REGIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

Two die in head-on

BROCKWAY -- Two women were killed in a head-on traffic crash last Friday night near Brockway.

State police at DuBois said Eric P. Veltri, 33, Brockway, was driving a pickup truck south on Route 219 in Snyder Township at about 11:45 when the vehicle crossed the center line. His truck struck a compact car being driven north by Delora J. Burrow-Brandish, 38, Bradford.

Two passengers in her car, Connie J. Bailey, 29, of Brockway, and Karen J. Peters, 39, Newark, Del., were pronounced dead at the scene. Neither victim was wearing a seatbelt.

Burrow-Brandish was not wearing a seatbelt and was severely injured.

Veltri was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. He was wearing a seatbelt and was moderately injured.

New pastor welcomed

PORT ALLEGANY -- St. Joseph's Episcopal Church in Port Allegany has a new vicar. He is Father John Wesley, a clergyman who is very familiar with the community.

Father Wesley will now split his time between St. Joseph's in Port Allegany and St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Smethport. He'll conduct Sunday worship services while maintaining office hours and a Port Allegany area visitation schedule on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Bad timing for robber

WELLSBORO -- A Tioga County man will stand trial for attempted bank robbery after being bound over to court last week. Police filed the charges against 28-year-old Christopher Koch of Liberty following an incident on March 13 at Citizens and Northern Bank, Liberty.

At Koch's preliminary hearing, a bank employee testified that she witnessed him don a mask while sitting in a car outside of her office window and reach for a shotgun just before the bank was set to close at noon.

She said Koch tried to open a locked door to the bank and then drove off. State police from Mansfield located his car through its license number and arrested Koch at his home at about 2:30 that afternoon.

Police reported that they found a ski mask and shotgun matching the description provided by the bank employee.

Sheriff to run jail

SMETHPORT -- McKean County Commissioners have abolished the county's prison board and installed Sheriff Brad Mason as warden in moves aimed at ending the turmoil that has surrounded the facility for several months.

The changes are expected to save the county about $80,000 annually.

Warden Tim Woodruff resigned last month, giving the commissioners the opportunity to deliver on last year 's campaign pledge by at least two of them to return control of the jail to the Sheriff 's Department.

Mason said he did not expect to make any major operational changes, other than possible staff restructuring. Programs initiated by the former sheriff, Don Morey, such as GED training, drug and alcohol counseling, literacy education and community service, will continue, Sheriff Mason said.

Recycling grant

ST. MARYS -- Elk County has been awarded a $5,700 state grant to help cover costs at a hazardous waste collection center in St. Marys.

Funds will be used to continue operations of an electronics recycling center at the Stackpole Complex. The center is open to all county residents and small businesses for drop-off of electronics products, such as computers, mobile phones, televisions and VCRs. These products often contain hazardous materials such as cadmium, lead and mercury.

Guilty plea entered

MT JEWETT - A McKean County man will be sentenced on April 24 for charges stemming from a fatal car crash last June. Jason Roth, 23, of Mt. Jewett pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault by motor vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol and related offenses.

Investigators determined that Roth had blood alcohol content of .18 percent while driving a Ford Mustang that went off Rt. 219 and struck several trees, killing a passenger, Ian McClosky, 24, of Kane.

Armory groundbreaking

BRADFORD - A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 2 pm Friday for the new Pa. National Guard armory at the Bradford Regional Airport.

The $8.3 million "Readiness Center" will be the home of about 140 National Guard soldiers. Once it's on line, armories in Bradford and Ridgway will be closed.

Adjutant General Jessica L. Wright will be featured speaker for Friday's ceremony.

Dam's future discussed

RIDGWAY - More than 100 people attended the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers meeting on the East Branch Dam.

Corps leaders said the dam, which was built to control flooding and enhance recreation, has shown structural deficiencies for more than a half-century. The pool level has been decreased to 1,650 feet above sea level.

Besides reducing water levels to decrease stress on the dam, the Corps has enhanced instrumentation and monitoring, while updating mapping and emergency action plans.

Additionally, the Corps is conducting magnetic resonance imaging of the dam.