim Saulter was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage “to the degree that he was a danger to himself and or others.” A Main Street Knoxville building was destroyed by fire Monday afternoon.More than 70 firefighters responded to the 1:11 p.m. alarm and found heavy smoke in a two-story building that housed the Penn York tax preparation office and three apartments. Fire Officials say a girl who lived in one of the apartments was burned and sent to the hospital. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Galeton firefighters were among those responding to the scene while Coudersport was called in to cover the Galeton station under the mutual aid system. 12/10/07 Even though many dirt roads in the county remain icy this afternoon, last night’s freezing rain did not result in a massive ice storm with power outages as predicted by some forecasters. However, the Northern Potter School District cancelled classes for today while Port Allegany, Galeton and Wellsville had a two-hour delay. Icy roads are blamed for a one-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Wycoff Run Road in Gibson Township, Cameron County. State police said a Chevy Van driven by Russell Peters of Centre Hall slid off the road, hit and embankment and rolled over onto the passenger side. Peters and his passengers, Mechelle Perio and a 15 year old boy were all wearing seatbelts and escaped injury. A Coudersport woman escaped injury in a weather-related crash taking place last Wednesday on Route 49 about four miles east of Coudersport. State police said Lindsay Russell lost control of her Pontiac Sunfire while headed west. The compact slid off the road and became stuck in the snow. Several car/deer crashes have been investigated by state police across the region. Philip Staib of Johnstown escaped injury Thursday evening when his Ford Spor Trac hit a whitetail on Route 6 in Ulysses Township. The driver and his passenger, Charles Staib, also of Johnstown were both wearing seatbelts and escaped injury. The driver of a cargo van also escaped injury when his vehicle struck a deer Friday night on Route 872 just north of the Southwoods road in Homer Township. William, Bataille of Pittsford, NY was headed south when deer came onto the road into his path. And, Edward Grimes of Port Allegany escaped injury Saturday afternoon when a whitetail jumped in front of him on Route 155 two miles south of that town. Troopers locally are charging 47 year old Dale Marks of Tremont, PA hit and run for a crash taking place early Friday morning in Cross Fork. Authorities say a pick up truck driven by Marks destroyed a Tri-County Electric pole and sent several customers into the dark. Police claim Marks fled the scene but was later located at a nearby establishment. A theft taking place sometime between 2:00 p.m. Friday and 1:45 a.m. Saturday is being investigated by state police here. Thieves forced their way through a back door at the home of Kenneth Dixon on Grover Hollow Road and removed two 56” inch Sony tvs, a Sony Surround Sound system and an X-box 360 valued at a total of $5,000. Damage to the door was said to be about $50. Troopers at Kane are investigating a theft from a vehicle taking place Friday night or Saturday morning. Thieves reached into a vehicle owned by Adam Miles of Port Allegany while it was parked in a driveway on Broad Street and took a hunting rifle, hand gun and flashlight. 12/07/07 The town of Emporium has once again hit
with a devastating fire. A blaze believed caused by an
electrical malfunction heavily damaged the NAPA Auto Parts
building and an adjacent structure in Emporium's business
district Thursday night. Seven people were left homeless, but
there were apparently no injuries. A spokesman for the Emporium
Volunteer Fire Department said the blaze originated in an
apartment over the NAPA store and spread rapidly. That apartment
was destroyed and damage to the store was described by
firefighters as "substantial." An adjacent upstairs apartment
over the Midtowne Bar Several grants are headed toward the WFRM listening area. The Potter County Solid Waste Authority has received a $3 million recycling grant from the Department of Environmental protection. The grant reflects recycling collections for the year 2005. Grants are awarded to communities based on the amount of recyclable materials collected such as cans, bottles, newspapers, plastics and cardboard. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has awarded $39.4 million for land protection, conservation and recreation projects across the state. The grants are funded through Growing Greener II, a voter-approved bond issue and part of the realty transfer tax, More than $3 million for projects in the 12 counties in the north central region that make up the Pennsylvania Wilds will go toward enhancing recreation opportunities for area residents and make communities in the region attractive places for economic investments by the private sector. The Lumber Heritage Region and Pennsylvania Route 6 Initiative will be among those receiving funding through the latest round of grants. 12/06/07 A floor furnace malfunction is believed to be the cause of a fire this morning which heavily damaged an unoccupied house on Eulalia Street here in Coudersport Borough. Coudersport Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Phelps told WFRM that when the first firefighters arrived on the scene of the 7:01 call a second alarm was sounded due to the presence of flames and the extremely cold temperatures. Volunteers from Roulette, Austin and Galeton responded to the scene while Shinglehouse firefighters stood by at the Coudersport station under the mutual aid system. The blaze was declared under control at 8:20 a.m. and all units were back in service by 10:00 a.m. Phelps said the 50 or so volunteers did a great job in keeping flames from spreading to houses on each side of the structure. Firefighters were assisted by members of the Coudersport Volunteer Ambulance Association, Medic 6, Borough Police and Public Works department. No injuries were reported. A Smethport driver is being charged with DUI following a one-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Route 46 and Brewer Run Road in Norwich Township, McKean County. Kane-based state police said 45 year old Daniel Watson lost control of his Ford Ranger while headed south. The truck went off the road, struck a rock pile, knocked over a road sign and struck a large tree before coming to rest. Then, police claim, Watson got someone to help him remove the pickup from the woods, and move it about a half mile down Brewer Run Road. Anyone who has more information about the 5:45 p.m. crash is asked to call the Kane barracks at 778-5555. A burglary taking place at the home of Robert and Sharon Rhodes on Laurel Avenue in Wetmore Township, McKean County Tuesday evening is being probed by state police at Kane. Thieves caused about $600 in damage when they forced their way into the home on Laurel Avenue between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. Several items were taken including numerous pieces of jewelry including diamond rings, watches and earrings along with a Jennings J-22 semi-automatic pistol and an Astra Constable 380 semi-automatic pistol with holster. Anyone with information about that crime is asked to call the Kane barracks as well. And, troopers here say witnesses have provided a description of a vehicle observed at the Pine Creek Inn, in Pike Township during which time the business was burglarized. A white dually truck with orange running lights was seen at the bar between midnight and 1:00 a.m. on the morning of November 29. Thieves forced their way through the back door between 9:45 p.m. on November 28 and 11:00 a.m. the next day and took about $200 from the cash register at the front bar. 12/04/07 A warrant has been issued for the arrest of 19 year old Nicholas Matasich of 427 Horse Run Road in connection to the theft at the Shinglehouse IGA on November 16. He’s described as being a white male, with brown, medium length hair and green eyes. Matasich is 5’9” tall, and weighs 240 pounds. State police allege Matasich stole 36 cartons of cigarettes valued at $1500 and about $50 in rolled and loose change from the store at about 10:00 p.m. that night. His identity was determined after a photo of him from the store’s video surveillance camera was published in area newspapers. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to call the local barracks at 274-8690, A warrant has been issued for the arrest of 19 year old Nicholas Matasich of 427 Horse Run Road in connection to the theft at the Shinglehouse IGA on November 16. He’s described as being a white male, with brown, medium length hair and green eyes. Matasich is 5’9” tall, and weighs 240 pounds. State police allege Matasich stole 36 cartons of cigarettes valued at $1500 and about $50 in rolled and loose change from the store at about 10:00 p.m. that night. His identity was determined after a photo of him from the store’s video surveillance camera was published in area newspapers. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to call the local barracks at 274-8690, A Mt.Jewett man has been charged with numerous crimes in connection to a fatal DUI crash this past spring on Route 219 about a mile and half north of Route 6 in Hamlin Township, McKean County. Jason Roth was arraigned Monday before District Judge Michael Kennedy on charges of homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, involuntary manslaughter, DUI, and reckless endangerment along with various summary traffic violations. State police say Roth’s Ford Mustang rolled over and struck several trees after he tried to pass a Subaru SUV driven by Karianne James of Kane just after midnight on June 9th. His passenger, Ian McCloskey,24, was killed in the crash. Roth suffered moderate injuries while James and her passenger, Elisha Brown were unhurt. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 31. A Nevada driver and his passenger were hurt Sunday afternoon when their 2008 Pontiac vibe collided with a van on Route 6 just west of Port Allegany. State police said Ried Bridges lost control of the compact when it crested a hill. The unit crossed over the center line into the path of a Ford van driven by Thomas Ford of Smethport. Troopers said Ford tried unsuccessfully to avoid the collision. Bridges and Carol Flanagan also of Carson City were taken to Charles Cole Hospital. There were ten passengers from McKean County in the van; four suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene. Bridges is being cited for speeding. Troopers at Kane are probing a couple of recent burglaries. Sometime overnight Sunday, thieves entered a warehouse at Ram Forest Products on Route 44 near Shinglehouse and then broke a window to gain entry to an office. $50 in cash and a blue flashlight were taken and a desk was damaged in the process. And, thieves took a pair of Bushnell Binoculars from a camp on Route 346 in Eldred Township owned by Gary Buck of Eldred during the daylight hours Sunday. The binoculars are valued at $100. Community leaders continue a concerted
12/03/07 It took him a while to get here, but now it appears Ol’Man Winter has settled in to the Twin Tiers. A winter storm warning remains in effect, along with lake effect snow warnings for McKean, Warren, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. The winter storm warning will expire at 11:30 tonight but the lake snow warning remains in effect until Tuesday afternoon. The National Weather Service late this afternoon expanded the Lake Snow Advisory to include Potter and Elk Counties. It’s in effect until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Two to six inches of snow are possible through out the region. The heaviest amount will come overnight into Tuesday morning. A wind advisory has been posted for the entire WFRM listening area. Forecasters say a couple of inches of snow are possible yet this afternoon with another 1-3 or so this evening. The gusty winds may cause near white-out conditions at times in some locations. Cold temperatures and snow will highlight the weather over the next several days. Volunteer firefighters from Harrison Township, Tri-Town in Ulysses and Westfield responded Saturday evening to a gas line link along the Pleasant Valley Road. Bob Fulton, a spokesperson for Dominion Compressor told WFRM that a malfunction at the Harrison Valley station caused a rupture in a 20 inch transmission line at around 6:10 p.m. Residents of the area heard a loud noise and called 9-1-1. Fulton said the situation was brought quickly under control and adds that safety is the company’s number one concern. Dominion is a natural gas company based in Virginia. Charges are pending against a Ulysses driver following a one vehicle crash Sunday morning on Route 44 just north of Hungry Hollow Road in Abbott Township. State police said Chad Everett’s northbound Ford Ranger came to rest on the passenger side after striking an embankment. He escaped injury. Troopers at Emporium say charges are pending against Betty Varner of Emporium for a crash taking place last Thursday night on Moore Hill Road in Shippen township. She was ejected from her Ford station wagon after it rolled over several times after rounding a curve. A 15 year old female passenger received minor injuries, but two boys, agest 12 and 17 escaped injury. The passengers were all wearing seatbelts. DUI charges are pending against 42 year old Stacey Joe Bogenschutz of Douglassville, PA following an incident taking place early Sunday morning here in Coudersport borough. State police were summoned to the local Sheetz store when Bogenschutz’s pick up truck was observed moving erratically in the parking lot. The unit got hung up at the gas pump and sidewalk but the driver was able to free it and took off, being located later at the intersection of Route 6 and Park Avenue where he was placed under arrest. A resident of Adelphoi Village in Harrison Township was remanded to the Potter County jail without bail following an altercation at the home Friday evening. State police claim 18 year old John Sheaffer assaulted Jamie Paulhamus of Elkland, Amanda Vinluan of Westfield , Mark Zedonek of Galeton and a 17 year old male resident. Paulhamus and Vinluan’s injuries required treatment at Charles Cole Hospital. Sheaffer was arraigned before District Judge Delores Bristol on charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault and harassment.
11/30/07 A New York State tractor-trailer operator is being charged with violations of Pennsylvania traffic law, limitations on overtaking on the left following a collision Wednesday afternoon on Route 44 just north of the Blauvelt Hollow Road in Sharon Township. State police said the collision took place when Arthur Demers, Jr. of Silver Springs, attempted to turn left into a private drive and the rig’s left rear wheel was struck by the bumper on an Oldsmobile sedan driven by Tina Deyarmin of Shinglehouse which was passing as both were headed south. Deymarin was taken to Charles Cole Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. Demers was not hurt.A Tioga County woman died Wednesday afternoon when the car she was driving collided with a tractor- trailer on Route 6 near the Mt. Zion Road in Charleston Township. Tioga County Chief Deputy Coroner James Daugherty pronounced Jennifer L. Hutchinson, 32, of Wellsoboro dead at the scene of the 5:15 p.m. crash. The driver of the tractor-trailer, Robert H. Berson, 34, also of Wellsboro, suffered only minor injuries. According to Police Hutchinson was driving east on Route 6, and Berson was west. For an unknown reason, the Hutchinson crossed to the westbound lane and into the rig's path. Berson attempted to avoid the collision, but the vehicles met head-on in the westbound lane. Troopers here have charged 61 year old Vernon Nichols of Ulysses with disorderly conduct for an incident allegedly taking place Thursday morning in the Ulysses office of First Citizens National Bank. Authorities claim Nichols became upset over a banking matter and started yelling causing public alarm and annoyance before slamming the doors when he left. A burglary at the Pine Creek Inn on Route 6 in Pike Township overnight Wednesday is being investigated by state police locally. Thieves forced their way through the back door and took about $200 from the cash register at the front bar. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 274-8690. The theft of a sign from the Westline Inn in Lafayette Township, McKean County is being investigated by state police at Kane. Thieve took a hand carved painted sign which was suspended from a post in front of the restaurant sometime Monday or Tuesday. The sign is valued at $2500.
11/29/07 Pennsylvania Game Commission bear check stations recorded a preliminary harvest of 2,004 bears during the recently completed three-day season (Nov. 19-21), and an additional 23 bears during the two-day archery bear harvest (Nov. 14-15). So far, the total bear harvest of 2,027 for the two seasons preliminarily ranks as the 11th highest statewide harvest. However, Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist, noted that with the extended bear season in certain Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) continuing through Dec. 1, the total preliminary harvest will increase. Last year, hunters harvested 3,122 bears during all three seasons, which is the second highest harvest in Pennsylvania history. The current record was set in 2005, when hunters harvested 4,164 bears in three seasons. So far, the top 10 bears processed by Game Commission personnel through the archery and statewide seasons all had estimated live weights that exceeded 500 pounds. Rodney Howard, of Port Allegany, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at 712-pound (estimated live weight). The bear was taken in Roulette Township, Potter County, at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 19.County harvests in the Northcentral region for the three-day season, followed by the three-day 2006 preliminary harvests in parentheses, are: Clinton, 158 (213); Lycoming, 123 (196); Tioga, 118 (142); Cameron, 116 (67); McKean, 100 (129); Potter 100 (180); Clearfield, 80 (130); Elk, 61 (83); Centre, 58 (92); and Union, 27 (40).A New Jersey man pleaded guilty this week in McKean County District Court to two counts of hunting over bait or enticement and unlawful taking or possessing wildlife. Shane Davenport,36, of Bridgeton admitted hunting from a tree stand near Larabee in Eldred Township with apples and sugar beets underneath. On opening day of bear season, he shot and killed a bear from the stand. Davenport was fined $500 for possessing the bear and $200 for baiting. The carcass was confiscated by the Game Commission. A resident of Kane has been committed to the McKean County jail after being arraigned on charges of violating a protection from abuse order. State police claim 39 year old Paul Kimes contacted his estranged wife, Donna, through a third party and asked to speak to here three times between 4:00 p.m. Tuesday and 9:00 a.m. Wednesday in violation of a PFA already in place. Emporium-based state police are probing a burglary at a
home located at 23 Pioneer Road in Shippen Township sometime late last week.
Thieves removed three glass banks from the home containing about $200 in
assorted change. A handful of employees began working today at the new Empereon Call Center here in Coudersport. General Manager Jamie Evens told WFRM that the opening had been delayed due to problems with telephone technology and internet connectivity but says 85 people have accepted jobs and will begin working before Christmas. Evens says the Phoenix, Arizona based company, which provides outsourcing services to major cable companies, plans on having some 400 employees at the “Tennis Center” before this coming July. The building, which formerly housed Time-Warner and Adelphia call centers, was given by Time-Warner to the Potter County Redevelopment Authority which in turn has leased it to Empereon. Gusty winds which ripped across the Twin Tiers last night caused a power and cable outage for several Coudersport residents. Coudersport Volunteer Fire Department Chief Andy Dubots told WFRM that some 14 firefighters responded when a large tree fell across a high tension wire on East Second Street at around 7:00 p.m. and shorted out several lines. Electric customers from Main Street east to the State Police barracks on Denton Hill and south on Route 872 for three to four miles were in the dark for about three hours. A Port Allegany woman escaped injury Tuesday afternoon in a one-vehicle crash on Route 6 just east of the Pierce Brook Road in Keating Township, McKean County. Troopers said Dixie Taylor was headed east when the left front tire rod on her ’97 Geo Tracker broke and caused the unit to travel off the road, into a tree and land on the passenger side. Taylor was wearing a seatbelt at the time. Troopers at Kane are probing a case of reckless endangerment taking place Monday or Tuesday in the village of Aiken. A stray bullet passed through a window at the home of 73 year old Marilyn Miller and struck the refrigerator. No one was injured and the investigation continues. 11/27/07 A Shinglehouse driver and one of his five passengers were seriously injured in a one-vehicle crash Sunday evening on the Back Road in Sharon Township. State police said 20 year old Robert Fiske was speeding when his Ford F-150 went off the road, traveled up an embankment, struck a tree stump and spun around, coming to rest back on the highway. Fiske and a 17 year old boy, also from Shinglehouse, were flown by medical helicopter to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo for treatment of their injuries. Another 17 year old boy from Shinglehouse was taken by ambulance to Charles Cole Hospital while three Coudersport teenage girls declined treatment at the scene. The investigation into the crash is continuing. DUI charges are pending against 29 year old Donald Emmick following a one-vehicle crash early Monday morning on Route 49 at Seven Bridges Hill in Allegany Township. State police said Emmick’s west bound Toyota Camry veered across the highway when he overcorrected after it dropped onto the berm. The compact struck an embankment and rolled over onto its roof, coming to rest about 140 feet from the point of impact. Emmick escaped injury. State police are investigating a theft taking place Sunday between 5:55 and 6:10 p.m. at Stacey’s Corner Market in Bingham Township. Thieves took about $150 in cash and the register key with them. The theft of a game camera is also under state police investigation. The camera was taken sometime last week from a wooded area in West Branch Township near a camp owned by Ronald Hinkle of East Berlin, PA. It’s valued at $200. Troopers at Kane are investigating a camp burglary taking place over the past couple of weeks on the Klondike Road in Corydon Township. Thieves entered the Whitetail Camp owned by James Trott of Erie and stole a .22 cal. Rome handgun, handmade mirrors, a pellet gun and various items of hunting clothing valued at a total of $600. Jeremiah Smith, 19 of East Smethport is being charged with criminal mischief for an incident taking place Sunday evening. Kane-based state police claim Smith used a pocket knife to slash a blow-up air globe with a Santa owned by his neighbor, 75 year old Neomi Magee as he walked past.
11/26/07 The State Police Fire Marshal told WFRM earlier today that the cause of the blaze which destroyed a Galeton Home Thanksgiving morning and heavily damaged an adjacent seasonal dwelling likely will not be determined. Cpl Dixon said the damage to the home owned by Amanda Brown at 92 Lower Germania Street was so extensive it is difficult to be sure of the cause. Galeton volunteers were summoned at 8:21 a.m. Thursday and with first arrivals finding heavy flames, a second alarm went out bringing in volunteers from Coudersport, Germania and Clymer. The blaze was not declared under control for another 2-1/2 hours. Brown and her children were not home at the time and apparently there were no injuries among the 65-75 firefighters who responded..A Port Allegany woman and her passenger received minor injuries in a one-vehicle crash Friday morning on Route 6 about a half mile west of Freer Hollow Road in Liberty Township. Troopers said Sherry Jordan was headed west when her Jeep Cherokee skidded off the road, traveled up an embankment and rolled over once before coming to rest back on the highway. She was taken to Charles Cole Hospital for treatment while her passenger, Justin Stuck of Smethport declined treatment. State police here are looking for the driver of a gray 1998 ford Contour which wrecked sometime Saturday on Loucks Mills in Hector Township. Authorities said the southbound car went off the road, struck a PennDot sign, went through a gravel pull off and over embankment before coming to rest against several trees. The driver departed the scene without notifying police who noted that the license plate had been removed from the car by the time they investigated. Lance Cowburn, 21 of Ulysses is facing DUI charges following a crash early Sunday morning at an intersection in Ulysses Township. Troopers said Cowburn’s Dodge Dakota, while headed south on Ripley Road, failed to stop at a stop sign and traveled through the intersection across Route 49 and became stuck at the end of a guardrail. When troopers investigated, they placed Cowburn under arrest for DUI and took him to Charles Cole Hospital for chemical testing. A Roulette man is being charged with failing to keep his dog restrained. State police claim a pit bull owned by Jason Cornelius of Card Creek Road Roulette went into a barn owned by his neighbor, Ruben Redmond on the Coleman Mills Road Friday night and killed a piglet valued at $50. Troopers are looking for vandals who damaged a yard in Eulalia Township early Saturday morning to the tune of $1500. Authorities say an unknown vehicle traveled off the First Fork Road and onto the lawn at the Vickie Matteson residence after which the driver accelerated and created a large donut on the grass before fleeing south on the First Fork Road.
11/23/07 In the news this Friday, as shoppers head out for the “Black Friday” sales, a campaign is being launched to save one of downtown Coudersport’s leading retailers. Community leaders are trying to persuade merchandising giant JCPenney to keep its store open. JCPenney recently announced that it will close the store in February, idling 12 workers. Last week, a group of strategic planners and community development volunteers met to develop an appeal to impress upon corporate officials the value and marketing potential of a small-town store. Local leaders believe it would reflect well on the company to emphasize a store that is part of a local community, in contrast to competitor Wal-Mart, which is usually a stand-alone store not linked with other local businesses. Separate efforts are underway by the Potter County Redevelopment Authority, by federal and state elected officials representing Potter County, and by the Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce.
Two houses in downtown Galeton were destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving morning. The fire was discovered at about 8 o’clock in a rental home on Lower Germania Street, across from the Wonder Bar. Flames quickly spread and jumped to an adjacent, unoccupied, home. Amanda Brown and her children, who occupied the first structure, were able to escape without injury. Firefighters from four area departments responded under the mutual aid system. The investigation is continuing.
Attorneys for former Adelphia Communications President John Rigas and his son, Tim, vowed Wednesday to appeal another legal setback handed down this week by the judge who presided over their trial. The two had asked U.S. District Judge Leonard B. Sand to order a new trial, after they were convicted in 2004 of securities fraud, conspiracy and bank fraud. In their appeal, the Rigases argued that prosecution witness James Brown perjured himself. But Judge Sand said government lawyers had demonstrated that Brown did not commit perjury. The judge also noted that Brown was not the sole witness to testify against the Rigases. Defense lawyer Lawrence McMichael said the Rigas family continues to believe that the legal system will recognize the injustice. The Rigases are appealing Judge Sand’s ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. They’re also asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse their convictions. John Rigas, who turned 83 last week, was sentenced to 15 years and Tim Rigas, 51, was sentenced to 20 years. They entered a federal prison at Butner, N.C., in August.
Members of the Potter County Planning Commission were advised this week to protect the county’s water resources from pollution that could occur as the result of additional gas and oil exploration. John McGlocklen, a retiree from the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection, and Judy Bear from Coudersport Well Drilling emphasized the importance of protecting water supplies. Both McGlocklen and Bear said it’s critical to protect water sources from permanent damage that may result from drilling, spills or other threats.
Long-time Coudersport area resident Dan Wetzel’s retirement as executive director of Seneca Highlands IU9 Educational Services takes effect in January. He will be succeeded by Mary K. Colf, who has been well-known in area education circles for more than three decades. Colf has served as an elementary teacher and as an IU9 director, supervisor and consultant. IU9 provides education services for school districts in Potter, Cameron, McKean and Elk counties. Dan Wetzel is a 1964 graduate of Coudersport High School and a basketball standout who went on to attend Virginia Tech University on a full athletic scholarship
Potter County’s three Commissioners-elect returned this week from a training session in Hershey, sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Association of County Commissioners. Doug Morley, Paul Heimel and Susan Kefover attended the workshop as they prepare to take office as the next Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 7.
The schedule has been released for the second annual “O Little Town” holiday festival in Coudersport. Activities will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15, with Santa arriving in town on a firetruck. Weather-permitting, an ice rink will be set up on the courthouse square. A Soup and Chili Cookoff will also be held at the square. Children’s activities, crafts and other attractions are planned, including live music, an ice-carving and the throwing of the switch to light the decorated trees around the square. O Little Town is sponsored by the Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce Merchants’ Group.
In recent police news, yet another theft of copper wire from unattended railroad property is under investigation by troopers at Kane. Police say someone took about 2,800 feet of copper/clad wire from a BP Railroad work station on Lindholm Road in Hamlin Township, just north of Route 6. The theft occurred sometime between Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning. The wire is valued at about $1,500.
An Eldred man was injured in a two-car crash Wednesday evening on Rt. 446 in Eldred Township, McKean County. Twenty-year-old David Lowe was taken by medical helicopter to an Elmira, N.Y., hospital after being extricated from the wreckage. Police said Lowe’s southbound car drifted over the center line and collided with a northbound vehicle being driven by 18-year-old Joshua Rees of Roulette. Rees and a passenger, 19-year-old Ashley Stahlman of Port Allegany, escaped serious injury.
Two McKean County drivers escaped injury in a two-vehicle mishap Monday evening in the village of Cyclone. Police identified the drivers as Heather Schena of Port Allegany and Jennifer Ledwith of Cyclone. The collision occurred when Ledwith signaled for a lefthand turn and proceeded to turn her car into a driveway at the same time Schena pulled out to pass.
A Ulysses woman is being charged with theft and forgery for allegedly stealing and cashing two checks. State police at Denton Hill say 27-year-old Wendy Robinson took the checks from George Robinson, also of Telescope Road in Ulysses, and cashed them for $300 by forging his signature.
Someone broke a window at a Smethport residence sometime early on Thanksgiving morning, according to state police from Kane. The victim was identified as Daniel Woodruff of Emerald Isle in the borough. State police from Kane are also investigating the theft of a large aluminum sign from a site along Pine Grove Road in Annin Township. The victim is listed as the McKean County Conservation District Well, deer hunters have been flocking to the WFRM listening area in recent days to prepare for Monday’s opening day of the firearms deer season. This year, hunters can enter their deer in two separate buck contests. The traditional Potter County Big Buck Contest is being held at the Sweden Valley Inn. Also, the first-ever Big Woods Whitetail Classic is headquartered in Ladona at the Beef and Ale House. The firearms deer season continues for two weeks, concluding on Saturday, Dec. 8. In local sports, the PIAA District 9 high school football championship will be on the line Saturday afternoon at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium. Cameron County takes on undefeated Kane at 1 o’clock. The winner takes the District 9 championship and progresses into the Elite Eight of the state Class A championship playoffs.
11/21/07 Reuters News Service reports that U.S. District Judge Leonard Sand on Tuesday denied a request on Tuesday by Adelphia Communications Corp founder John Rigas and his son Timothy for a new trial. In his 11 page opinion, the judge rejected the defense attorney’s assertion that "the government's central witness gave perjured testimony, without which the Rigases likely would not have been convicted." The judge said "we conclude that in the context of the entire trial and considering the challenged testimony in its entirety ... the jury's verdict would not have been different had it considered the allegedly conflicting testimony. The Rigases were found guilty in July 2004 of concealing loans and stealing millions from the cable operator. John Rigas was sentenced in June 2005 to 15 years in prison, while Timothy Rigas, the company's former finance chief, was sentenced to 20 years. They began serving their prison terms this summer. A downstate man is being charged here in Potter County with making false reports to law enforcement authorities. State police claim 31 year old Dennis Gephart of Windber reported that his vehicle had been stolen from the parking lot at the Permastone Inn, Route 6 Galeton Monday night. But authorities say their investigation revealed that Gephart was driving the unit when it crashed Sunday night on Route 144 in Renovo and that Gephart left the scene of the crash to return to his Potter County camp and called police. Pennsylvania Game Commission officials reports that hunters started the 2007 black bear season by taking a preliminary harvest of slightly more than 1,000 black bears in 49 counties on Monday. Game Commission employees processed 1,005 bears at the agency's check stations on the opening day of the three-day statewide bear season. The 2007 first-day preliminary harvest compares with 1,461 in 2006; 2,026 in 2005; 1,573 in 2004; 1,454 in 2003; and 1,348 in 2002. The top 10 bears processed at check stations on Monday all had estimated live weights that exceeded 500 pounds. Rodney Howard, of Port Allegany, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at 712-pound (estimated live weight). The bear was taken in Roulette Township, Potter County, at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 19.The top bear harvest county in the state after the first day of season was Clinton with 78 (123 in 2006), followed by Tioga, 63 (83); Cameron, 57 (38); Somerset, 56 (67) and Lycoming, 54 (107) and Potter, 54 (95). The state’s two-week concurrent deer season starts Monday. Small business owners in Potter, McKean and Warren Counties
who suffered losses due to this summer’s drought may be eligible for federal
disaster loans according to an announcement from the Small Business
administration. Interested business owners should contact the SBA’s Customer
Service Center by calling toll-free 1-800-659-2955 Monday through Friday from
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST.
11/20/07 The Roulette Township supervisors announced this afternoon that the new well and tank at the head of Laninger Creek have officially been put into use and are now an integral part of the drinking water system. As a result, the Township will be flushing water lines tonight beginning at 10:00p.m. The flushing is expected to be completed by 5:00 a.m. Wednesday. Some residents may see a loss of drop in water pressure during the process. Officials apologize for the short notice but say the line flushing is long overdue and needs to be done while temperatures are above freezing. Coudersport Borough, meanwhile, announces a change regarding leaf pick-up. Leaves will be picked up through noon Wednesday. After that, the leaf unit will be dismantled and put into storage. However, residents who have not completed raking leaves can bag them and put them at curbside. Call the Borough office next week at 274-9776 to arrange pick up. A couple of suspected thieves were allegedly caught “red-handed” Saturday night in Ulysses. State police claim 20 year old Jerry Stoltzfuz of Whitesville and 35 year old Richard Davis, Jr. of Knoxville forced their way into a secured area at Hamilton’s Car Wash and Laundromat on North Street. Stoltzfus allegedly kept watch outside while Davis tried to break open a coin machine. Owner Henry Hamilton arrived on the scene while the pair was attempting to break the machine. Davis grabbed the VHS surveillance tape out of the VCR located inside the building and fled on foot. Hamilton held Stoltzfus until state police arrived. Davis was later located at his home. Both were arraigned before District Judge Delores Bristol pending further legal action. A Corning man admitted Monday to shooting three people inside a Middlebury Township mobile home last winter and was sentenced to state prison. Gerald A. Morrow, 31, of Third Street, was sentenced to 15 to 30 years after a plea agreement in Tioga County's Court of Common Pleas in Wellsboro, Pa. Morrow had been scheduled for trial early next month. He admitted to shooting and gravely injuring his wife, Darlene Morrow, 30, of the same address; Frederick Douglas, 30; and his wife Rebecca Douglas on Feb. 2 in their mobile home on Southard Road about 10 miles northwest of Wellsboro.The shootings resulted from several arguments. Darlene Morrow's injuries resulted in an amputation below the knee.
11/19/07 A Coudersport woman is being charged with DUI for a collision taking place Friday night on Route 6 near the Northwoods Tavern west of Coudersport. State police say that Becky Sue Olson turned her westbound Chevy Lumina into the bar’s parking lot in front of an eastbound Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Emily Shaffer of Creekside, PA. When police investigated, they determined Olson was driving under the influence of alcohol. Neither driver was hurt. Minor injuries occurred Friday morning for a Roulette woman whose van slid out of control on the West Branch of Fishing Creek, north of the village. Troopers said Jessica Wiley was headed south when her Ford Aerostar slid off the road on a slight left hand curve, crossed to the other side of the road, rotated 90 degrees, traveled off the road through grassy area and struck a telephone pole with the passenger side. Wiley was taken to Charles Cole Hospital by private vehicle. A volunteer fireman from Galeton was hurt last Tuesday evening when his Ford F-150 struck a deer on the Phoenix Road in Hector Township . State police said Gary Ruef, Sr. was responding to a wildfire when the whitetail came onto the road into the path of his pick up. Ruef was taken by Galeton Ambulance to Soldiers and Sailors Hospital in Wellsboro. Another Galeton driver escaped injury in a car/deer collision. Troopers said Beverly Brown was traveling east on Route 6, west of Coudersport when the whitetail bounded onto the road into path Wednesday evening. Brown’s Ford Ranger had to be towed from the scene. Dustin Kio, 21, of Genesee, is being charged with disorderly conduct for an incident allegedly taking place Friday evening on the Grover Hollow Road in Genesee Township. State police say they were called to that location because Kio had broken a table and was “being wild.” When police arrived, Kio allegedly threatened to commit suicide and fired one shotgun round into the air. He subsequently cooperated with authorities and volunteered for treatment at Charles Cole Hospital. State police were assisted at the scene by Mental Health Crisis Worker Mark Benson, Genesee ambulance and Medic 6. Troopers are probing a couple of recent thefts. Early Saturday morning, thieves pried open a side door at the Shinglehouse IGA and made off with 36 cartons of Marlboro cigarettes valued at $1500 and $50 in rolled and loose change while causing another $50 in damage. And, thieves reached into a car owned by Shari Haskins of Roulette Thursday night or Friday morning while it was parked at her home on Creekside drive and removed about $400 in miscellaneous currency from her purse which was left on the passenger side floor. Pennsylvania’s three-day regular black bear season opened this morning and the Game Commission is hoping for a harvest of at least 2000 bruins. Pennsylvania’s black bear population is currently estimated to be about 15,000. The largest bear killed last year was a 693 pounder taken in Potter County’s West Branch Township on opening day by John Eppinette of Adamstown, PA> 11/16/07 DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty yesterday announced that Norfolk Southern Railroad has agreed to pay $7.35 million to restore McKean and Cameron County Waterways to settle the 2006 train derailment case.A large part of the $7.35 million settlement—approximately $6.76 million—will go to community organizations or be used by the commonwealth to support environmental restoration work and fund other important community improvement projects. The projects will help re-establish the natural resources of Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, McKean and Potter counties so residents can again enjoy the recreational and sporting opportunities that were available before the spill. Under the agreement, DEP’s nearly $3.2 million share will go directly to the Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. to support projects in the Sinnemahoning Portage Creek Watershed, and the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed. Norfolk Southern will pay an additional $500,000 to DEP to cover the costs of responding to the June 30, 2006, train derailment that released 42,000 gallons of lye, which is also known as liquid sodium hydroxide or caustic soda. DEP continues to address the consequences of the spill. The agreement also provides $3.68 million to the Fish and Boat Commission. The payments will resolve Norfolk Southern’s civil liability at the site for DEP, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Each state agency is a signatory to the settlement. The proposed settlement agreement is available for review at the DEP Northwest Regional Office, 230 Chestnut St., Meadville, and at the Cameron County Conservation District Office, 20 East Fifth St., Room 105, Emporium. The civil liability settlement is separate from the criminal charges filed against Norfolk Southern and the derailed train’s conductor by the McKean County district attorney and the Pennsylvania attorney general. However, according to today’s BRADFORD ERA, the railroad has pleaded no contest and will pay a $200,000 fine for the criminal charges. Meanwhile, the train engineer who was at the controls when the speeding train derailed is arguing that the charges don’t fit the circumstances. Michael Seifert, 46, of West Seneca, NY is charged with two counts of unauthorized discarding of hazardous wasted along with unlawful conduct of violating rules and regulations protecting a water supply. Attorney Paul Maliza of Emporium says at the time of the derailment, a viable chemical, sodium hydroxide was what spilled, not a hazardous waste. Seifert is believed to have been under the influence of drugs when the train was clocked doing 76 miles per hour down a hill in a 35 mile per hour zone. . Norfolk Southern has completed cleanup at the site but it is obligated to continue monitoring the restoration efforts under the terms of a May 2007 agreement. The railroad company is to submit reports to DEP twice a year for the first two years after construction and annually for the next three years. The June 2006 spill occurred near Gardeau, Norwich Township, McKean County, and wiped out fish and aquatic life in Big Fill Hollow and an 11-mile segment of Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek, which is designated as an exceptional value and wild trout stream. It also affected the fisheries in the Driftwood Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek. The effects of the spill were observed as far as 30 miles downstream from the derailment site, with much of the impact in Cameron County. Staff from DEP’s northwest regional office conducted fish surveys on the Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek in early October and found that, except for trout, fish populations have substantially rebounded below the spill site. The affected area is in the center of Pennsylvania Wilds—a portion of north central Pennsylvania renowned for its spectacular scenery and wildlife. In recent Potter County Court action, 22 year old Robert Butler of Coudersport was ordered to spend one to 23-1/2 months in jail, pay a $250 fine and all costs and fees and to perform 25 hours of community service for indecent assault. He must also take part in an approved program of counseling at his own expense and successfully complete all recommended treatment. According to Potter County DA Dawn Fink, Butler, while 14 years of age, committed the crimes repeatedly against his nine year old adopted sister between December 1, 1999 and June 1, 2001. And, 20 year old Justin Fuhrer of Harrison Valley was placed on probation for a period of 20 months for receiving stolen property. DA Fink said during 2005 and 2006, Fuhrer stole various traffic signs throughout Harrison Township and the signs were found in his possession at his home. The Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has written a letter to the JC Penney Company asking officials to reconsider the decision to close the Coudersport this coming February. The letter says the store is a vital part of a community which has begun rebounding since the Adelphia bankruptcy and that the closure will be a crushing blow not only to Coudersport but to outlying communities. Contracts for three major improvement projects could be awarded as soon as next Tuesday night by the Coudersport Area School Board.Board members are meeting this afternoon to open bids for projects that include: • replacing the track and bleachers, improving drainage, and making other changes at Coudersport Area Recreation Park (CARP). • adding eight classrooms, air conditioning and security at the elementary school; • renovating and expanding the high school cafeteria and kitchen; Only the elementary school work, estimated to cost $4.6 million, will qualify for state reimbursement. Work could be completed in time for the opening of school next August. A new fieldhouse is planned at CARP, containing locker rooms, public rest rooms and a storage area. Plans also call for a new press box, lighting and sound system. Another major component of the CARP plan is a new drainage system. Construction costs are estimated at $5.9 million for the three projects. Another $1.2 million is budgeted for architectural and engineering services, regulatory reviews and other administrative costs. Funding is coming from a $9.2 million bond issue.
11/15/07 Thanksgiving is just one week away and the weather is beginning to look and feel like November. The National Weather Service says lake effect snow showers may result in some light snow accumulations tonight in parts of the WFRM listening area, especially in higher elevations. The Roulette and Coudersport areas were pelted with icy sleet at around noon time today and anywhere from three quarters to an inch of rain was recorded overnight in the region. An elderly Port Allegany woman is said to be in fair condition at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo where she was flown after her lawnmower was hit by a car Tuesday afternoon. Kane-based state police said 76 year old Wilma Vansickles was mowing grass on her property next to Route 6 about a mile west of Port when she drove the Murray Lawn Tractor onto the road into the path of an eastbound Chrysler mini-van driven by Jane Dugan of Roulette. Dugan was unable to avoid hitting the machine but she escaped injury. A Coudersport man has been sentenced in Potter County court for simple assault and reckless endangerment. Gary Meacham, Jr., 35, drove his car across the intersection of Water Street and North Main Street on the afternoon of October 9, 2004 as a crowd lined the street for the Potter County Bicentennial parade. His car continued up onto the sidewalk and struck a 15 year old Coudersport girl propelling her into the Allegany River Channel, several feet below causing severe life-threatening injuries. According to District Attorney Dawn Fink, Meacham’s conduct was “reckless in that he regularly suffered from debilitating seizures and knew or should have known that his operation of a vehicle placed others at risk for death or serious bodily injury.” Meacham as placed in the Intermediate Punishment Program for 23-1/2 months; the first three of which will be spent in the Potter County jail. At the end of three months, he will be released on Electronic Home Detention for another 60 days. He was ordered to pay all costs and fees, and to make restitution of nearly $7,000 plus perform 50 hours of community service. The DA explained that as a special condition, Meacham will be take medication as required and will not hold a Pennsylvania Driver’s license under any circumstances. December 12 is the sentencing date for a Genesee man who pleaded guilty last week in Potter County court to possession of a small amount of marijuana. According to DA Dawn Fink, 50 year old Jackie Bracey was arrested by state police this past May 18 when troopers were called to the village of West Bingham because of Bracey operating an ATV on a public road. While he was being questioned by the responding officer, Bracey tried to hand off marijuana and drug paraphernalia to a neighbor but the items were immediately seized by the trooper.
11/14/07 The state Liquor Control Board says charges are pending against The Austin Costello Sportsmen’s Club for operating an unlicensed establishment. State troopers served a search warrant on the club Friday afternoon following a year long investigation and confiscated 45 gallons of beer, four liters of liquor and some $322 in cash. Troopers are looking for the vandals who tampered with the phone lines at the home of Timothy Tuttle on the Harrison Fox Hill Road in Harrison Valley sometime over the past few weeks. Two telephone lines were disconnected near the house and also were cut at a nearby telephone pole causing an interruption in service. Unknown persons used a blunt object to smash a couple of mailboxes located along the Ellisburg Road in Genesee Township Sunday evening. The mailboxes belonged to Scott Miller and Kristine Smith. Anyone who has information about either incident is asked to contact the local barracks at 274-8690. State police have also investigated a couple of incidents victimizing Valley Hardware in Sweden Valley . Authorities claim Mary Knight of Coudersport wrote a bad check to the business in September for over $116 and failed to make it good. And, a known individual is suspected of failing to return a Bostich coil roofing nail gun he rented in late October. The tool is valued at $300 and was rented for $46.00. Francis VanCise, 40 of Eldred was arraigned earlier this week before District Judge Rich Luther on two counts of felony forgery and misdemeanor counts of theft by deception. Authorities claim VanCise signed and cashed two $500 checks at the Bradford Wal-Mart in early August. He was released on $30,000 bail pending a preliminary hearing on November 28.
11/13/07 Information about the closing of the Coudersport JC Penney Store has been conflicting with a media relations spokesperson, Tim Lyons first telling WFRM the store was closing but a new one would be opening somewhere in the market. Late this afternoon, Lyons told WFRM he had “jumped the gun,” and there would be no new store built in this market. The Coudersport store has been at the same Main Street location since opening in 1930 and expanded several years ago. Lyons said there are currently 12 employees at the Coudersport store which is slated to close in late February. A Coudersport couple escaped injury Sunday afternoon when their pick up hit a deer on Route 44 about a mile and half north of the borough. Troopers said Franklin Furman was headed north when the whitetail bounded onto the road in front of his GMC Sierra. Furman was able to drive the truck safely onto the berm. Both he and his wife, Kathlyn were wearing seatbelts. A criminal trespass taking place between last Thursday and Saturday is under investigation by troopers here. Unknown persons entered a house on Buffalo Street in Eulalia Township owned by Jeffrey Miller of Grandbury, Texas but apparently took nothing. Hunters planning to participate in the state's archery bear season on Nov. 14 and 15, are reminded by the Game Commission they must have a general hunting license and a bear license from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The archery bear season will be held in selected Wildlife Management Units including three in the WFRM listening area-- 2F, 2G,and 3A In 2006, about 7,500 hunters participated in the new two-day season, according to the agency's Game-Take Survey. They took 79 bears.In WMUs where the archery bear season and fall wild turkey season run concurrently, bowhunters when moving are required to wear a hat containing 100 square inches of solid fluorescent orange. The hat may be removed when the hunter is stationary or on stand. WMUs affected by this requirement are 2D, 2G, 3A and 4D.Any bear taken by a bowhunter must be checked by the Game Commission within 24 hours of the time it was killed. Successful bowhunters should call a region office for instructions. Region office staff will direct the hunter to a location where an employee will meet him or her and check the bear. Traditional check stations will not be open during the archery bear season but will be for the regular season which takes place next Monday through Wednesday.. Telephone numbers for the six region offices are listed on page 3 of the 2007-08 Pennsylvania Hunting and Trapping Digest.
|