Area News Briefs

Stabbing investigated

CLARION -- A Monroeville man is accused of stabbing three men with a knife in Clarion Borough early Sunday morning.

Aaron Blose, 21, faces counts of criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault and public drunkenness, among other charges. The victims' names were not released. Blose is being held in the Clarion County Jail.

Four people, including Blose, suffered injuries in the incident at the corner of South Street and Sixth Avenue.

Folk concert Friday

COUDERSPORT - Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will be performing at 7:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20, at the Coudersport Area High School auditorium. Known as "the heart and soul of American roots music," Ungar and Mason will be making their third trip to Potter County.

Andrew & Noah VanNorstrand, energetic and creative new faces on the acoustic music scene, will open the show.

A high point in Ungar's and Mason's careers was the selection of their Grammy-winning "Ashokan Farewell" as the main theme of Ken Burns' landmark PBS documentary, "The Civil War." Their music is pure Americana - from the Civil War era to modern folk and bluegrass. Ungar's and Mason's sunny dispositions complement the excellence of their music, assuring an enjoyable evening for all.

Tickets are available at Olga's Living With Art in Coudersport, or at the door.

Elk patrols working

BENEZETTE - Problems with elk tourists in are down this year, Pa. State Police Commander Patrick Sarnese told the Benezette Township Board of Supervisors last week.

Sarnese said an "Elk Patrol" jointly operated by police and Pa. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources has been successful in discouraging tourists from parking on the road.

Generally speaking, he added, citations are written when drivers leave their vehicles. In the majority of cases, offenders remain in their vehicles while viewing elk and are cooperative when asked to leave.

Letters From Home

McKEAN COUNTY -- Donations from senior centers in Smethport and Eldred were recently received by the regional Letters from Home program. The senior citizens raised money through the sale of ribbons and other donations.

Letters from Home is preparing to send another shipment of care packages to military personnel serving overseas. A card party scheduled Oct. 27 at the Kersey Community Building will include a card, banner and Christmas ornament contest, with all the entries being sent to the soldiers.

The group also will be holding a letter-stuffing party on Nov. 19 at the meeting rooms at Sacred Heart School.

Mandatory water hookups?

RIDGWAY TWP. - Ridgway Township is considering an ordinance requiring all residents in close proximity to the municipal water lines to use the service. The measure is now before the Ridgway Township Supervisors.

It would cover the entire township, including sections that will be covered by a new water supply project that begins soon. The mandatory tap-on requirement would affect all properties within 300 feet of a water line. Connection fees, currently $1,250, would eventually increase to $1,800.

Circus is coming

ST. MARYS - The Russian American Kids Circus is coming to St. Marys Area High School on Saturday, Nov. 4, for a 7:00 p.m. performance.

Young people are welcome to attend a circus fun workshop at 6:15 p.m. on the night of the circus. The workshop will showcase spinning plates, balancing skills and other acts. Neighbor of Choice, a philanthropic board of OSRAM Sylvania, joins the Elk County Council on the Arts in sponsoring the circus.

Tickets are available in advance and at the door. They can be purchased at Cliffe's, ECCOTA, Scenic Travel and the Village Peddler. For more information, call (814) 772- 7051.

Superintendent's contract

SMETHPORT -- A revised contract for George Romanowski, superintendent of schools for the Smethport Area School District, was approved this week.

School directors approved an amended contract giving Romanowski a pay increase that reflects the same percentage other administrators received for the 2006-07 school year. A co-pay provision for health insurance was also approved.

Romanowski's new base salary is $100,950. His contract extends through the 2007-08 school year.

Post office closing

TROUTVILLE -- Another small post office is closing. Postal Service officials confirmed this week that the Troutville Borough post office will close on Oct. 31 after nearly a century of service.

Delivery and retail services will be provided by a rural carrier from Luthersburg.

An expiring lease at the post office is one of many reasons for the decision, a Postal Service spokesman said. Stephen A. Kochersperger, from the Erie District postal service, said a formal proposal to close the post office has not been made. That leaves open the possibility of reopening the office in the coming months.

Borough residents will need to buy and install curbside mailboxes for rural delivery.

Former sheriff sues

SMETHPORT -- Former McKean County Sheriff Don Morey is suing the county government, seeking back payment for a portion of the time he served in the dual role of sheriff and jail warden.

Morey claims the county commissioners in 1990 authorized a $2,000 salary for the warden's duties. He continued in the dual role until the end of 2004, when the board of commissioners hired a full-time warden and split the Sheriff's Department from the jail operations.

However, the county commissioners in 1997 discontinued the $2,000 payments.

McKean County Solicitor Michele Alfieri claims the commissioners had the right to cut off the additional compensation. Morey is represented by Smethport attorney James Angell.

Forestry criticized

KANE -- A critic of forest management practices in northcentral Pennsylvania had the floor last week at the Roach-Bauer Forestry Forum in Kane.

Dylan H. Jenkins, a forester and director of forest conservation for the Nature Conservancy, said area forests are suffering from the removal of high-value species and the proliferation of other trees.

He cited a lack of markets for "low-use wood," and encouraged national and state forestland managers to work with the private sector to address the shortcomings.

Area forests are also being harmed by deer overbrowsing, acid precipitation, invasive plant species and other threats, Jenkins said.

He added that communication and political alliances are the key to implementing wiser forest management practices.

Damaged by fire

DuBOIS - Fire at a home in the Treasure Lake development near DuBois Saturday night caused an estimated $340,000 in damage. The home was occupied by Cora Rigante, 43, 52-year-old William Lane and a juvenile.

Lane told police he had tried to start a wood fire by dumping gasoline on the wood and lighting it. The investigation continues.

Forestry school progress

SMETHPORT -- Supporters of a plan to start a Penn Stateaffiliated forestry school in Smethport will submit a detailed business plan to Gov. Ed Rendell's office no later than Nov. 1.

The promoters have big ambitions. Due to McKean County's proximity to large expanses of cherry, oak and maple trees, they see Smethport as a logical site for a hardwoods education and promotional center. Some forestry companies in the region are willing to support the plan.

Benefit music event

BRADFORD -- Open Arms Community Church is hosting a benefit concert Saturday night to help out with traveling expenses for the family of Justin Willoughby. He's the Bradford teen who has lost 480 pounds.

After Willoughby's story went nationwide, a New Jersey plastic surgeon offered to perform cosmetic surgery at no charge. The Willoughby family still needs help to cover travel and lodging.

From 7:30 until 10:00 Saturday night, local bands will take the stage during "Rock 4 Justin." Among performers will be Josh Hatcher and the Revolt, Mike Miller from Fluidity, Jordan Straus and others. There is no admission charge. A free will offering will be taken. Willoughby himself will take the stage with a few of his own original rap selections.

For more information, log on to openarmsbradford.org. Donations are being accepted, made out to Justin Willoughby, care of Open Arms Community Church, 1289 E. Main St., Bradford PA 16701.