News from around the area

Burglary suspects nabbed

JOHNSONBURG - Johnsonburg Borough Police recently called in the Pa. State Police to assist in the investigation of several burglaries in the borough.

Harry M. Dilley of Elk County was allegedly caught using a credit card that had been taken during a break-in at Wilcox Beverage Company.

Willie C. Moore of Monroeville was nabbed for allegedly using a credit card stolen in a burglary at Bevacqua Trucking.

Police also said they recovered many items stolen from a string of Johnsonburg area burglaries at a storage facility on State Road and an unidentified residence, both in Johnsonburg Borough. Additional arrests are pending, according to Johnsonburg Borough Police Chief Bryan Parana.

He said police have been investigating about 20 burglaries in the area, most of which are probably the work of an organized ring of thieves. Parana added that the break-ins could be drug-related.

Among the properties hit were the Johnsonburg Community Building, Dr. Mary DaCanal's office, Fox's Pizza, Haight Tax Service, Johnsonburg Press, Holy Rosary Church and rectory, Johnsonburg Health Center, Johnsonburg Senior Center and Central Hose Company. Several residential burglaries are also being probed, Parana said.

Burglars steal cash as well as valuables. They've also caused property damage of more than $10,000.

In one case, burglars stole a truck from Bevacqua Trucking and drove it to The Brickyard, where they broke into the building and tried unsuccessfully to remove an automatic teller machine.

Courthouse projects

SMETHPORT - Renovations continue at the McKean County Courthouse and grounds. The commissioners recently approved about $250,000 worth of work, which includes paving, drainage, basement window wells and sidewalk work.

The county has already repaired the bell tower and will soon install a new security system that limits access to the building. Cosmetic work on shrubbery at the front of the courthouse is also planned.

Police may merge

CLEARFIELD - Another local police and fire department merger could be in the works.

Clearfield Borough and Lawrence Township are looking into combining their police and fire departments, joining a growing number of municipalities who are trying to cut costs through consolidation.

A national study commission has recommended mergers of police departments with 10 or fewer officers, where practical, for greater efficiency. If Clearfield and Lawrence follow through on their plan, the Governor's Center will assign a "peer consultant," often a police chief, to study the issues and produce a recommendation.

Armed robbery JOHNSONBURG - Johnsonburg Borough Police responded to the scene of an armed robbery last Thursday just before 11 p.m.

Police said a white male, approximately five feet, 11 inches tall with dark eyes, brandished a black automatic handgun at the Uni-Mart store and demanded cash. He fled with an undisclosed quantity of money.

Local police from Ridgway and St. Marys are assisting with the investigation.

Bridge replacement

SMETHPORT - The McKean County Commissioners will likely float a bond issue to help pay for a new Galico Bridge in Keating Township.

They're considering several financing options. PNC Capital Markets of Pittsburgh has been authorized to move forward with the bond issue. The commissioners said the payback would come from interest accruing from the county's capital reserve account. A new bridge will cost about $1.5 million.

The commissioners also agreed to designate $120,000 of the county's liquid fuels tax account for the Boyer Crossing Bridge over the Allegheny River near Port Allegany.

Wellsville Wal-Mart?

WELLSVILLE - Plans to build a massive Wal-Mart Supercenter in Allegany County, N.Y., between Wellsville and Scio, have been the subject of intense debate. A capacity crowd attended a meeting on Wal-Mart's plans last week in Wellsville.

Some citizens are concerned about traffic delays and flooding that might occur if the plan moves forward.

The proposed 148,000 square-foot business is targeted for 147 acres at the site of the former Wellsville Airport. Part of the site is within the town of Scio. It's planned to include a full retail center, a grocery, a garden center and possibly a pharmacy and optical center.

A portion of the golf course at the Wellsville Country Club would have to be relocated.