On March 13th, 2026, at approximately 1532 hours, City of Bradford Police officers located an individual, Dennis W. Fox, on Main Street and took him into custody for an active arrest warrant.
During the arrest, officers discovered the individual to be in possession of controlled substances and paraphernalia. The individual was transported to the City of Bradford Police Department and then to the Magistrate’s Office in relation to the warrant.
These new drug-related offenses have been charged and filed against him at Magistrate Luther’s. A later court date will be set to address these charges. The City of Bradford Police Department is committed to keeping our community safe and will continue to work diligently to address illegal drug activity. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
On March 1st, 2026, at approximately 1354 hours, the City of Bradford Police Department responded to a report of retail theft at Country Fair, located on West Washington Street.
According to the store manager, an adult female entered the establishment and removed two large coffees without paying for the items. Following a thorough investigation, including witness statements and video review, the suspect was identified as a female Sandra Jo McCullen.
Charges have been filed against the individual at Magistrate Luther’s Office, and a pending court date will be set in the matter. The City of Bradford Police Department is committed to protecting the community and holding individuals accountable for their actions. We appreciate the cooperation of the store management and witnesses in bringing this incident to a successful resolution.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
ARREST Incident Summary: Intentional Property Damage at 33 Leland Avenue On March 17th, 2026, at approximately 1624 hours, the City of Bradford Police Department responded to a report of a neighbor shooting a house window with a BB gun at 33 Leland Avenue, lower apartment.
Upon arrival, officers met with the victim, who showed them the damaged window and reported witnessing the BB gun being pointed from a window and then shooting at their window, causing the damage. Officers made contact with the suspect, Mearlyn Atkinson, who admitted to owning the CO2 pistol and firing 5-9 shots at the window.
The suspect’s actions were deemed intentional, stemming from a prior disagreement between the two parties. Fortunately, no one was in the room where the window was broken. The estimated damage is valued at $450.00.
Charges have been filed accordingly at Magistrate Luther’s Office, and a court hearing date will be pending. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The City of Bradford Police Department takes incidents of intentional property damage seriously and encourages anyone with information or concerns to contact us.
Last week in review: The women’s softball and men’s lacrosse teams each had double-win weeks, with the softball team extending its win streak to eight games and the lacrosse team knocking off an undefeated team that it had never beaten before. Also, the women’s tennis team opened its spring season with a shutout win, and a men’s golfer placed second in his first spring outing.
On the horizon: The United East Conference and the Atlantic East Conference have finalized a letter of intent to explore a strategic conference partnership in the coming months, it was announced on Wednesday. Upon reaching a definitive agreement, implementation would begin during the 2026-27 academic year with full activation anticipated by Fall 2027.
With earthly sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of William Joseph Pierotti, 83, who entered heaven into the arms of Jesus on March 19, 2026, at Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, NY.
Bill was born on April 30, 1942, in Bradford, Pennsylvania, to Ona (Coder) and Paul Peter Pierotti. As a young man, Bill moved to Michigan to work with his brother -in-law, where it was love at first sight when he saw Judy Wehner walk by the shop. On December 24, 1960, he married the love of his life in Saginaw, Michigan—a union that would span 65 devoted years of love, partnership, and faith.
He was a beloved husband, dedicated father, devoted papa, loyal brother, caring uncle, and to so many in the community, simply “Uncle Bill.” He never met a stranger. He had a gift for conversation, a warm spirit, and a genuine love for people—especially children, who were naturally drawn to his kindness and playful heart and his ability to make a game out of anything.
Lois E. Pessia, 88, of Bradford, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the Bradford Manor.
She was born on May 13, 1937 in Limestone, NY; a daughter of the late Francis and Rose Hamilton Grubb.
She was a 1955 graduate of the Bradford Area High School.
On January 10, 1959 in the former St. Francis Catholic Church; she married Thomas Pessia, Jr. who preceded her in death on February 15, 2016.
She was a member of the St. Bernard Catholic Church. She enjoyed working on jigsaw puzzles, supporting her husband’s Bradford Lion’s Club membership and playing bingo. She especially loved spending time with her family.
She was employed for many years by W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery until her retirement.
LINESVILLE, Pa. (March 20) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is excited to invite the public to attend the annual spring Open House at the Linesville State Fish Hatchery, Crawford County, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Celebrate the start of spring at a fun-filled and educational event with a full schedule of activities:
View native Pennsylvania fish species in a 10,000-gallon viewing tank
Walleye spawning demonstration to include fish sorting, egg collection, and fertilization
Tour of PFBC patrol boats and electro-survey equipment used by biologists
Fish filleting/cooking demonstrations with sample tasting
Basic fly tying and casting instruction
Make your own “fish print” t-shirt (suggested donation $5)
Interact with PFBC staff and partner agencies while visiting their booths
Parking and shuttle to the Visitors Center will be provided. The Linesville State Fish Hatchery is located at 13300 Hartstown Road, Linesville, Pa 16424.
Late-April and early-May in-person and telephonic public input hearings scheduled across Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has scheduled a series of in-person and telephonic hearings to gather public input about the proposed merger involving American Water Works Company (American Water) and Essential Utilities (Essential), the parent company of Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas.
According to the application filed with the PUC, American Water and its subsidiaries provide water and wastewater services to 3.5 million customer connections, or more than 14 million people in 14 states, including Pennsylvania. Essential provides water, wastewater, and natural gas services to approximately 5.5 million people in Pennsylvania and nine other states.
In-Person Public Input Hearings
In-person public input hearings will be held at the following locations and times:
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 – Dauphin County Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m. Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn Hershey 550 East Main Street Hummelstown, PA 17036
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 – Chester County Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m. Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m. Penn State Great V…
BRADFORD, Pa. — In an effort to highlight the increasingly high level of violence against women in Indigenous communities, The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host a screening of Bring Her Home on Thursday March 26. The powerful PBS documentary, directed by Leya Hale, follows three Indigenous women—artist Angela Two Stars, activist Mysti Babineau, and politician Ruth Buffalo—as they seek to honor missing and murdered relatives who are victims of violence and human trafficking.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring the four founders of IndigeRoots, a local activist group dedicated to fostering intergenerational and cross-cultural learning between local ethnic communities, while also highlighting the resilience and creativity of Indigenous people. The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Blaisdell Hall, room 138 on campus. It is free and open to the public.
The effort is a collaboration between IndigeRoots, the Pitt-Bradford Women’s Lacrosse team and Hanley Library and is also sponsored by Pitt-Bradford’s Office of the President and the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
Sinnemahoning State Park is happy to announce this summer’s Women in the Wilds event will be held from Friday June 19th to Sunday June 21st with registration opening on Wednesday April 1st.
Women in the Wilds at Sinnemahoning State Park is a ladies-only weekend of outdoor recreation and environmental education. This summer’s WITW event offers women the opportunity to participate in a variety of outdoor activities as well as educational and interpretive sessions on topics ranging from archery to paddleboarding.
Program fee is $125 per person. Fee includes choice of 10 outdoor recreation and interpretive classes, Friday evening social, catered lunches on Saturday & Sunday, and catered dinner on Saturday. An event t-shirt is also included in the program fee, as well as all program materials and supplies. Equipment for activities such as paddling and biking will be provided, or you can bring your own gear.
Added for this year we will have optional add-on activities on Friday for those who are interested in extending the weekend. These activities have an additional cost and are space limited, available on a first come first serve basis at registration.
Program fee does NOT include overnight accommodations or breakfast either day. All participants are responsible for finding and paying for their own overnight accommodations. A list of local cabins, B&Bs, motels, and campgrounds will be provided upon request.
Registration for the event is being managed by our friends at Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required by Friday, June 5th, 2026. Limit 45 people. This event typically fills up within a few days of registration opening so make sure you mark April 1st on your calendar.
To register for Women in the Wilds or get more information about programs at Sinnemahoning State Park you can visit the park’s calendar of events at; https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/sinnemahoning_state_park If you have additional questions feel free to call the park office at 814-647-8401.
The Bradford Rotary Club invites the community to its annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Masonic Lodge, 625 South Avenue in Bradford. Proceeds from the event will support local service projects and charitable initiatives throughout the community.
Come hungry and enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes—the star of the morning—served hot and fresh alongside scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee, and juice. Breakfast will be served from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $15.00 for “Kegs and Eggs” (includes two beers or two mimosas), and $7.00 for children ages 12 and under. Tickets will be available at the door, and additional information can be found on the Rotary Club of Bradford’s Facebook page.
The Bradford Rotary Club is a proud member of Rotary International, a global organization dedicated to bringing together leaders to provide humanitarian service and promote goodwill and peace around the world.
