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Elk County man arrested for eluding police on an UTV…Smethport man arrested for violating Megan’s law…..drug possession  and DUI charges charges filed against several motorists….Minor injuries for both drivers after  Elk County collision….State house takes first step to improve business opportunities for veterans

Elk County

A 37 year old Kersey resident was arrested for fleeing and eluding police in Fox Township Wednesday afternoon. According to state police, officers tried to stop an UTV for violations of the traffic code when the operator took off and fled into a nearby wooded area. The suspect was positively identified and determined to be DUI Suspended at the time of the incident.

McKean County

A Roulette man is facing DUI charges after he was pulled over for a summary traffic violation West Mill Street in Port Allegany early Sunday morning. Police did not release the driver’s name but allege he was driving his 2019 Ford F-150 XLT under the influence of alcohol.

State police at Lewis Run allege a 38 year old Smethport man violated Megan’s Law but they did not release his  name or any details.

Two St. Marys residents have been charged for drug possession after their vehicle was stopped for a summary traffic violation on Route 219 in Bradford on the evening of April 11. Police did not indicate which person was the driver and which was the passenger but a 31 year old woman and a 39 year old man are facing charges in district court.

Drug possession charges are also pending against a 35 year old Bradford man who was stopped by troopers on Elm Street in Bradford early last Saturday. His name was also not released but troopers claim the suspect was driving his 2019 Kia under the influence of a controlled substance and was in possession of related paraphernalia.

Troopers at Lewis Run arrested 50 year old Joseph Tobola of Cuba, NY after checking on him when he was parked along the Sartwell Road in Eldred Township. Police claim he had been driving his 2020 Dodge Durango under the influence of alcohol.

Minor injuries were reported for both drivers involved in a collision Wednesday afternoon in Portage Township Cameron County. State police explained the collision occurred when Christopher Hockenberry of Brockway tried to make a U-turn with his Ford Transit from the northbound bound shoulder to enter the south bound lane of Route 155 without yielding to a Honda CRV driven by Lee Vasko of Austin. Hockenberry was cited for a traffic violation.

Tioga County

Mansfield state police arrested a Jeannette, PA driver for speeding after a one-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Tioga Township. Troopers say Christopher Kukich was going south on Route 15 when he encountered a large amount of water causing his 2020 Toyota Corolla to go  of control, travel off the right side of the road and go 300 feet over an embankment before colliding with a tree. The car was totaled but Kukich was not seriously hurt.

Statewide

The state Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee on Tuesday advanced legislation that would help Pennsylvania military veterans begin or expand a business. Senate Bill 248 would create the Veteran-Owned Business Loan Guarantee Program within the Pennsylvania Financing Authority. The program would be funded with $5 million of existing dollars from another program run by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

The bill defines a veteran-owned business as one in which 51% or more of the organization is owned or controlled by one or more veterans.

Recent U.S. Census Bureau data show the nearly 340,000 veteran-owned businesses account for almost 6% of all businesses in America. Those businesses employ nearly four million workers and generate more than $175 billion in annual payroll.

After receiving the committee’s approval on Tuesday, Senate Bill 248 on Wednesday was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee, where it will receive a fiscal note identifying its financial impact on the commonwealth. The committee must generate the fiscal note and approve the bill before it can be considered by the full Senate.