Black Forest Broadcasting

 

…Kane motorcyclist killed in early morning accident…Charges pending against UTV operator…..Port Allegany man arrested for violating PFA…Portville man arrested for stealing catalytic convertors in McKean County…ATV Connector permits now on sale….

McKean County

A Kane Motorcyclist was killed early Tuesday morning in a crash in Wetmore Township. According to State police, just before 3:00 am, James Greville III, 39,  was going south on Township Road 301 he lost control of his Honda TRX450R causing the bike to strike an embankment and roll over several times before stopping about 67 feet after initial contact. Greville was pronounced dead at the scene by McKean County Coroner, Mike Cahill.

Charges are pending against a suspect, whose name is being withheld, for eluding police on Pierce Brook Road in Keating Township on the night of March 21. Troopers claim when they tried to stop a UTV for a title 75  violation and the operator failed to yield resulting in a short pursuit. Police were able to obtain the registration and ended the pursuit but the suspect has been identified and charges will be filed.

Troopers at Lewis Run are investigating a harassment taking place last Friday morning on Route 155 in Annin Township. A suspect allegedly threatened several victims and the investigation is continuing.

A 66 year old Port Allegany man was arrested for violating a protection from abuse order on March 27  on Hillside Road in Eldred Township. The document had been filed on behalf of a 54 year old Eldred woman.

A Portville man has been arrested for stealing several catalytic converters parked near or on property owned by a  73 year old Little Genesee, NY man. The investigation determined 41  year old Shawn Woodring was the thief and he allegedly admitted stealing the equipment from numerous vehicles throughout the eastern part of McKean County.

Two Port Allegany residents have been charged for drug possession and possession of paraphernalia. Charges were filed after troopers stopped their 2014 Dodge Dart on Route 6 in Keating Township March 25.  Police did not indicate which one was the driver and which one was the passenger but one was listed as a 40 year old man and the other, a 31 year old woman.

Tioga County

A 48 year old Mansfield woman has been arrested for physical harassment for a domestic violence incident Sunday night on Roseville Avenue. State police said during an argument, the suspect assai;ted a 41 year old Mansfield man.

Region

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announces  that permits for the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot in the North Central region of the state are now available for purchase.Permits are required to use the designated PennDOT and State Forest ATV

Connector Roads, the cost of which will serve to offset implementation and management of the program.

Permits for the 2023 will cost $40 for Pennsylvania registered ATVs and $60 for non-Pennsylvania registered ATVs. Regional ATV Connector Pass permit sales opened April 3.

Permits are available for in-person sales only between the hours of 8:00 A.M and 4:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday, 8:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M. Fridays, and 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Saturdays at Sproul, Susquehannock, Tiadaghton, or Tioga state forest district offices. District office hours are subject to change throughout the riding season.

Permit applications will be accepted by mail by sending a properly completed permit application form (PDF) available on DCNR’s website to: Penn Nursery, 137 Penn Nursery Road, Spring Mills, Pennsylvania 16875.

Permits will be processed according to the date they are received and will be postmarked within three to five business days of receipt.

This year’s pilot riding area will center upon Potter and Tioga counties, but will also include parts of Clinton and Lycoming counties.

A digital map of the riding area is available on DCNR’s website.

The trail route categories are as follows:

    More than 400 miles of township roads

    163 miles of state forest roads and trails

    33 miles of PennDOT-administered roads

The pilot riding area will open for use on Friday, May 26, 2023, and will remain open until, Sunday, September 24, 2023.

Though the pilot areas will be marked, riders will be expected to familiarize themselves with the portions of road and trail that are open to ensure they are operating in legal areas.

A printable version of the map (PDF) is also available on DCNR’s website.

This ATV Regional Trail Connector program is in response to growing ATV purchases, registrations, and public demand for increased riding opportunities.

DCNR is gathering public input on the pilot through a variety of methods, including webinars, surveys, comment cards, public meetings, and advisory committees.

To comment on the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot, please send an email to: RA-NR-ATV-Pilot@pa.gov

To gauge the impact of the pilot, DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry is implementing a comprehensive monitoring program that will evaluate:

    Impact of the trail to local communities

    Ecological values

    Other state forest users and recreational values

    Bureau of Forestry operations, staffing and law enforcement capacity

    Public safety and impacts to adjacent public lands and natural resources

DCNR has partnered with researchers from Penn State to evaluate social, sound, and economic impacts of the pilot.

The monitoring program will also evaluate the effectiveness of the special permit, the adequacy of funding for continued operation of the trail, and the need for additional education, outreach, and trail marketing.

DCNR will publish a report about the pilot project for further evaluation and stakeholder input by December 2023.

Additional information about the ATV Regional Trail Connector pilot program is available on the DCNR website.