Republican senator introduces bill giving seniors relief from property taxes….Elk County’s virus cases continue to increase……..Emporium man accused of rape and related crimes….possible child abuse investigated by state police at Coudersport…Elderly woman and teen driver collide in Tioga County…

Wednesday’s high, 86; Overnight low, 53

PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY TODAY WITH A CHANCE OF AN ISOLATED SHOWER  OR THUNDERSTORM  HIGH 87.

CHANCE OF  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT LOW 63.

SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TOMORROW. OTHERWISE A HIGH OF 89 WITH MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES,

CLEAR SKIES TOMORROW NIGHT LOWS 63.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE A HIGH OF 82 AND AN OVERNIGHT LOW OF 64

Senator Mario Scavello (R-40) has introduced legislation that would provide much needed school property tax relief for senior citizens across the Commonwealth.Senate Bill 1262 and Senate Bill 1263 would provide for a property tax rebate of up to $5,000 for all seniors age 65 and older who have an annual household income of less than $60,000. (Fifty percent of Social Security benefits are excluded when determining income.) The legislation would eliminate property taxes for the majority of senior across the commonwealth.Senator Scavello has introduced many legislative measures over his career in both the House and Senate. Most recently, he introduced Senate Bill 805 to provide the revenue necessary to eliminate school property taxes on owner-occupied homes via the homestead exclusion. This legislation followed the Constitutional Amendment question passed by voters in 2017 expanding the homestead exclusion to 100 percent of a home’s assessed value.He has also co-sponsored legislation that would eliminate school property taxes entirely.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 12, that there are 849 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 121,130. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Here in the Black Forest Broadcasting service area. Elk county has jumped up to 54 followed by Tioga with 39; McKean, 34; Potter 20 and Cameron,7.  Across the border in neighboring New York State. Allegany  County is holding at  80; Cattaraugus County has gone up to 168 cases.

The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 5 and August 11 is 157,895 with 5,272 positive cases. There were 25,765 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 11. These results represent the total number of tests administered.

There are 7,385 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 33 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the Health Department’s website.Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19 according to health experts.

There are 644 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 1,271,976 patients who have tested negative to date.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 20,119 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,186 cases among employees, for a total of 24,305 at 887 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of our total deaths, 5,012 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities

Approximately 8,749 of the total cases are among health care workers.

 

Emporium based State Police have arrested a 59 year old man from that town on sexual  assault charges and related crimes occurring at a camp on straight Creek Road and Jones township Elk county on May 17 at around 6pm.  Police claim that Thomas Krivonyak an acquaintance of the victim’s father, offered to take her, a 42 year old Emporium  woman,  and her two year old daughter for a ride. Police allege Krivonyak traveled to the camp on Straight Creek Road and subsequently sexually assaulted the woman. Police say the event was sparked by an alleged comment made Krivonyak relating that he was going to kill and rape both the victim and her daughter. A struggle ensued between Krivonyak and the woman who sustained multiple injuries from the attack  and her shirt was ripped off of her body. Krivonyak was arraigned on six felony counts, six misdemeanors and one summary offense. Unable to post the $100,000 required cash bail bail  Krivonyak was committed to the Elk County Prison. A preliminary hearing is tentatively tentatively scheduled for next Wednesday, August 19, at noon.

State Police at Coudersport have arrested a known suspect for DUI following a crash on Route 872 in Wharton  Township Sunday evening. While at the  scene police, allegedly discovered that a third party to the crash had been driving under the influence and was placed under arrest . No  further details including the identity of the suspect were released.

 Coudersport troopers are  investigating an alleged assault against a two month old girl on Grover Hollow Road in Genesee Township.  State Police  were referred by an allegation from Potter County Children and Youth  Services and the investigation is continuing.

Both drivers escaped injury in a collision taking place Monday afternoon in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, according to Mansfield based state police the collision occurred when 78 year old Myrtle Nowak of Mansfield was trying to make a left turn from Old  State Road onto a private driveway and failed to yield to oncoming traffic.  Her Ford Fusion was struck by a Buick LaCrosse driven by a 17 year old Mainsburg  girl.

 

 

Larry Herbstritt and Friends will provide entertainment tonoght from 6-8

at the Coudersport Arboretum. Free admission.

Elk license on line Saturday….Elk County has one more virus case…PSP investigating alleged child abuse in Genesee Township…Child custody case investigated in Roulette Township….Shinglehouse man arrested for assaulting another……

Tuesday’s high, 89; Overnight low, 55

MOSTLY SUNNY TODAY WITH A FEW CLOUDS A HIGH OF 77.

 CLEAR TONIGHT LOW 58.

 CLOUDY TOMORROW WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN A HIGH OF 87

OVERNIGHT LOW OF 62.

 PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN ON FRIDAY.

While the 2020 Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Elk Expo has been canceled due to COVID-19, hunters still can go online Aug. 15 to watch live as the names of those drawing 2020-21 Pennsylvania elk licenses are announced.The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s live coverage of the awarding of 2020-21 elk licenses is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15 on the agency’s Facebook page. The announcement of elk-license recipients will begin soon afterward.While elk-license applicants often are eager to see if they’ve been selected for their hunt of a lifetime, there’s no requirement for applicants to watch the presentation live. Within an hour of the presentation ending, the Game Commission will notify by phone all applicants who were selected for elk licenses.Additionally, all applicants can go online to the Pennsylvania Automated Licensing SystemOpens In A New Window to check the status of their application, which will be updated sometime on Monday, Aug. 17. If selected for a license, the application will be marked, “Awarded.”The elk-license drawing has been conducted at the Elk Expo since 2014. Prior to that, it was held at the Game Commission’s Harrisburg headquarters. This year, with the Elk Expo canceled, the drawing will be conducted in Harrisburg a few days prior to the live-streamed announcement at the Elk Country Visitor Center. The names of each winner will be confidential and not released until the live-streamed announcement on Aug. 15, at 1 p.m. The Game Commission has arranged for a third-party witness to observe the drawing prior to the release of the names.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 11, that there are 828 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 120,281. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 4 and August 10 is 151,455 with 5,298 positive cases. There were 21,755 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 10. These results represent the total number of tests administered.There are 7,352 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 35 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

Mask-wearing is required in all Pennsylvania  businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19 according to health experts.

There are 643 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 1,255,313 patients who have tested negative to date.

The department is seeing significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases among younger age groups, particularly 19 to 24-year-olds. An alert was sent to healthcare providers about the changing COVID-19 case demographics, as there are more cases in younger age groups than in those 50-64 and 65+.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 20,086 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,166 cases among employees, for a total of 24,252 at 883 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of the total deaths, 4,983 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. Approximately 8,693 of our total cases are amongst health care workers.

Coudersport Based State Police are continuing to investigate a report of physical harassment of  a four year old New York boy. according to troopers the mother claims her son is getting physically abused when he visits his father’s residence in Genesee Township. The case is open pending further investigation.

Troopers at Coudersport  also investigated a child custody order violation  the Roulette Dollar General Monday evening when the parents of a young child  were arguing about a custody arrangement. Subsequent investigation, according to police. confirmed a violation of a custody order was committed by a known suspect whose name was not released but the investigation is continuing.

63 year old  Danny Keith Mertsock  of Shinglehouse has been charged with physical harassment. Police claim that he harassed 47 year old Leroy Kemp  of Shinglehouse during an argument Sunday afternoon at 334 East Academy sStreet in Shinglehouse. Police claimed that Mertsock threatened to punch the victim by bringing back his right arm with a closed fist.

 

DIRECTORS RE-ELECTED. Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative President and CEO Craig Eccher congratulates members re-elected to three-year terms on the cooperative board of directors. Pictured, from left, are Eccher and directors Lowell Geiser of Galeton, Matthew Whiting of Lawrenceville and Nick Reitter of Genesee.

Monday’s high, 88; Overnight low, 55

SOME SHOWERS TODAY, CHANGING INTO THUNDERSTORMS A HIGH OF 79.

A LOW TONIGHT OF 58.

SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON SHOWERS TOMORROW. WARMER A HIGH OF 87

OVERNIGHT LOW OF 60.

THURSDAY MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A CHANCE OF ISOLATED MORNING SHOWERS HIGH IN THE MID 80S

Tri-County returns directors and gets fiber optic update during virtual meeting…Two Republican lawmakers propose bills dealing with fall  high school sports…..Virus cases continue to inch up in region….Austin Dam building entered by criminals…..ATV operator flown out of area after crash in Potter County….Tioga County woman accused of trying to hit another with a metal handle….

Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative members returned three incumbents to the cooperative board of directors during the utility’s 2020 Annual Meeting, conducted virtually on July 29.

Directors Nicholas Reitter of Genesee, Matthew Whiting of Lawrenceville and Lowell Geiser of Galeton were unanimously re-elected to represent Districts 3, 5 and 9, respectively, on the cooperative board.

Tri-County opted to conduct its 84th annual meeting virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and the cancellation of the Troy Fair. The traditional in-person meeting and member appreciation day had been scheduled to take place July 28 during the Troy Fair at Alparon Park in Troy.

The virtual meeting was presented via video on the Tri-County website, www.tri-countyrec.com, and Facebook page.

In addition to the announcement of director election results, the virtual annual meeting featured updates about the cooperative presented by Whiting, outgoing board chairman, and Tri-County President & CEO Craig Eccher.

Both officials spoke on the progress of the cooperative’s multi-year project aimed at making high-speed fiber-optic internet service accessible to all members within Tri-County’s service territory.

After 84 years of operating solely as an electric cooperative, he said, Tri-County has reinvented itself as an electric and broadband communication service provider through its fledgling high-speed internet subsidiary, Tri-Co Connections.

The cooperative began physical construction of its fiber system in the Coudersport area late in 2019. In early April, Tri-Co Connections hooked up its first internet subscriber.

“To date, we have built about 200 miles of fiber, and now are providing high speed, reliable internet to close to 200 members,” Eccher said. “We continue to construct fiber in Potter County, and in a couple of months we’ll begin building out a fiber backbone along our three-phase circuits which will tie together all 25 of our substations.”

Eccher said the cooperative expects to complete the fiber build out across its 5,000-square mile service territory within five years.

During a reorganizational meeting that immediately followed the premiere of the virtual annual meeting, Gerald A. “Arnie” Kriner of Liberty was elected as the cooperative’s chairman of the board. Valery Robbins of Coudersport was elected vice-chairman of the board, and Geiser was elected secretary-treasurer.

Unlike investor-owned utilities, Tri-County is a not-for-profit business owned by its consumer-members. A democratic organization by nature, the cooperative conducts an annual meeting to update members on the progress made during the past year and to announce results of director elections.

With headquarters in Mansfield, Pa., Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative has served the residents of northcentral Pennsylvania since 1937. The cooperative provides electricity to over 16,600 members in Tioga, Potter, Bradford, Lycoming, Clinton, McKean and Cameron counties.

 

Reps. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland/Somerset) and Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) are hosting a press conference to unveil two pieces of legislation that will impact sports, extracurricular activities and educational opportunities for students during the upcoming 2020-21 school year.

Last week, the Wolf administration abruptly announced that they recommend that there be no high school sports until Jan. 1, 2021. As already acknowledged by the administration, this recommendation was issued without evidence, science or data to back it up.

With the 2020-21 school year rapidly approaching and guidance from the Wolf administration continuing to change, students, parents and communities need clear and transparent direction for how extracurricular activities will occur in the fall without worrying that the guidance will change at any minute.

Reese’s legislation would allow Pennsylvania’s local school districts to make decisions regarding fall sports and activities.

Topper’s legislation will allow students and families to have the option to continue their education and extracurricular activities for an additional year to make up for the loss of instruction and competition during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 10, that there are 601 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 119,453. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19 and the total continues to inch up here in the Black Forest Broadcasting service area. Elk County  now has 49 cases. Tioga 38; McKean, 34; Potter 20; and Cameron 7. Across the border in New York State Allegany  County has gone up to 80 and Cattaraugus County to 166.

The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 3 and August 9 is 152,486 with 5,262 positive cases. There were 18,368 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 9. These results represent the total number of tests administered.

There are 7,317 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 3 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the department’s website.Mask-wearing is required in all Pennsylvania  businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19 according to experts.

There are 643 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 1,240,830 patients who have tested negative to date.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 20,011 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,161 cases among employees, for a total of 24,172 at 883 distinct facilities in 61 counties including Elk and McKean Counties. Out of the total deaths, 4,974 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. Approximately 8,672 of the total cases are amongst health care workers.

State Police  at Lewis Run are charging a 59 year old Bradford woman with public drunkenness after picking her up off the road on South Avenue at Boylston Street in the city of Bradford just after 2am Saturday. They determined that she had fallen because she was under the influence of alcohol Her name was not released.

A 38 year old Fairview Pennsylvania man has been arrested for drug possession after his 2002 Ford F 250 Supercab was pulled over for a summary traffic violation on Westline Road in Lafayette township early Sunday morning. Upon further investigation, the driver was allegedly found to be under the influence and in possession of marijuana. His name also was not released.

However, 32 year old Brandon hostler  Bradford has been arrested for DUI after his 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo was pulled over on Route 155 at Carlson lane in Liberty township McKean county Saturday night. Police say a traffic stop was conducted for a violation and the operator was placed under arrest for the suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

 Ridgeway based state  police  have charged 41 year old Jeannette Leigh Sensenich of Ridgway with criminal trespass.  She allegedly went onto property on Commons Lane in Ridgway Township Elk county last Friday night without permission.

A theft  occurring at 53 Taylor Street in Jay township Elk county on Monday morning is being investigated by state police at Ridgeway.  Thieves took trail camera belonging to the Weedville Water Authority.

 Coudersport based  State Police are investigating a burglary occurring along Route 872 in Keating Township. Last Friday, employees arriving for work discovered that a storage room door at the Austin Memorial dam had been broken and was open.  No further damage was observed and apparently nothing was taken but anyone with information is asked to call the Coudersport barracks at 814-274-8690.

State Police at Coudersport report a Genesee driver received minor injuries and a fender bender occurring Saturday night on Rose Lake Road in Genesee Township. Brian Dexter of Genesee was going west when an unknown vehicle eastbound vehicle  crossed into his lane of travel to avoid a collision. Dexter swerved in to the eastbound lane and struck a guardrail along the shoulder. The other driver did not stop and continued traveling eastbound.  Dexter suffered a minor head injury and was evaluated on scene by EMS personnel and then released.

A  Linwood, Pennsylvania man was seriously hurt in an ATV accident occurring just before midnight Saturday on the Wharton road in Wharton Township. Potter county Troopers say that Shawn Bedwell was driving Kawasaki Brute Force ATV which rolled coming to rest along the shoulder of the highway. A primary landing zone was set up in a field nearby for Medivac. However, due to the weather it was reestablished at the Austin Area School and Bedwell was taken by helicopter to UPMC Altoona for treatment.

No one was hurt in a fiery collision occurring last Friday afternoon in Delmar Township Tioga County. According to Mansfield base state police the collision occurred when it took a Camry driven by Zhanqing Yang of Whitestone New York while going north failed to yield at the posted stop sign and struck a Ford F 250 Super cab driven by Mark Napier of Cinnaminson, New Jersey.  After impact pickup continued off the road and struck a nearby residence before catching fire. The vehicle was totally consumed by flames and there was fire damage to the house as well. However, both drivers and passengers in the Toyota a 32 year old woman and a six year old boy escaped injury.

 A 23 year old Deerfield township woman has been arrested for assault with a weapon in connection to an incident allegedly taking place Saturday evening on Merrick Hill Road in Deerfield Township, Tioga County state police report that the woman grabbed a metal jack handle and attempted to strike a 57 year old Elkland  woman using the metal handle.  The suspect whose name was not released was taken into custody and committed to the Tioga County  Jail for arraignment.