NEWS

(MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: March 20, 2024): District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the Superior Court has reversed a McKean County Judge who had previously granted a defense motion to suppress the seizure of a homicide defendant’s cell phone. 

On May 29, 2022, City of Bradford Police responded to a shooting death on Congress Street in front of the residence of Frederick Camejo.  They notified DA Vettenburg-Shaffer who responded to the scene as did Chief County Detective Ryan Yingling.  During the investigation, Officers were advised that the events leading up to the death had been captured on the home’s surveillance system.  Bradford City Officers drafted a search warrant to seize the surveillance system and cell phones. Camejo was charged with Homicide.  His defense filed a motion to suppress, asserting that the warrant did not contain probable cause to seize Camejo’s call phone – that is, that the warrant failed to contain facts to suggest that evidence of a crime would be found on the phone.

At the suppression hearing, Chief County Detective Ryan Yingling testified that he responds to scenes as an arm of the District Attorney’s Office – both to run, in essence, a parallel investigation for the DA but also to assist the responding officers, in this case City of Bradford Police. He went with City Officers in executing their warrant but his focus was on the surveillance system. 

Five North Central employees participated Tuesday in the 2024 Financial Reality Fair held at St. Marys Area High School. The event was hosted by the Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties.

RIDGWAY – ­North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission employees presented at Tuesday’s Financial Reality Fair at St. Marys Area High School.

The event was hosted by the Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties and was sponsored by Laurel Mountain Federal Credit Union.

A total of 216 students from Cameron County, Johnsonburg, Ridgway, and St. Marys high schools attended the financial literacy event, which is a component of the North Central Partnership for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) program.

PA State Rep. Clint Owlett 

The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) has reopened to homeowners struggling as a result of pandemic-related financial hardships.

The program provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners for mortgage and housing-related expenses to address delinquency and avoid default, foreclosure or displacement from their homes. It was paused last year as the agency processed a backlog of applications. The agency is now accepting new applications until the remaining funds are exhausted. So far, more than 15,500 households have received more than $205 million of the $350 million awarded to the Commonwealth through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants with priority given to homeowners facing an imminent adverse action (IAA) such as a notice of foreclosure, sheriff sale or utility shut-off notice. Applicants should understand that submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

More information about the program, eligibility and how to apply is available at www.pahaf.org. If homeowners have questions, they can contact the dedicated PAHAF Call Center at 888-987-2423, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Elk County- Jim, Tom, and Ann Marie Heary, along with Carrie Neubert from Art Heary and Sons Furniture presented a generous donation to the St. Marys Area United Way. Art Heary and Son’s Furniture is in the city of St Marys on 125 East Arch Street. They have served Elk County and surrounding areas and offer quality furniture from manufacturers across the United States.

Those accepting Art Heary and Sons check on behalf of the St. Mary Area United Way include: Jim Ryan, President; Doug Bauer, Vice-President; Doug Gaffey, Corporate Campaign Chair, and Jason Gabler.

Art Heary and Son’s donation, like many others in the community, will help the St. Marys Area United Way achieve their campaign goal. The St. Marys Area United Way relies on the contributions from companies and local individuals. Those donations support the financial needs of non-profit agencies that serve the health and human welfare needs of our community. Funding raised in 2024 will be available for organizations to seek grant funding in 2025. If you would like to become one of these individual or corporate donors, please call 781.6000 or mail your check to the St. Marys Area United Way, 250 Depot Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.

Heather L. Bortz Esbri, 60, of Russell, PA, died Monday afternoon, March 18, 2024, after a brief illness. 

A complete obituary will be announced when available through the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., Warren, PA.