Black Forest Broadcasting

All Potter County Senior Centers are closed today due to the winter storm.

Coudersport Area schools are closed today. Make up day is December 20.

Austin Area School is closed.

Winter storm hits region…..Harrison Valley man arrested for stalking…..police have suspect in vehicle break-ins….Details released about unusual collision last week in Coudersport…

Region

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect until 4pm Friday.

* Heavy mixed precipitation expected in portions of Central PA

. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches and ice accumulations of a

light glaze. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

While brief periods of sleet and freezing rain are possible, most of the precipitation is expected to fall

as snow. The snow will be a wet, heavy snow.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) are advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm. Additionally, the agencies will implement various speed and vehicle restrictions throughout the storm.

PennDOT and PTC crews pre-treated roadways where necessary ahead of the storm to help prevent ice from forming a bond with the pavement during

the early stages of a storm. However, salt is not a silver bullet, and drivers may encounter icy spots on the roadway. With freezing temperatures, roads that look wet may actually be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form without warning.

Restrictions will be communicated via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website and smartphone apps. Motorists can also sign up for personalized alerts on the website.

PennDOT urges motorists to avoid travel if possible. If travel is necessary, use caution, reduce speeds and be aware of changing weather conditions.To help make decisions regarding winter travel, motorists are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. Users can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the “Check My Route” tool.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

Drivers should prepare or restock their emergency kits with items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families have such as baby supplies, extra medication and pet supplies. When winter weather occurs, drivers should extra cautious around operating snow-removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should:

    Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck and remember that the main plow is wider than the truck.

    Be alert since plow trucks generally travel much more slowly than other traffic.

    When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, and remember that snow can obscure the actual snow plow width.

    Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a “plow train.” The weight of the snow thrown from the plow can quickly cause smaller vehicles to lose control, creating a hazard for nearby vehicles.

    Never travel next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can’t see, and they can occasionally be moved sideways when hitting drifts or heavy snowpack.

    Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle. Also remember that under Pennsylvania state law, vehicle lights must be on every time a vehicle’s wipers are on due to inclement weather.

Last winter in Pennsylvania, preliminary statewide data shows that there were 266 crashes resulting in two fatalities and 116 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive-driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors.

Motorists are reminded the law requires drivers to remove accumulated ice or snow from their vehicle, including the hood, trunk, and roof within 24 hours after the storm has ended. This applies to all vehicles, including commercial vehicles. Drivers in violation of the law are subject to a fine of $50. Additionally, motorists can be cited up to $1,500 if snow or ice is dislodged and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious injury.

For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter. Additional winter driving and other highway safety information is available at www.PennDOT.gov/safety.

Potter County

A 28 year old Harrison Valley man has been arrested for stalking and harassment. State police report Michael Ahearn parked his 2013 Dodge Ram Pickup a distance from the residence of a 23 year old Ulysses woman and then walked the road to her house on Pleasant View Drive. Ahearn was allegedly seen sneaking around the victim’s house and peeking through her windows.

Troopers say they have a suspect for multiple vehicle break-ins taking place December 3 in Coudersport borough. The suspect stole a clear bag containing cigarettes and a blue butterfly knife from at 1998 Dodge owned by a 37 year old Coudersport woman.

An Austin teen driver escaped injury in a weather-related accident Tuesday afternoon in Eulalia Township. Troopers say 18 year old Landyn Valenti was headed north on Dutch Hill Road, and while negotiating a snow covered sharp left curve, his 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt skidded uncontrollably before hitting an embankment with the rear end.

 Coudersport state police have just released details about an unusual collision taking place last Monday, December 5 on East Second Street in Coudersport borough. Jason Mathews of Athens, PA was going east when the passenger side rear wheel broke off his International Terrastar and continued east for about 50 feet before it went off the road and struck a guardrail and then a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox owned by Penelope Diehl of Coudersport which was legally parked off the south side of the highway. The truck became disabled and had to be towed from the scene. Only minor damage was reported for the Equinox.

Tioga County

A 17 year old Mainesburg driver was hurt in a one-vehicle crash Sunday night in Sullivan Township. According to Mansfield state police the teen’s 2011 Dodge Durango failed to make a right hand curve due to speed and slush, skidded off Dewey Hollow Road and collided  with a tree. The driver was taken to Troy hospital by private vehicle for treatment of minor injuries.