This Is An Important Message From NY Alert
HEADLINE: Cold Weather Advisory issued January 23 at 12:51AM EST until January 24 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Buffalo NY
DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero expected.
* WHERE…Southern Erie and Wyoming counties and the western Southern Tier.
* WHEN…From 10 AM this morning to 10 AM EST Saturday.
* IMPACTS…Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.
INSTRUCTIONS: This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below
zero or colder.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside.
Issued By: NWS Buffalo NY
The Bingham Township Supervisors Are Seeking Applicants
The Bingham Township Supervisors are seeking applications for a part-time Secretary/Treasurer. Experience in bookkeeping with QuickBooks, Computer skills, and Secretarial skills are needed. Duties would include:
Payroll, Quarterly Taxes, Annual W-2’s, Reconciliations, Paying & Recording Invoices, Making Deposits, Balancing Bank Statements, State Reports, DCED Reports, Grant Applications, Attending monthly meetings, Taking & Recording Minutes, providing Financial Records, Assessment Building Permits, Driveway Permits, Road Bonds & Permits, Open Record Requests, and Budgets.
Position will begin June 1st, 2026
For more information, please call 814-848-9863
Resumes may be mailed to: Bingham Township
843 Bingham Center Road,
Genesee, PA 16923
Mark Charles Hackett Entered A Guilty Plea
On Thursday, January 15, 2026, Mark Charles Hackett entered a guilty plea to felony Delivery of Methamphetamine and a no contest plea to Criminal Solicitation – Murder of the First Degree on two consolidated Centre County cases.
The 64-year-old received a state prison sentence of 8 to 16 years and will serve approximately five additional years for violating parole from a prior state conviction.
Following a Centre County Drug Task Force investigation, Hackett was charged with drug delivery for selling several ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. He was jailed at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
While in jail, Hackett approached another inmate who was scheduled to be released and requested that he kill a cooperating witness from Hackett’s drug delivery case. The inmate instead alerted the Centre County District Attorney’s Office to Hackett’s plan.
Subsequent investigation by the State Police, coordinated by ADA Hunter Fedora,
confirmed that Hackett offered two inmates money and methamphetamine in exchange
for killing the informant using an injection of Carfentanil.
“By coming forward when Mark Hackett asked the inmate to kill another person, the inmate may well have saved a life,” Assistant District Attorney Matt Metzger said.
“Hackett’s attempt to kill an informant speaks to a dangerous methamphetamine-fueled thought process which, in conjunction with his drug dealing, put the broader community at risk. Thanks to the courage of cooperating witnesses and the diligent efforts of the Pennsylvania State Police, the community is now a safer place.”
Barbara J. Hackett, 98, formerly of 809 East Main Street, Bradford
Barbara J. Hackett, 98, formerly of 809 East Main Street, Bradford, passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home.
Born September 6, 1927, in Coudersport, she was the only daughter of the late Charles S. and Daisy Roena Davey. She was a graduate of Coudersport Area High School.
On February 2, 1946, in Wellsville NY she married Fred P. Hackett Jr. who preceded her in death on December 9, 1996.
Barb worked as a cashier and later in the office at Tops Supermarket for many years before retiring.
Barb was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was an avid bowler in several leagues in Bradford and was a good cook and baker. She and her husband traveled several years in their retirement, especially enjoying trips to Arizona to visit their son and daughter-in-law. She enjoyed going to bingo, visiting casinos, and having cats as house pets.
Surviving are two daughters, Linda (Dale) Bisker of Bradford, and Janelle (Joel) Hirst of Michigan, three sons, Jerry (Judy Petitt) Hackett of Glendale AZ, Jeffrey (Anthony) Hackett of Texas and Jon Hackett, of Bradford, four grandchildren Brian (Stephanie) Bisker, DeAnn (Mark) Persichini, Jordan Hirst, and Jeret Hirst. Four great grandchildren, Carli Persichini, Alyssa (Persichini) Nay, Blane Bisker and Conner Bisker.
At Barb’s request there will be no public services. Private services will be held for family at the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. Burial will follow in Sweden Hill Cemetery in Coudersport.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the McKean County SPCA PO Box 113 Bradford, PA 16701, The Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com
K9S SEARCH SCHOOL DURING PLANNED SEARCH AT REQUEST OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
January 22, 2026: K9s with the McKean County Detective K9 Unit and the City of Bradford K9 Unit conducted a planned search of Coudersport High School at the request of school administration. Coudersport Borough Police and Pennsylvania State Police-Coudersport assisted in the search.
Pictured are McKean County K9 Rigby and Detective Dakota Eaton, K9 LG, and City of Bradford K9 Duke and Detective Seth Shephard. Missing from photo is K9 handler Bob Rinfrette. District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer: “The K9 Units of the McKean County Detective Bureau and City of Bradford regularly search schools and government buildings upon request. To request a search of your school or government building, please call McKean County Detective Ryan Yingling at the District Attorney’s Office at (814) 887-3312 or McKeanDA.org.
Theft Arrest In McKean County
Bryent Wayne JOHNSON, of Kane, has been charged with Theft for allegedly receiving money on behalf of his employer, PV Paving and Concrete, LLC, but not turning the funds over to the company.
McKean County Detective Todd Erickson filed a complaint against JOHNSON charging him with 2 counts Theft by Unlawful Taking (Felony 3) and 2 counts Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Funds Received (Felony 3). JOHNSON is alleged to have committed the crimes between September and November 2025.
JOHNSON is accused of bidding jobs on behalf of PV Paving and Concrete, LLC, obtaining materials and supplies on the accounts of PV Paving and Concrete, LLC, and receiving money from the customers without turning the money over to PV Paving and Concrete, LLC. JOHNSON was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge William Todd who set bail at $40,000 straight. JOHNSON is scheduled for central court next week.
JOHNSON, BRYENT WAYNE
THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING
THEFT BY FAILURE TO MAKE REQUIRED DISPOSITION OF FUNDS RECEIVED
Age 24 Gender Male
Presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/mckean/da/136029/arrests/johnson-bryent-wayne-theft-unlawful-taking-and-1-additional-charge
JURY CONVICTS WOMAN FOR STEALING GUITARS FROM BLIND MAN
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that a Bradford woman was convicted after a jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse on January 20th. Samantha HINCHMAN was charged by Bradford City Police Officer Hobie Milliron after a blind man reported three guitars stolen from his Orchard Apartments residence in 2024.
The victim testified that he had been communicating with HINCHMAN and the two made plans for her to spend the night at his apartment on February 5, 2024. After she arrived, she claimed that she had to go babysit in another apartment but she urged him to keep his apartment door open and, after text messages throughout the night and into the next day, he left the door unlocked and went to sleep.
He heard what he thought was his apartment door closing a few hours later, but no one was in the apartment. He later discovered that the guitars were missing. He kept them in a certain place within his apartment and he regularly handled them. He called the building manager to look for video footage of the guitar thieves.
The jury viewed video of the building showing HINCHMAN and her co-defendant Justin ANDERSON leaving the apartment with the guitars. Another resident of the building testified that he knew HINCHMAN from school and, when he saw her in the elevator of the building that day, she asked him for a ride and he did not think it was suspicious at the time. HINCHMAN then directed the man to take her and ANDERSON to various locations in Bradford including Kiwanis Court and then a parking lot in the rear of a Main Street apartment building where City cameras showed the man exit the vehicle in the direction of a known apartment, then return to the vehicle, and exit again with what appears to be the guitars.
Two of the three stolen guitars were then taken by ANDERSON to a music store in Jamestown, whose owner testified that the guitars were worth $3950. He agreed to buy them but cancelled the check after learning they were stolen and he turned the guitars over to Officer Milliron. HINCHMAN and ANDERSON were both charged in the case with Theft and conspiring to commit theft.
ANDERSON pled guilty to Theft (Felony 3) last year. The jury convicted HINCHMAN of Theft (Felony 3) (value more than $2000) and could not agree on a unanimous verdict on the Conspiracy charge so a verdict of hung jury was declared as to that count alone. HINCHMAN will be sentenced by the Judge for Theft on March 5.
USDA RECALLS AND OR UPDATES
Olympus Expands Voluntary Recall for ViziShot 2 FLEX (19G) EBUS -TBNA Needles
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., (January 16, 2026) — Olympus Corporation has announced the expansion of a previous global medical device removal action for ViziShot 2 FLEX (19G) EBUS -TBNA needles (“ViziShot 2 FLEX”) after receiving and investigating complaints of device components ejecting or detaching during procedures. The complaints included adverse event reports of patient injury and one death. This expanded action includes all lots of the ViziShot 2 FLEX needles and supersedes the August 2025 notice in which only certain lots of the device were being recalled.
Potential consequences of a detached component of the ViziShot 2 FLEX include the risk of unintended device components within the tracheobronchial tree that may require bronchoscopic extraction or surgical removal.
The Bingham Township Supervisors Are Seeking Applicants
The Bingham Township Supervisors are seeking applications for a part-time Secretary/Treasurer. Experience in bookkeeping with QuickBooks, Computer skills, and Secretarial skills are needed. Duties would include:
Payroll, Quarterly Taxes, Annual W-2’s, Reconciliations, Paying & Recording Invoices, Making Deposits, Balancing Bank Statements, State Reports, DCED Reports, Grant Applications, Attending monthly meetings, Taking & Recording Minutes, providing Financial Records, Assessment Building Permits, Driveway Permits, Road Bonds & Permits, Open Record Requests, and Budgets.
Position will begin June 1st, 2026
For more information, please call 814-848-9863
Resumes may be mailed to: Bingham Township
843 Bingham Center Road,
Genesee, PA 16923
Severe Watches And Warnings For Roulette
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service State College PA
206 AM EST Thu Jan 22 2026
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING…
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON…
* WHAT…For the Winter Weather Advisory, snow. Additional snow accumulations up to one inch. Winds gusting 30 to 40 mph with isolated gusts over 45 possible. For the Winter Storm Watch, heavy snow with significant accumulations possible.
* WHERE…Blair, Somerset, Southern Centre, and Southern Clinton Counties.
* WHEN…For the Winter Weather Advisory, until 10 AM EST this morning. For the Winter Storm Watch, from Saturday evening through Monday afternoon.
* IMPACTS…For the Winter Weather Advisory, slippery roads possible for the Thursday morning commute. For the Winter Storm Watch, roads and especially bridges and overpasses will likely become
slick and hazardous. Travel could be difficult late Saturday night through Monday morning.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…A few stronger snow showers are possible this morning with rapid reductions in visibility and a quick accumulation on roadways.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1 or visiting 511PA.com.
This Is An Important Message From NY Alert
*Winter Storm Watch issued January 22 at 1:58AM EST until January 26 at 7:00PM EST by NWS Buffalo NY
* WHAT…Lake effect snow and blowing snow. Additional snow
accumulations 4 to 8 inches in the most persistent lake snows.
Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will produce blowing and drifting
snow.
Widespread heavy snow possible late Saturday night through Monday
evening. Significant accumulations possible.
* WHERE…Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. The greatest
accumulations will focus across western Chautauqua and far
northwest Cattaraugus counties.
Patricia Hitchcock, 91, Formerly Of Lafferty Hollow
Patricia Hitchcock, 91, formerly of Lafferty Hollow, most recently of Chapel Ridge, passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home.
Born on September 24, 1934, in Bradford, she was the daughter of the late Norman S. Ellis and Teresa H. Bowen. Pat was a 1952 graduate of Bradford High School.
Pat and Richard, who preceded her in death, celebrated 50 years of marriage.
Her working career included employment with Tuna Valley Savings and Loan, Forest Oil (as an Executive Secretary for 25 years), and the Glendorn Foundation. Privately, Pat worked doing bookkeeping, taxes, and provided clerical services.
Potter County Community Garden Applications Now Available.
It may be cold and snowy butplans for the 2026 Potter County Community Garden are springing into action. Applications for garden plots were released to the public on Thursday, January 15th, and will be accepted until all spaces have been claimed. The Community Garden has a total of thirty-three garden beds with four being raised for handicapped or disability access. Located at 7 Water Street in Coudersport, the Community Garden will open its gates again on April 25th for individuals and groups to utilize a free garden plot regardless of income.
Wallace J. Mapes Jr., 81
Pastor Wallace J. “Wally” Mapes Jr. of 64 Foster Hollow entered the Kingdom of Heaven on Friday (Jan. 16, 2026), following a brief illness.
He was born Feb. 13, 1944, in Lockport, N.Y., to Wallace J. Mapes Sr. and Ruby Martin Mapes.
He graduated from Lyndonville High School in 1963 and went on to serve his country in the U.S. Marine Corps until 1967. Wally held several careers, including law enforcement and car sales before answering his true calling after finding Christ. He pursued ministry and graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College in 1988.
On Sept. 30, 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in faith and love.
Pastor Wally carried the Word of Christ across the country, evangelizing in various churches before founding Healing Reigns Fellowship in 2007. He was well known in the community and could often be found at local establishments enjoying a cup of coffee and striking up conversations with everyone he met.
His greatest passion was sharing the love and message of Christ with others.
Elk and Cameron County Families!
Mark your calendars for upcoming February Discover Lab activities!
Discover Lab:
Contact: Courtney Rieger
P: 814-781-3437
courtney@communityedcenter.com
Dates/Location/Times:
February 9, 2026- Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library, 3:30pm-5:00pm (Grades 3-5)
February 10, 2026- Johnsonburg Community Center, 4:00pm-5:30pm (Grades 3-5)
February 16, 2026- Bennett’s Valley Community Center, 6:00pm-7:00pm (Grades K-8)
February 17, 2026- Boys and Girls Club of St. Marys, 4:00pm-5:00pm (Grades 3-5)
Description: Build & Explore with Cubelets! Join us for hands-on group activities creating robots together!
No Registration Required!
Questions? Contact Courtney Rieger at courtney@communityedcenter.com or call (814) 781-3437
Dedicated Nurse Honored with Fourth Quarter 2025 Nightingale Award
Bradford, PA/Olean, NY – Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), Kaleida Health facilities, are excited to announce Sharon Walsh, RN, a nurse on the medical-surgical unit at OGH, as the 2025 fourth-quarter Nightingale Award recipient. Walsh has been a nurse at OGH since 1998.
“With more than 20 years of dedicated service as an overnight nurse, Sharon exemplifies the compassion, resilience and quiet strength that define the spirit of nursing. Working through the night requires a unique blend of clinical expertise, emotional steadiness and unwavering commitment. Throughout her career, Sharon has demonstrated all of these qualities and more. She is the calm in a moment of crisis, the reassuring voice for anxious families and the steady, skilled professional who ensures every patient feels safe and cared for during their worst times. She is dependable, knowledgeable and remarkably patient-centered. She is the person others look to for guidance, mentorship and support, especially new nurses who benefit from her depth of experience,” said her nomination.
MAN CHARGED AFTER MCKEAN COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE ARRESTS THREE OUT OF HOUSE IN BRADFORD
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the McKean County Drug Task Force has arrested three out of the same residence for drug crimes following a search warrant executed at 15 Belleview Avenue in Bradford on January 20, 2026. Raymond KELLEY is accused of three counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver (crack cocaine) – Felonies; 2 counts of Possession; and 2 counts Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Deliver – Felonies.
KELLEY is charged with conspiring with Justina AMES and selling crack cocaine while under the surveillance of the McKean County Drug Task Force. Detective Seth Shephard accuses KELLEY of committing the crimes out of a residence on Belleview Avenue in Bradford over the last month.
KELLEY was arraigned by on-call magisterial district judge William Todd who set bail at $75,000 straight. KELLEY was remanded to the McKean County Jail and is scheduled for central court next week. If you suspect drug crimes, please report it to Chief County Detective Ryan Yingling at the District Attorney’s Office at (814) 887-3312 or McKeanDA.org.
All accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
WOMAN CHARGED AFTER THREE ARRESTED OUT OF SAME HOUSE BY MCKEAN COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that a Bradford woman was arrested after the McKean County Drug Task Force arrested three out of the same residence for drug crimes following a search warrant executed at 15 Belleview Avenue in Bradford on January 20, 2026.
Patricia AMES is charged by Detective Seth Shephard with Possession with Intent to Deliver (crack cocaine) – Felony; Possession; and Criminal Use of a Communication Device (Felony 3). P. AMES is accused of setting up a drug sale and delivering crack cocaine in exchange for $100 while under the surveillance of the McKean County Drug Task Force earlier this month. P. AMES was arraigned by on-call magisterial district judge William Todd who set bail at $75,000 straight. P. AMES was remanded to the McKean County Jail and is scheduled for central court next week.
If you suspect drug crimes, please report it to Chief County Detective Ryan Yingling at the District Attorney’s Office at (814) 887-3312 or McKeanDA.org.
All accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
WOMAN ACCUSED OF DEALING IN UNLAWFUL DRUG PROCEEDS FOLLOWING MCKEAN COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE ARREST
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that a Bradford woman is accused of selling drugs out of a residence at 15 Belleview Avenue arrested after the McKean County Drug Task Force arrested her and two others out of that residence on January 20, 2026.
Justina AMES is charged by Detective Seth Shephard with 3 counts of Conspiracy Possession with Intent to Deliver (crack cocaine) – Felonies; 2 counts Criminal Use of a Communication Device (Felony 3); Possession with Intent to Deliver (Felony); Drug Paraphernalia; and Dealing in Unlawful Proceeds (Felony 1).
Justina AMES is accused of setting up drug sales and conspiring with Patricia AMES and Raymond KELLEY to sell crack cocaine and possessing additional crack for sale while under the surveillance of the McKean County Drug Task Force. During a search warrant, additional crack cocaine was located along with scales and packaging material commonly used to package crack cocaine. In addition to directing drug sales of her co-conspirators, Justina AMES is accused of accepting cash for the sale of crack cocaine and using those drug proceeds to facilitate future illegal drug sales. Justina AMES was arraigned by on-call magisterial district judge William Todd who set bail at $150,000 straight.
Justina AMES was remanded to the McKean County Jail and is scheduled for central court next week. District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer notes: “Drug tips by citizens and business owners often are the catalyst for a drug investigation that leads to an arrest and, with it, the removal of a suspected trafficker from the community.
Tips that have led to arrests and, ultimately, conviction have been received by the County Detective Bureau at the District Attorney’s Office from citizens across the county from Kane to Bradford. If you suspect drug crimes, please report it to Chief County Detective Ryan Yingling at the District Attorney’s Office at (814) 887-3312 or McKeanDA.org.”
All accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Fatal Amish Buggy Collision
On January 20, 2026, at 1:35 P.M., Troopers out of SP Amity responded to a collision involving an Amish buggy on County Route 29 in the town of Willing. Investigation determined that the horse-drawn buggy was traveling on County Route 29 and turned into the path of a fully loaded 2009 International logging truck. The operator of the buggy, was transported to Jones Memorial Hospital and succumbed to his injuries. The horse had no injuries.
NYSP Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit assisted in this investigation.
Michael R. “Mick” Baker, 91, of Smethport, PA
Michael R. “Mick” Baker, 91, of Smethport, passed away Tuesday (January 20, 2026) at Lakeview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Smethport.
He was born June 1, 1934 in Eldred, PA, the son of Edwin and Alice (Billyard) Baker.
Mick served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Italy. He was employed by Owens-Illinois/Georgia-Pacific of Bradford, PA, for many years before retiring in 1996.
He was a member of the American Legion; John Berg Post #976 of Crosby, PA.
He is survived by:
Three sons: Michael L. Baker and Danny J. Baker, both of Smethport, and Brian K. (Kathy) Baker of Johnsonburg
Four daughters: Vanessa (Robert) Black of East Smethport, Billie (Tony) Barnish and Laurie (Robert) Kinniburgh, both of Smethport, Terry (Lane) Corbett of Crosby and Sandra K. Swanson of Mt. Jewett
Fourteen grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, along with several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Mick was preceded in death by one brother, LaVerne Baker; an infant sister at birth, Bertha Ann Baker; a son in law, Bradley C. Swanson; and a daughter in law, Kimberly Covert Baker.
In keeping with Mick’s wishes, there will be no visitation or services.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the American Legion; John Berg Post #976 of Crosby, PA. Online condolences may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., Smethport.