Area news briefs

Cameron County's ninth through twelfth grade Gifted Students traveled to The Appalachian Arts Studio in Ridgway recently to spend a day creating with clay and pottery wheels. They will go back on Monday to glaze their kiln-dried projects. Here, Grant Vassallo carefully works his piece. Photo courtesy of Jen Olivett

UPB student killed

BRADFORD - A University of Pittsburgh at Bradford student died Saturday of injuries suffered when she was struck by a car in the early morning of Dec. 30. The victim was identified by police as 20- year-old Alissa Cameron of Bradford.

Officers said Cameron was injured when a car driven by Nikole Smock, 19, also of Bradford, allegedly backed over her in the parking lot behind Northwest Savings Bank. She was pronounced dead by the Erie County Coroner's office at Hamot Medical Center in Erie. Smock, who is free on $50,000 bail, is accused of driving away from the scene. She was later apprehended by Bradford City Police.

Smock has been charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, failure to give information and render aid, and other counts.

Emporium Borough Mayor Bruno Carnovale swore in new Emporium Borough Council member Rick Vassallo Monday night.

Security beefed up

SMETHPORT - Heavier security is now in effect at the McKean County Courthouse in Smethport.

In order to enter the building, all visitors must use the main entrance. Personal belongings must pass through an X-raystyle optical scanner, while individuals are being checked with a metal detector.

A grant from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts covers a portion of the equipment costs, while McKean County is responsible for staffing.

Cleanways fund-raiser

RIDGWAY - Elk County Chapter of Pennsylvania Cleanways will hold a fundraising yard sale at the courthouse annex in Ridgway Friday, Feb. 29, from 2-6 pm.

Members are now meeting to determine which environmental improvement projects to pursue this year. They have been asked to help another organization clearing debris and developing public access points along from a 50- mile-long stretch of the Clarion River in Elk and Jefferson counties.

Help for paper mill

JOHNSONBURG - A complicated measure now before the Pa. House of Representatives has big implications for the Domtar Paper Company mill in Johnsonburg. The Senate has already passed the measure, which would give utilities incentives to buy power from the mill.

If it passes, by-products of the pulping process and wood manufacturing process, including bark, wood chips and sawdust, would qualify as "Tier I alternative energy sources."

Pennsylvania's utilities must produce 18 percent of their energy from alternative sources by 2020. Tier I sources currently include solar, wind, low-impact hydropower, geothermal energy, biologically derived methane gas, fuel cells, biomass energy, and coal mine methane. Domtar's owners have been lobbying to have black liquor, a byproduct of the production of wood pulp used to make paper, designated as Tier I.

Tourist agency moving

WELLSBORO - Tioga County Visitors Bureau is relocating its headquarters to the former Dexter Baptist Church, adjacent to the entrance to Leonard Harrison State Park on the east rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

Tourism is the county's biggest industry. Harrison Park alone attracts about 180,000 people per year. The state has recently made major infrastructure improvements at the park.

Running for Congress

PHILIPSBURG - Donald Wilson, representing the Green Party, plans to run for the U. S. House of Representatives seat being vacated by John Peterson at the end of the year.

Wilson, 43, will seek the nomination when the Green Party convenes in February in Harrisburg to nominate candidates for the 2008 elections.

Wilson, a resident of Philipsburg, said he'll base his candidacy on a universal health care system, ending the Iraq War and encouraging the use of renewable energy.

Slide work underway

JAY TWP. - PennDOT has begun work to repair a slide along Route 555 in Jay Township, Elk County. The 300-foot stretch located 1.9 miles from the intersection of Routes 255 and 555 in Weedville is restricted to one lane.

Self-regulating stop signs have been placed at each end of the affected area, allowing vehicles to travel through one at a time. Interim work included cleaning of the inlet and ditch line and temporary roadway repair.

PennDOT is now working to remove trees and guardrails and build a haul road. Once the road is in place, PennDOT will excavate soil and replace it with rock to add stability underneath the roadway. Slight traffic delays may occur as trucks leave and enter the work area.

Flights to D.C.

BRADFORD - History was made on Monday as the Bradford Regional Airport began providing flights to and from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.

The change comes almost 60 years after the airport first began providing service.

A ceremonial first flight was held on Monday, ushering passengers on a 50-minute trip aboard a 34-passenger Saab 340 to visit Dulles.

The D.C. airport allows Bradford passengers to connect with 84 flight destinations, and 26 international connections through 36 airlines.

Flights were previously made to and from Pittsburgh as the "hub city." Colgan Air Inc. is now flying under a new carrier, United Airlines.