NEWS FROM AROUND THE AREA

Identity theft

SMETHPORT -- Sentencing will be scheduled soon for a McKean County woman who pleased guilty to identity theft.

Cynthia Longstaff, 50, of Smethport, admitted to using other people's credit cards and checks to buy some $2,000 worth of goods. Appearing in McKean County Court, she agreed to make restitution to the victims and will receive her sentence in the coming weeks.

Longstaff admitted that she committed the crimes last year by using the identities of coworkers and residents while employed at Lakeview Senior Care and Living Center in Smethport.

Overheated school

ST. MARYS - Parents are continuing to pressure the St. Marys Area School board to bring down temperatures inside the high school.

School officials concede that some of the classrooms are often too hot, but have found most of the long-term solutions to be too expensive.

At last week's school board meeting, two parents demanded action before the 2008-09 school year begins.

The district has installed fans to better circulate indoor air and change some classroom locations since the parents' protests started.

Remembering 'New Deal'

SMETHPORT -- McKean County Historical Society is seeking items that can be loaned to its Old Jail Museum for a state-supported display, entitled "The New Deal in Pennsylvania: 75 Years."

The display, supported by a $1,000 Pa. Historical and Museum Commission grant, will open on June 9. Citizens are encouraged to loan the museum fashions, pictures, photographs, literature, newspaper articles, even oral histories from the 1930s.

Those with memories of the era are invited to stop at the museum, where they can record their oral accounts.

Soon after Franklin D. Roosevelt took office as President, he announced the New Deal, a series of federal programs designed to lift America out of the Great Depression, with its high unemployment rate, bank failures and business closings. Pennsylvania jobless rate during that era was 37 percent.

One New Deal program that had a major impact on the region was the Civilian Conservation Corps, consisting of 2,650 camps where young men were put to work on environmental and other long-term public works projects.

The Old Jail Museum is open Tuesdays and Thursdays in May, September and October from 1 to 4 p.m. During June, July and August, the hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Extended hours to view the New Deal exhibit have been announced for June 9, July 8 and August 6.

Airport wants Colgan

BRADFORD -- Bradford Regional Airport Authority is asking the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to continue air service provided by Colgan Air Inc., the facility's current carrier.

Colgan's change of hub cities from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., has had a positive impact on Bradford, authority members say.

Colgan is competing with Gulfstream International Airlines of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the Bradford contract under the federal Essential Air Service subsidy program. Winning bidder will get a twoyear contract.

Passenger numbers have risen by 50 percent since the airport started providing service to and from Washington, rather than Pittsburgh.

Colgan proposes to use 34- seat Saab 340 aircraft, while Gulfstream would use Beech 1900 turboprops that seat 19.

Curfew discussed

ST. MARYS - Youths and young adults who are hanging out on streets of St. Marys into the wee morning hours have raised concerns among some citizens who attended this week's City Council meeting.

Council members admitted that they were unfamiliar with the city's curfew ordinance because the issue has not arisen in recent years. City Manager David Greene agreed to investigate.

Youths have been seen in the vicinity of the Sheetz convenience store, which is open 24 hours, during the hours of midnight and 4 am, prompting citizens to fear the potential of criminal activities.

Council members also said they would contact the Police Department to discuss additional patrols in the area.

Business closing

KANE - Downtown Kane is losing another business at the end of the month. Buyer's Fair, a hardware and variety store on North Fraley Street, will close after eight years of operation.

About 10 jobs will be eliminated. At one time, the store employed 18.

"We're losing money, so we don't have a choice," said owner Rich Hosier. A liquidation sale is now underway.

Buyer's Fair at one time had 38 locations in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Several years ago, he operated a Buyer's Fair store at a different site in Kane. Former supermarkets known as Jubilee and the Market Basket once occupied the Kane building.

Treasure Lake Borough

DuBOIS - Decades after establishing Treasure Lake as a retirement and recreational community in Sandy Township, outside of DuBois, property owners there are trying to establish their own borough.

The proposal has drawn staunch opposition from the Sandy Township Board of Supervisors. Property in the Treasure Lake complex makes up about half of the township's total assessed value for tax purposes.

Township officials forecast the township stands to lose about $1 million if Treasure Lake would become its own borough. Even under current conditions, supervisors say, roads and equipment are in disrepair and police protection is inadequate.

Teen runs from police

ELDRED - A McKean County teenager was arrested Saturday night after fleeing from state police from the Kane barracks.

Troopers say 19-year-old Jared McClain of Eldred was pulled over on Canfield Hollow Road for a summary violation, but then fled. He was captured after a short chase through Eldred Borough.

McClain was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, attempting to elude police, possession of alcoholic beverages and possession of drug paraphernalia.