Black Forest Broadcasting

 

Two NY state residents charged with possessing drugs in McKean County….Lewis Run accused of dog law violation….Another ID theft probed in Cameron County….Cat shot in Emporium….Galeton driver slightly hurt in car/deer encounter….Causer’s bill for capping orphan wells advances in legislature….. 

McKean County

Two Buffalo area residents have been charged with drug possession by state police at Lewis Run. Troopers claim when they investigated a vehicle stopped on the side of West Washington Street in Bradford just after 4:00 am May 29 they found the driver in possession of a controlled substance and the passenger holding an open alcoholic beverage. Police did not indicate which one was the driver and which one was the passenger but said one of the suspects is a 40 year old man from Buffalo and the other is a 47 year old woman from Orchard Park.

A 47 year old Lewis Run woman has been cited for violating Pennsylvania dog laws. State police claim the suspect failed to keep  her dog on her property and allowed it to go to the property of a 66 year old Lewis Run woman last Thursday evening.

Troopers at Lewis Run were sketchy on details but say a known suspect is being charged with criminal mischief after breaking a camera in the parking lot at 145 Route 155 in Annin Township a few minutes before 4:00 am Sunday.

Both people involved in an argument Sunday evening in Lafayette Township are being charged with physical harassment. Troopers claim a 28 year old Sheffield woman and a 27 year old Bradford man assaulted each other at a location on old Tower Road. Their names were withheld.

Cameron County

Troopers at Emporium are investigating another ID theft. Someone used the identity of an Emporium woman Sunday afternoon to open a credit card account without her knowledge or permission.

An animal cruelty incident remains under investigation by state police at Emporium.  The resident of 224 East 6^th Street told police a neighbor had shot their cat with a BB gun on the afternoon of June 9. Police did not report the extent of the cat’s injuries.

Drug possession charges are pending against a 27 year old Emporium man. State police say they were called to a residence at 354 East 5^th Street at about 4:40 am Sunday for an individual allegedly making self-harming statements. While at the house troopers seized drug paraphernalia.

A Coudersport driver escaped injury early last Wednesday morning when his Dodge Ram rolled over on Wycoff Run Road in Gibson Township. State police report Jacob Vanbergen lost control of his pick up on a right hand curve. The truck crossed the road and collided with a tree. Vanbergen was able to get out of the wreckage under his own power. The pick up had to be towed from the scene.

The theft of a black plastic mailbox in Shippen Township, Cameron County is under state police investigation. The mailbox is valued at $50 and was taken Friday night or Saturday morning from Market Road. The post was damaged in the process.

Potter County

A Galeton driver was taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries he suffered in a car/deer encounter Saturday morning in Gaines Township. Troopers explained Blake Clark was going north on Route 349 when a deer tried to cross in front of his Ford Ranger. Clark swerved to avoid the whitetail causing the pick up to lose traction on loose gravel, cross the road, hit an embankment and roll onto the right side coming to rest on all four wheels. Minor damage was reported for the right side of the truck and the windshield.

Tioga County

State police at Mansfield have charged two people with physical harassment for an incident taking place on the afternoon of June 11 on Willard Street in Tioga Borough. Alexander Webster, 37 of Tioga and 38 year old Shyla Odell of Lawrenceville will answer charges in district court.

Statewide

The state House last  Tuesday approved legislation that would help increase the number of orphan wells being plugged in the Commonwealth, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), prime sponsor of the measure.“We have well over 200,000 orphan wells in Pennsylvania, and some years the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is plugging as few as five wells,” Causer said during debate in the House chamber.Grants of $10,000 would be awarded for plugging wells of 3,000 feet or less in depth, and grants of $20,000 would be awarded for plugging wells more than 3,000 feet deep.

The bill also would address well bonding amounts by fixing the current bonding amounts for conventional wells that are in law and making it clear the Environmental Quality Board cannot adjust these amounts by regulation.

The House also approved House Bill 2528, which would boost the use of Pennsylvania-based businesses in the process of plugging wells.

The measures now go to the Senate for consideration.