Traveling Terra On The Road To San Francisco

Familiar territory

I'm spending tonight in Arcata, CA at my brother's old apartment. This past March, I flew out to California on a vacation from work to visit him and other friends here. I've now re-entered familiar territory. I've driven the road from here southward to San Francisco before and I must admit, it's a bit strange to be somewhere I've been before after having been in completely UNfamiliar territory for most of the last 3 months. What's also strange - the sound of the TV in the background, a roof over my head, being INdoors, a computer to use for as long as I want, a couch to sleep on, a REFRIGERATOR!

Let me catch you up a bit on where I've been, who I've met, and what I've been seeing.

Just outside Cannon Beach, OR (I don't know what this is or why it was parked in front of the bike shop):


Going through a tunnel on the OR coast:


Paul and Jimmy, from Ohio, biking Victoria, BC -> Mexico in 3 weeks. Yikes:


View from lunch a few days back:


Sunset at the beach at one of my favorite camping spots:


Colin, from Calgary, going to Mexico with his guitar and totally free spirit. We spent an afternoon together and chilled at the Hauser Bar and Grill (Hauser's population is unknown but word on the street is it's about as many people as were in the bar that day - mmm...'bout 10:

A sample population:


Bob and Sherrie, headed to San Diego. It was Sherrie's 46th birthday yesterday and I shared it with these two and her friend Devorah around the campfire with seafood, salad, wine, COLD beer, and chocolate cake. What a treat:


As always, there's lots more but it's past my bedtime now. Hope to catch up with you all soon...looks like I'll be in SF in about a week!

Coolest Video Ever!

Predator Hunters Can Use Lights On Guns

HARRISBURG — Effective Saturday, Pennsylvania furbearer hunters may use gun-mounted lights when furbearer hunting, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Protection Director Richard Palmer.

The change in law took effect following Gov. Ed Rendell’s signing of House Bill 881, sponsored by state Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria, on July 3.

Now called Act 26, the new law first was approved in House by a vote of 195-2 on May 21.

The Senate approved an amended version of the bill by a vote of 50-0 on June 27, and the House concurred with the amended bill by a vote of 195-3 on July 2.

Supported by the Pennsylvania Predator Hunters Association, the new law permits those hunting for furbearers – including coyotes, foxes, bobcats, raccoons, skunks, opossums and weasels – to use lights mounted on their weapons.

”Safety is paramount, never point the muzzle of a gun in a direction you do not plan to shoot and identify your target,” urged Ernest G. Wilson, Pennsylvania Predator Hunters Association president.

“The use of a hat-mounted light or hand-held light should be used for scanning to locate predators. The gun-mounted light should never be used for scanning for predators,” Wilson said

“However, once a predator is spotted, the gun-mounted light is then utilized for proper identification and shot placement for a humane kill,” he added.

The new law stipulates that furbearer hunters still may not use a flashlight or spotlight that projects a laser-light beam.

Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Charles McIlhinney, R-Bucks, offered the amendment to the bill.

The amendment included language to permit farmers to hire individuals to assist with killing deer for crop damage on their properties.

This new provision also takes effect September 1. From Sun Gazette.

Rep. Causer Schedules Local Office Hours

Continuing my commitment to making government more accessible to you, I have scheduled the following office hours in communities throughout the 67th Legislative District during the month of September:

Thursday, September 6

Location	Time
Emporium Borough Office	9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Port Allegany Borough Office	10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Eldred Borough Office	12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

You are also welcome to stop by my offices in Bradford or Coudersport Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed from noon to 1 p.m. for the lunch hour).

Or call toll-free 1-866-437-8181, visit my Web site at http://www.RepCauser.com or e-mail me at MCauser@pahousegop.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Causer, Scarnati Announce Grants for McKean, Potter Counties

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) and Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Brockway) today announced nearly $15,000 in state grants have been awarded to McKean and Potter counties.

The McKean County Historical Society received a $10,000 grant, while the Potter County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts received $4,908. The grants were awarded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

“These grants will help protect and preserve the rich history of our region,” Causer said.

“We are pleased to see the Commonwealth making an investment in the documents and artifacts that help tell the story of McKean and Potter counties,” Scarnati added.

The grant to the McKean County Historical Society supports the society’s general operating budget. The grant to Potter County supports maintenance of its archives and records.

Rep. Martin T. Causer
67th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

(814) 362-4400

(717) 787-5075
www.RepCauser.com

Woman Says Philly Cop Indecently Assaulted Her

Philadelphia police said Friday that they are pressing ahead in the investigation of one of their own.

Police sources told NBC 10 that investigators may have more evidence that a northeast district detective allegedly ordered a woman to disrobe before indecently assaulting her in a police interview room Tuesday.

NBC 10 News first reported on the allegations Thursday.Sources said investigators swabbed the woman's breast looking for the detective's DNA.

Earlier this week, sources close to the investigation said crime scene investigators found what appeared to be blood on a desk in the interview room.The woman said the detective had touched her below her waist while she was on her menstrual cycle.

Police said the woman came to northeast detectives to file a complaint that someone had been threatening her, but she later filed a complaint against the detective.

Police sources said the woman claims the detective ordered her to expose her breast before taking pictures, kissing her breast and fondling her all behind the closed doors of the interview room.

Police brass were not commenting on the details of the case, but they did say the detective is a veteran of the force and the investigation is continuing.

Rollover Accident Near Bradford

Bradford city ambulance has responded to a roll over accident at Minard Run and High Street where a person was reported to have been ejected from a vehicle. A medical helicopter was dispatched to a nearby landing zone.

Update From WESB News: 09/01/07 - Three Hurt in Two-Vehicle Accident Three people were hurt in a two-vehicle accident at 4:15 Friday afternoon at the intersection of Minard Run Road and High Street.

Bradford Township Police say a car driven by 17-year-old Jennifer Schoonover of Bradford traveled into the intersection without yielding for a pickup truck driven by 35-year-old Timothy Patrick of Rew. The pickup hit the car, and the pickup rolled over.

Patrick was taken by medical helicopter to Altoona Hospital, where he was treated and released. Schoonover and her passenger, 16-year-old Shawn Guthrie of Lewis Run, were both taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center. Police are still investigating.

Songwriter’s Roundtable for Saturday, September 1st At Denton Hill Lodge

This month’s Songwriter’s Roundtable at Ski Denton will feature “The Kennedys”, http://www.kennedysmusic.com , a dynamic songwriting and performing duo with many awards and accolades from the music world. Pete and Maura Kennedy met in 1992 at the Continental Club in Austin, Texas.

Maura was playing in an Austin band called the Delta Rays and Pete was playing a solo gig, taking a break from Nanci Griffith's Blue Moon Orchestra. They quickly became inseparable, and when Nancy Griffith needed to replace Iris Dement as a harmony singer, she needed to look no further than the significant other of her lead guitar player.

They went on tour with her to Ireland and upon finding out that they were opening for her as a duo, quickly wrote some songs, the first of which became the title track for their first album, “River of Fallen Stars”. Pete and Maura’s knowledge of music is encyclopedic, and their abilities are boundless, but what often strikes an audience right away is their on stage relationship. When asked about the pressures of living, working and constantly travelling with one's spouse, they will tell you that they are blessed to be able to do the thing they love without being separated from the person they love.

Opening for the Kennedys will be Ithaca Songwriter “Linda Stout” http://www.lindastout.com , back by popular demand of the Roundtable audience. Linda melds elements of Jazz, Pop and Folk to create some unique and personal music, and her songs can touch the listener deeply. Her songs also show the influence of her favorite poets, and in fact Linda has set the lyrics of Emily Dickenson and Robert Frost poems to music on more than one occasion.

Also opening the second set are “The Cherry Tree Laners”, featuring Gabe and Eli reprising their well received but impromptu performance from our fund raiser last year. These young lads stole the show, and may just have launched a career!

The show at Ski Denton http://www.skidenton.com will again feature home cooked dinners by Julie and Linda beginning at 5:00pm for $8, kids $5, with the show starting at 7:00pm for $10, kids $5.

The show is hosted by local songwriters Eppie Bailey and Steve Quelet of Jakob’s Hollow http://www.jakobshollow.com .

For more information about the Songwriter’s Roundtable, visit the Roundtable website at http://www.songwritersroundtable.com .

Cops Still Searching For Escaped Prisoner

Authorities recently released a more current photo of fugitive Joe Chapman, a former Cameron County resident who continues to elude a manhunt. Police have been tight-lipped about their investigation, which was initially centered in Cameron, Potter and McKean counties.

Imprisoned for violating probation, Chapman walked away from the grounds of the McKean County Prison while on work detail July 30.

A week later, Emporium Borough Police filed charges against him, based on allegations that he sexually assaulted a child in the borough between November 2006 and April of this year.

Chapman, 24 years old, is five-foot-nine and has blue eyes. At the time of his escape, he had blond hair, was clean shaven and weighed about 180 pounds.

Free Kitchen Workshop September 15th

Help will soon be available for growers and others who are interested in connecting with buyers for local homemade food items. It's just the latest step in a far-reaching series of public/ private partnerships being developed to support agriculture and a "back to the land" movement in and around Potter County.

A free workshop on the Shared Incubator Kitchen will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Coudersport High School. Guest speaker will be Dr. Cameron Wold, an authority on incubator kitchens from Colorado Christian University.

State laws covering packaging, labeling, quality testing, safety, content and processing often discourage local producers from selling their goods. With the Shared Incubator Kitchen, growers and producers could meet the state regulations while receiving help with promotion.

This could eventually be tied in with opportunities for national and even international marketing of locally produced merchandise, including woodcrafts.

Additional information on the Sept. 15 workshop is available from the Potter County Education Council. From WFRM NEWS

Accident Reported At Main and 4th In Coudy

Coudersport Police and emergency services are checking out a motor vehicle accident at Main and 4th Street in the boro, where minor injuries were reported.

$6,000.00 Raised For Music Scholarship

The results are in from last weekend’s Robert Merten Circle of Fifths Music Award fund-raiser, and they are impressive.

A committee spokesman reports that more than 100 people turned out for a dinner dance at the Coudersport Golf Club that raised more than $6,000 for a music scholarship given out as a memorial to the late Rev. Robert Merten, a Coudersport icon, who died in 2006.

A highlight of the night was a reunion performance by Ollie and the Go Gos, a local rock band in the ‘60s that was sometimes referred to as “Coudersport’s version of the Beatles.”

The Circle of Fifths Music Award committee thanked all of the sponsors and others who helped to make this year’s event such a huge success. From WFRM NEWS

Fair Queen To Compete At Hershey

Sadie Cole, the 2007 Potter County Fair Queen, will be representing Potter County in Hershey during the annual State Association of County Fairs queen competition, Sadie, a student at Oswayo Valley High School, was crowned during the Potter County Fair in Millport. From WFRM NEWS

Severe Weather Yesterday--But Not Here

While Potter County saw aome threatening skies Thursday, we had no storms. Our neighbors to the South at Dubois had a severe summer storm sweep through the Sabula area in Clearfield County Thursday afternoon and to the east, Tioga County areas had nearly two inches of rain in spots prompting flash flood warnings to be issued.

Sandy Township Emergency Management Director Sam Marrara responded to the area and said the storm appeared to be a microburst. Marrara estimated the microburst hit the area at 2 p.m. and lasted for a few minutes. There were also reports of hail and high winds. No flooding was reported.

According to the National Weather Service in State College, the microburst hit 4 miles northeast of DuBois in the Sabula area and damaged five homes.During the incident, power lines were downed, electric poles snapped off and trees were uprooted. The trees are all lying all in the same direction, a sign of a microburst.

Lyman Lake---Damn Cracks Not Sealed Yet!!!

A check with officials at Lyman Run State Park yesterday revealed that the re-filling of the park’s popular lake has not yet begun.

A spokesman from the State Parks Bureau said surface cracks on the new Lyman Run Dam have not yet been sealed. As a result, the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection hasn’t given the go-ahead to restore the 40-acre Lyman Lake.

The park was once a premier tourist attraction, drawing about 130,000 visitors a year. However, the lake was drained in 2000 after structural deficiencies were detected in the dam.

The state approved $17 million for the new dam in 2004. Once the refill order is issued, tiny Lyman Run and other water sources will fill the impoundment over a period of three to four months. Information from WFRM NEWS

Men's Prayer Breakfast At Coudersport Gospel Tabernacle

The monthly men's prayer breakfast at Coudersport Gospel Tabernacle is Saturday, September 1, at 8:00 am in the sanctuary.

Not Much Public Interest In 7 Million Coudy School Project

Less than half-dozen citizens turned out for this week’s public meeting on three major improvement projects in the Coudersport Area School District.

Bids could be solicited as early as October for the work, which is estimated to cost about $7 million.

Projects include adding eight classrooms, air conditioning and security at the elementary school; renovating and expanding the high school cafeteria and kitchen; and replacing the track and bleachers, while improving drainage, and adding a fieldhouse at Coudersport Area Recreation Park.

Planning for some of the work dates back three years. Only the elementary school work, estimated to cost $4.6 million, will qualify for state reimbursement.

Funding will come from a $9.2 million bond issue approved by the school board last December. About $2 million of that total was used for debt reduction.

If plans fall into place, all of the work could be completed in time for the opening of classes and football season in late August 2008. From WFRM NEWS.

Predator Gets 10 to 20 Years In Assault On Child

WESB News: 08/31/07 -

A Bradford man was sentenced to 10-20 years in prison Thursday in McKean County Court for sexually assaulting a child.

34 year-old Robert Crowl had been found by the State Sexual Board to be a sexually violent predator. Crowl had been found guilty of sexually assaulting a seven year-old female between 2003 and 2006.

Labor Day Weekend Activities

Plans are in place for a variety of Labor Day Weekend activities in the region, from Townwide Yard Sales in Coudersport to the always-popular Germania Old Home Day in that southeastern Potter County village.

Other Labor Day weekend events include the Songwriters Roundtable, featuring recording artists The Kennedys, Saturday night at Ski Denton; the annual Penn-York Camp benefit auction near Ulysses; a music festival taking place all weekend long at the Genesee Environmental Center; and a number of nature programs and other activities as state parks throughout the region bid farewell to the summer. From WFRM.

Former Teller Given Immunity--Probation

WESB News: 08/31/07 -

A Turtlepoint woman was sentenced In McKean County Thursday to six months probation on a charge of altering bank records.

30 year-old Merry Marsiglio had been charged after inaccuracies were found with her drawer at the First National Bank of Port Allegany from 2004 -06.

Judge John Yoder told the court that Marsiglio will be given immunity for her cooperation about any wrong doing at the bank.

Headin' down the 101, California, here I come...

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Headin' down the 101, California, here I come...

Unfortunately, this library won't let me plug in my camera to their computers, but I just wanted to give a quick update. I'm just a few miles from the CA border now, and I'm about to cross over and head to the RV park where I'm staying for the night. All goes really well, but the pictures will have to speak for themselves because it's all beyond description. I'm totally bummed about this library! Anyway, I guess when that's the biggest grump I have, I don't have it so bad.

'Til next time -
-Terra

---

Clinton County Trooper Charged With Rape

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - An off-duty state trooper raped a female acquaintance after accompanying her home following a night out at a tavern last year, the state attorney general said Thursday.

Trooper Richard Keener, 39, of Bellefonte, was charged Thursday with two counts of indecent assault and one count each of rape and sexual assault.

Keener, who was stationed at the state police barracks in Lamar, Clinton County, was arrested Thursday while on duty in Centre County. He has been suspended without pay, said Cpl. Linette Quinn, a spokeswoman at state police headquarters in Harrisburg.

Keener met the woman and a female friend at a bar in Lock Haven late on May 16, 2006, then accompanied them back to the victim's apartment early the next morning, authorities said in a criminal complaint.

He had consumed a "significant amount of alcohol," according to a statement from Attorney General Tom Corbett's office.

The victim at one point went to her bedroom alone and was unknowingly followed by Keener, who closed the door, "forcibly grabbed (the victim) by her neck, threw her onto the bed and started biting her on the neck and inner thigh area," the complaint said.The woman told Keener "not to bite her again, that it hurt," the complaint said.

Authorities said Keener grabbed the woman by the throat and that she shook her head from side to side and tried to kick Keener, who weighed 130 pounds more than her.

Keener bit the woman numerous times during the assault, police said. After Keener left, she called her parents and was taken to a hospital.

A message left Thursday afternoon at a phone number listed for Keener was not immediately returned.

He was arraigned before Centre Hall District Judge Thomas Jordan and was released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing will be held in Clinton County, but has not yet been scheduled.

The case was referred by Clinton County District Attorney Ted McKnight's office to the attorney general because of a conflict of interest.

McKnight had worked with Keener before on other prosecutions, said Corbett's spokeswoman Lauren Bozart. Information from Courier Times.

Police Reports via WFRM News

Troopers locally have charged 36 year old Jonell Rae Judlin-Dynda with harassment and various traffic violations for an incident occurring Tuesday night at the home of her estranged husband, Pete Dynda onThorn Street in Austin. Authorities claim Jonell hit Pete in the face, near his eye, during an argument and then, used her car to ram a parked ATV several times before leaving the scene.

State police are also probing multiple thefts from a mailbox located at the intersection of Baker Creek and Baker Hollow Roads in Hebron Township over the past several months. John Allen, 64, told authorities someone has removed various items from his mailbox several times since late November of last year.

A camp burglary in Sharon Township is also under state police investigation. Burglars pushed open the front door to gain entry to the camp on Route 44 South owned by Gerald Ritchie of Bethel, PA but it’s not been determined if any items were stolen from the camp.

Woman Seriously Injured In DUI Crash

A Galeton woman is being treated at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre for serious injuries she received Wednesday night in a DUI-related crash on the Meeker Hollow Road in Pike Township.

Katherine Fischner, 42, was a passenger in a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 37 year old Kimberly Malaczewski, also of Galeton which overturned when the driver reportedly swerved to avoid a deer about four miles north of Route 6.

The impact sent Fischner who was not wearing a seatbelt into the back seat of the SUV. She was flown by medical helicopter to Sayre. Malaczewki was wearing a seatbelt and suffered minor injuries but is being charged with DUI.

Virus Killed 100 Deer In SW Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG - An insect-borne virus has killed more than 100 deer in southwestern Pennsylvania, state wildlife officials said.
Tests confirmed that the deer in Greene and Washington counties died of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, Dr. Walter Cottrell, wildlife veterinarian for the state Game Commission, said Monday. The deaths have been discovered since the start of August.
EHD is a common, seasonal virus among white-tailed deer, contracted by the bite of insects called biting midges. The virus, which does not spread from deer to deer by contact, can kill the animal in five to 10 days.
"Hunters need to know that EHD cannot be contracted by humans, furthermore it is extremely rare - and highly unlikely - for this variant to cause clinical signs in traditional livestock, such as cattle, sheep or goats," Cottrell said.
The virus, which was found in the same area in 2002, should stop spreading after the first hard frost, which will kill the insects, Cottrell said.
While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of the virus might not be suitable to eat, officials said.
Reports of the virus have also been confirmed in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the commission. Information from Courier Express.

PA Firearms Sales Halted For 3 Days

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Ed Rendell, despite pressure from gun dealers, decided Tuesday not to delay a database upgrade that will halt Pennsylvania firearms sales for three days.

The Democratic governor said the shutdown to allow work on the criminal history database would last one day less than previously announced. The Pennsylvania Instant Check System will be down from 6 p.m. Sunday and return to operation at 6 p.m. Sept. 5.

Jury--Former Police Chief Didn't Steal Dope

WESB News: 08/28/07 - Former Police Chief Found Innocent

Former Austin Police Chief Shawn Foringer has been found innocent of stealing two pounds of marijuana.

A jury deliberated for four hours after the three-day retrial. The chief had been accused of stealing 4 thousand dollars worth of marijuana in October of 2005 that was being held as evidence in the police station.

He had reported that it was stolen during a burglary, but a state police investigation found no evidence of a break-in. Foringer is now working in the private sector.

Troopers Bust Suspected Marijuana Pipe Owner

Troopers here have charged 21 year old Kyle Heter of Port Allegany with violating state drug laws. Authorities claim that when they pulled his vehicle over on Route 155 near Keating Summit, they found him to be in possession of a suspected marijuana pipe. The investigation is continuing.

Potter County--A Great Place To Work--If You Can Find A Job

The state labor department reports that Potter County’s jobless rate increased from 6.6% in June to 7.2% in July the rate compared to 6.2% a year ago.

Unemployment rates for neighboring counties during the period were 5.6% in Cameron County; 5.2% in Tioga; 4.6 in McKean and 4.0% in Elk County.

Pennsylvania’s jobless rate during the period was 4.3% while the national rate was 4.6%.

Editor's note: Potter County's unemployment rate will improve next month as 500 families unemployment benefits ran out in August.

DCNR Wants Public Input On Forest Management

WESB News: 08/28/07 - Meetings Scheduled on Forest Plan

Nine public meetings have been scattered throughout the state to allow for public input into PA's forest management plan. DCNR's Terry Brady says public input is "key" concerning issues like deer management and controlling gypsy moths. Meetings are scheduled for September 18 at the Renovo Elementary School, September 19 at the Brady Township Community Center near DuBois and September 20 at the Potato City Inn in Coudersport.

Coudy Woman Jailed Over Forged Travelers Check

WFRM Reports:
A Coudersport woman has been committed to the McKean County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail on numerous charges after she allegedly tried to cash a forged travelers check Friday afternoon at the Bradford Wal-Mart.

Lisa Fong Woo, 43, of Ross Street is charged with forgery, possession of instruments of crime, theft by deception, bad checks, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for September 5 before District Judge Rich Luther.

Foster Township police claim they were called by store personnel when Woo tried to purchase goods with a fraudulent $500 American Express Traveler’s check. Officials at American Express confirmed the check was a fake.

Woo allegedly became combative when police tried to arrest her; and is accused of swearing at officers and referring to their nationalities.

WFRM has not been able to confirm a connection, but Bradford City Police over the weekend issued an advisory to area residents regarding a counterfeit scam involving American Express travelers checks. The victims are contacted by mail advising them to cash the check and keep 10%, then send the balance to an e-mail address via Western Union.

Police say the checks look to be real by are computer-generated fakes and anyone who gets one should contact the nearest police agency or American Express.

Lunar Eclipse Tuesday Morning At 4:41 AM

Depending on where you live, or where you'll be early Tuesday morning, you might be able to see the lunar eclipse. News 4 Meteorologist Mike Cejka says it depends on how much fog we get, and where the fog is. The eclipse starts at 4:41 a.m. and will reach its totality at 5:52 a.m.

Thieves Pilfer Donation Jar At Lumber Museum

Between $50 and $100 was stolen from a donation jar at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Ulysses Township, Potter County, on Friday afternoon.

State police at Coudersport said the jar was taken from the lobby to a nearby restroom in the museum, where the empty jar was later found.

The donations were earmarked for rebuilding a Ford Model T.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at (814) 274-8690.
Information from Star Gazette

Update On Fatal Car--Motorcycle Accident

AUSTIN – A Portville, N.Y. man died Sunday when the motorcycle he was riding crossed the centerline of Route 872 and struck a car driven by a Coudersport man.

Potter County Deputy Coroner Ken Wingo pronounced Steven R. Warner, 52, dead at the scene of the 6:22 p.m. crash south of Austin.

The driver of the car, James E. Rider, 60, of Mitchell Hollow Road and passenger Carol L. McCreary, 41, of the same address, were treated at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport.

State police at Coudersport said Warner was driving a 2003 Harley-Davidson Sportster north on 872, crossed into the southbound lane and struck a 1991 Dodge Spirit sedan driven by Rider.

Troopers were assisted by Austin fire and ambulance volunteers and Coudersport fire police.

Information from Elmira Star Gazette.

Gasoline Stolen From PA Game Commission

State police at Coudersport are investigating the theft of 50 gallons of unleaded gasoline from the state Game Commission in Coudersport last week.

A rubber fuel line was cut off the gas tank and used to siphon the fuel sometime between 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Value of the stolen gas is $180 and damage to the tank is $100, according to the press release.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at (814) 274-8690. Information from star-gazette.

WESB News: 08/27/07 - Portville Man Killed in Accident

A Portville man died in a two vehicle accident Sunday night in Wharton Township.

52 year-old Steven Warner was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car driven by 60 year-old James Rider on Route 872 in Potter County. Warner was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rider and a passenger 41 year-old Carol McCreary where taken to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for treatment of unknown injuries.

Car -Motorcycle Accident Just South Of Wharton

Austin emergency services are on the scene of a car-motorcycle accident just south of the Village of Wharton on State Route 872 where serious injuries have been reported.

Reports indicate Route 872 will be closed for an extended period of time.

Terra Curtis Bikes Toward San Francisco

Sunday, August 26, 2007

I'm OreGONE Washington!

Here I am with the spiffed-up Bruiser, ready for takeoff on the morning of August 21 in Seattle, WA. That morning, Bruiser and I cruised over to the ferry terminal at Pier 52 and headed west (further west) to Bremerton, from whence we travelled to the little town of Elma. The trip got off to a great start; at the ferry, I asked a woman taking photographs if she'd take a picture of me and my bike. I got into the story of it all and she was just amazed. We talked for the length of the ferry ride (an hour) while she showed me pictures of her recent trip to Africa and also gave me her phone number and her father's phone number (from Elma) in case "anything should go wrong, God forbid." Susan was a good omen from the start.

The next morning was damp, but brightened by my encounter with Becky and Louie Berry, a couple from Portland, OR who have done many tours and gave me tips about campgrounds along the way.

On day three, I crossed over into Oregon, via ferry. It was a strange ferry. I brought my bike town onto what I thought was the dock and sat waiting for the "ferry" to return to pick us up. Then, the "dock" just started moving, and off across the Columbia River (we meet again) we went. The Oregon welcome sign on the other side was hardly sufficient, so I had to consider myself welcomed by the MOUNTAIN I immediately proceeded to climb, finally having reached US101. It was a new experience to climb such a hill (I really prefer to call it a mountain) with so much extra weight on the bike, but the scenery is payoff enough out here. I'll give you a sample:

My internet time is running out now, but there is so much more to say. Use your imagination and I'll fill in the gaps later.

WESB News: 08/26/07 - Some May Have to Wait Days for Power

Some of the areas hardest hit by Saturday evening's storm may have to wait two to three days for Penelec to restore their power. Downed power lines and the number of customers affected are causing the delay.

At least 100 trees were knocked down by the strong winds, and the falling trees damaged about 60 houses. The storm also knocked over an oil tank under construction at the American Refining Group refinery.

The National Weather Service says the storm formed over Crawford County, then moved across Warren and McKean counties. They say radar showed that, at times, it looked as if it was going to organize into a tornado, but it never got that strong. Winds were in excess of 60 miles an hour.

Pilot, innovator remembered

By MATT CONNOR - for the Sun-Gazette

LOCK HAVEN — Bill Piper Jr. was a record-breaking pilot, one of the last of the flying daredevils of the 1930s and the former president of an internationally-known company with revenues in the hundreds of millions.

He was the son of the man commonly referred to as the “Henry Ford of Aviation.”

He rubbed shoulders with film stars and captains of industry.

For the last three and a half decades, he was easily Lock Haven’s most famous resident.

Despite all that, friends and family say, he was a man of simple tastes and few pretensions.

“He was a meat and potatoes guy,” said his widow, Elizabeth.

“He didn’t like fancy foods or fancy things,” said his stepson, Bill. “He liked cheese and crackers. He was really down to earth. He liked cheese and crackers. He was really down to earth. He wasn’t full of himself at all.”

“He was always such a nice guy,” said his lifelong friend James Bacon, the legendary Hollywood columnist. “He accomplished a lot in his life, though you’d never know it from talking to him. He was very unassuming,”

“He was the kind of guy — and so was his brother, Howard, who we called ‘Pug’ — who wandered around all the time, wandered through the Piper plant,” said Cecil Hazlett, a former Piper Aircraft employee, now president of the Piper Aviation Museum. “Like his old man, he knew a lot of people’s names.

It was never mister this or mister that ... It was always Pug and Bill.”

Piper, the former president of Piper Aviation, died early Friday morning after a brief illness at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

He was 95 and although he had suffered from dementia for several years, was surprisingly spry and relatively sharp-minded till the end of his life.

According to his wife, he continued to visit the offices of the Piper Foundation and attended meetings of the board of directors of the Piper Aviation Museum until his last days, a fact confirmed by Hazlett, who said Piper was conspicuously absent from the museum board’s meeting on Wednesday.

He fell Monday evening, Elizabeth Piper said, and he had had surgery on Tuesday for a broken hip. She said he was chatting with nurses, reading the sports pages and doing crossword puzzles on the afternoon before his demise.

“Other than his dementia he didn’t have a lot of other serious health issues,” his stepson George said. “He was able to get around. It was just aging. His health was amazingly good.”

Bill Piper, Jr. was born in Sharpsburg on September 8, 1911, the eldest of five children of William Thomas Piper, Sr., a civil engineer, and Marie Van de Water Piper.

His father moved the family early on to Bradford then the center of Pennsylvania’s high-grade oil production, where the elder Piper took over management of his family’s oil leases and became a successful oil producer.

As the oil fields became depleted in the late 1920’s, the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, seeking to diversify the local economy, attracted the fledgling Taylor Brothers Aircraft Company of Rochester, N.Y. to Bradford.

As enticement, the chamber sold stock to Bradford businessmen to finance building a small manufacturing plant at Bradford Airport. Unbeknownst to the elder Piper, one of his associates pledged him to purchase $400 worth of stock.

Piper, Sr. purchased the company at the bankruptcy sale, supported in part from his family’s oil revenues and started production of the new model, which had been dubbed “the Cub.”

William Jr., along with his brothers Howard and Thomas, worked at the plant during their summer vacations and all learned to fly.

Piper Jr. was an avid golfer for his most of his life, family and friends said, and was a longtime member of the Clinton Country Club, as well as the Bald Eagle Athletic Foundation, the Lock Haven YMCA, the historic society, the chamber of commerce and many other local organizations.