Black Forest Broadcasting

 

…Theft in Harrison Township investigated….background check stops illegal gun purchase…NJ man arrested for drug possession in McKean County….motorcyclist hurt in McKean County…..theft of weapons from Emporium home probed…..

Potter County

State police at Coudersport are continuing to investigate a theft taking place Saturday evening at Mills Hill Variety on Route 49 in Harrison Township. A suspect allegedly made a false statement to an employee in order to obtain a  size 10 pair of Redwing Logger boots without paying for them. The boots are valued at $235.00.

Troopers are also investigating an attempted illegal purchase of a gun on July 18 on Whispering Pines Lane in West Branch Township. State police said a suspect tried to buy a firearm but was denied due a background check.

McKean County

A Paterson, NJ man was arrested by Lewis Run state police for drug possession. Troopers claim when they were conducting commercial motor vehicle inspections they found drug paraphernalia in 2023 Freightliner Sprinter driven by Ayham Jamhour.

Minor injuries were reported for a Fort Atkinson, WI man following a crash on Route 6 in Hamlin Township, McKean County Saturday. Troopers reported Randall Schreiner was going east when his Yamaha Venture skidded across the road and came to rest in the middle. Schreiner was taken by ambulance to ECMC in Buffalo.

Elk County

Troopers from Ridgway and Emporium investigated a motorcycle accident in Benezette Township, Elk County, Sunday afternoon. A 74 year old man refused medical attention for minor injuries he suffered when his 1998 Honda wrecked on private property.

Cameron County

Several weapons were stolen from a house on West Allegany Avenue in Emporiums  early last Thursday morning. A crossbow and black range bag containing two pistols and several magazines were taken from the home of a 39 year old man. One of the guns is a black  Walther Arms P22 the other is a green Aircraft Armaments Corp. pistol.

Statewide

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) this week will outline a draft internal policy on the use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) on DCNR lands to the Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council for public comment An e-bike is a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that assists the rider when they are  pedaling

The guidelines consistent with the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code are that e-bikes:

    Weigh no more than 100 pounds;

    Do not exceed 20 miles-per-hour using the motor;

    Have motors that do not exceed 750 watts; and

    Have fully functional, operable pedals.

Other lands open to the public in Pennsylvania (such as federal lands, local parks, gamelands, and preserves) have different requirements related to e-bikes. E-bike users should check the guidelines for their destination before they go.

The policy  when adopted will allow e-bikes to be used on DCNR-managed trails where traditional bikes are allowed. State forest roads and trails that are not open to biking which would also prohibit ebikes include:

    Natural areas;

    Designated hiking trails (blazed with yellow or orange); and

    Trails or roads specifically marked closed to biking.

E-bikes will be allowed on DCNR-managed motorized trails and public use roads unless they are marked as prohibited to bikes.

The Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to noon in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson State Office Building, Harrisburg. There is a link for virtual attendance option.  Public comment is taken at the end of the meeting. Written comments on the draft e-bike policy also are welcome, and can be submitted to RA-NR_PolicyOffice@pa.gov. The deadline to submit comments is Aug. 31.

Approximately 3,800 miles of state forest trails are open to mountain biking and of those, 447 miles within 11 state forests are specifically designated and maintained for mountain biking.