Old Man Winter was a no-show at the West End Trailblazers Winterfest in Roulette on Saturday. Sunny skies and temps in the mid-40's won out over the cold and snow. Attendance at the event was expectedly low, but fun was still to be had in things like the sawdust pile, dart throw, four-wheeler rides, and the always popular horse-drawn wagon. Kraut dogs, soup, and sloppy joes were also available. The snowmobilers will have to hope for better (or worse?) weather next year.
Galen Snowman at the reins of his Belgians.

For more pics go HERE

Click Title To Read the Article by Paul Heimel in the Bradford Era

Kane Borough Police were involved in a high speed Chase early Sunday
morning.

Officers report 22-year-old Todd Warham was driving a motorcycle in town
without his headlights, when he ran a stop sign.

Officers pursued Warham through several streets until the motorcycle
crashed. Warham then fled on foot.
He was apprehended, and set to McKean County Jail. Poice say alcohol was
involved.

Senator Joe Scarnati says marriage is and must continue to be a union
between one man and one woman.
He says that's why he's co-sponsoring an amendment to further define the
state constitution's definition of marriage.

ARG is still working on cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater at its
Bradford refinery.

The 131 acres split between the City and Bradford and Foster Townships is
the site of a cleanup, spearheaded by Chemtura Corporation of Middlebury
Connecticut.

Department of Environmental Protection officials say the contamination does
not affect human health. According to officials at Chemtura, the company has
spent more than 10 million dollars over the last few years on the project.

Someone broke into a camp owned by Richard Tobias and took a BB gun, a
DVD/VCR player, a variety of alcoholic beverages, as well as soda and
snacks.
Coudersport state police say the break-in happened sometime between January
16th and Saturday.

An incident of Road rage is under investigation in Harrison Township.

Police report 27 year old Jason Howell was driving his Jeep Wrangler along
North Branch Road when another car cut him off.

The driver of the other vehicle go out of the car, yelled at and threatened
Howell, opening his door, and striking him in the face.

Police say the actor was six feet tall, and drove a dark blue or black Dodge
Pickup truck.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police.

Bradford Regional Medical Center is hosting a free Sleep forum from 7 to 9
p.m. on Friday.

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the many aspects of sleep
deprivation.

Anyone interested in attending should call the hospital's respiratory
department.

A Crash in Wetmore Township left three injured Friday morning, Police say
the incident was fueled by alcohol.

20 year old Danielle Connor of Cyclone was reportedly driving North on
Dwight's Road when she lost control and struck a tree.

Her two passengers were injured.

Police say Connor had been drinking.

Kane based State Police are releasing a report of criminal mischief at Bob's
Trading Post in Hamlin Township. The incident occurred when an unknown
person spun their tires in the parking lot of the store on State Route 321
causing damage to its front windows and door. Anyone with information in
the incident is asked to contact the State Police in Kane.

According to a released police report a hit and run incident is under
investigation at the Uni-mart Parking lot on State Route 44 in Shinglehouse
last Friday night. Nicolas Garrey reportedly drove through the parking lot
and attempted to drive between two parked cars striking one vehicle in the
left rear bumper slash fender. Garrey then reportedly fled the scene. The
investigation is still ongoing.

The State Police Fire Marshall is investigating a fire at the Comilla home
on Brown Avenue.

Officers say the Bradford Township blaze caused 200 thousand dollars in
damage. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the Monday afternoon blaze is still to be determined.

Smethport Police Chief Ryan Yingling says charges are pending in the recent
graffiti incidents. He's not released a name yet, until he can compile a
total dollar amount for the damages.

Police in Bradford recently charged 18 year old tim Bickle and there
juveniles in relation to a local rash of vandalism.

Some of the same slogans and acronyms appeared in the Smethport defacements
as well, but again, no names have been released.

Award-winning baritone Joshua Hopkins will perform this weekend at the
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's Bromeley Family Theater.
Hopkins had his recital debut at Carnegie Hall two years ago.
The concert is at 7:30 Friday.

State Police report that two teenage girls in Potter County were
investigated after an altercation on route 49 in Ulysses last week.

Officers say one of the two sixteen year olds is facing harassment charges.

Talk about the Historic District surfaced again at last night's city council
meeting.
Brian McNamara is one of the newer HARB members. HE asked council, last
night about clarification on the city's historic window laws, which calls
for the retention and rehabilitation of the original windows.
Councilmembers Tom Riel and Tom Shay challenged the ordinance, saying that
older windows often don’t work, and newer windows are often more efficient.
Main Street Manager Dianne Dewalt encouraged council to use caution whenever
changing ordinances in the historic district.

The state house of representatives passed a bill today that would require
the department of public welfare to conduct reviews of suspected child abuse
incidents that result in deaths or near-deaths where county agencies have
investigated reports of abuse or neglect.
The house vote was 194 to 0. The measure now goes to the Senate for
consideration.

A vehicle driven by 64-year-old David Elliot spun off Route 44 yesterday
afternoon, then hit a tree.
Coudersport state police say Elliott was not hurt.

Community leaders from throughout the region are working on a strategic plan
for the secondary wood products industry.
Consultants met with the leaders to discuss tourism and other ways to bring
visitors to the area, including a center for excellence in the wood products
industry.
Liz Boni, one of the organizers of Ridgway's Chainsaw Rendezvous says
tourism develops amenities that are also necessary for industrial
recruitment.
The Lumber Heritage Region and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
started the strategic plan.

State Police in Cameron County have arrested Kay Baker for defiant
trespassing at the Garber Residence on Wykoff Run Road.

Baker was told not to enter the Gibson Township residence by the victim.

Police are also investigating an incident of theft at the Garber Residence.
Fred Garber told police someone stole his key from his car.

A jury found an Eldred man guilty of driving under the influence today in
McKean County Court.
The Jury determined that 22-year-old Jason Laktash was driving in Port
Allegany in December of 2004 with a blood alcohol content of point one six.
He drove into a ditch on Newell Creek Road after taking a friend home, and
damaged part of the yard and the driveway.
He's scheduled for sentencing on March 16th.

Most people don't dispute DUI charges. But Laktash's defense presented by
Attorney HB Fink went as such:

Laktash says he had consumed an insignificant amount of alcohol, and was not
intoxicated, when he drove his girlfriend home. After dropping her off, he
had an accident.

The property owner called the Police, thinking Laktash's behavior was
suspicious.

Port Allegany Police Officer Distrolla followed Laktash into Port Allegany,
but because the incident occurred outside of the Boro, he had to call for
the State Police.

While following Laktash, he lost him, looped back around and saw Laktash's
car at Moe's Bar.

At that point, Laktash's blood alcohol content increased significantly.

Laktash told the court he did not intend to drive after that.

Of course, the jury says there was no reasonable doubt that Laktash broke
the DUI laws.

Manufacturing in PA is down, according to a preliminary count from the
commonwealth.

That usually means fewer jobs, but not this time.

Pennsylvania actually gained 64 thousand jobs in 2005.

Police arrested an Austin Woman for underage consumption over the weekend

20-year-old Crystal Smith was approached after a crash in the Austin Boro,
and police say she was under the influence of alcohol.

Charges have been filed.

A Mount Jewett man was arrested for Public drunkenness this morning
according to the State Police barracks in Kane. Jason wall was charged in
the incident after he was found walking along State Route 6 while carrying
his two-year-old child on his shoulders. According to the police report
Wall was staggering about subjecting both himself and his child to danger.

The Conservation District and McKean County are getting closer to forming
the McKean County Conservation District.
This will require a full time district manager and water quality specialist.
The county commissioners say the positions are partially funded by the
department of environmental protection.

Someone broke into an Emporium home and stole prescription medication,
cigarettes and 30 dollars in cash.

State police say the burglary happened Saturday afternoon at the home of
Karen Foley and Tina Bargerstock.

Police are continuing their investigation.

Police in Potter County are investigating an assault in Roulette Township.

Police say a 20 and 21-year-old male assaulted a female juvenile, by pushing
her on the ground, and fighting.

Two minors at the scene were intoxicated, and another was in possession of
drug paraphernalia according to police.

The investigating is ongoing, and police say charges will be filed.

State Police say an Oswayo man was not injured Saturday when he struck a
culvert pipe along Brizzie Hollow Road.

Officers say Barton Landon swerved to miss a bear. Landon was not injured in
the incident.

A Rew man has been arrested on State Route 646 near Fairgrounds Road for
traffic violations and a DUI offense according to a report released by the
Kane based state police last night. Charles Thomas Jr. was reportedly
stopped by two State troopers for a traffic violation and later found him to
be intoxicated. Charges have been filed in district court.

The state game commission is now giving its support for the atlatl , a
prehistoric weapon used for hunting deer.
Earlier this month, the commission staff said the weapons were not lethal
enough to be humane. But the commissioners say it's a legitimate and lethal
weapon.
Today's vote in favor of the atlatl means the state attorney general's
office will have to review the issue, and that it will have to be advertised
for public comment.
A final vote is expected by the game commission in April.

A Bolivar Drive accident Sunday left three people injured. Foster Township
police report that 24 year old Garrick Jimmerson of Salamanca rear-ended a
car driven by 16 y ear old Megan Foster.

Both Foster and Jimmerson, along with 25-year-old Barry Snyder, Jimmerson's
passenger, were taken to BRMC for treatment.

Charges are pending.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is looking into a problem with the northern
Pennsylvania Elk herd.

Jerry Feaser says the estimated 575 elk are seeing an increase in antler
deformities, possible caused by a brainworm infestation.

Wildlife biologists are analyzing samples as they investigate the
irregularities.

The disease can be fatal.

Barbara Sweitzer has been named as the Interim director of the Bradford
Family YMCA. She will serve as the director after former director Chuck
Brooks left the position to take another in Bay City, Michigan. Sweitzer
also serves as the chief executive at the Olean Family YMCA.

State police are investigating an assault of an 8-year-old girl by a
15-year-old boy at about 3 o'clock Last Thursday afternoon on Looker
Mountain Trail.

Police filed a juvenile petition alleging aggravated indecent assault,
indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor.

State Police report they received a call from the Genesee Post Office.

58-year-old Thomas Truax hadn't picked up his mail in a week. Officers went
to his residence to investigate, and Truax was found dead. Police say the
death was of natural causes.

A September incident at Walmart led to charges against a Bradford man.

21-year-old Bradley Baker pleaded guilty to those charges in court
yesterday. Baker was working at Walmart when he got in an argument after a
customer complaint. He punched out a glass window.

Bradford Man Steven Terwilliger pleaded guilty on simple assault charges in
court Thursday.

Terwilliger admitted to striking, kicking, and pushing his girlfriend in
August.

Sentencing is set for the middle of March.

A Bradford man pleaded guilty in court Thursday. 21-year-old James Kemick
pleaded guilty to simple assault.

He struck and shoved his girlfriend after she threw away drug paraphernalia
that she found in their home.

Kemick will face the judge again for sentencing March 16.

An Eldred man appeared in court, and pleaded guilty to charges from a
September incident.

45 year old Brian Miller was pulled over in Bradford, and charged with DUI,
marijuana possession, and possession of a loaded handgun. Because of a prior
conviction, Miller was not permitted to possess any weapons.

His sentencing date is set for March 2.

A 20 year old Limestone Resident pleaded guilty in McKean County Court
yesterday.

Justin Spiess accepted charges of statutory sexual assault and corruption
of minors for an incident with a 15 year old girl.

Spiess will be assessed by the Sexual Offender Assessment Board to deermien
if he is a sexually violent predator.

23-year-old Shauna Sherk was in court yesterday, entering a guilty plea on
two counts of retail theft.

Sherk stole more than 900 dollar in merchandise from WalMart in October.

A Bradford man pleaded guilty to conspiracy and retail theft for stealing
meat from a local Supermarket.

On March 16, Charles Johnson put two whole beef tenderloins under his shirt
and left the store. He was nabbed with the meat and sent to jail.

While in Jail, he assisted McKean County Jail Inmate David Davis in an
escape attempt. Johnson pleaded guilty to distracting guard officials while
Davis hoisted himself over the fence.

Davis was seriously injured in the incident.

Sentencing for Johnson is set for February 9th.

329 thousand dollars in heritage funds are coming for the Local Lumber
Heritage Region and the Re 6 Heritage Corridor.

The money is a part of 1.6 million designated by the DCNR for PA's 12
Heritage regions.

89 thousand will go to develop a Smethport Mansion walking tour, and
exhibits at the Lumber Museum Visitor Center in Emporium.

The Route 6 Corridor will see a 90 thousand dollar grant to implement
workshops to help develop Us Route 6 businesses and communities.

A South Kendall Accident Last Thursday left a child injured. Police say an 8
year old was struck by a vehicle on S. Kendall Avenue.

Foster Township Police and Bradford City Ambulance responded to the scene.

Police say a Crosby woman was involved in an accident just south of the
McKean County Line on Route 46 in Shippen Township Wednesday.
Tanya Comfort lost control and flipped her vehicle on its side.

The Secretary of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
will speak at the annual Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce Dinner at the
end of the month.
Michael DiBerardinis will speak on January 31 at the Smethport Country Club.

During last night's informational meeting concerning the city's historic
district, and historic preservation, Mayor Michelle Corignani said the city
made an offer to people at the Church of the Ascension, who wanted to tear
down a building and put in a parking lot for Emery Towers.

Corignani says the city tried to offer a solution to make everyone happy,
but Debbie Cavagnaro of the Church says they weren't happy at all.
She says Emery Towers already considered the parking lot at the corner of
Barbour and Mechanic streets, and it wasn't acceptable.
She adds that the city wanted to buy the building for 10 thousand dollars,
and then rent it out.

Several pets died in a fire Last Thursday afternoon at 1458 Looker Mountain
Trail.

Larry Schuessler, assistant chief of the Otto Township Fire Department says
the home of Frank Barton was a 50 percent loss, but will probably be able to
be rebuilt.

He says no people were home when the fire started at about 12:15, but 3
dogs, 2 ferrets, 2 cats and 9 puppies died. However, 3 puppies were saved.

Firefighters were on the scene until about 7:30 with state police fire
marshal Greg Agosti, investigating the cause of the blaze. The cause is
still under investigation.

Otto Township, Eldred Borough, Eldred Township and Rew fire departments were
on the scene. Port Allegany was on stand-by.

Marilyn Horne is being treated for pancreatic cancer, but her manager says
there's an excellent prognosis for a full recovery.

Denise Pino says the 72-year-old opera star was diagnosed in mid-December.

Pino adds that there's no reason to anticipate any change in Horne's
schedule. Horne officially retired from the stage in 1999, and now devotes
much of her time to working with young singers.

Pino attributes Horne's favorable prognosis to her positive attitude.

State representative Martin Causer says he's renewing his commitment to
boosting the availability and quality of emergency medical services across
the state.

He has proposed transferring state-level EMS responsibilities from the
Department of Health to a new Emergency Medical Services Agency.

Causer's bill has the support of representatiave Paul Semmel, chairman of
the house Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

A lobbyist for Hershey's says taxing candy in Pennsylvania would be like
taxing cheese in Wisconsin.

A property tax reduction plan that cleared the state House last month would
add sales tax to candy, advertising and amusement tickets, among other items
that aren't taxed now.

Besides Hershey's, Pennsylvania is home to M&M Mars and produces more candy
than any state besides Illinois.

Many state senators are on Hersheys' side and, instead of taxing items that
aren't currently taxed, want to raise the sales tax to 6 point 5 percent.

The half point increase would raise about 650 million a year.

A Bradford woman has been honored by Beacon Light with the "Star Award."
The award recognizes staff “whose actions have enhanced the quality of
services offered to clients and families”.
Kimberly Bond was nominated by two of her peers, who noted her continued
dedication to the agency, and her willingness to go above and beyond the
normal expectations of her job.

Foster Township is looking at adopting an amendment to the per capita tax.
A meeting has been scheduled for January 30 to discuss the proposed
ordinance, providing an exemption from the per capita tax for any resident
over 75, or with an income of less than 10 thousand per year.

The McKean County Conservation district is going to continue supporting the
Envirothon.
The program quizzes students knowledge of plants and animals.
The program costs about 800 dollars per year.

Five men have been arrested in connection with two separate incidents of
timber theft across the region.

State Police say Benjamin and Richard Tokarcik, along with David Crowell
stole a cherry tree worth one thousand dollars from a plot of land onm
Walburn Run Road.

Troopers also report Bryan Lemmon, and Julie Hansen worked with Richard
Tokarcik to steal another cherry tree valued at two thousand dollars from
Kane.

A truck rolled over in Foster TWP on Route 219 last Wednesday. Derrick City
Volunteer Firefighters and Bradford City Ambulance were dispatched to the
scene.
37-year-old Little Valley resident Elise Whitmore lost control on the
slippery road surface and went over an embankment.
Whitmore was taken to BRMC for treatment of minor injuries.

McKean County has found a new way to make a few bucks.

By taxing cell phone towers in the county, 16 thousand bucks have come into
county coffers.

Chief Assessor Angie Tennies says many of the county's 47 tower sites are
exempt, but at least 12 are taxable.

Police in Potter County report that a Ford Taurus driven by Janine Morley
was in a crack-up in Allegany Township.

Officers say she started fishtailing on Route 59 when she spun around and
rolled into a ditch.

Morley was not injured.

A Oswayo man was arrested for criminal mischief after he allegedly damaged
the tail lights on a car.

Police say 18 year old John Veneerman of Cyclone reported that Derick Taft
had damaged the tail lights and bumper of his Ford Taurus while it was
parked in Oswayo.

Taft is charged with criminal mischief.

Slippery roads were the case of an accident last week on Route 6, just east
of the railroad crossing in Wetmore Township.

State police say a car driven by 30-year-old Chara P. Ayars of Kane went out
of control on the slippery road, spun, slid off the road and hit a tree.

Police say Ayars was not hurt, but the car was moderately damaged

No one was hurt in an accident last week in Ceres Township.

State police say 19-year-old Ronald Egune Willetts of Shinglehouse was
driving his pickup truck on McCrae Brook when it went out of control and hit
three parked cars.

The pickup was severely damaged and towed from the scene.

Police say charges are pending the outcome of their investigation.

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