Thursday’s high, 73; Overnight low, 37;
MOSTLY SUNNY TODAY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS A HIGH OF 74.
CLEAR SKIES TONIGHT LOW OF 54
MOSTLY SUNNY TOMORROW, HIGH 69 CHANCE OF A SHOWER
TOMORROW NIGHT CHANCE OF A SHOWER, LOW 48.
SATURDAY, MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS, COOLER HIGHS 62 AND AN OVERNIGHT LOW OF 47.
Hamlin Township burglary investigated….Bradford woman cited for bar fight….Port Allegany resident arrested on drug charges….Elderly Tioga County woman safely located in Florida…Officials warn of wildfire dangers…..Causer supports bill to help non-profits during pandemic…Virus cases continue to increase in PA…… https://soundcloud.com/user-159792485/black-forest-broadcasting-podcast-4821
McKean County
State Police at Lewis Run are investigating a burglary which occurred between noon Tuesday and 12:15pm. Wednesday on Route 6 in Hamlin Township. Someone broke into the unoccupied residence of a 31 year old Mt.Jewett woman. But police did not provide information about stolen items. However anyone with information is asked to call the Lewis Run barracks at 814-368-9230.
A 22 year old Bradford woman has been arrested for physical harassment for an incident allegedly taking place Sunday morning just after 3am at Busty Hearts Club on Route 155 on the Turtlepoint area. Police claim that Tanna Ebeling and Cheyenne Andrus, also of Bradford became involved in an argument and Ebeling allegedly struck Andrus in the face with a closed fist. Charges have been filed in District Court.
A Port Allegany man has been arrested on drug possession charges by State Police at Lewis Run, who provided this information. We don’t know if he’s the one that’s charged or not. Last Wednesday morning just after 9am while troopers run normal routine patrol, a suspect with a felony warrant was observed on West Ransom Street in Port Allegany borough with another known person. Trooperstried to take one of the suspects into custody and a foot pursuit ensued. Officers were able to take one of them into custody, and he was subsequently transported and released to Potter County adult probation. A perimeter of the area was established and a search was conducted for the additional suspect. State Police requested canine assistance and the dog turned up the second suspect hiding under a porch. That person was taken into custody and allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and was taken to State Police at Lewis Run and arraigned in front of a district judge on the felony warrant additional charges are pending for the incident through District Court. Thomas Ford, 39 of Port Allegany was one of the suspects. The other person’s name was not released.
An Eldred resident has been cited for DUI after troopers stopped his 2020 GMC Terrain on Maple Street at Route 6 in Port Allegany Borough late last Friday night for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, the driver was found to be under the influence and has been charged in District Court.
State police at Lewis Run have arrested a 27 year old Eldred man for harassment for an incident allegedly taking place at around 11am Easter Sunday on Chris Drive in Eldred Borough the suspect, whose name was not released by troopers, is accused of posting multiple screenshots of a 24 year old Eldred woman’s t text messages on social media, and charges of harassment are being filed in District Court.
Cameron County
Two Coudersport residents were hurt in a collision occurring Tuesday just after 9am on the CCC Memorial Highway in Shippen Township, Cameron County, according to troopers, at the Emporium barracks Tshiyomba Lukusa of New Port Richey, Florida, was traveling south on 155 merging onto Route 120 and failed to stop at a stop sign. His Volvo struck a Buick Encore driven by a 17 year old Coudersport girl. Serious injuries were reported for the teen driver and her passenger Megan Watson. They were both taken to UPMC Altoona for treatment of their injuries.
Tioga County
An elderly Millerton ,Pennsylvania woman, who was the subject of a missing person report has been located safe and sound. Mansfield based State Police report the 71 year old woman claimed she was traveling to Ohio to see a family relative but never showed up on March 19, then, a day later, she contacted family members and advised that she was in Georgia and traveling to Florida to see family there. Kingsland Police Department made contact with a woman and verified that she was safe.
Minor injuries were reported for driver involved in the collision last Friday afternoon in Richmond Township, Tioga County. Troopers at the Mansfield barracks report that 86 year old Carol Baker of Covington was going southbound on Canoe Camp Road and tried to make a left hand turn onto Whitaker road, but failed to observe a 2007 VW Passat driven by Gale Odell of Wellsboro which was going north on Canoe Camp Road. Both drivers were using seatbelts as was Odell’s passenger Joshua Yocum of Covington.
Statewide
Several area fire departments have doused wildfires this spring.With trout fishing and many other outdoors activities increasing at a time when woodlands and brush can become tinder dry in just a day of direct sunlight and a light breeze, the Wolf Administration is urging all residents to guard against increased dangers of wildfire in Pennsylvania’s 17 million acres of forestlands.
State officials noted wildfire danger is normally higher in the spring before the trees leaf out, and critical conditions can develop almost overnight in many forested areas of Pennsylvania.
Outdoor burning is the leading cause of wildfires throughout the state and more than 99 percent of Pennsylvania wildfires are caused by people according to officials.
To assist the public with easy access to information, DCNR has added new maps to the wildfire webpage, which are updated daily and provide observed and expected conditions in the state.
Some recreational activities on state forest lands such as campfires and outdoor cooking are dependent upon current fire conditions and not permitted when Wildfire Danger Ratings (PDF) are High or above.
Visitors are encouraged to check the fire condition maps before engaging in these activities and are reminded that campfires are prohibited on state forest lands from March 1 to May 25 regardless of conditions.
With the spring gobbler season opening in the coming weeks, hunters and other woodlands visitors are urged to be especially careful with campfires amid dry vegetation.
The need to guard against wildfires increases each year as more development encroaches on heavily wooded tracts.
Property owners should always consider the weather and conditions when burning outdoors. If it’s windy or dry, burning should be postponed until conditions change. A water hose, rake, and shovel should be handy when burning outdoors, and combustible materials cleared within 10 feet of a fire.
Details on wildfire prevention can be obtained at local forest districts and the Bureau of Forestry also maintains information county burn bans in effect.
Recognizing the fundraising challenges fire and ambulance companies, as well as other nonprofit organizations, have faced due to COVID-19, the state House has approved legislation to expand online fundraising options, according to Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint).House Bill 290 would authorize organizations that hold Small Games of Chance (SGOC) licenses to conduct certain raffles and drawings online through the pandemic and its immediate aftermath.“Not being able to host in-person fundraising events hit our first responder organizations very hard at a time when the demand for their services, and the cost of delivering those services, was going up,” Causer said. “Even with additional grants from the state, our fire and ambulance companies are struggling financially, and it’s important that we give them other options to raise funds.“We owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and women who devote so much of their time to protecting public safety in our communities,” he added.
In addition to fire and ambulance companies, the bill would also benefit veterans groups and other social organizations that support initiatives such as Scouting, youth sports and scholarships.
House Bill 290 would specifically permit SGOC licensees to conduct online raffles and drawings, and use a mobile payment service (such as PayPal or Venmo) for payment. Credit cards would not be permitted. Participants would have to be verified as residing within the Commonwealth and be at least 18 years of age. The bill also was amended to increase individual prize limits to $4,000 and weekly prize limits to $50,000 to further aid fundraising efforts.
The changes would expire with the expiration of the COVID-19 disaster emergency or May 1, 2022, whichever is later.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 7, there were 4,643 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,054,298.Here in the Black Forest Broadcasting service area McKean County has 2422 confirmed cases; Tioga County 2304; Elk 1406; Potter 857 and Cameron 189 confirmed cases. Across the border in New York State Cattaraugus County has 4923 confirmed cases and Allegany County 3084.
There are 2,384 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 446 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. The trend in the 14-day moving average number of hospitalized patients per day is about 4,100 lower than it was at the peak on December 25, 2020. The current 14-day average is also below what it was at the height of the spring peak on May 3, 2020. However, the moving average of number of hospitalized patients has started to increase.
Statewide percent positivity for the week of March 26 – April 1 stood at 9.4% up from the previous week.The most accurate daily data is available on the website, with archived data also available.As of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, there were 48 new deaths identified by the Pennsylvania death registry, reported for a total of 25,285 deaths attributed to COVID-19.
According to the CDC, as of Wednesday morning, April 7, Pennsylvania has administered first doses of vaccine to 35.4% of its eligible population, and the state ranks 11th among all 50 states for first doses administered by percentage of population.
According to the CDC, as of Wednesday morning, April 6, Pennsylvania ranks 5th among all 50 states for total doses administered.
Vaccine providers have administered 5,797,589 total vaccine doses as of Wednesday, April 7.
2,073,705 people are fully vaccinated; with a seven-day moving average of more than 85,800 people per day receiving vaccinations.
1,795,570 people are partially vaccinated, meaning they have received one dose of a two-dose vaccine.
3,869,275 people have received at least their first dose.
This week, a total of 6,580,640 doses will have been allocated through April 10:
442,310 first/single doses will have been allocated this week.
268,010 second doses will have been allocated this week.
To date, 5,797,589 doses total have been administered through April 7:
First/single doses: 3,869,275 administered
Second doses: 1,928,314 administered
Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home, even if fully vaccinated. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
There are 4,191,314 individuals who have tested negative to date.
In licensed nursing and personal care homes, there are 69,611 resident cases of COVID-19, and 14,381 cases among employees, for a total of 83,992 at 1,578 distinct facilities in all 67 counties.
Approximately 26,711 of the total cases are among health care workers.