There is a waging war on the hands of Cameron County's highest superiors. Police and District Attorney Edwin "Tom" Tompkins are trying to ban the abuse of prescription drugs. The most common drug that poeple can get is oxycontin since it is fairly cheap. With the break-ins that happened recently, it is being made a higher concern than ever. It will be a long journey and a tough race, but according to Tompkins, it has to be done.

Do you miss Cameron County news? I will be coming back from Pittsburgh this Saturday after a one and a half absense and will be throwing all my resoucres to this area of Cameron County news. Prepare to see some awesome coverage with maybe a weekly feature as well! Anyway, keep a watchful eye!

Two teachers at Cameron County High School said their final good farewells after they seeked retirement last Thursday. Then English teacher, Deb Dunkle, and Business teacher, Sharon Malizia, both devoted many years to the district. The school board approved the requests stating that they will be greatly missed.

We also got an email from a guy I graduated with in 1996.

Sgt. Dave Taylor is currently serving in Iraq, and he says it's nice to see what is going on "back home" while he's halfway around the world.

He thanked us for keeping the site updated.

I thanked him for putting his neck on the line to protect ours!

If anyone wants to email him a word or two of encouragement, his email address is TaylorDA@cssemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

THANKS again Dave for all that you do.

Keep us updated!

We got an email from on of our readers, Bill Dolan.

He says he went to a Harley Rally in Erie, met Peter Fonda and Lynn Swan from the Steelers.

Bill says he’s never seen so many motorcycles in his life.

And he also says that he ran into a few Roulette people there.

Small world?

A Smethport man was sentenced today for a stabbing at the Riddell House in Bradford. Malcolm Ivey will spend 90 days to 23 and a half months in McKean County Jail. Ivey could qualify for work release. Ivey was found guilty of disorderly conduct and simple assault earlier this year for the 2003 stabbing of Richard Graves.

The McKean County Planning Commission met last night, and approved a request to subdivide a 100 acre plot along Route 6 in Wetmore Township. Property owner Walter Clopp says each plot will be connected to the sewer line.

The Commission has also been asked to update their 1977 comprehensive plan.

The search for a missing Pittsburgh man in Elk County has been called off. Searchers armed with GPS units say they’ve combed every possible place they think 55 year old Charles Beltz could be. Divers, dogs, and helicopters have searched around the campsite where Beltz was last reportedly seen to no avail.

Officials say they are 99 percent sure Beltz is not in the area near his campsite.

A Herpes outbreak wiped out thousands of fish in Chautauqua Lake. Dead fish are being collected by the truckload in Lakewood NY.
It appears the fish were killed by a virus called coy herpes, which only affects carp.

Summerfest in Smethport underway. This years 50’s themed event will feature a tribute to the 50-year-old Woolly Willy toy. Willy’s birthday party will be held tonight at 7 at the Courthouse.


Smethport’s Summerfest will feature a car show at Hamlin Lake Park Sunday. Participants can register from 9 – noon, and judging will take place from noon until 2.
The car show will be held on the Island at Hamlin Lake.

An Emporium man was charged with harassment Sunday after striking another man in the face. Police say 20-year old Thomas Richards struck 21-year old Benjamin Millerin the face early Sunday morning in Shippen Township.

The second annual boogie at Freefall Oz has been scheduled for July 29th.
Ash Easdon Smith from Freefall Oz Skydiving Center in Ceres Township says the event will include a pig roast, a band, a bonfire and free camping. Tandem skydiving will take place both Thursday July 28th and Friday July 29th. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the event. For tickets call 814-697-7218.
http://www.freefallozskydiving.com

Police arrested a Smethport man for disorderly conduct and harassment. State Police say 44-year old Joel Johnson was investigated after several complaints regarding his behavior were called in from various victims.

It’s a victory for Bradford. Senator Rick Santorum announced Wednesday that fuel filled Zippo Lighters will now be allowed on airplanes. The United States Department of Transportation has issued an emergency exemption allowing travelers to transport liquid-fuel filled metal Zippo lighters in checked baggage if packaged in a rigid plastic box. This Emergency Exemption is effective from today until October 31, 2005. Pennsylvania lawmakers have been fighting with the USTSA to secure the victory.

Barden Brook Road in Eldred will be closed Friday. Residents should be aware the road will be shut down from 8 to 3 Friday for road work.

A Kane man was arrested for public intoxication early this morning. 24-year-old Michael Blauser was observed walking on Fraley Street. Police stopped Blauser because of his obviously inebriated state. He told police that he was drunk and high on drugs. Public Drunkenness Charges have been filed.

Representative Martin Causer wants more police. The Turtlepoint lamwaker has posted a petition to boost the state police force on his website. Causer says the petition is to demonstrate public support for more troops. Money was allocated in last year’s budget for the hiring of 90 new state troopers, but was used elsewhere. That petition can be signed at www.RepCauser.com.

The town of Coudersport stepped up to support their own John Rigas. In yesterday’s sentencing, Federal Court Judge Leonard Sand says he has received numerous letters in support of the 80 year old Rigas, who is known as a kind man and a philanthropist around Potter County and his native Wellsville NY.

Sand says that for every letter of support he received though, he received a letter from an angry stockholder.

THe judge says the evil that was done cannot be ignored, just because Rigas did some good.
John Rigas will spend 15 years in federal prison; his son Timothy will serve 20. The two will turn themselves over to federal marshals in September.

State Police are investigating a tire-slashing incident in Potter County. Henry Deible and John Chapman both reported that someone punctured their tires while the two vehicles were parked at Big Moore’s Run Road in Homer Township last Wednesday.

Police are investigating a burglary at Woodcraft incorporated in Genesee. Sometime over the weekend, unknown burglars made off with 5 thousand dollars worth of tools, and 10 dollars in loose change from desk drawers.

A Galeton man called Police to report a burglary from his garage last week. Sometime between Wednesday and Friday, three gas cans, a weed-eater, a chainsaw and a thirty pack of beer were stolen from an Abbot Township Garage belonging to Richard Burton.

Just found out that I misread a police report that we recieved last week.

We reported that Joseph Millchuck III was arrested at the Little Fella Trout Hatchery after Dennis Detrick flipped his vehicle into the pond. That much was true, but the two incidents at the Hatchery were NOT related. Milchuck was NOT a passenger in the Detrick vehicle. We regret the error.

An Emporium man was jailed Friday in lieu of 50 thousand dollars bail for burglary charges. Police say 18-year-old Casey Strahl was arrested for the commission of five different burglaries in the Emporium Boro in May. Emporium Boro Police assisted State police in the arrest.

A Coudersport man was charged Sunday for disorderly conduct after a party at the Potter County Snowmobile club got out of hand. 50-year-old Bryan Neff was arrested after lighting off fireworks, and creating loud noises at an unreasonable hour.

It is sentencing day for Adelphia founder John Rigas and his son Timothy.
The two are expected to learn their fate on convictions of fraud and conspiracy while running the Adelphia Cable Empire.
The Rigas' face 18 felony counts with a maximum prison term of 215 years. The sentencing has been pushed back several times.

State Police were called in Sunday to a party at Kaple’s Pond in Roulette. 38-year-old David Lesh was arrested for harassment after he became involved in a physical altercation with three other men.

A former Roulette man was charged with drug possession. State Police say 24 year old Justin Cochran was arrested after the substance was identified as cocaine. Cochran, currently of Brooks Lane, NY will answer the charges before the District Judge.

A Roulette man has been charged with stealing prescription pills. 35-year-old Thomas Bunnell was found in possession of 18 Alprazolam pills stolen from 24 year old Brandi Kio. Alprazolam is an anti anxiety medication, similar to Xanax.

Bunnel was arrested in January for a DUI that cleared out a decorative post at about 50 miles per hour on Main Street in Roulette.

State Police report that a few known suspects were investigated for theft of services on Friday. The actors threw trash in a dumpster belonging to Mac’s Country Store in the village of Roulette without asking permission. Store owners called Police, who located the suspects at a nearby camp. No charges were filed, because the garbage dumpers removed the trash to the satisfaction of the store owner.

Smethport and Hilltop Fire Departments responded to a Van Fire Saturday at Ormsby. John Lee of Bradford was traveling along Route 59 when the engine overheated and caught fire. Lee and his passenger, Carol Shugars were able to escape without injury. The fire spread to the rest of the van, and destroyed it. State Police are investigating the fire.

An Olean woman won big while on a trip to California recently. Wisline Cledgett, a psychology major at Houghton College, traveled to Los Angeles with her mother to be on “The Price is Right”. Cledgett said her goal was to win a car, however instead, she came home with the showcase, valued at $16 thousand dollars and including a trip to Ireland, furniture and an old fashioned soda machine. Cledgett said she always dreamed of being on the show.

Liquor and wine sales increased 3.41 percent in McKean County from 2003 to 2004. According to Ed Cloonan, executive director of the Independent state store union, the total units of liquor and wine sold in Pennsylvania increased 6.56 percent. Also, while population decreased in 31 of the 67 counties, liquor sales increased in every county for the first time in the history of the Commonwealth. Cloonan made a presentation Wednesday to the PA Senate Law and Justice and House Liquor control committee.

Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff introduced a new slogan, Web site and brochure Friday to provide support and resources for the state's dairy industry. The new slogan is Top 10!, intended to encourage members of the dairy industry to increase their productivity by 10 percent or more. The new website, http://www.centerfordairyexcellence.org. features state, regional and national dairy industry information; an overview of the Dairy Task Force; and resources for producers and affiliated businesses, as well as the new dairy brochure.

The "CE" in the C.E.M. mental health joinder is seeking funding help from the state. The withdrawal of McKean County from the partnership with Elk and Cameron was announced last February with a decision to form a McKean county Human Services Department to save money.
The Department of Public Welfare still has to rule on the separation.

Well, Kinzua Bridge State Park Manager Barret Clark hasn’t heard any official word on the money the state has released to stabilize the existing bridge towers.

Clarksaid he hasn't heard a thing at Thursday’s Allegany National Forest Vacation Bureau meeting.

He says he’s pretty sure the funding will be released, but all that he’s heard about it is from the media, not the governor’s office.

A Kane man pleaded guilty to marijuana possession. 20 year old Brian Depto was arrested after an incident in Feburary at the Kane Area High School Depto,. while intoxicated, yelled at cheerleaders and other people. He was arrested, and taken into custody. Depto pleaded guilty to harassment, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness charges as well.

A Kane Sex offender has been granted a furlough. 28-year-old Michael Lenaway is currently incarcerated in McKean County Prison, serving a 9 to 23 month sentence for indecent assault. Lenaway has asked to travel to Maryland to participate in a wedding. Judge John Yoder granted the request for a furlough.
Lenaway had sexual contact at a drive in with a 14-year-old girl while he was employed as an elementary school teacher.

An Eldred woman was the victim of theft by deception Thursday. The woman was told she had won $200,000 and had to send $1,800 to cover taxes on the prize. The woman sent the money and never received her prize. Kane-based State Police are investigating.

Will a new store come into Emporium? So far it is a calling for a rumor. That rumor says that the old Jubilee store is now going to be a Rite-Aid. The headquarters could not deny nor approve that the store was coming into the area.