U.S. Rep. John E. Peterson (PA-05) announced this afternoon that Potter
County officials will soon be receiving $560,000 in federal funding to help
rebuild the North Fork Cowanesque River Dam in Harrison Township. The grant,
to be disbursed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resource
Conservation Service, will be used by Potter County commissioners to
rehabilitate the aging floodwater retarding structure so that the dam can
once again meet design, safety, and performance standards issued by the
state.

“This important federal grant will go a long way in ensuring that vital
improvements to the North Fork Dam can be made as quickly and efficiently as
possible,” said Peterson. “A project like this is hard to undertake without
a significant infusion of money from both the state and federal levels of
government. I’m pleased that we were able to do our part in Washington so
that this important work can get started.”

The project seeks to make several important improvements to the North Fork
Dam that, when complete, will potentially extend its useful service life by
another 100 years. Those changes included raising the structure an
additional 8.2 feet, stabilizing the auxiliary spillway, repairing the
principal spillway and its outlet, and modifying the dam’s existing
embankment drain.

“We’ve been working on this project for awhile, and with the help of these
federal funds, we’ll now be able to move forward with plans to correct and
widen the dam’s spillway, and to raise its top level,” said Potter County
Commissioner John Torok. “We’re grateful to Congressman Peterson, as well as
Sens. Specter and Santorum, for supporting this important program offered by
the USDA.”

The Army Corps of Engineers originally constructed the dam in 1960 as a
medium hazard structure for the purpose of reducing flood damages to
downstream roads, bridges, and agricultural lands. The dam was designed to
be serviceable for 50 years. But the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection classified the North Fork Dam as a “high hazard” in
2002, citing problems that would put an estimated 44 houses and 132 people
at risk should the dam breach unexpectedly. At that point, Commissioner
Torok started the process of applying for grant state and federal grant
money to help do the work necessary to bring the dam into compliance with
current safety standards.

In terms of financing the dam’s rehabilitation, the federal government’s
share of $560,000 represents 65 percent of the total project cost, estimated
now at nearly $1.13 million. The rest of the money will come from state
accounts, such as the Growing Greener II program, as well as local resources
gathered by the Potter County commissioners.

Pennsylvania State Police will be sponsoring a child safety checkpoint on
February 17. The checkpoint will be run from eight am to two pm at the
state police barracks on State Route 6 in Coudersport. The Checkpoint is
designed to inform residents on how to properly install and secure a child
safety seat and should take approximately 20 to 30 minutes. For more
information you can contact the Pennsylvania State Police in Coudersport.

A Bradford man has been charged with several sex charges and was released on
bail. Jason Meyers of Bradford was remanded before Judge Dominic Cercone
for the sex charges after an alleged incident involving a female juvenile
below the age of 13. Bail was set at ten thousand dollars and a preliminary
hearing is set for February 8.

State Police are releasing a report of a hit and run DUI crash this weekend.
A vehicle driven by Travis McKeirnan was traveling on Railroad Street in the
Austin Borough when he left the roadway striking a utility pole.
McKeirnan's two passengers, Crystal Smith of Roulette and Teresa Siebert of
Austin, were transported to the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for treatment
of minor injuries. McKeirnan was determined to be under the influence of
alcohol. None of the occupants were wearing their seatbelts.

A Coudersport man is facing several charges including Driving under the
Influence after a traffic stop yesterday. Drew Watson was traveling east on
Chestnut Street in Coudersport when troopers observed him commit several
traffic violations and was stopped according to the police report. After a
Blood Alcohol test Watson was charged with the Traffic Violations and a
charge of DUI.

State Police report a crash on Champlin Hill Road in Eldred.

Lisa Swartwood of Kane reportedly lost control at about 2AM Saturday
morning. She then went off the east berm and struck the guard rails, going
through the year of 55 year old Kathy Silvis., causing ruts.
Police allege the Swartwood left the scene without notifying the property
owner. Charges are pending.

State Police report a crash in Keating Township, 2 miles West of Smethport
on Route 59.

Officers say 19-year-old Dustin Jacoby was traveling in a Plymouth Neon when
he swerved to miss a dear, then ran into a ditch, and struck a guardrail.

Jacoby had a 15-year-old female passenger in the car at the time of the
accident.

Officer say the pair left the scene on foot, and were later located at the
apartment above the ESCAPE bar.

Police say Jacoby was DUI.

Charges were filed.

An 18-year-old Female from Belmont New York has been arrested for Driving
under the influence in Genesee Township yesterday. According to the Police
report released by the State Police in Coudersport, Jamie Buzzard was
determined to be intoxicated and after receiving a Blood Alcohol test at the
Charles Cole Memorial Hospital is being held on several traffic charges.
Among the charges are DUI, consumption, and the purchase of alcohol.

Governor Ed Rendell has signed a bill that will encourage young people to
learn about hunting with their families.
The "Families Afeild" bill will hopefully help resolve issues with declining
hunting figures.
Rendell says that for every 100 hunters that retire, only 62 take up the
sport.
Hunting is a vital part of Pennsylvania's economy.

Developers of a proposed indoor water park off I-86 say the complex will
also include a 100-room hotel, a strip mall and a restaurant, among other
businesses.
Ground could be broken for the project in 6 to 9 months.
The project carries a 35 million dollar price tag.

The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that a small business
counselor will be available at the Seneca Building to work with business
owners and managers.

SCORE is a nationwide network of over 10,500 volunteers who provide free and
confidential small business advice and has 389 offices across the country.
The services are free, and appointments are recommended, but not required.

The Otto Eldred Show Choir is getting ready to serve up some soup.

The show choir traditionally holds the Soups on Fundraiser each year by
offering soup, bread, and cookies. The event will be held Thursday at the
Otto Eldred High School from 5-6:30 before the Boys Basketball game with
Port Allegany.

The son of a former Bradford Couple has overseen the decorating for Super
Bowl 40. Brian Murphy, son of John and Rita Murphy, was selected to oversee
the Décor Design Team, a group of five design firms that were hired by the
NFL to decorate for the Super bowl. The Group was charged with creating
graphics for not only the stadium but for the airport, hotels, and other
venues throughout Detroit.

Someone damaged property at the Nu Gas property in Lewis Run sometime
between 4:30 Thursday afternoon and 8:30 Friday morning.

Jerry Carver of Salamanca tells police someone threw a brick through the
window of the office trailer. The brick hit a fire extinguisher and caused
it to spray the contents inside the office.

Damage is estimated at 700 dollars.

Editor's Note:
Can anyone say Ernest T. Bass?

State Police in Potter county are investigating an incident of underage
drinking in Potter County. A known 12 year old female reportedly drank
alcohol provided to her by a 14 year old male.
Police are investigating.

An Eldred man has refiled an appeal to withdraw his guilty plea.
55 year old Louis Roach was convicted for the 1991 murder of a Bradford
convenience store clerk.
He originally filed for an appeal in 2001, but the paperwork was returned
because it contained errors.

A Coudersport man was sent to jail on theft charges.
Brian Honey was sent to jail on 50 thousand dollars bail for allegedly
stealing more than 100 thousand dollars in items from Mountain Ridge Sports.
Honey is also accused of forging a 3 thousand dollar check off Mountain
Ridge Sports Owner Scott Bruzzi's account.
Honey was convicted in 1999 for the theft and sale of a firearm. That
firearms was the one used to kille Kane Borough Police officer Steve Jerman.

A Kane man who broken into two Dawson Street homes and took more than 5
thousand dollars worth of items pleaded guilty today in McKean County Court.
20-year-old Travis Whipple was also found with more than 6 grams of
marijuana.
He's scheduled for sentencing on March 16.

Two vehicles collided Wednesday afternoon on Route 49 about a quarter of a
mile west of Ulysses.

State police say a pickup truck driven by 33-year-old Robert Dorosiak of
North Tonawanda, New York, was attempting to make a U-turn when an SUV
driven by 38-year-old Kevin Miller of Coudersport tried to pass it.

No one was injured, but the pickup had to be towed from the scene.

Police say he will be cited for trying to make the U-turn.

A 12-year-old girl is dead after a crash in Toby Road in Fox Township Sunday
afternoon.

State Police say a 17 year old female was driving a 95 Dodge Caravan along
Route 219 in Elk County when she lost control on the snowy roads, and rolled
the van.

The 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy were ejected from the vehicle.
The boy was seriously injured, and is at UPMC in Pittsburgh. The girl was
pronounced dead at the scene.

Neither of them was wearing seatbelts.

The 17-year-old driver, and her 19-year-old passenger were not injured.
Police say the two uninjured were wearing seat belts.

No charges have been filed. The investigation is ongoing.

A Bradford woman was arrested for Aggravated Assault after allegedly
attacking a Bradford man at a bar in Lewis Run Saturday.

State police say Jennifer Hensley and Daniel Benner were arguing outside
Jose's Bar when it became physical.

Hensley allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed Benner in the armpit. She was
placed in the McKean County Jail in lieu of five thousand dollar bail.

A Smethport man pleaded guilty on escape and theft charges in McKean County
court Thursday.
30 year old Mark Mullins stole a vehicle and failed to return to the jail
while he was out on work release. Sentencing is set for March 2nd.

A Bradford man has been charged with making terroristic threats.
Kevin Frank Vincent was charged for allegedly threatening to shoot his
postal carrier, and to shoot up the post office.
Vincent was sent to McKean County Jail in lieu of 5 thousand dollars bail.

A Bradford woman who had 2 and a half grams of heroin and wrote six bad
checks pleaded guilty today in McKean County Court.
19-year-old Jessica Bottorf is scheduled for sentencing on March 2.

The Tankersleys' who are being charged with several drug charges in a 2001
incident in which Marijuana was discovered in their home during a house
fire, has had their Sentencing continued for the seventh time. Dena and
Timothy Tankersley's attorneys have asked for the continuance after a 2004
vehicle accident reportedly left Timothy with head and neck trauma causing a
continuing psychiatric condition. Mr. Tankersley's attorney feels that his
client is unable to understand and comprehend the significance of sentencing
and has asked for the continuance until Mr. Tankersley is deemed able to
understand the proceedings.

The Eldred man charged with several sex offenses after an alleged rape has
been denied an appeal by the State Supreme court. James Schneider was
attempting to have a new trial started after what he believes was
prosecutorial misconduct at the original 1996 trial that sent him to prison
for 30 years. Schneider was sentenced in April of 96 for the rape and other
sex charges of a then seven-year-old girl.

A Duke Center man pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct charges.
21 year old Eric Quinn was arrested in December for walking home drunk, and
trying to enter someone else's home. He'll reappear in court March 16 for
sentencing.

Former Potter County District Attorney Jeff Leber is not happy with the
court's decision to reinstate District Judge Annette Easton.

Leber fought to have Easton barred from hearing certain criminal cases.

President Judge John Leete signed an order January 24 that put her back on
the caseload.

Leber claims that Potter County's district judges have operated under biased
attitudes toward certain police officers.

The Johnsonburg Bypass is officially underway.
Continental Construction has begun the first phase of the Route 219 project,
as it has digging has commenced to relocate sewer lines.

The line relocation should be done by the end of February.

The 35 Million dollar project will be done in two phases. Eventually Route
219 will run on the Western side of the Clarion River, instead of directly
through town.

A Roulette barn was burglarized, according to State Troopers.

Officers say someone broke into the barn sometime between New Years Day and
today, stealing a set of tire chains and a hydraulic cylinder.

Police say Randy Cornelius of Roulette and Roydon Hallock of Port Allegany
were victims in the theft.

Reports of a rabid raccoon in McKean County have been released. Veterinarian
for the Department of Agriculture Karen Martin says that a dog and a raccoon
were fighting along Newell Creek Road in Ceres Township when the owner tried
to intervene.
The vaccinated dog was badly bitten on the face and required surgery.
The owner was bitten on the hand by the wild animal. He's going through a
series of rabies shots.

Martin recommends vaccinations for pets to prevent rabies.

The dog involved in this case has been quarantined.

Jamie Himes Dana and her bomb-sniffing partner Rex the German Shepherd were
First Lady Laura Bush's guests during the president's State of the Union
address.
Dana and Rex, who had a seat on the aisle, were shown on television during
the speech.
Before the speech, Dana, her husband Mike, and Rex were escorted around
Capitol Hill, meeting with lawmakers and the media.
She met with Congressman John Peterson for about 30 minutes. Peterson pushed
for language in the Defense Appropriations Bill that allows Dana to adopt
Rex.

The Bradford City School Board appointed a new member Tuesday morning. Don
Keck was nominated by Rev Arthur Cox, and then voted in with a unanimous
vote. Pat Vigliotta was absent from the meeting.
Joseph Troutman nominated Dr. August Freda, his nomination did not get a
second.

A Bradford native was recently awarded the Bronze Star.

Chief Warrant Officer Mark Vecellio is a special agent in the US Army
Criminal Investigation Division. HE was awarded the medal for his role in
the investigation into the death of an Italian Diplomat, and the death of
detainees at Camp Bucca.
Vecellio graduated from Bradford Central Christian School.

The cat's out of the bag. County Commissioner John Egbert announced
yesterday that former Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development
head ray McMahon will start working for the county on Friday.

McMahon will be making 45 thousand dollars from the county to head up the
new McKean County Economic and Community Development department, while
pulling in a 47 thousand dollar pension from the City of Bradford.

A Pennsylvania man who lost his wallet in 1967, is getting it back, with
five dollars and a traffic ticket still in it.
57-year-old Doug Schmitt lost the wallet when he stopped at a Utah gas
station in 1967. The owner stashed it in a drawer, presumably thinking the
owner would come back to get it.
After the gas station owner died, his son-in-law found the wallet, tracked
Schmitt down and sent him the wallet.
The wallet also contained a dry cleaning receipt and pictures of Schmitt's
girlfriends from a suburban Philadelphia high school.