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Bradford man sentenced to prison for assaulting woman…Kane man sentenced for violating Megan’s Law…Two area residents arrested for shoplifting at Walmart in St. Marys and Mansfield…Growing Greener grants awarded for 11 projects in North Central PA….Navy wins Farm Show Cook-off…

McKean County

McKean District Attorney Stephanie L. Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that Armando Aponte, of Bradford, was sentenced to a period of incarceration for Aggravated Assault and Terroristic Threats against a woman during a sentencing hearing held Thursday at the McKean County Courthouse. On January 25, 2022, Bradford City Police were dispatched to the Bradford Regional Medical Center for a report of an assault on a female.  The injuries to the woman required she be sent to an out-of-area medical center for treatment.  The Judge sentenced Aponte to state prison for a period of 90 months to 180 months and 2 years consecutive probation as well as necessary treatment, restitution for medical expenses due to the assault, and other terms. The DA encourages victims of domestic violence are encouraged to call 911 and the YWCA, who can provide services to victims.

Meanwhile, the DA reports District Attorney Stephanie L. Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the Kane man convicted last month for Failing to Provide Accurate Registration Information as required under the law formerly known as Megan’s Law (second offense) has been sentenced. During a sentencing hearing held at the McKean County Courthouse on January 12, 2023, Albert Thielges was sentenced by the Judge to state incarceration for a period of 72 months – 144 months and one year of consecutive probation.

Ridgway state police arrested 25 year old  Nicole Giovannelli of Ridgway for shop lifting at the St. Marys Walmart on December 20. Authorities claim Giovannelli stole $560.52 worth of merchandise including clothing, knife set, toys, home décor items, candle wax, soda, candy, and a Vicks vaporizer. The suspect was charged in district court.

A Troy, PA man was arrested for shoplifting at the Mansfield Walmart Thursday. Authorities claim 37 year old Frederick Ames left the store in an unknown direction with approximately $45 worth of merchandise including men’s shoes and Lee pants. He was later identified and charged for retail theft.

A squabble among family members on Squab Hollow Road  in Fox Township Tuesday afternoon resulted in charges being filed against a 39 year Kersey man. The victim was listed as a 69 year old Kersey woman.

A Masontown, PA man was arrested for drug possession after troopers stopped his 2002 Chevrolet Silverado on Route 46 in Cameron County  after they allegedly observed multiple indicators of criminal activity. After a consent search, police allegedly found marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced yesterday that eleven projects in the state’s North Central Region were awarded a total of $3,545,001 through DEP’s Growing Greener Plus Program.  These projects work to protect waterways and watersheds, reclaim abandoned mine sites and work to reclaim and plug abandoned oil and gas wells. Statewide, this year’s awards exceed $19 million.

Growing Greener is the largest single investment of state funds in Pennsylvania’s history to address critical environmental concerns. Entities eligible for Growing Greener grants can be watershed groups, local or county government, municipal authorities, county planning commissions, county conservation districts, council of governments, educational institutions, or non-profit organizations. Grantees have up to three years to implement their projects.

The full list of approved Growing Greener projects in North Central Pennsylvania includes:

 Centre County:

Chesapeake Conservancy, Inc.

Phase 1 Watershed Renaissance Initiative for Halfmoon-Bald Eagle Rapid Stream Delisting Catchment – $311,412

Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Growing Greener 2022, Watershed Restoration Bald Eagle and Spring Creeks – $165,000

 Clearfield County:

 Clearfield County Conservation District

Clearfield Ag BMP Installations Grant – 2022 – $315,000

 Lycoming County:

 Lycoming County Conservation District

Lycoming County Barnyard and Buffer – $190,047

Lycoming County Conservation District

Lycoming County Agricultural BMPs – $353,546

 Montour County:

 Montour County Conservation District

Bogart Barnyard/ Manure Storage Project – $347,943

 Northumberland County:

 Kulpmont Borough

Kulpmont Stormwater Retrofit and Stream Restoration Project – $548,000

Tioga County:

Borough of Mansfield

Mansfield Borough Headwater Recharge Restoration for Flood Resiliency – $350,000

Tioga County Conservation District

TC Stream & Soil Health Improvements – $200,000

 Tioga & Potter Counties:

 Tioga County Conservation District

Development of An Act 167 Plan for Tioga County and Potter County – $75,000

 Union, Clinton & Centre Counties:

 Chesapeake Conservancy, Inc.

Implementing Farm Restoration Projects in Northcentral PA Rapid Stream Delisting Catchments – $689,053

 More information on the Growing Greener Plus grant program, application guidance, and sign up for notifications when grant programs reopen are available on DEP’s webpage,

https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/GrantsLoansRebates/Growing-Greener/Pages/default.aspx

​Team Navy claimed victory Thursday  during the Army vs. Navy Cook-Off on the PA Preferred® Culinary Connection Stage at the 107th Pennsylvania Farm Show. Team Navy won with a seared chicken thigh alongside rustic mashed potatoes with quark cheese and sausage and sautéed mushrooms with a maple balsamic reduction.

The seventh annual culinary competition was a highlight of Military Appreciation Day, a full day of events at the PA Farm Show, honoring veterans for their service to our country.

The event honors active, reserve, and retired service members by conducting an “Iron Chef”-style culinary competition, involving Petty Officer James Monoski, United States Navy, and SSG Joe Shandly Malubay, Culinary Specialist at the Army Executive Dining Facility (AREDF), Unites States Army. They were joined by local media personalities, Ali Lanyon and Dan Tomaso from abc27, as well as Jeremy Jenkins and T.J. Springer from WGAL Channel 8.

A four-person judging panel evaluated the final dishes. The judges were, John Moeller, former White House chef and author; Marc Ferraro, Executive Deputy Secretary for the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Senior Chief Jason T. Rohrs, Special Command Aide Program Manager, Office of the Commandant United States Coast Guard; and Greg Wagner, Senior Manager, Internal Technical Support for Comcast NBCUniversal.

Teams were given 30 minutes to prepare the most appealing dish, utilizing PA Preferred® sourced ingredients. Each team received a mystery basket, with ingredients from local farms, including proteins, starches, vegetables, and a common pantry of ingredients including basic grocery items, spices, and herbs to work with. Teams were tasked with preparing four plates, one for each judge.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the Pennsylvania State Fair® and the nation’s largest indoor agricultural event, featuring 12,000 competitive exhibits, nearly 6,000 animals, and 275 commercial exhibitors. Admission is free and parking is $15 in Farm Show lots. The 107^th Farm Show closes Saturday.