Area news briefs

St. Mark Day Care Center held a Christmas Party on Wednesday. Children played festive games and enjoyed Christmas cookies that they had decorated themselves. The children also created their own Christmas ornaments and crafts. "How many cookies do you think you should get?" St. Mark head Katie Coppock asked. The answer: three.

Two fatal crashes

KANE - A McKean County man died in a two-vehicle crash last Thursday afternoon on snow-covered Route 321 in Wetmore Township.

State police say a tractor trailer operated by 26-year-old Craig Boschert of St. Marys crossed the center line on a curve and ran into a pickup truck operated by 80-year-old Carl Danielson of Kane.

Danielson was taken to Kane Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A passenger in his truck was hospitalized with injuries.

Another elderly McKean County man died Tuesday morning when his car collided with a tractor-trailer on U.S. Rt. 219, about one-half mile south of Pa. Rt. 59 in Lafayette Township, McKean County.

A holiday art workshop proved to be a success at Olga's Living With Art in Coudersport. Attending the "Olga's Little Elves Workshop" were, from left: Lauren DeLo, Jillian Updegraff, Gabby DeLo, Owen Chambers, Michael Chambers, Annie Chambers, Julia DeLo, Olga Snyder and Eli Trimbur. They're showing off the holiday gifts they made during the afternoon workshop.

Police said 82-year-old Edward Fabic pulled his KIA from Huskins Road onto Rt. 219 into the path of a rig driven by Earl Geisler of Cheektowaga, N.Y. The compact was forced off the east side of the highway.

Fabic was pronounced dead at the scene by McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill. Geisler was unhurt.

New 'hub city'

BRADFORD - Bradford Regional Airport carrier Colgan Air Inc. will move its hub city to Washington, D.C., starting Jan. 7. Colgan will also begin flying under a new carrier, United Airlines.

A 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft will service Bradford Regional under the same flight schedule now in place, but the flights will go to and from Washington's Dulles International Airport, rather than Pittsburgh.

No major changes to the current flight schedule are expected at this point. Airport officials hope the changes will build passenger levels and provide business and leisure travelers with more domestic and international destinations.

Bradford Regional is one of nine airports across Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia that are transferring to Washington. Dulles has 128 non-stop destinations, including onestop service to 26 international cities.

Progress in Ridgway

RIDGWAY - Community leaders in Ridgway continue their work to capitalize on the town's heritage and natural features as tourist attractions. Much of the work is being performed by the Ridgway Heritage Council.

Council members are working with Ridgway Borough Council and the Pa. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources to develop public attractions and recreational opportunities along the Clarion River waterfront.

They're also hoping to restore a downtown landmark, the Bogert Hotel, as a social center and they are linking upcoming activities with the Pa. Oil Heritage Region Alliance to attract more tourists.

Recycling changes

ST. MARYS - Changes are taking place with curbside recycling service in St. Marys, starting Jan. 1. The city will pick up newsprint, glass and aluminum cans at no charge.

Plastics will be accepted at drop-off bins but will no longer be collected at the curb. Mixed paper, corrugated cardboard and non-aluminum cans can also be dropped off.

City officials believe curbside recycling will be extended to almost 100 percent of the city's public streets by Jan. 1.

A compost site is available to residents seven days a week during daylight hours.

School names CEO

MT. JEWETT - A Shinglehouse native with a long resume in education has been named chief executive officer of the proposed Mt. Jewett Area Charter School. It's another sign that the school's organizers are serious.

Thomas L. Brown, currently a director at a charter school in Warren County, has been advising the Mt. Jewett coalition. He has a master's degree in educational administration and is a certified teacher and superintendent.

Prison overcrowded

SMETHPORT - Members of McKean County's Criminal Justice Advisory Board discussed options for dealing with overcrowding at the county jail last week.

One board member, McKean County Commissioner John Egbert, said that unless other arrangements are made, the county will have to build a bigger jail.

Members heard a presentation from Bobby L. Juip, an advisor from the Pa. Commission on Crime and Delinquency, on options for reducing inmate populations. These include alternative treatment of prisoners with mental health issues, changes in sentencing patterns and the broader use of technology such as ankle bracelets for house arrest.

Warden Tim Woodruff said the jail staff has focused on equipping inmates with skills that will make them more employable when they are released, reducing the likelihood of their return to confinement.

Drug charges filed

ST. MARYS - An alleged drug dealer was arrested by St. Marys City Police, working with a regional drug task force.

Orlandray Butler, 48, Diamond Street, is charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, illegal possession of a prescription drug and related offenses. He was remanded to the Elk County Prison in lieu of bail.

Police said the arrest stemmed from several controlled buys of drugs from Butler over the past several weeks. During a search last week, police discovered a small amount of marijuana and crack cocaine and various drug paraphernalia along with $2,700 in cash. At the time of his arrest, Butler was on state parole for a felony.

Northcentral Municipal Drug Task Force consists of police officers from St. Marys, Ridgway, Johnsonburg, Emporium and Forest County.

Freedom Salute

RIDGWAY - A Pa. Army National Guard combat team based in Ridgway held its annual Freedom Salute on Sunday.

Members of the First Battalion, 112th Infantry Stryker Brigade paid tribute to all military personnel serving in operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The battalion will travel to Camp Shelby, Miss., in June in preparation for its next mission to Iraq, where members will spend next Christmas.

Curriculum head named

SMETHPORT - Jenny Lent has been named director of curriculum services for Seneca Highlands IU9, serving school districts in McKean, Cameron, Elk and Potter counties.

Lent succeeds Mary Colf, who becomes the IU9's executive director when Dan Wetzel's retirement takes effect.

Before joining the IU9 staff in curriculum development last year, Lent was an English and librarian at Smethport. She holds a graduate degree in library science/information technology as well as a principal's certification. Her salary will be $73,000.