Unemployment goes up in region….Smethport man arrested for strangulation…Lewis Run State Police make several DUI arrests…Elkland man charged for animal cruelty…More Elk County ID thefts investigated…Health officials say 62.5% of Pennsylvania residents now vaccinated
Region
The unemployment picture in the five counties served by Black Forest Broadcasting worsened between May and June according to figures just released by the state department of labor and industry. Potter County saw an increase from 6.2% to 6.3%; McKean County went up from 6.3% to 6.9%; Cameron County saw an increase from 6.3% to 7.2% Tioga County went up from 6.0% to 6.2%; and Elk increased from 6.7% to 7.0% from 7.2 to 5.7%. Chester County has the best rate in Pennsylvania at 4.1% but it also saw an increase from 3.9%. Philadelphia County still has the worst rate at 9.2% but that also went up from 8.7% 9.2%. Pennsylvania’s rate was 6.9 % and the national figure was 5.9% for the period—also an increase.
Elk County
State police at Ridgway are investigating more ID thefts. Someone used the name of a 49 year old Ridgway man and his social security number to open a bank account Tuesday evening. Crooks used the name of a 40 yar old Brockport man and his social security number Monday to illegally file for unemployment.
Troopers are also investigating a tangible theft. An undisclosed amount of gravel was taken from the Fox Township Building on Irishtown Road last Thursday afternoon.
McKean County
A 46 year old Smethport man has been jailed after allegedly strangling a 30 year old Smethport woman on the West Valley Road Monday evening. Troopers assert the suspect, whose name was not released, hit a 30 year old woman, damaged her phone, dragged her, and strangled her with her sweatshirt. The suspect was taken into custody and was committed to the McKean County Jail in lieu of $35,000 bail. Damage to the victim’s iPhone exceeds $1500 according to police.
An unknown criminal used personal information belonging toa 45 year old Turtlepoint man to illegally apply for unemployment compensation on July 13,
State police at Lewis Run arrested two women for drug possession after stopping their car on South Main Street early Saturday morning .The driver was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance and was taken to UPMC Cole for blood work. The passenger was allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance and related drug paraphernalia. Police did not say which woman was the driver and which was the passenger but one is 23 from Emporium and the other 24 from St. Marys. They were in a 2006 Jeep Liberty.
DUI charges are also pending against a 45 year old Galeton man. Troopers pulled over his 2015 Dodge Durango just after 9 am July 17 on West Main Street in that town for multiple traffic violations and he was allegedly found to be driving under the influence.
Dewayne Werts, 39 of Eldred was committed to the McKean County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail following arraignment on DUI charges. State police claim when the pulled over his GMC Sierra on Main Street in Eldred early Saturday morning they determined he had been driving the SUV under the influence of alcohol.
A Kane woman is facing drug possession charges after police stopped her 2014 Dodge Avenger on South Avenue in Lewis Run on the night of July 21. Troopers claim she was driving her car under the influence of a controlled substance and also was in possession of a controlled substance. Her name was not released.
A 33 year old Turtlepoint man is being charged with DUI after being stopped by state police early Sunday morning on Champlin Hill Road. Authorities claim the suspect, whose name was not released was driving his 2008 Chevrolet Silverado under the influence of alcohol.
A New York State man refused to submit to a blood test early last Friday morning when he was arrested by state police at Lewis Run. Troopers allege Dan Murphy,46. of Clarks Mills, NY was driving his GMC Sierra under the influence of alcohol. He was taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center for chemical testing but refused to submit to the tests and now faces automatic sentencing. He was committed to the McKean County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail following arraignment.
All three people involved in a fight early morning on the Brooklynside Road in Liberty Township have been charged with disorderly conduct. According to state police, Lucretia Youngs, 35 of Port Allegany, Dahmus Logue, 22 of Friendship, NY and Chloe Ford, 18, of Port Allegany got into a verbal argument at around 3:30am Sunday at a house at 125 N. Brooklynside Road. All the suspects were allegedly very drunk and awakened neighbors.
Potter County
Coudersport Volunteer Firefighters helped to rescue a man who had fallen off a 14 ft.ladder in Hebron Township Monday night. The victim was flown out of the area by Mercy Flight 6 from Olean. Members of the Shinglehouse ambulance department provided care and transported the victim to the helicopter.
Tioga County
Mansfield based state police have charged 25 year old Bryan Strauss of Elkland for animal cruelty. A witness told officers Strauss choked a puppy by grabbing a three-month old puppy by the neck to put it in its kennel.
Statewide
The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 27 that there were 986 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,221,657.
There are 430 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 97 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19.
The trend in the 14-day moving average number of hospitalized patients per continues to increase. Statewide percent positivity for the week of July 16 – July 22 stood at 2.6% up from the previous week.
As of 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, July 27, there were four new deaths identified by the Pennsylvania death registry, reported for a total of 27,831 deaths attributed to COVID-19
- According to the CDC, as of Tuesday morning, July 27, Pennsylvania ranks 8th among all 50 states for total doses administered.
- According to the CDC, as of Tuesday morning, July 27, 62.5% of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
- Vaccine providers have administered 11,547,908 total vaccine doses as of Tuesday, July 27.
- 5,670,689 people are fully vaccinated; with a seven-day moving average of more than 12,200 people per day receiving vaccinations.
The department continues to urge Pennsylvanians to follow CDC guidance Opens for wearing a mask where required by law, rule and regulations, including healthcare, local business and workplace guidance. For the protection of themselves and others, individuals who have not yet been vaccinated or are partially vaccinated, are still encouraged to wear a mask when in public.
In licensed nursing and personal care homes, there have been a total of 72,223 resident cases of COVID-19, and 15,620 cases among employees, for a total of 87,843 at 1,600 distinct facilities in all 67 counties.
Approximately 29,281 of total cases have been among health care workers.
- All Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. Use Vaccine Finder to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you.
- A commonwealth COVID-19 vaccination guide explains the current process for getting one. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health hotline at 1-877-724-3258.