State police investigate possible drug overdose death in
Tioga county…The theft of some vehicle parts in McKean County investigated…East Smethport woman accused of physical harassment…Several are municipalities receive grants…..7.4 million vaccine doses administered in PA…….
Tioga County
Mansfield based state police investigated the death of a 37 year old Tioga PA man on April 9. The investigation is continuing but police believe the man died of an overdose.
Three people have been arrested for drug possession after a traffic stop during the early morning hours of April 9 on Morris Run Road in Hamilton Township in Tioga County. Troopers claim 25 year old Jesse Lattimer of Canton, 33 Russell Griffin of Troy and 30 year Trishia Terry of Mansfield were all found in possession of a controlled substance.
Elk County
Ridgway State Police report a Dubois driver was hurt in a one vehicle accident occurring Sunday afternoon on the Million Dollar highway on Jay Township. Jeffrey Miller was traveling north between Bert Valley Road and Laurel Estates road when for unknown reasons his Jeep Grand Cherokee went off the pavement, struck an embankment and telephone pole causing the lines to fall onto the highway. The SUV traveled west across Route 255 where it collided with some trees and then traveled l back across the highway before coming to rest. The highway was closed for a short period of time until West Penn Power could repair the utility pole. Miller was transported to Penn Highlands Elk for medical treatment. State police at Lewis Run have made several DUI arrests recently. A 60 year old Bradford man is facing charges after police stopped his 2003 Dodge Dakota on Davis Street at Boylston Street in the city of Bradford Wednesday afternoon. Police did not release the name of the suspect but claim that when they investigated they found he was driving under the influence and was taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center for a legal blood draw. Jennifer Dinge,30, of St. Mary’s was arrested for drug possession. after State Police stopped her 2002 Chevy Impala on Route 219 at the Westline Road in Lafayette Township Monday evening for an alleged traffic violation. Police claim they found she was in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and also had warrants out for her arrest. She was taken to the McKean County Jail and charges are pending in District Court. A 34 year old Cheektowaga, NY man was arrested for drug possession after a 2021 Volkswagen Jetta was stopped on South Avenue in Bradford Township McKean County yesterday at around 2:30am for a traffic violation. One of the occupants was allegedly found to be in possession of a controlled substance and related paraphernalia.
Troopers at Lewis Run are also investigating the theft of some vehicle parks parts taken from a location along Route 6 in Wetmore Township on April 6.
Physical harassment charges are being filed against 50 year old Cheryl Sample of East Smethport in connection to an alleged assault occurring Tuesday at around 11:30am on Water Avenue in Keating Township. Police claim that Sample punched a 31 year old Smethport man with a closed fist and charges have been filed in district court,
A 17 year old driver escaped injury on a one vehicle accident occurring at around 8am yesterday on the Claremont Road in Hamlin Township McKean County. The teen driver was going north when an animal entered the highway in front of his Chevy Uplander. The SUV went out of control/ struck an embankment and then rolled over onto the side before coming to rest against the tree off of the southbound lane.
Troopers at Lewis Run are continuing to investigate a report of an assault on an 11 year old girl in Smethport. Between April 5 and 8. 5 A suspect is accused of abuseand/ or neglect and that investigation is also continuing.
Region
Several area municipalities have awarded grants. Shinglehouse Borough has been awarded a grant of $1.07 million for water system.The project will include demolition and reconstruction of the control building, installation of a new iron and manganese filtration system, chlorination and flow monitoring equipment, and associated electrical construction.
The funding was awarded by the Pennsylvanian Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). The agency provides grants and low-interest loans for sewer, storm water and drinking water projects throughout the Commonwealth.
Tioga County has been awarded a $500,000 state grant to support its Marsh Creek Greenway project in Wellsboro, according to Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter). The grant funding will be used toward three components of the second phase of the project, Owlett said.
Specifically, the county will construct a trail bridge over Marsh Creek, which will support trail traffic and emergency vehicles. The county will relocate the existing railroad siding to accommodate an alternative passenger pickup for the Tioga Central Railroad. The track will be relocated on a portion of the greenway trail to avoid a wetlands area.
The county will also construct a bus stop and pull-off at Pinnacle Towers to better serve both residents of the towers and transit users wishing to access the Patterson Trailhead facility.
Funding was awarded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Multimodal Transportation Fund grant program.
Rep.Martin Causer reports Two McKean County townships have been awarded a total of $400,000 in state grants for much-needed roadway improvement projects.
Hamilton Township will use its $200,000 toward improvements to Gibbs Hill Road/Bliss Hill Road. The project consists of replacing 16 deteriorated crossover pipes, resurfacing the roadway and constructing a crosswalk on Bliss Hill Road for hikers to cross the road safely.
Norwich Township will use its $200,000 toward reconstruction of 6.25 miles of West Valley Road. The project will address deterioration that has narrowed the roadway by rebuilding the width to 18 feet, as well as reprofiling the roadway to improve drainage conditions and replacing 22 stormwater culverts.
The projects were funded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Multi-Modal Grant program.
Work to Start Next Week to Repair Two Bridges in Potter County. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is alerting area drivers that work to repair two bridges in Potter County will begin next week. Locations include:
- Route 6 bridge over Lyman Run at Sweden Valley in Sweden Township. Traffic control will consist of half-width construction with one lane/alternating traffic through the work area controlled by temporary traffic signals. Work at this location is expected to begin April 28. This 36-foot bridge dates from 1962 and carries an average of almost 5,500 vehicles each day. Repairs will improve the bridge’s overall rating.
- Route 3001 (East Fork Road) bridge over Birch Run in Wharton Township about 5 miles northeast of the village of Wharton. Traffic control will consist of a one-lane temporary roadway controlled by temporary traffic signals. Work at this location is scheduled to begin June 15. This 28-foot box beam bridge dates from 1966 and carries an average of 80 vehicles each day. Repairs will improve the bridge’s overall rating.
Rehabilitation work will include rebar installation, concrete repairs, beam spall repairs, and superstructure replacement. Work will also include asphalt paving, guide rail updates, pavement markings, and miscellaneous construction. Work for each bridge will finish by late September.
Work will be done in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan. The plan includes protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the job site, and relevant training.
Nestleroad Contracting Company, Inc. of Montoursville is the contractor on this $1.1 million project. All work is weather and schedule dependent.
Statewide
The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 21, there were 4,602 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,118,470. Here in the Black Forest Broadcasting service area McKean County has 2557 confirmed cases; Elk 1501; Tioga 2378; Potter 895; and Cameron 192 confirmed cases. Across the border in New York State Cattaraugus County has 5213 cases and Allegheny County 3204.
There are 2,833 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 576 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. More data is available here.
The trend in the 14-day moving average number of hospitalized patients per day is about 3,500 lower than it was at the peak on December 25, 2020. The current 14-day average continues to increase, but it is still below what it was at the height of the spring peak on May 3, 2020.
Statewide percent positivity for the week of April 9 – April 15 stood at 9.6%.
As of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, there were 60 new deaths identified by the Pennsylvania death registry, reported for a total of 25,827 deaths attributed to COVID-19. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.
According to the CDC, as of Wednesday morning, April 21, Pennsylvania has administered first doses of vaccine to 43.9% 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 21, Pennsylvania ranks 5th among all 50 states for total doses administered.
Vaccine providers have administered 7,409,970 total vaccine doses as of Wednesday, April 21.
2,886,162 people are fully vaccinated; with a seven-day moving average of more than 100,000 people per day receiving vaccinations.
1,907,425 people are partially vaccinated, meaning they have received one dose of a two-dose vaccine.
4,793,587 people have received at least their first dose.
This week, a total of 7,752,500 doses will have been allocated through April 24:
304,120 first/single doses will have been allocated this week.
268,010 second doses will have been allocated this week.
To date, 7,409,970 doses have been administered through April 21:
First/single doses: 4,793,587 administered
Second doses: 2,616,383 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 4,312,611 individuals who have tested negative to date. In licensed nursing and personal care homes, there are 70,293 resident cases of COVID-19, and 14,652 cases among employees, for a total of 84,945 at 1,587 distinct facilities in all 67 counties.
Approximately 27,327 of the total cases are among health care workers.
A commonwealth COVID-19 vaccination guide explains the current process for getting one.