Black Forest Broadcasting

….Osceola resident accused of threatening family members with chain saw….cause of house fire in McKean County undetermined….Several motorists arrested for DUI and drug possession…lawmaker proposes legislation to  help first time home buyers

Tioga County

An 18 year old Osceola resident has been charged for harassment and criminal mischief. Police did not indicate the relationship but report they were called to a home at 7408 Route 49 last Friday afternoon for a domestic violence incident with weapons  in progress. Troopers were able to defuse the situation and learned that William Farnsworth had threatened to terrorize 40 year old Brian Farnsworth and other occupants of the house. He allegedly tried to re-enter the house with the running chain saw and caused $300 in damage to the exterior door.

McKean County

The cause of a house fire on Sartwell Road in Eldred Township Sunday night remains undetermined and is being investigated by the state police fire marshal. The house was occupied by a 44 year old man, 42 year old woman, 15 year old girl and 13 year old boy.

State police at Lewis Run arrested a 37 year old Bradford man for DUI after stopping him for traffic violations Sunday afternoon on Bolivar Driver in Foster Township. The suspect, whose name withheld, was driving a 2001 Lincoln Continental Town Car.

Two McKean County residents have been cited for drug possession after their vehicle was stopped on Route 219 early January 11. State police did not say which suspect was the driver and which was the passenger but they claim a 55 year old Bradford man and a 37 Eldred man were found in possession of a controlled substance and related paraphernalia.

DUI charges have been filed against a 38 year old Johnsonburg woman who was stopped by state police on East Corydon Street in Bradford during the early morning of January 7. Police also withheld her name of the suspect who was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer.

A 52 year old Concord, NC man  is facing DUI charges after being pulled over on Main Street in Eldred at around 2:30 am January 6. Troopers said the suspect was driving a 2020 Ford.

Elk County

Minor injuries were reported for a 17 year old Ridgway driver after a one-vehicle accident late Sunday night in Ridgway Township. The teen’s 2007 BMW crossed the double yellow lines and collided with the end of a guard rail. The youth declined treatment.

Statewide

In an effort to help first-time homebuyers in Pennsylvania, Rep. Thomas Kutz (R-Cumberland) is gathering support for legislation that would reduce the tax burden for new homeowners by creating an exemption from paying the realty transfer tax.

Kutz recently circulated a co-sponsorship memo to share the proposal with his fellow members of the House.The bill as drafted by Kutz would exclude first-time homebuyers from paying the realty transfer tax, potentially saving qualifying homebuyers several thousand dollars at the time of closing. Kutz says he  hopes the waiver would incentivize homeownership and stimulate the economy. The realty transfer tax in Pennsylvania is a minimum of 1% on the value of real estate when that real estate changes ownership. It is paid to the county’s Recorder of Deeds. Kutz plans to introduce the bill as soon as the Legislative Reference Bureau begins filing for the 2023-24 House Session.