Representative Kathy Rapp says funding for West Nile monitoring has been secured., $147.308 will be issued to monitor mosquito populations in Warren, McKean and Forest Counties. McKean County had no reported cases in 2004,
But Forest and Warren Counties did have positive tests for west nile.

A report came in Wednesday night of a plane down near Liberty and Eldred Townships. Searches yielded no results. McKean County Emergency Management Deputy director Bruce Manning says a report came in of a low flying plane in the Eldred are, near the Ethan Allan plant near 8 PM An ATV search did not find a downed plane in that area. Checks with other agencies and airports did not yield any missing or late flights.

Eldred Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to a grass fire Wednesday off Slack Hollow Road. The fire burned about half an acre. Officials aren’t sure what caused the fire. No damages or injuries were reported.

A Potter County man will serve 12-25 years in prison for the death of a toddler. 24-year-old Clinton Watson was sentenced in Potter County Court Wednesday for the January 2004 death of 2 year old Serena Powell. Powell died after sustaining massive trauma to her abdomen and head.

Watson pleaded no contest, admitting he caused the death, but saying he did not mean to kill her when he inflicted the injuries.

Watson injured the girl when she told him she had a dirty diaper.

The girl’s mother, Arlene Haines faces child endangerment charges, because she continued to allow her children to live with Watson, even though she knew he was a danger.

A Shinglehouse man has been charged with indecent assault, corruption of minors and harassment. Police say 24-year-old James Leroy Umbaugh III is accused of inappropriately touching a 14-year-old juvenile from Johnsonburg on two separate occasions.

Police were called to the Galeton Drug Pharmacy ater a known white male attempted to pass off an altered prescription. The suspect was refused service, and the prescription was siezed. State Police are investigating, and charges are pending.

A Shinglehouse man has been charged wit providing alcohol to minors. 21 year old Kyle Lloyd Babckockreportedly consumed beer and vodka with 19 year old Josh Mesler, 20 year old Christopher Norton, and 19 year old Christopher Smith, all from Shinglehouse. Babcock was 20 years old at the time of the February incident.

A Galeton woman that jumped out of a moving vehicle will face public drunkenness charges. 34 year old Kimberly Malaczewsju was visibly intoxicated Saturday when police saw her jump from a moving vehicle in Abbott Township.

State Police report that a Harrison Valley Man has been charged with harrassment. 49 year old Wade Tubbs faces charges of disorderly conduct and Hassment after he allegedly struck 25 year old Thomas Robinson of Ulysses in the face with a closed fist. The incident occured int he parking lot of the Pine Creek Inn along State Route 6 on Sunday.

A three-vehicle accident in Olean Thursday resulted in injuries for two people. An accident at the intersection of West State and North 11th streets involved vehicles driven by 38-year old Karen Whelpley of Olean, 39-year old Julie Williams of Portville and 32-year old Thomas Edgreen of Port Allegany. Whelpley was taken to Olean General Hospital for treatment of abdominal injuries while a passenger in the Williams vehicle, 7-year old Brittany Williams was taken to OGH for a head injury. No charges were filed for the accident.

PennDOT has announced roadwork is being done in Potter County, including paving and drainage improvements. The $1.5 million project started along some state roads this week. Roads to be included in the project include areas of Route 44, Route 1001 and 4031 near Sweden Valley and Routes 1011 and 1003 near Ulysses. Specific roadwork schedules will be released weekly.

McKean County Jail Warden Dennis Luther issued a report to the County Prison Board Friday. Luther says 76 men and 12 women have overcrowded the small jail. Five women and 10 men are left without beds. Luther also says 40 percent of the inmates are taking tranquilizers; even more have mental health needs. A committee was formed to deal with the mental health issues at the jail.

Two Potter County men received major injuries in a Sunday crash in Bingham Township. 20-year-old Peter Zehr veered off the roadway, and struck a utility pole. Zehr and his passenger, 22-year-old Rodney Connolly were injured in the crash.

Applicants may have to wait until summer to hear back on their bid for a job at Microtech Knives. The company has already received 800 applications for its 200 vacancies, from as far away as Syracuse and Cleveland.

Project Manager JJ. Stives says they won’t hire anyone until the company is ready to put the applicants to work, which could be as late as summer.

A Smethport man is missing after an accident Sunday morning. 42-year old Todd Boardman was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in an accident in the Clermont area in Sergeant Township between 2:30 and 6 Sunday morning. Boardman left the scene of the accident traveling in an unknown direction and has been missing since. Anyone with information is asked to contact Kane-based State Police.

A massive marijuana bust went down in the Wilcox area yesterday in Elk County. The North Central Drug Task Force reports that 33 y ear old Naushad Punjani was arrested after a search yielded three pounds of processed pot, several plants, growing lights and other paraphernalia, as well as a small amount of heroin.
Total street value of the drugs is listed as around $11,000.

State Police responded to a report of harassment in Homer Township in Potter County Sunday. 40-year-old Lori Kocjancic called police after a 17 year old juvenile girl through a heated microwave dinner at her.

Kocjancic received minor injuries.

State Police are looking for burglars in Roulette Township. Between March 30 and April 1, unknown burglars broke into a garage belonging to 67-year-old Paul Forry and stole 85 wooden 2x4’s, and fled the scene undetected. Troopers ask that anyone with information contact them.