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06/30/06 McKean County Emergency Services and the HazMat team based in Elk County responded to a train derailment this morning next the to Gardeau Road in Norwich Township. Potter County EMA Director John Hetrick reports that more than 10 cars were involved and a quantity of sodium hydroxide leaked from some of the cars. Hetrick says the situation is under control although residents in that area were asked to leave as a precaution and the Red Cross has set up a temporary shelter in Keating Summit. Traffic on Route 155 is flowing normally but Hetrick is urging people to stay away so that the clean-up can continue without interruption. State police at Kane are probing the theft of some golf clubs at the Pine Acres Country Club in Lafayette Township between June 18 and 21. Thieves took a Men's Cobra brand F-speed driver, green shaft with black head and a Women’s Cobra brand 440 S2 driver, red shaft with black head from a golf cart owned by Timothy Petitt of Bradford. The Clubs are valued at a total of $798. In McKean County Court news, 26 year old Timothy Barth of Port Allegany pleaded guilty to several charges of writing worthless checks and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Bart admitted writing the bad checks to businesses in Port Allegany and Smethport last summer and to driving a vehicle belonging to an Eldred business without the owner’s permission and he also admitted trying to use debit cards belonging to two Port Allegany women. He’ll be sentenced on July 6. Flood waters are receding in the northern part of the
state and in neighboring Tioga County
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began discharging
water from Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque dams late Thursday morning after holding
back storm runoff for 30 hours. All three lakes remained above their normal
summer pool levels Thursday afternoon, swollen by runoff from heavy rain in the
region Tuesday and Wednesday. At 2:30 p.m., Hammond Lake was 3 feet above
normal, and Cowanesque Lake was 3.5 feet higher than usual. Tioga Lake, which
directly impounds the Tioga River, was 17.5 feet above normal size. 06/29/06 Governor Rendell has declared a disaster emergency for 46 Pennsylvania Counties due to the recent heavy rains and flooding. The declaration authorizes state agencies to use all available resources and personnel necessary to cope with the magnitude and severity of the emergency. Potter and Tioga Counties were included in the declaration but according to Potter County EMA John Hetrick, Potter County did not experience any significant damage. However, he continues to urge those planning on traveling to check on road conditions before beginning the trip. State Police, meanwhile, are asking that motorists not call state police barracks for road conditions as the calls needlessly tie up phone lines and available manpower. Road conditions are provided by Penn Dot. Call toll free: 888-783-6783. Flooding was reported in Tioga County and as a result, Tioga Lake is closed to all public access until further notification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Marilyn Jones, Operations Project Manager at Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes Project said due to current lake levels, flooding conditions, and mud and debris, Tioga Lake and the Lambs Creek Recreation Area will be closed until conditions improve to allow personnel to safely clean and clear the area. This recreation area includes the boat launch, picnic area, hike and bike trails, and fishing accesses. It is advised that visitors contact the Project Office at (570) 835-5281 for additional information. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources advises that a number of state parks have been affected by the flooding. Beaches, pools, trails, roads and camping areas have been impacted. To find out which parks are affected, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us or call a specific park. State Police at Kane are investigating the theft of some equipment from a work site along a forestry road off of Route 321 near Kane. Thieves took a 5.5 hp Honda semi trash pump, 10 ft. suction hose, male cam lock ends and two inch hose clamps belonging to North Coast Energy of Youngstown, Ohio between 3:00 p.m. Monday and 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. No value of the equipment was given. A Coudersport man, charged with burglary and theft, has waived his case into McKean County Court. Adam Rotino, 23, was arrested this past February for burglarizing an apartment in the city of Bradford. Authorities claim he and Carrie Winston went to Tuesday Hale’s apartment and that Winston asked her for some narcotics. The couple reportedly left after Hale told them to do so. She later left her apartment and when she returned, she found that a DVD player, movie and watch had been taken. Police later recovered the items in a car driven by Winston and Rotino along with two syringes. Rotino, who is also charged with receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia, remains free on $2500 bail.
06/28/06 Potter County EMA Director John Hetrick is advising area residents, that while the WFRM listening area “dodged a bullet” with the recent flooding, there are several areas of the state which have been hard hit, if you are planning a trip south or east in the next few days, it would be a good idea to phone ahead to find out what the road conditions are. Governor Ed Rendell has activated the state emergency operations center Tuesday afternoon and has issued a disaster declaration for 46 counties. Locally, nearly three inches of rain fell Monday and Tuesday but there was no significant flooding. But there was a weather-related power outage for some 156 Tri-County REC members early Wednesday morning. According to a spokesperson, a large tree took down a primary conductor line at 1:27 a.m. plunging Roulette-area members into the darkness. All power had been restored by 6:09 a.m.A bankruptcy judge has given his approval for the sale of Adelphia’s assets to ComCast and Time Warner to proceed even without a bankruptcy plan in place. The last hurdle for the deal is approval by the FCC, but chairman Kevin Martin was quoted last week as saying he expects the commission will review the deal by mid-July. The three involved parties have expressed optimism that the $17.6 billion sale will be completed by July 31. Minor injuries were reported for Diane Weiss of Ulysses following a one-vehicle crash early Wednesday morning on Denton Hill. Sweden Township Police Chief Bryan Phelps said Weiss lost control of her car when she swerved to avoid a deer. The unit crossed four lanes of the highway, then came back across, went off the berm and overturned. The driver was taken to Charles Cole Hospital, treated and released. Coudersport volunteer emergency services responded to the scene. A Smethport driver has been cited for overtaking a vehicle on the right following a collision Tuesday afternoon on Route 246 near Moody Hollow in Otto Township. State police said Steven Kimball was passing a Peterbilt truck tractor operated by Daniel Finlan of Rixford on the right as Finlan began a right turn into a private drive as they were headed east. Both drivers escaped injury. An Emporium man also escaped injury in a weather-related crash Tuesday on Route 120 about four miles east of Emporium. State police said a Jeep Cherokee operated by Robert Stitt went out of control on the wet highway, hit some guardrails and rolled over. He’s been cited for speeding.
06/27/06 The “watches and warnings” keep coming. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for all of Central Pennsylvania in effect through Wednesday morning as a storm system keeps “training” over the Northcentral mountains, repeatedly dumping rain in already saturated areas. Flood warnings have been issued for McKean, Elk, and Clearfield Counties in the Pennsylvania portion of the WFRM listening area and for Allegany County in neighboring New York State. The warnings remain in effect through this evening. There have been two Severe Thunderstorm warnings issued for McKean County this afternoon and more may be on the way. Weather Observer Tony Pierotti recorded 2.33 inches of rain at his location on Route 872 south of Coudersport between 5:00 a.m. Monday and 5:00 a.m. Tuesday. 1.79” fell at WFRM and 1.19” on Fishing Creek to the west. Tuesday afternoon’s rainfall was approximately .50 here at the station and more than 1.00 inch on Fishing Creek. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge heard arguments today in the Adelphia case which could make all but certain the sale of the company to Time Warner and Comcast in about four weeks. Adelphia has petitioned the court to allow the sale to go through without creditor approval. Under the plan, proceeds of the sale would be put in escrow -- to be distributed to its creditors after they work out their differences. If the judge approves the plan, the sale must clear just one more hurdle – approval by the Federal Communications Commission. Meanwhile, Time Warner Cable continues to extend job offers to members of the Adelphia workforce in Coudersport. An Adelphia spokesman said last week that more than 850 people from the company's Coudersport workforce have been offered jobs by Time Warner. About 275 current Adelphia employees have not yet received job offers. Time Warner continues to assess the situation and is likely to continue recruiting from that pool to meet its needs. Some of the 850 jobs in Coudersport are “transitional,” and could be eliminated by the company in the coming months. There will also be temporary jobs available after July in the “Adelphia Estate,” a business entity that will handle post-close financial, legal and asset management issues. Officials from all three companies expect the sale to close no later than July 31. The State Labor Department reports that Potter County’s unemployment rate rose slightly between April and May from 5.6 to 5.7%. Unemployment rates for neighboring counties during the period were 6.7% in Cameron County; 5.4% in McKean; 5.0% in Elk and 4.8% in Tioga. Jobless rates were 4.8% in Pennsylvania and 4.6% in the nation as a whole during the same period. State police here are probing the theft of handgun from a parked truck last Tuesday night. Someone reached into a pick up belonging to Tracy Crawford of Wellsboro while it was parked at his business on Route 6 about a mile west of the Tioga County line and stole a .357 pistol from the cab. Anyone with information is asked to contact the local barracks at 274-8690.
06/26/06 The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for most of Pennsylvania through Tuesday evening. A nearly stationary frontal boundary over the central part of the state will move slowly to the northwest today. The front will focus persistent moderate to heavy rain today and tonight continuing into Tuesday. Widespread additional rainfall amounts of around one inch will occur by late tonight and three to five inches are possible in some locations. Potter County EMA Coordinator John Hetrick is advising people to postpone unnecessary trips as several more inches may fall in isolated areas. Evening travel may be particularly dangerous due to decreased visibility. Here at the station, a quarter of an inch fell between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m.; another quarter inch fell between 10:00 and 10:45 p.m. and by 2:30 p.m., 1.31 inches had fallen. A Cuba, NY motorcyclist was hurt Sunday afternoon in a crash on Route 346 near Stickney Hollow in Corydon Township, McKean County. State police said 24 year old Brenden Bradley was operating his ’05 Suzuki at a high rate of speed when it went out of control and “laid down” on the highway, skidding some 300 feet before coming to rest in a ditch. Bradley was thrown off the machine and landed nearby. He was taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries. Police say he will be cited for reckless driving. A Galeton teenager escaped injury in a one-vehicle crash taking place late Saturday night on Route 6 in Pike Township. Troopers said 18 year old Duntin Rinehart was headed east when he swerved his Dodge Caravan to avoid some deer which had come onto the highway. The van went off the road and struck a ditch. A five year old male passenger also escaped injury. A couple of drivers are facing DUI charges following recent crashes. State police at Emporium have charged 26 year old Frank Caratelli of Homer City with DUI and various summary traffic offenses following a crash Sunday afternoon on Route 120 in the village of Sinnemahoning. Caratelli’s Chevy S-10 traveled off of the road while westbound, and struck a telephone, shearing it off. He was taken to Elk Regional Medical Center for treatment. And, Kane-based state police have charged 20 year old Angela Allen of Wellsville with DUI for a crash taking place during the early morning hours back on June 4th. Her Ford Tempo flipped end over end after striking an embankment on Route 44 about a mile north of Shinglehouse. She was taken to Olean General Hospital for treatment of her injuries. State police here are probing the theft of some medicine from a Ulysses residence Sunday between 10:15 and 10:45 a.m. Someone entered the home of Arlene Bristol on Water Street and remove 360 Adavan pills from two prescription bottles. A couple of camp burglaries are also being investigated. Sometime over the past six weeks, thieves forced their way into a camp on Weimer Hollow Road in Pleasant Valley Township and removed some $570 worth of items. The camp is owned by James Grube Sr of New Providence, PA. And sometime over the winter, thieves forced open a door at a camp on the West Branch of Dingman Run, outside of Coudersport, owned by Mary Bray of El Paso, Texas. Thieves took personal items from the camp belonging to David Nunan of Pottstown, valued at about $90.
06/23/06 The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for the entire Pennsylvania portion of the WFRM listening area through Friday evening. Forecasters say showers and thunderstorms are likely over the next several hours and may produce locally heavy rainfall. Last night’s thunderstorms caused at least one electrical fire in the area. The Foster Township Fire Department was called out at around 10:30 when the residents returned home and found half of the house had power and there was smoke coming from the basement where broken glass was found. Earlier in the evening, Smethport volunteers were called to a location on Nelson Street where a high tension wire had ignited some grass after falling to the ground. It was not determined whether the line came down due to gusty winds or a tree limb falling on it. During Thursday’s regular meeting, Potter County Commissioner Cathy Bowers announced that she had been assured by Time Warner that some 650 jobs, possibly more, will be retained here in Coudersport. She said that represents some 75% of the workforce and is a much better situation than many believed would be possible with the sale of Adelphia’s assets to Comcast and Time Warner. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of July. Commissioner Bowers credited the employees themselves for making a good impression on Time Warner executives.She said the workers had put on an “overwhelming effort” to impress the huge company. She said they went to work every day, plugging away without knowing if they would still have a job or not and they convinced the “powers that be” that Coudersport is a “good place to live, play and work.” A Lewis Run driver was seriously injured in a one-vehicle crash last night near Tacks Inn. State police at Kane said 21 year old Edward Horn, Jr. was headed south when his Dodge Caravan crossed the road and struck a tree. He was taken to Kane Community Hospital for treatment and is facing charges of careless driving, and an equipment violation. The van was severely damaged. Troopers here are investigating a camp burglary discovered Thursday on Mitchell Road in West Branch Township. Authorities say someone pried open a door at Hemlock Lodge owned by Thomas Bross of New Oxford, PA but apparently took nothing. Damage is said to be about $10. A criminal mischief taking place last weekend on Airport Road in Shippen Township, Cameron County is being probed by Emporium-based state police. Someone pushed in a door on a mobile home owned by John Jordan causing the lateral hinge work to disengage from its supporting structure.
06/22/06 The sale of Adelphia to Comcast and Time Warner is likely about to clear a final regulatory hurdle which would allow the deal to be completed. Reuters News Service is quoting FCC Chairman today that the “commission will try to address (the sale) by the end of July.” The statement was made to reporters at the end of the Commission’s monthly open meeting. The Federal Trade Commission gave its approval in January. Both companies have said they expect the sale will be completed by the end of July. During today’s Potter County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Cathy Bowers reported that Time Warner, who is acquiring the local Adelphia assets, has promised more and more jobs will stay here. She said the prospects are a lot better than many had originally believed and acknowledged that upwards of 75% of the local workforce will be staying. In McKean County court news, a hearing was held yesterday to determine if a jury which found two former Potter County women guilty of perjury had been tainted. The jury found that Marian Nersinger and Michelle Nelson committed perjury when they both testified under oath that they overheard Becky Lucrezi Olsen state she was the one who killed Kane Borough Police Officer Steve Jerman, not Timothy Williams who was found guilty of third degree murder and is currently serving a prison sentence. Olsen and Matt Seeley were backseat passengers in the car driven by Timothy Williams when the veteran officer was shot dead at a traffic stop in February 1999. All were from Coudersport at the time of the shooting. Olsen and Seeley were given partial immunity for testifying against Williams who maintains he was so drunk he still does not know what really happened. Witnesses at the hearing yesterday included news reporters, a state police officer, a jury member and other witnesses. Judge John Yoder took the matter under advisement and directed the attorneys to file their briefs for the case within 15 days. In other court action, 45 year old Joel Johnson of Smethport was sentenced to a prison term of nine months to three years for harassing his neighbors numerous times over the past several years. The Potter County Needs Assessment Committee is asking anyone who received the survey and has not returned it to do so right away so the results can be compiled. The information is confidential and the results will be tabulated at Penn State University. The results will be used by volunteer organizations, Potter County Human Services and county officials to plan future programs to deliver services to residents. Anyone with questions about the survey is invited to call Leon Kaple at Potter County Human Services 544-7315 or 1-800-800-2560. He can also be emailed at lkaple@pottercountyhumansvcs.org.
6/21/06 The state police fire marshal is investigating an arson fire which destroyed a seasonal dwelling on the Hurlburt Hill Road in Harrison Township early Tuesday morning. State Police Cpl. Murray at the Denton Hill barracks told WFRM that the firebug(s) used an accelerant and lit several pieces of farm equipment in a steel building on fire and said the blaze was “definitely intentional.” The home was owned by Brian Farleigh of Hazelton and while the total extent of damage is not yet available, authorities believe it’s in the neighborhood of $250,000. State police are seeking a suspect and motive for the fire and anyone who has information which may the investigation is asked to call the local barracks at 274-8690. When Harrison Township Fire Chief David Jones arrived on the scene shortly after the 5:11 a.m. call, he found the house completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters from Tri-Town in Ulysses, Crary Hose Company in Westfield, Whitesville, Genesee and Goodyear Hose in Galeton assisted Harrison Township volunteers at the scene. A Galeton man has been cited for disorderly conduct for an incident allegedly taking place at about 8:30 p.m. on June 6 along Crippen Run Road in West Branch Township. State police claim 48 year old Dan Mock was standing on his porch and used obscene language and made obscene gestures towards his neighbors David and Wendy Burrous as they drove past his house. The theft of some cash from a Keating Township home between June 18 and 20 is being investigated by troopers locally. Authorities say someone entered Duran Knapp’s home on the Odin Road by unknown means and removed a “substantial” amount of money. State police at Kane have charged 54 year old Rick Godfrey and Todd Springer, 43, both of Warren with theft by unlawful taking. Authorities claim the pair was caught “red-handed” stealing glass wire insulators belonging to the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Railroad from the track next to the Campbelltown Road in Hamlin Township Monday morning. A Belmont, NY resident has been charged with disorderly conduct for an incident allegedly taking place late Saturday night on Academy Street in Ulysses. Police say 38 year old James Cowburn used an air compressor and hose to propel a glass bottle into the air. The bottle landed in the back yard at the Michael Healy residence near his camper. A criminal mischief taking place in the same neighborhood over the weekend is being probed by state police here. Vandals shot paint balls at the front door and surrounding area at the Northern Potter Health Center.
06/20/06 A New York City man was sentenced yesterday to two terms of one to three years in a New York State prison for raping a 15 year old Shinglehouse girl. Walter Escobar-Vega, 28, of Queens still faces numerous sex-related charges here in Potter County. He was arrested on March 19 when he and the girl emerged from a hotel in Olean where they had spent the weekend. Escobar-Vega hired a cab to drive him from New York to Shinglehouse on March 16. He picked up the ninth grade student when she left the Oswayo Valley High School that afternoon and took her to Olean for the weekend. She was listed as a missing person and was not located until Sunday evening. During their investigation, police learned that the two had become acquainted through a Yahoo chat room on the internet in September 2004. The two began having phone conversations in April 2005 and started sending each other nude pictures a couple of months later. Escobar-Vega traveled by cab to Shinglehouse in February of this year when the girl’s parents were out of town. Charges are pending against a Smethport driver following a one-vehicle crash Monday morning on the Bingham Road in Lafayette Township. State police said 26 year old John Brown Jr. was driving a Ford Bronco northbound when it slid off the wet pavement, ran into a ditch and rolled over. The driver and his three passengers, 31 year old Thomas Carpenter of Smethport and two boys, ages 4 and 5, were all taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Police said seatbelts and child safety seats were not being used at the time of the crash. A 31 year old Genesee resident has been charged with criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness for an incident allegedly taking place early Sunday morning at the Genesee Environmental Center. Police were called to the location by owner Larry Hinrichsen who had gone to check an activated burglary alarm and discovered Jason Bundy highly intoxicated and passed out inside the building. Troopers at Kane have charge 44 year old Glen Szymanski of Ridgway with public drunkenness after he was found lying on Route 321 in the village of East Kane at around 2:00 a.m. Saturday. A couple of victims have told police they do not wish to press charges against suspects. Kane-based state police claim 45 year old Steven Ault of Eldred grabbed Tiffany Ault, 20, around the throat and threatened to choke her during an argument early Saturday morning at her home on Cris Drive in that town. But no charges are being filed at the request of the victim And, Eugene Graybill of Columbia, PA told Coudersport-based state police he did not want to file charges against a known suspect who fired some rounds
06/19/06 A Coudersport man is facing charges in connection to two separate incidents involving a 15 year old female victim. State police say the first incident took place inside a bus on Route 6 in Pike Township at about 9:00 a.m. on Thursday June 8. Derek Stout, 19, is accused of grabbing, pushing, pinching, biting and smacking the girl during a school trip. He was released on unsecured bail after being arraigned before District Judge Delores Bristol on charges of simple assault and harassment. Stout has been subsequently charged with concealment of whereabouts of a child and unsworn falsification for an incident taking place the following Saturday between 7:30 a.m. and midnight at his home on East Second Street in Sweden Township. Troopers claim while they searched for the 15 year old girl who was listed as a missing person or runaway, Stout made false statements as to the girl’s whereabouts when in fact she had been hiding in his home. Stout was also arraigned on those charges before Judge Bristol who was on duty at the time of his arrest. Preliminary hearings on both matters will be scheduled later. Alcohol was a factor, according to police, when a Whitesville, NY driver wrecked his car Saturday morning on the Peet Brook Road in Allegany Township. Troopers said 21 year old Christopher Bryant was headed north when he fell asleep at the wheel of his Chevrolet Cavalier causing it to go off the road and strike a tree stump. After which, the coupe spun around and slid down a 10 foot embankment. Bryant had to be extricated from the wreckage by Coudersport EMS personnel. He was first taken to Charles Cole Hospital and was later flown to a hospital in Erie for observation and a moderate head injury. Minor injuries were reported for a Roulette woman and her young child following a crash Friday afternoon on Lanninger Creek Road in Roulette Township. State police said Chastity Marsh was traveling north when her Pontiac Grand AM went off the road and struck a fence. Both the driver and youngster were taken to Charles Cole Hospital. An Eldred teenager also received minor injuries in a one-vehicle mishap. Kane-based state police said 18 year old William Freer lost control of his Ford Ranger pick-up when he overcorrected after the wheels dropped onto the berm Saturday afternoon. The truck went through some grass, became airborne over a creek and landed in a nearby field. He’s being charged with speeding and failing to wear a seatbelt. The theft of some money from a wrecked car is under investigation by state police here. Thieves reached into a car owned by 86 year old Eugene Kovacs of Coudersport and stole over $509 last Saturday while it was sitting in the Main Driveway at Charles Cole Hospital after it had been involved in a collision. The theft of a Coleman Powermate generator from a Hector Township residence is under investigation as well. The generator was taken from the patio at the home of Gregory Lampman located on the Brown Road between 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. last Thursday. Troopers at Kane are probing the theft of an n”inoperative” Suzuki RM 250 from the front of the Franklin Howard residence on Oil Valley Road in Otto Township on Sunday, June 11. The thieves cut the chain locking the bike to a steel post and pushed it southwards on Route 546 between 2:30 and 11:15 a.m.
06/16/06 A portion of Route 6 east of Ludlow was closed to traffic early this morning followinga one vehicle crash . State police at Kane said James Sluga of Mt. Jewett was headed west at about 11:30 p.m. when his Dodge 4-door truck crossed to the other side of the road, struck some guardrails and spun counterclockwise dragging a section of the guard rail across the highway. Sluga was flown by helicopter to Hamot Medical Center in Erie. His passenger, Reuben Nearing of Ludlow was also injured, but police did not indicate where he was taken for treatment of his injuries. The highway was closed for about three hours while PennDot employees removed the damaged guard rail. A cruelty to animals incident taking place Thursday afternoon in Hamlin Township, McKean County is under investigation. State police said someone took a pet rabbit belonging to Debra Carpenter from its cage. Apparently the rabbit managed to get loose and was found injured under a tree along Church Street. Police said it appeared the pet had been shot twice with a BB gun. The theft of some copper wire from along the railroad grade near the entrance of Kinzua State Park in Hamlin Township is also being probed by state police Thieves took two 480 foot long copper wires belonging to the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Company sometime between Monday and Wednesday. Troopers are also looking for the Asian male who drove off without paying for $37.86 worth of gasoline he pumped into his white Toyota Siena mini van at theCrosby Mini Mart last night at around 7:45 p.m. The van reportedly had Maryland plates. The Potter County Visitors Association held their annual membership meeting and dinner on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 at the Hotel Crittenden in Coudersport. 37 people representing 25 businesses or organizations were present to cast their votes for board members and take part in the annual social event. The winners of the election are as follows: Harry “Chip” Harrison, Lyman Run State Park Complex, Patricia Berberich, PA Lumber Museum, and Doug Morley, Northwest Savings Bank, Donald Gilliland, Potter-Leader Enterprise, Kim Mitchell, Mitchell’s Tax Service, and Walter Baker, Hotel Crittenden. They join existing board members: Jeff Miller, TelCove, Shawn Schoonover, Ski Denton, Amber Neefe, Sweden Valley Inn, Gerri Miller, Radio Station WFRM, and Gail Ayers, Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast. After the elections, Rich Jones gave a brief presentation regarding the Wildflower Weekend project. Afterwards, David Brooks, Executive Director, demonstrated the new Potter County Visitors website, www.visitpottercounty.com. The website was launched last June and is averaging 12,000 distinct visitors per month. The Potter County Visitors Association was incorporated on Sept 4, 1962 as the Denton Hill Recreation Association. In 1964, the name was changed to Potter County Recreation, Inc., “PCRI”. In 1997, PCRI changed its name to the Potter County Visitors Association (PCVA). PCVA is the official tourist promotion agency of Potter County. Its mission is to enhance the local economic development and quality of life by promoting tourism and recreational opportunities in Potter County. PCVA will be moving to the former Bonnie Sue Young law office at 118 N. Main Street, Coudersport later this month. 06/15/06 Attorneys for Adelphia founder and former CEO John Rigas and his son Timothy argued in federal appeals court in New York City yestrday that their convictions should be overturned because accounting terms were not explained to the jury. Attorneys also told the judges that the Rigases believed they were properly following accounting rules in transactions which the government argued successfully in the 2004 trial were fraudulent. The two men were found guilty of conspiracy, bank and securities fraud. Another son, Michael Rigas was acquitted of some charges and was scheduled to be re-tried on others when he pleaded guilty to one count of making a false entry in a company record. He currently is serving a 10 month sentence of home confinement. His father and brother remain free while they appeal their sentences. The elder Rigas was sentenced to a 15 year prison term while Timothy was sentenced to 20 years. The appeals court panel will rule later on the defense motion. Work is progressing at the Lyman Run Dam according to Park manager Chip Harrison who told members of the PCVA last night that, weather permitting, the actual construction should be completed sometime in September. The site will be cleaned up and equipment moved out after that and the filling of Lyman lake should begin in October. The dam was drained several years ago when inspectors determined the fifty year old earthen dam was unsafe. Because of the negative impact on the county's tourism industry, the county commissioners lobbied the state government to have it repaired or rebuilt. Tom Ridge was governor of Pennsylvania at the time and pledged funding for the project which survived the transition to the Mark Schweiker administration after Ridge became the nation's first Homeland Security Secretary in 2001. There was a little "down time" with a change in Administrations when Governor Ed Rendell, a Democrat, succeeded the two previous Republican governors but the actual project was never in doubt and many observers believe it may be the last dam to be constructed in Pennsylvania. A couple of harassment incidents are being investigated by state police in Coudersport and Kane.A 15 year old Roulette girl told troopers that she has been receiving harassing messages and emails through her MySpace.com account from a 15 year old boy she had been friends with over the past school year. Jeffrey Campbell, 28 and 19 year old Michelle Fillhart, Port Allegany have been cited for harassment in connection to incidents allegedly taking place over the past week along Route 155 north of Port Allegany. Authorities claim the pair drove past a construction site, shouting obscenities and making derogatory remarks toward 31 year old Karl Renner of Port Allegany while he was in the company ho a work crew. Allegheny Power has announced a planned electrical outage affecting a large portion of Coudersport Borough Saturday. The outage is expected to run from about 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weather permitting, and will affect over 900 customers.
06/14/06 A Roulette man is facing hit and run charges following a crash early Tuesday morning in that village. Troopers claim 21 year old David Darush left the scene after his vehicle drifted off of Maple Street and knocked down three mailboxes and a fence at about 4:00 a.m. . Police said one of the victims later identified Darush’s Chevy Baretta. The investigation is continuing and anyone else with information is asked to call the local barracks at 274-8690. An unidentified dump truck driver was injured Tuesday around noontime in a mishap occurring adjacent to the Keating Township building near the intersection of Routes 607 and 155. According to an Austin Fire Department spokesman, the truck was dumping a load of limestone when it tipped over onto the passenger side. The driver was transported to Charles Cole Hospital by Austin Volunteer Ambulance. A couple of recent thefts are being investigated by state police here and in McKean County. Sometime between June 2 and 8, someone strung a heavy duty black electrical cord across land owned by Karen Marshall of Lock Haven and plugged it into an external electrical outlet at a her camp on Grover Hollow Road in Bingham Township. Anyone who has knowledge about the theft of electricity is asked to contact the local state police barracks. Thieves took two radiators from a vehicle parked in a field next to the Coleman Mills road in Liberty Township sometime over the past couple of weeks. The radiators belonged to Frederick Ernst. And, a 20 inch boy’s BMX bicycle was taken from in front of a residence on Alan Street in Keating Township, McKean County between 2:00 and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. It belonged to a 15 year old boy. State police here are looking for vandals who blew up a mail box at the intersection of Niles Hill Road and Dingman Run Road at about 10 p.m. Monday night. Lester Goss of Coudersport told authorities that the vandals were driving a sedan when they took off after using a type of fireworks to destroy his plastic mailbox. In regional news, an elderly New Jersey couple perished in a blaze which destroyed their camp in Delmar Township, Tioga County early Tuesday morning. According to authorities, the camp was accessible only by driving across a field and there was no electricity or water at the cabin. While the exact cause of the fire is unknown, it’s believed that a faulty pipe leading from a wood-burning stove to the chimney may have been the cause. The victims’ identities have not been released until next of kin can be notified.
06/13/06 A Shinglehouse-area teen who left her home at about 1:00 o’clock Tuesday morning was located about 12 hours later, apparently unharmed. Kane-based state police said 13 year old Katelyn Barnes of Champlin Hollow Road was picked up by an unidentified person driving a small SUV after “chatting” with an unknown person on the internet. In an updated news release, police said there was “no foul play.” Injuries were reported for one driver following a collision Sunday afternoon on Route 6 in front of Charles Cole Hospital, Coudersport. State police said the collision occurred when 86 year old Eugene Kovacs of Coudersport who has headed east, turned left into the hospital driveway in front of a westbound car driven by 18-year old Caitlin Kernan of Lebanon, PA. Kovacs was treated at the hospital for minor injuries while Kernan and her passenger, Josh Knable of Hershey escaped injury. DUI charges are being filed against 43 year old Philip Bennett of Ulysses following a minor mishap early Saturday morning o Route 49 near Seven Bridges in Allegany Township. State police said Bennett was taken to Charles Cole Hospital for chemical testing after his vehicle ran off the road and went into a ditch. A hit and run taking place between 11:00 p.m. Saturday and 6:00 a.m. Sunday in Hebron Township is being investigated by state police here. An unknown vehicle went off of Dingman Run Road and damaged a fence surrounding property owned by Roy Thompson of Coudersport. Damage was said to amount to about $500. Several harassment incidents have recently been investigated by state police. Troopers here have filed charges against 63 year old Barbara Smith of Germansville, PA after she allegedly “kneed” Maureen Padilla of Austin in the abdomen and shoved her against a table during an argument on Costello Avenue in Austin Sunday around noontime. State police at Kane cited 29 year old Katie Dietz of Olean, NY with harassment after she appeared repeatedly at a home on Canfield Hollow and allegedly harassed Samantha Forte and her family as they were moving out of the house recently purchased by Dietz. And, state police here were called Sunday to a squabble at the playground at the Ulysses townhouses when a four year old boy allegedly hit a13 year old boy with his fist. Police said the incident was settled among both sets of parents and responding troopers.
06/13/06 Speeding charges are pending against a Coudersport man for a crash taking place last Wednesday morning on Wycoff Run Road in Gibson Township, Cameron County. State police said 30 year old Ryan Gooch was rounding a left hand curve at high rate of speed when the wheels of his Ford F-150 dropped off the roadway onto the berm. As Gooch tried to correct, the truck veered across the road and struck an embankment. The passenger side door opened upon impact and passenger 32 year old Benjamin Russell of Coudersport was thrown out of the truck and into the middle of the road. The truck continued on for a short distance before hitting the bank again. Gooch was taken by passenger car to obtain treatment for minor injuries while Russell was taken from the scene by Sinnemahoning ambulance and then flown to the Altoona Hospital where he was treated and released. Details of the crash were only provided this past weekend. A Little Genesee, NY driver is being charged with improperly overtaking another vehicle in connection to a collision taking place Saturday afternoon on the Kings Run Road in Ceres Township. State police said Paul Bluhm was trying to pass a Dodge Caravan driven by 70 year old Elaine Brundage of Wellsville, just as she began to make a left turn. Bluhm applied the brakes on his Chevy sedan but could not avoid striking the van in the left side. Bluhm received minor injuries but Brundage and her husband, John, and four children escaped injury. State police at Kane have charged 19 year old Matthew Skinner of Mt. Jewett with burglary for an incident allegedly taking place early this morning on Gallup Avenue in that town. Authorities claim Skinner unlawfully entered the Jane Bernecky property and a physical altercation erupted when she was awakened. An attempted burglary at Connie’s Market on Route 49 in Bingham Township overnight last Monday is under investigation by state police here. The would-be thieves damaged the door and door frame at the business in their unsuccessful attempt to gain entry. The theft of a “Smokey Bear” sign from the intersection of Routes 155 and 120 in Emporium over the weekend is under investigation by state police there. The sign was valued at $200 and was the property of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. A couple of incidents taking place last week in the borough of Oswayo remain under investigation by state police here. Ron Reynolds told authorities when he returned home Thursday evening he found that someone had fired about 45 green paintballs at his house between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. And, police have charged 23 year old Eric Davis of Oswayo with harassment after he allegedly went to the Reynolds home Friday morning and allegedly harassed Reynolds and his children and reportedly swore at the children relative to an ongoing investigation. 06/12/06 Speeding charges are pending against a Coudersport man for a crash taking place last Wednesday morning on Wycoff Run Road in Gibson Township, Cameron County. State police said 30 year old Ryan Gooch was rounding a left hand curve at high rate of speed when the wheels of his Ford F-150 dropped off the roadway onto the berm. As Gooch tried to correct, the truck veered across the road and struck an embankment. The passenger side door opened upon impact and passenger 32 year old Benjamin Russell of Coudersport was thrown out of the truck and into the middle of the road. The truck continued on for a short distance before hitting the bank again. Gooch was taken by passenger car to obtain treatment for minor injuries while Russell was taken from the scene by Sinnemahoning ambulance and then flown to the Altoona Hospital where he was treated and released. Details of the crash were only provided this past weekend. A Little Genesee, NY driver is being charged with improperly overtaking another vehicle in connection to a collision taking place Saturday afternoon on the Kings Run Road in Ceres Township. State police said Paul Bluhm was trying to pass a Dodge Caravan driven by 70 year old Elaine Brundage of Wellsville, just as she began to make a left turn. Bluhm applied the brakes on his Chevy sedan but could not avoid striking the van in the left side. Bluhm received minor injuries but Brundage and her husband, John, and four children escaped injury. State police at Kane have charged 19 year old Matthew Skinner of Mt. Jewett with burglary for an incident allegedly taking place early this morning on Gallup Avenue in that town. Authorities claim Skinner unlawfully entered the Jane Bernecky property and a physical altercation erupted when she was awakened. An attempted burglary at Connie’s Market on Route 49 in Bingham Township overnight last Monday is under investigation by state police here. The would-be thieves damaged the door and door frame at the business in their unsuccessful attempt to gain entry. The theft of a “Smokey Bear” sign from the intersection of Routes 155 and 120 in Emporium over the weekend is under investigation by state police there. The sign was valued at $200 and was the property of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. A couple of incidents taking place last week in the borough of Oswayo remain under investigation by state police here. Ron Reynolds told authorities when he returned home Thursday evening he found that someone had fired about 45 green paintballs at his house between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. And, police have charged 23 year old Eric Davis of Oswayo with harassment after he allegedly went to the Reynolds home Friday morning and allegedly harassed Reynolds and his children and reportedly swore at the children relative to an ongoing investigation. 06/09/06 A Coudersport man has been sentenced to a state prison term of 2-1/2 to five years for sexual assault. Kevin Lunn, 23, recently pleaded guilty in McKean County court to aggravated indecent assault without consent, aggravated indecent assault on a person less that 13, indecent assault and corruption of minors for having sex with a 14 year old girl between December 2004 and January 2005. Under Megan’s law, Lunn must register his address with state police for 10 years after he is released from prison. State police at Kane are investigating the theft of a lawnmower from a Keating Township camp sometime over the past week. A Craftsman self-propelled lawn mower and a gas can valued at a total of $325 were taken from the front porch of a camp on the Irish Hollow Road owned by Gerald Kite of Austin. The Potter County Commissioners during their regular meeting on Thursday approved a grant agreement between the county and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for a $20,000 grant to conduct Citizen Corps Program activities in the county. They also approved an agreement with Dr. Robert Wagner for on-site physician services at the county jail and an agreement with Infocon for an accounting system The software and training cost of $1440.00 will be funded through the Records Improvement Fund. The monthly service fee of $100.00 will be paid directly out of the Commissioners’ contract services line item of the budget. In personnel action, the commissioners agreed to the retroactive hiring of Sara Gamble as a Summer intern in the Planning Office at the hourly rate of $8.20. they also agreed to hire Adam Neff as a full-time temporary Trailblazer Supervisor at the rate of $10.50 per hour and Phoebe Leber as a full-time temporary Trailblazer Supervisor’s Assistant at the rate of $7.00 per hour. The hirings were ratified during the Salary Board meeting which followed.
6/08/06 A six year old McKean County boy died Tuesday night when his child-size ATV rolled on top of him after he was thrown off the machine. Devon DuPont of Lewis Run was taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead following the 8:30 p.m. mishap on private property off of the Bingham Road in Lafayette Township. State police in Coudersport have charged four more area residents with burglary, theft, conspiracy, criminal trespass, receiving stolen property, possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Authorities accused 25 year old Ryan Hibshman, Daniel Foster, 20, and 18 year old Jonathan Proctor all of Galeton and 19 year old Joshua Bloom of Westfield with a recent burglary at the Ox Yoke Inn on Route 6, Galeton in which cash and alcoholic beverages were taken. They are also suspected of trying to burglarize the Ulysses American Legion, Connie’s Market in Ulysses and Kibbe’s Store in Harrison Valley. The three underage suspects have additionally been charged with underage possession of alcoholic beverages. The arrests this week come on the heels of last week’s arrest of 7 people suspected of committing numerous burglaries and thefts all over the county during the past six months or so. They were picked up in connection to a burglary taking place on North Ayers Road in Summit Township on May 31. Search warrants were obtained for several homes and police said extensive property was recovered. Four of the suspects, Daniel Fierro, 21, of Austin, 19 year old Jeffery Johnson Jr. of Sweden Township, 26 year old Victor Vallejo of Austin and 18 year old Kyle Woodring of Eulalia Township were all remanded to the Potter County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail each. Colt Stinger, 23, of Sweden Township was jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail. Amanda Shutt, 18 of Coudersport was released after posting $15,000 bail and the 17 year old girl was turned over to Juvenile Probation. Police say they do not believe the two sets of arrests are related. In regional news, New York state authorities are looking for two masked teens who robbed the FYE store in the Olean Mall yesterday. The pair reportedly wore hooded sweatshirts and bandanas and took a dozen iPods and two PlayStations from the store. Ryan Abbott, 25, of Port Allegany has been cited for public drunkenness after being found lying across the Pine Grove Road in Annin Townshp Wednesday at about 10:10 a.m. A non-traffic citation has been filed with District Judge Todd. 06/07/06 A burglary taking place during a 24 hour period Sunday or Monday on the East Fork Road about two and a half miles south of the village of Conrad is being investigated by state police locally. Thieves forced their way into a camp owned by Jack Clough of York but it’s not known if anything was taken. Anyone with information is asked to call Cpl. Murray at the local barracks, 274-8690. Authorities say information can remain anonymous. Troopers at Emporium are investigating a theft at the Hicks Run Cemetery in Gibson Township over the past couple of weeks. A wrought iron sign with the words, “Hicks Run Cemetery” featuring an elk and hummingbird was removed from the signpost after the post was cut. A couple of prowling incidents taking place Sunday night on the Rag Hill Road and Andrews Settlement Road in Genesee Township are being probed by state police here. An unknown person entered property owned by Jonathan Inzana on the Rag Hill Road and by Roy Nickerson on the Andrews Settlement road. The Coudersport Falcons baseball team will play California Thursday afternoon at Clarion University in the first round of the PIAA state play-offs. Game time is 3:00 p.m.
06/06/06 An RD Port Allegany man was seriously injured Monday afternoon in a one-vehicle crash on Route 59 just east of the Bradford Regional Airport. State police said 79 year old Eugene Blood of Sartwell Creek Road could not regain control of his Chevy van after the wheels drifted off the pavement onto the soft shoulder. The van struck a culvert and rolled over several times before coming to rest on its roof. Blood was flown to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo for treatment. In regional news, traffic on Boot Jack Hill in Ridgway was tied up for several hours Monday evening when a tractor trailer spilled its load of 2 x 4’s while going up the hill. Police said the accident occurred when the load shifted. The driver, 44 year old Dennis Loney of Brockway escaped injury. A burglary at the home of Rebecca Stuckey on Rugaber Street in Austin last week is being probed by state police here. Thieves took a Delta Compound Mitre Saw belonging to Bucky Blainar of Austin from the front porch and went inside where they stole a Craftsman route belonging to Amberly Costello of Shinglehouse. Value of the equipment is said to be about $400. The crime took place between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Tuesday. State police have charged 24 year old Philip Childers of Hopewell with harassment and criminal mischief for an incident allegedly taking place at around 2:00 a.m. Sunday in the Old Tannery Inn located in Sylvania Township. Authorities claim Childers tried to punch Curtis Proctor while threatening him with unwanted physical contact and damaged a sign at that location in the process. We now have some more details on Coudersport’s stunning upset of Mount Union in the opening round of the state high school baseball playoffs Monday afternoon in Altoona. It was a true David vs. Goliath story and it marks the first time Coudersport has ever progressed this far in the state high school baseball playoffs.Falcon pitcher Kyle Kockler staked his team to a 1-0 lead with a long home run in the second inning. Mount Union came back to take a 2-1 lead and it could have been worse, but the team left the bases loaded.The Falcons slipped back ahead 3-2 after three innings. Kockler then settled down and kept the Mount Union bats at bay.Meanwhile, Coudersport’s hitters got to the Mount Union starting pitcher in the fifth inning. They proceeded to pound two more pitchers as the District 6 champions, who entertained thoughts of a state championship, grew desperate.Freshman Buddy Metzger added a home run, while seniors David Babcock and Caleb Morris each pounded extra-base hits off the deep fence to power the Falcon offense.Coudersport improved its record to 12-3 while Mount Union’s season ended with a 21-3 record.Now the Falcons of first-year head coach Doug McClintic are in the state’s “Elite 8,” with the next game scheduled for Thursday afternoon at a site to be announced. They await the winner of Tuesday afternoon’s Ridgway versus Bishop Canevin game, being played at Mount Pleasant.A win on Thursday would propel the Falcons into the state’s Final Four, who square off next Monday. They would be one step away from the state championship game next Saturday at the Blair County Ballpark in Altoona.
6/05/06 Coudersport-based state police have apparently broken up a burglary ring with the arrest last week of seven people, including a 17 year old girl. Authorities say information came together when they were investigating a burglary taking place last Wednesday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at 463 North Ayers Hill Road in Summit Township. As a result, search warrants were obtained on several residences and extensive property was recovered. Four suspects, Daniel Fierro, 21, of Austin, 19 year old Jeffery Johnson Jr. of Sweden Township, 26 year old Victor Vallejo of Austin and 18 year old Kyle Woodring of Eulalia Township were all remanded to the Potter County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail each. Colt Stinger, 23, of Sweden Township was jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail. Amanda Shutt, 18 of Coudersport was released after posting $15,000 bail and the 17 year old girl was turned over to Juvenile Probation. Police say the investigation is continuing and additional arrests are anticipated. No one was hurt in an unusual two-vehicle crash occurring Saturday afternoon on Route 872ahalf mile north of the village of Wharton. State police said the mishap occurred when a Ford Ranger driven by 78 year old Emmet Drake of Austin failed to negotiate a left banked curve and continued to travel straight, striking a utility pole and causing it to fall onto a Kenworth Truck hauling a low-boy trailer with a log skidder. The pole wires started to spark, causing the tires to catch fire. Both the operator, Steven Elsayed and his passenger, Timothy Shoemaker, both of Mifflinburg were able to get out of the rig and ran to safety. The fire was extinguished and damage to the tires was only minimal but traffic was blocked for about eight hours. Injuries were reported for one driver and one passenger following a three-vehicle pile up Saturday afternoon on Route 155 about a half mile north of the Two Mile Road between Port Allegany and Turtlepoint. State police said the chain-reaction crash occurred when 19 year old Jeremy Tucker of Turtlepoint failed to stop his Dodge truck and allowed it to run into the back of a Buick van driven by Randy Garzel of Port Allegany which had stopped behind a Chrysler sedan driven by Jeffrey Faulk of Brockway which was stopped preparing to turn. The impact forced the van into the back of the sedan. Faulk received minor injuries while Tucker and Garzel escaped injury as did three passengers in the Faulk car. However, a child in the Garzel van also received minor injuries. Injuries were also reported for 20 year old Angela Allen of Wellsville whose car flipped end over end early Sunday morning on Route 44 a mile north of Shinglehouse after striking an embankment while headed north. Allen was taken to Olean General Hospital for treatment.
6/02/06 Twenty-eight Habitat Bike Challenge college students arrived at Coudersport’s Courthouse square before noon today and were greeted by local residents, dignitaries, and Potter County Habitat board members with bottled water, juices or fruit or just well wishes. The energetic students are bicycling across the country to support Habitat for Humanity and draw attention to the complexities of poverty in America. The bikers left Coudersport heading for Emporium toward where they will be treated to complimentary dinner at about 5:30 p.m. at the Cameron County Christian Center hosted by Pastor Rock Pifer. Then, the public is welcome to attend a slide presentation on the students' extraordinary community service project beginning at 7:00 p.m. . The bike trip began Sunday morning in New Haven, Ct., and will conclude sometime around July 30 in Portland, Ore. Nearly 90 students are pedaling on three separate routes. Their goal is to draw attention to the large percentage of Americans living in substandard housing, and to raise at least $360,000 for construction of five new Habitat for Humanity homes. Each group covers about 70 miles per day. Along the way, the students are scheduled to join Habitat for Humanity volunteers in home construction in Pittsburgh and Ames, Iowa. Their itinerary allows time for the cyclists to stop in towns and rest areas to explain the trip's purpose. Dozens of churches and community groups are poised to host the group along the way. HBC started the annual journeys in 1994 when a small group of Yale University students agreed to bicycle across the country in return for donations. It’s now Habitat for Humanity's largest student-run fund-raiser. The HBC team is posting a diary of its cross-country trip on the Internet at www.hbccentral2006.blogspot.com. The cooler temperatures today and tomorrow are no doubt welcome for the bicyclists and the runners in tomorrow’s 32nd annual God’s Country Marathon taking place between Galeton and Coudersport. 158 runners had registered by early this morning. The number is down slightly from last year’s number of 187 runners. Of that amount, 171 crossed the finish line. The marathon began in 1974 and four years later, during the national running craze, the number of runners totaled 495. This year’s field includes 53 year old Terry Stanley of Eldred who set the record in 1978 with a time of 2:26:42. Paul Maraccini and Park Barner who have competed in all 31 previous marathons are signed up again this year and 68 year old Pilar Sargent of Westfield is also planning to run the 26.4 mile course which is considered one of the toughest in the United States. Runners World magazine lists it among the top 10 marathons. The runners will step off at 8:00 in Galeton and the winners will be crossing the finish line about two and a half hours later. The participants are being treated to spaghetti dinner tonight at the Coudersport Fire Hall and a family style buffet picnic tomorrow following the awards ceremony at 3:00 p.m. WFRM-AM 600 will be broadcasting live from the finish line tomorrow morning and you’re invited to stop by and cheer on the runners. A Port Allegany man will be sentenced on July 27 after pleading guilty this week in McKean County Court to disorderly conduct. Ronald Amell, 75 was arrested by State Police earlier this spring for two separate incidents taking place at a Port Allegany baseball field. On March 28, Amell shouted that someone should shoot the coaches and that the kids need more playing time. He returned to the ball field the next day with a gun. The Cameron County Red Raiders defeated Coudersport 7-1 last night in St. Marys to capture the District 9 Baseball championship after a lengthy rain delay. Coudersport will continue on, however, traveling to Mansion Park in Altoona on Monday to play Mount Union District 6 Champions at 3:00 p.m. Gates open at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for students.
6/01/06 Potter County’s jobless rate improved four-tenths of a percent between March and April according to the state labor department. Unemployment here was 5.9% in March and dropped to 5.5% in April. That compared to 6.4% in Cameron County; 5.1 % in McKean; 4.9% in Elk and 4.7% in Tioga County. The national rate and Pennsylvania rate were both 4.7% for the period. State police here say that a mechanical malfunction was likely the cause of a one-vehicle crash taking place Tuesday night on Route 155 near Combs Creek Road outside of Port Allegany. Troopers said Isaac Lannager was headed south when his 1993 Ford Truck veered off the road and struck a ditch. Lannager was wearing a seatbelt and escaped injury. Troopers are looking for a red truck tractor hauling a white excavator with a black bucket which tore down some electric lines along Route 59 near the Bradford Ranger Station Wednesday afternoon just before 3:00 p.m. The wires fell across the road requiring the road to be closed for a period of time. The driver never stopped and continued west toward Warren County. Anyone with information is asked to call the Kane barracks at 778-5555. 05/31/06 Speeding charges are being filed against a Bradford motorcyclist who was hurt in a crash Tuesday night on Route 346 near Wolf Run Road in Corydon Township, McKean County. State police said James Kemick Jr. was headed west at a high rate of speed when His ’02 Harley Davidson traveled across the road and struck a bridge. Both the operator and cycle continued on through a yard while rolling over several times before coming to rest in the yard. Kemick was transported to Bradford Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. An Eldred man wanted by Kane-based state police for a domestic violence incident over the weekend was located Tuesday and committed to the McKean County jail in lieu of $20,000 bail after being arraigned before District Judge Todd on charges of aggravated assault. Brian Miller, 45, is accused of firing a gun at 44 year old Joanna Calkins and a 13 year old girl and physically assaulting them at their home on the Prentisvale Road Saturday and Sunday. The investigation is continuing into an assault which sent a Port Allegany man to Charles Cole Hospital early Saturday morning. State police say a known suspect hit 30 year old Troy Renner with a baseball bat during an argument at the Renner home on Wildwood Drive. Police have not yet released the name of a woman facing simple assault charges for an incident taking place Friday evening on Route 155 south of Port Allegany. Authorities say the woman assaulted Joseph Reagle of Bolivar causing him to crash his vehicle on Route 155 south of Port Allegany. State police here are looking for the person or persons who “borrowed” a John Deere Dozer over the weekend without the owner’s permission to grade a 200-250 yard section of road leading the Montgomery-Potter Recreation Association located about a mile south of Mitchell Lane in West Branch Township. The dozer belongs to Edwin Knecht Jr. of Lock Haven and apparently there was no damage. Criminal mischief charges have been filed against 20 year old Jonathan Tritt of Coudersport. State police claim Tritt used a BB gun to shoot the window on a 1972 Travel Master pull-behind camper owned by Darwin Manning of Austin while it was parked near the Keating Township line last Thursday evening. Damage is estimated to be $100. As the sale of Adelphia to Time Warner and Comcast nears completion, an upstart cable channel has filed a lawsuit to block the sale according to a report today from the Associated Press. The lawsuit filed by America Channel based in Florida which is not yet on the air claims the deal violates antitrust laws by reducing competition and that the so-called “monopoly” which would result makes it difficult for independent networks to concede. The channel is also seeking monetary damages totaling about $1 billion. As we reported yesterday, Adelphia late last week filed a motion to allow the sale to proceed without first confirming a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization and to allow the deal to move forward without a creditor vote. A hearing on that motion is scheduled for late next month.
05/30/06 Officials advise traffic on Route 59/6 into Smethport will be delayed from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. as the VietNam Moving Wall travels from Marienville through Smethport to Hamlin Lake where it will be displayed through June 5. A couple of McKean County teens are facing DUI charges following separate crashes over the weekend. Kyle Field, 18, of Smethport was injured Saturday night when his Chevy Blazer went through some guardrails and over an embankment on Route 6 about a half mile west of the Brooklynside Road near Port Allegany. The SUV rolled over once, coming to rest on its wheels. Field was taken to Charles Cole Hospital for treatment, and police allege they found he had been driving under the influence of alcohol. Zachary Weart, 19, of Bradford received minor injuries early Sunday morning in a crash at the intersection of Routes 321 and 59 in Lafayette Township. State police said Weart’s Chevy Lumina went off the road while negotiating a curve and struck some large rocks. He was taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center for treatment. Minor injuries were also reported for an Emporium driver following a collision late Friday Saturday night at the entrance of the Cameron County Fairgrounds. State police said Russell Barnhart backed his Ford Escort onto the Route 46 in front of a northbound Toyota Corolla driven by Clara Burgoon, also of Emporium. The impact forced the Barnhart compact down the private drive and into a locked gate. Barnhart received minor injuries while Burgoon was unhurt. A Ridgway woman has been cited for speeding following a crash Friday night on Route 219 a mile and half south of Lewis Run. Kane-based state police said Kathleen Thomas lost control of her Buick Century on a curve. The sedan slide counterclockwise off the road and into some trees. She escaped injury. Troopers here are continuing their investigation into a hit and run early Sunday morning in the parking lot of the Old Tannery Inn near Austin. Authorities say a bar patron hit a sign while leaving the parking lot and witnesses have provided them with registration information. Several area residents have been cited for harassment recently. Bradley Lannager, 45, of Roulette is accused of punching 26 year old Frances Ayers, of Coudersport in the mouth several times during an altercation in the Roulette Volunteer Fire Department parking lot following the Alumni Association dance early Sunday morning. James Green, 38 of Port Allegany, has been cited after allegedly pushing Amber Lloyd , 24, of Roulette last Thursday evening in the parking lot at the Two Mile Restaurant near Turtlepoint. Denise Geci, 38 of Austin, was cited for an incident allegedly taking place at around 11:00 a.m. Sunday at her home on Ruth Street. Police claim Geci threatened 28 year old Karen Gaines of Emporium with unwanted physical contact. Police are also continuing their investigations into several recent burglaries in the area. During the early morning hours Thursday, thieves entered the Ox Yoke Inn on Route 6 west in Galeton through a basement door and removed an undisclosed amount of US Currency and several bottles of liquor. Thieves took an antique farm bell inscribed with the numbers”1896”, a jockey lantern and solar light from a camp on the Ellis Hollow Road in Ulysses Township sometime over the past two weeks. The camp is owned by James Brossman of Mohrsville, PA. And a 25” black RCA TV and Silver Sanyo DVD/VCR combination were taken sometime last week from a camp on the East Fork Road in Wharton township owned by Donald Berglund of Spring, Texas. 05/26/06 A Roulette woman has been charged with theft, receiving stolen property, and computer trespass and identity theft. State police allege 51 year old Luann Matteson took $3000 from Christina Bowser’s checking account and transferred the money to an online Paypal account sometime between this past December 14 and January 25. Matteson was arraigned before District Judge Barbara Easton and was released on $2500 unsecured bail pending further court action. Troopers here are also investigating some cattle rustling going on in the Harrison Valley area. On May 10th or 11th, someone took a black and brown cow from a pasture on the William Vanetten farm located along Whites Corners Road. The cow was valued at $800. Then, Tuesday night or early Wednesday, thieves entered barns owned by Calvin McCutcheon on the Harrison Fox Hill road and Thomas Kibbe on the Iva Jen Road and removed some calves. Two of them were black and white and one was all black. They are valued at a total of $1900 and anyone who can provide police with information is asked to call the local barracks at 274-8690. A couple of area residents have been cited for harassment. Guy Eastman, 57, of Otto Township McKean County has been cited following an argument with his neighbor Raymond Neureiter Wednesday evening. State police allege Eastman threatened Neureiter. And, troopers at Emporium have charged 40 year old Brian McClure of that town with harassment after allegedly pushing and punching 20 year old Tina Bargerstock during an argument early Friday morning at a West Fourth Street residence. The long Memorial Holiday weekend officially gets underway tonight and continues through Monday. State police all across Pennsylvania will be using beefed up patrols on the look out for speeders, aggressive and/or drunk drivers and they will be enforcing the state’s seat belt law in an effort to reduce the number of serious crashes. Last year 11 people were killed and 324 others were injured in the 786 crashes to which state police responded during the 2005 Memorial Holiday driving period.
05/25/06 Proving that there sides to every story, Coudersport-based state police now say trespassing charges are being filed against a Coudersport man following an incident taking place around noon time Tuesday along Old Route 6 in Ulysses Township. Earlier in the week, we reported that Edward Stevens had been charged with harassment after allegedly grabbing Manny Senna of Coudersport by the throat when the two had words about a windshield on a boat in the Stevens yard that Senna allegedly wanted to buy. After investigating further, authorities say they determined Senna should be charged with trespassing on private property. Both cases have been filed with District Judge Delores Bristol. In regional news, US Attorney Thomas Marino has announced that 36 year old Kevin Schlosser of Waverly, NY has been sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to federal drug trafficking charges. He was also ordered to pay a $100 assessment and must surrender to authorities prior to June 26, 2006. Schlosser who worked as a part-time police officer in Ulster Township, Athens Borough and South Waverly, Bradford County pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in Bradford County between January 200 and June 2004, while serving as a police officer. Schlosser’s arrest arose out of an ongoing investigation by federal drug enforcement agents and state police into meth trafficking in and around Bradford County which has been called the “meth capitol” of the country. As motorists gear up for the long Memorial Day Holiday weekend, state police are advising they are participating statewide in the federal “Click it or Ticket” campaign. Officials say unbuckled fatalities increased from 577 in 2004 to 648 last year despite the fact that seat belt usage has increased slightly. Since this past April 20, troopers have responded to 13 separate crashes across the state that have resulted in the deaths of 14 unbelted drivers or passengers. During the “Click it or Ticket” campaign, each state police troop will be using the PROphecy computer program to identify high-crash areas within its regions and then target enforcement efforts to those locations.
05/24/06 Another large group of Adelphia employees in Coudersport have been notified that they’ll be able to keep their jobs once Time Warner Cable takes over the local facilities this summer. About 200 employees in a set of modular offices along Vine Street, known as the Sales & Marketing Advanced Retention Team – or SMART – received the good news last week. Tme Warner had previously agreed to hire another large Adelphia employee group, the Advanced Products Customer Center – formerly the Tennis Center – and is making job offers to other Adelphia employees scattered across the company’s Coudersport worksites. It now appears likely that fewer than 300 of Adelphia’s 1,100 Coudersport employees will lose their jobs once the company’s sale to Time Warner and Comcast closes, probably no later than the end of July. A small percentage of the approximately 800 Coudersport workers employed by Time Warner after the sale goes through are considered “transitional employees.” Their jobs could be terminated at the end of a transition period.At the same time, the buyers are continuing to make job offers as they assess their needs and learn more about the Adelphia’s Coudersport workforce. Meanwhile MSNBC reported earlier this week that Time Warner Cable and the Erie County (NY) Industrial Development Agency are working on a package to upgrade Adelphia’s facilities in Buffalo. In return, Time Warner has pledged to keep some 1,078 jobs in the Queen City. Adelphia’s sale to Time Warner and Comcast has been delayed while the company works to emerge from its four-year-old Chapter 11 bankruptcy. A multi-billion dollar creditors’ dispute has also delayed the transaction.
State police at Kane say that a fire which caused $5,000 in damage to the kitchen of a Lewis Run home Sunday evening was due to arson. The Jamie Macias residence was occupied at the time. There were no injuries, however. A Port Allegany man suffered a minor leg injury Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot at Charles Cole Hospital. State police said Ronald Gooley was trying to park his 1998 Suzuki 800 Marauder when his glove got caught and caused the throttle to become stuck open. The machine struck the curb and the hospital but there was no damage. The Department of Environmental
Protection has fined Dominion Transmission Inc. of Pittsburgh $10,000 for
several air quality violations at compressor stations it owns in Clinton, Potter
and Tioga counties .A DEP inspection in April 2005 revealed that Dominion
installed a salt bath heater at its Sabinsville compressor station in Clymer
Township, Tioga County, without first submitting a notification to DEP as
required.
05/23/06 McKean County authorities are looking for the
armed robber who reportedly held up the Crosby Mini Mart early
Monday morning. According to police, a man entered the store at
around 3:30 a.m. and pointed a handgun at the clerk demanding
money from the register. After the clerk complied, the bandit left
the store on foot. No description was given and police say the
investigation is continuing. Several area residents have been cited for harassment recently. Denise Windsor, 29, of Eldred was cited following a domestic violence incident Monday afternoon at her home on Edson Street. State police say that during an argument Windsor struck her husband, Matthew in the eye and tore his shirt. She’s also charged with disorderly conduct. Kayla Whiting, 18, of Emporium is accused of hitting and pushing 38 year old Theresa Asti of Emporium during an argument Monday evening on South Wood Street in that town. Thomas Ferren Jr., 37, has been charged with harassment after having physical contact with Debra Smith, both of Emporium during an argument Monday evening on Tannery Heights Road. A criminal mischief taking place at the White Haven Camp on the Peet Brook Road in Allegany Township is being investigated by state police locally. Someone spun their tires on the yard between 5:00 p.m. Sunday and 6:00 a.m. Monday, causing about $25.00 in damage. The camp is owned by Joseph Martin of Millersville, PA. Farmers in Pennsylvania will receive $1 million in state aid for their 2006 crop insurance premiums according to a recent announcement from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The money is provided through the Pennsylvania Crop Insurance Assistance Program, a partnership between the General Assembly, USDA, crop insurance industry, farmers and the Department of Agriculture. Producers will receive premium discounts ranging from five to ten percent of their net premium, depending on the coverage level selected for each policy. In the last five years, $140 million in crop insurance loss payments have been paid to producers, compared to $36 million in paid premiums – a four dollar return on every dollar invested. Last year, loss payments totaled about $15 million. For more information on crop insurance, contact Karen Powell at 717-705-9511, or visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on ‘Producers.’ To locate a local risk management agent, visit the USDA Risk Management Agency at www.rma.usda.gov.
McKean County authorities are looking for the
armed robber who reportedly held up the Crosby Mini Mart early
Monday morning. According to police, a man entered the store at
around 3:30 a.m. and pointed a handgun at the clerk demanding
money from the register. After the clerk complied, the bandit left
the store on foot. No description was given and police say the
investigation is continuing. Several area residents have been cited for harassment recently. Denise Windsor, 29, of Eldred was cited following a domestic violence incident Monday afternoon at her home on Edson Street. State police say that during an argument Windsor struck her husband, Matthew in the eye and tore his shirt. She’s also charged with disorderly conduct. Kayla Whiting, 18, of Emporium is accused of hitting and pushing 38 year old Theresa Asti of Emporium during an argument Monday evening on South Wood Street in that town. Thomas Ferren Jr., 37, has been charged with harassment after having physical contact with Debra Smith, both of Emporium during an argument Monday evening on Tannery Heights Road. A criminal mischief taking place at the White Haven Camp on the Peet Brook Road in Allegany Township is being investigated by state police locally. Someone spun their tires on the yard between 5:00 p.m. Sunday and 6:00 a.m. Monday, causing about $25.00 in damage. The camp is owned by Joseph Martin of Millersville, PA. Farmers in Pennsylvania will receive $1 million in state aid for their 2006 crop insurance premiums according to a recent announcement from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The money is provided through the Pennsylvania Crop Insurance Assistance Program, a partnership between the General Assembly, USDA, crop insurance industry, farmers and the Department of Agriculture. Producers will receive premium discounts ranging from five to ten percent of their net premium, depending on the coverage level selected for each policy. In the last five years, $140 million in crop insurance loss payments have been paid to producers, compared to $36 million in paid premiums – a four dollar return on every dollar invested. Last year, loss payments totaled about $15 million. For more information on crop insurance, contact Karen Powell at 717-705-9511, or visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on ‘Producers.’ To locate a local risk management agent, visit the USDA Risk Management Agency at www.rma.usda.gov.
05/22/06 DUI charges are pending against a 21 year old Kane driver following a crash early this morning in which he and a passenger were injured. State police said Bradley Lundberg’s Ford Contour failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Old Mill Road and Highland Road in Wetmore Township, and failed to make a turn. The unit ran off the road and went into a culvert , rolled over and came to rest on its roof in a nearby yard. Dustin Menteer, 22, of Kane received minor injuries but Cecil Albert, 18, of Kane and 18 year old Ronald Lucore of James City escaped injury. Holly Duell, 27, of Coudersport has been cited for simple assault for an incident allegedly taking place in her Beech Street home Friday afternoon. State police here claim she assaulted a juvenile during an argument. Duell has been charged with reckless endangerment and harassment as well. State police are investigating vandalism to several cars parked on North West Street Saturday night or Sunday morning. The culprits damaged side view mirrors, removed glass parts from some and the entire mirror assembly from other vehicles owned by Bruce Fink, Charles Trowbridge, Michael Lewis and Cindy Capatch. Damage totaled some $1000. 5/19/06 A burglary at the Austin Game Room is being
probed by state police locally. Sometime between 05/18/06 A Kane driver suffered moderate injuries in an unusual mishap occurring Wednesday evening on Route 321 about two miles north of Route 219 in Wetmore Township, McKean County. State police said 34 year old Timothy Dyne was pulling onto the highway from a parked position when his 2002 Dodge Stratus went out of control, traveled off the roadway and into a wooded area were it struck a tree. Dyne was not wearing a seatbelt at the time and was apparently taken to Kane Community Hospital for treatment. A Harrison Valley man has been remanded to the custody of Potter County Mental Health personnel following a domestic violence incident allegedly taking place Tuesday evening at his Main Street home. State police claim 21 year old Benjamin Post struck his wife, Angel Kinchen on the right cheek with an open hand, causing a bruise and grabbed and twisted the fingers on her left hand causing bruising and swelling during an argument. Post was arraigned before District Judge Delores Bristol on charges of simple assault and harassment and a preliminary hearing has been tentatively set for Friday, May 19 at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Bristol. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will paint a total of 124,000 traffic-line miles this spring and summer – enough to circle the Earth five times.The effort started last month and will finish in October. Twenty-one paint crews will apply more than 1.8 million gallons of yellow and white line paint to guide motorists along the state’s roads. Crews use equipment to heat the paint to 120-degrees Fahrenheit and use spray guns to paint the lines. While the paint is still wet, glass beads are poured onto the lines for reflectivity. According to PennDOT, approximately 12 million pounds of glass beads will be used this year. Every gallon of paint that is applied requires seven gallons of the reflective beads. The width of the center lines on interstate and other limited access highways is six inches, while the center and edge lines on other state highways is four inches wide. PennDOT will spend about $20 million on its line-painting project, which includes paint supplies, equipment and personnel. Motorists are reminded to use caution and stay at least 100 feet behind an operating paint truck and not to pass until directed to do so. On the occasion a motorist crosses fresh paint lines before being instructed to do so, paint may be splattered on their vehicle. If paint does get onto a vehicle, PennDOT recommends the following methods of removing the water-based paint: · If the paint is fresh (less than a few hours), wash the painted area with a high-pressure hose, located at most commercial car washes. · Motorists can also use a commercial latex paint remover, such as Goof Off, which is available at most hardware stores. · If the paint has hardened for more than a few hours, saturate a rag, or preferably cheese cloth with denatured alcohol, and hold, do not rub the spots, then wash the area with a high-pressure hose. For more information, visit PennDOT’s website at www.dot.state.pa.us. 05/17/06
An Eldred man, who was sentenced last week to a state prison term on sexual assault charges, is facing additional charges of statutory sexual assault. State police claim 31 year old Robert Cooper, Jr. of Sartwell Road of having sexual intercourse with a 15 year old girl this past April 1. Last week, McKean County Judge John Yoder sentenced Cooper to a prison term of two and a half years for having sex with a 14 year girl he met on the internet. After pleading guilty to the crime, Cooper sought to withdraw his plea claiming he was not thinking clearly at the time. However, Judge Yoder denied the motion and instead sentenced Cooper to a prison term. In their news release about his most recent charges, police said no further details would be released due to “the sensitive nature of the investigation.”
State police here are investigating a couple of incidents taking place in Roulette and a criminal mischief in Abbott Township. Sometime between 9:30 p.m. Monday and 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, someone entered James Bruzzi’s mobile home on Maple Street in Roulette and removed a prescription bottle containing medicine. And, sometime over the past several months, someone entered the Nenno residence on River Street in the village. It appears nothing was taken and there was no damage but cigarette butts and “Now and Later” candy wrappers were left in the house while the family was away. Vandals smashed the windshield of a 1983 John Deere grader owned by Abbott Township last weekend while it was parked at the intersection of Yochum Run Road and Bloss Hollow Road. Damage is said to be $625. Anyone with information about any of the incidents is asked to contact state police at 274-8690.
The theft of some cash from a parked car is being probed by state police at Kane. Authorities say that someone reached into Susan Lee’s car while it was parked at her home on Poplar Street in Mt. Jewett overnight Monday and stole $614.00 in various denominations.
A Youngstown, Ohio man has been charged with disorderly conduct for an incident allegedly taking place last night on Tohey Lane in Hamilton township. State police were called to the area on complaints of gunshots. Upon arrival, they determined 23 year old Todd Smith was responsible and placed him under arrest. Coudersport's red-hot high school baseball team will conclude its regular season with a pair of make-up games this week. The Falcons of first-year head coach Doug McClintic may be peaking at the right time as they head into the PIAA District 9 playoffs -- the so-called "second season" -- which get underway next week. Weather-permitting, Coudersport will travel to Shinglehouse on Thursday afternoon to take on the Oswayo Valley Green Wave. Then, on Friday, the Falcons will travel to Smethport to meet the Hubbers in a game that was originally scheduled for tonight (Wednesday). WFRM is making arrangements to follow the Coudersport High School baseball team into the District 9 playoffs. Because of their 9-2 record, the Falcons will host at least one district playoff game at CARP Field next week, with the time and the opponent yet to be determined. Coach McClintic told a large audience attending last night's Coudersport Sports Boosters Banquet that he's pleased with the team's performance, but also determined to get back to work and make a strong showing in the playoffs. Three of the Class A high school baseball teams from District 9 will advance into the state tournament later this month and Coudersport has proven that it has the potential to be one of them. We'll have more details on next week's playoff schedule as they become available.
05/16/06 Today is Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania and polls are open until 8:00 p.m. voters will be selecting party nominees to face-off the fall general election. Since there are relatively few contests of interest, observers anticipate a light turn-out. Representative Martin Causer, a Republican is unopposed in his bid for re-election and there are no Democratic candidates. Congressman John Peterson is unopposed in the Republican Primary but he will be challenged in November by Democrat Don Hilliard a former Jefferson County Commissioner and Edward Walko who is running as an independent. Statewide, Governor Ed Rendell, a Democrat, is unopposed in the Primary as is Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann. Three Democrats are vying for the chance to face incumbent Republican US Senator Rick Santorum this fall. Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. is expected to get the nomination over the other candidates. A Cyclone driver is facing charges for improperly entering a roadway following a collision Monday afternoon on the Bingham Road, about two miles north of Route 59 in Lafayette Township, McKean County. Kane-based state police say Tina Smith pulled out of a private drive heading north, into the path of a pick-up driven by Michael Miller of Duke Center. Both drivers escaped injury. Minor injuries were reported for 19 year old Derrick Gribble of Emporium after his Chevy Blazer wrecked Monday afternoon on Pine Tree Road in Sylvan Heights, Cameron County. According to state police, Gribble lost control of the SUV when he swerved to avoid a deer. The unit ran onto the north berm and rolled over onto its roof before coming to rest in the middle of the road. An Austin man has been cited for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness after an incident at an accident scene early Sunday morning. Troopers say 26 year old Daniel Vallejo struggled with responding emergency personnel and despite several attempts to calm him, he continued to struggle. Finally he was taken into custody and removed from the crash site. Troopers are also asking anyone who witnessed an assault on a volunteer firemen at that location, to notify them at the local barracks, 274-8690. Authorities say 19 year old William House, an Austin firemen, was hit in the back by an unknown person while he was working at the scene. Police did not indicate if the two incidents were related or not.
05/15/06 A 65 year old Andrews Settlement woman died
Saturday afternoon in a collision occurring Saturday afternoon at
a Route 49 intersection. State police said Ila Smith who was
traveling north on the Kidney Road, stopped at the intersection
and then pulled across Route 49 in front of a car driven by Dustin
Crosby of Coudersport. His car hit the passenger side of Smith’s
car and the impact forced both units to spin off the road. Smith’s car struck an embankment with the driver’s side
before coming to rest. She was pronounced dead at the scene a few
minutes after the 3:30 p.m. collision by the Potter County
Coroner’s office. Crosby escaped injury.
Tri-Town Volunteer Ambulance and Fire Departments assisted
state police at the scene.A Port Allegany man is facing DUI charges following a
collision early Sunday morning in Costello. State police said 21 year old Daniel
Fierro was driving a 1996 Ford Explorer which failed to negotiate a curve and
veered off the highway into the park lot at Shumakers Inn, colliding with parked
vehicles owned by Scott Harper of Aiken, South Carolina and Dennis Cooney of
Austin. Fierro was first taken to Charles Cole Hospital and later transferred to
Altoona Hospital for treatment of undetermined injuries. Authorities say during
the course of their investigation, they determined Fierro had been driving under
the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. DUI charges are also pending against a 20 year old
Shinglehouse driver whose car wrecked early Saturday morning on the Plank Road
in Sharon Township. Troopers said Tyler Salada swerved his car to avoid several
deer on the road causing his the car to slide on the loose gravel. When Salada
tried to regain control, the car came back onto the highway and crossed both
lanes before striking a bank and rolling over.
Salada escaped injury. A Roulette man, currently in the Potter County jail for
raping a seven year old girl, has been additionally charged with 28 counts of
possession of child pornography and 28 counties of using a computer to
facilitate the felony. Jason Stine,
28, was re-committed to the Potter County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail after
being arraigned on the new charges before District Judge Barbara Easton. State
police explained that during the course of their investigation into the rape
case, authorities seized his computers and subsequent forensic analysis revealed
the pornographic images. State police locally are asking anyone who knows the
whereabouts of Christopher Houghtaling to call them at 274-8690. Troopers say
Houghtaling moved out of his parents’ residence on Snyder Road on February 8,
2006 and was last seen in Coudersport on February 12. Authorities did not
provide a description or any further details. A pick up truck stolen in Genesee between 9:30 p.m. Friday and 6:00 p.m. Saturday was recovered over the weekend in nearby New York State. The 1977 Ford belonged to Benjamin Grover and was taken from his driveway located off of Commercial Street. Anyone with information is asked to contact the local barracks at 274-8690.
05/12/06 The Potter County Commissioners during their regular meeting Thursday approved a 3.5% pay raise for non-union department heads in both the Court House and Human Services. The action was ratified in the salary board meeting which followed. The commissioners also accepted a voluntary status change for Donna Foust from Aging Care Management Supervisor 3 to Aging Care Management Supervisor 2 effective Monday, May 15 at an annual pay rate of $43,965.00 and promoted Sherry Hoffman from MR Casework Supervisor to AAA Deputy Adminstrator, effective May 15 at an annual salary rate of $35,000 to fill the vacancy. The commissioners thanked Foust for her 16 years of service. She has been in charge of the department for the past four years. In a letter to WFRM earlier this Spring, Foust said she has missed being directly involved in the “care management” aspect of providing services to the county’s senior citizens and that eight months ago her former position became vacant and since then, she has been performing both jobs. She said that after much “heart felt” consideration she requested to resume her former position adding that she feels that her calling in life is to actually work with the Aging Care Managers and consumers “to provide the best services possible” to Potter County’s older residents. Sentencing has been scheduled for June 21 for two former
Coudersport women who were found guilty of perjury last Friday in McKean County
Court. A jury found that Marian Nersinger and Michelle Nelson lied under oath
when they claimed they heard Becky Lucrezi-Olsen of Coudersport say she was the
one who killed Kane Borough Police Officer Steve Jerman in February 1999, not
Timothy Williams, also of Coudersport who was convicted of the crime several
months later. The testimony came in a Post-Conviction Relief Act for Williams
who is currently serving time in a state prison for third-degree murder.
Olsen and Matt Seeley were passengers in the back seat of the Williams
car and were given partial immunity for testifying against Williams who, to this
day, says he was too drunk to remember what happened that night. In other McKean County Court action this week, 31 year old Robert Cooper of Eldred was sentenced to a prison term of 2-1/2 to 10 years for having sex with a 14 year old girl he met on the internet. Cooper was given credit for 283 days of time already served on charges of aggravated indecent assault and statutory sexual assault. Cooper had asked late last month to withdraw his guilty plea but Judge John Yoder denied the request. Cooper admitted tracking down the girl a year ago and had sex with her while her parents were not at home.
05/11/06 McKean County Human Services Department is looking for 16 year old Natasha Skaggs who has been missing since late April. She was last seen on April 25 in Veterans Square in Bradford. She’s described as being 5’4” to 5’5”, weighs 130 to 135 pounds, has a darker skin tone with black curly hair and burn marks on her left arm. Anyone who knows of her whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1. Several volunteer firefighters from Tri-Town in Ulysses, Genesee and the Goodyear Hose Company from Galeton responded to a wildfire at around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on Turton Lane in Ulysses Township. According to Tri-Town Assistant Chief Earl Jordan, the cause is unknown and about a quarter acre of land adjoining a wooded area was affected. All units were back in service about an hour later. Firefighters are hoping that the rain which has moved into the area will dampen things enough to lessen the threat. Meanwhile, a fire in the Sproul State Forest in Clinton County continues, after blackening some 1500 acres. Authorities say the fire was intentionally set. State police here are investigating a few recent incidents. Sometime over the past week, thieves forced two doors open at a camp on Bailey Run Road in Wharton Township owned by William Kennedy of Kelton, PA. A .22 caliber long rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun were taken. A white rabbit with red markings was stolen from a barn owned by Bridgette McNeill on the Bingham Center in Bingham Township between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The rabbit is valued at $40. And, someone tried to break-in to the Paula Muller residence on Cowburn Road in Ulysses Township between 11:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2. David Lush, Apprise Coordinator in the Potter County Department of Aging is urging the county’s senior citizens who have not signed up for the Medicare Part D program, to do so before the midnight deadline, Monday, May 15. Lush says so far, there has been a good response here in the county, but eligible persons who do not sign up before the deadline will have to wait until the next general enrollment period of November 15-December 31 to sign up for a plan. Lush also says that anyone who has signed up and has problems with their current plan, can change plans but it also must be done before the deadline. He told WFRM Thursday morning that he came away from a training this week with good news for persons receiving PACE and PACENET—they will be have less “out of pocket” expenses to pay. Aging Department Staff are available to assist in the sign-up process. Call them at 544-7315.
05/10/06 A Knoxville man, charged with stealing audio/visual equipment from the Northern Potter High School late last month has waived his case into county court. Casey Cowburn, 27, a teacher at the school and baseball coach was arrested on May 1 by state police who were tipped off by High School Principal Sue Valentine. She told authorities that during the course of her investigation into another incident, she found the closet door had been forced open and two video “collectors,” valued at $10,000 each had been removed. The units store save video surveillance images from the school’s security system. In the affidavit of probable cause filed with District Judge Delores Bristol, state police contend that they questioned Cowburn on May 1 and that he admitted forcing his way into the closet on April 30 and that he stole the equipment with the intention of hiding them. Damage at the popular Antler’s Inn at Gaines which was destroyed by fire Monday morning is estimated to be in excess of $200,000. The blaze was discovered at about 3:15 a.m. by newlyweds who were staying in a nearby cabin. About 75 volunteers from numerous area fire departments were on the scene for several hours. Route 6 was closed to traffic for a time. Fortunately there were no injuries. The state police fire marshal is investigating the cause, but authorities, at this point, say it is not considered suspicious. The owners, Ron and Sandi Lundgren were in Philadelphia at the time. A Port Allegany woman is being charged with harassment after allegedly making multiple harassing phone calls to a Coudersport woman Monday evening. State police allege 20year old Carrin Potocek threatened to harm 18 year old Katie Marshall during one of those calls. A criminal mischief taking place just before 7:00 p.m. Monday is being probed by state police at Kane. Someone hurled a brick through a window at the Bradley Elliott residence on the Lower Portage Road near Combs Creek in Liberty Township. 05/09/06 A popular Route 6 restaurant has been destroyed by fire. Volunteers from Goodyear Hose in Galeton, Germania, Wellsboro and Clymer Township were summoned to the Antlers Inn between Galeton and Gaines at 3:16 Tuesday morning. A second alarm brought out volunteers from Westfield, and Middlebury Center. Coudersport volunteers stood by at the Galeton station under th |