GAS PRICES ARE DOWN THIS WEEK IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.  TRIPLE A REPORTS A 7-CENT DROP IN THE PRICE TO REST AT 4.63 A GALLON ON AVERAGE.  THE LOWEST PRICE IN OUR AREA COMES IN BROOKVILLE, WHERE IT AVERAGES 4.53.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO A SEPTEMBER 27^TH, JEFFERSON COUNTY FIRE CONTINUES TODAY.  ACCORDING TO THE STATE POLICE FIRE MARSHAL, THE OFFICIAL RULING OF A SYKESVILLE BOROUGH BLAZE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.  THE FIRE, WHICH HAPPENED ON EAST MAIN STREET, CAUSED ABOUT 600 THOUSAND DOLLARS DAMAGE TO A COMMERCIAL BUILDING. 

A PORT ALLEGANY MAN WILL SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE BEHIND BARS ON MURDER CHARGES.  BRIAN KUCHINKA WAS SENTENCED YESTERDAY IN COURT AFTER HE WAS CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER BACK IN AUGUST IN MCKEAN COUNTY COURT.  KUCHINKA ADMITTED TO CAUSING THE DEATH OF K-LEIGH HILL-NELSON IN FEBRUARY OF 2025, BUT DENIED THAT HIS ACTIONS WERE INTENTIONAL.  THE JUDGE RULED AGAINST HIS CLAIM.

31-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS OF CURWENSVILLE LOST CONTROL OF HIS 2018 NISSAN FRONTIER ON CEMETERY ROAD IN CLEARFIELD COUNTY ON SEPTEMBER 19^TH.  STATE POLICE SAY THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT JUST BEFORE 10:30AM AS HE WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND.  WILLIAMS SAID THAT HE SUDDENLY NOTICED A MOUSE ON HIS RIGHT SHOULDER AND THE DISTRACTION CAUSED HIM TO CRASH HIS TRUCK INTO AN EMBANKMENT. TROOPERS REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE COMING TO REST.  WILLIAMS SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TRANSPORT.

STATE POLICE IN DUBOIS HAVE CHARGED 28-YEAR-OLD KEITH SMITH OF BROOKVILLE AFFTER THEY SAY HE CAUSED A 3-VEHCILE CRASH WHILE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.  CHARGES WERE FILED ON SEPTEMBER 28^TH AND WERE A RESULT OF A CRASH THAT HAPPENED IN APRIL AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 28 AND SUGAR HILL ROAD IN SNYDER TOWNSHIP.  TROOPERS SAY THAT SMITH FAILED TO YIELD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT, COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE, CAUSING A CRASH THAT INVOLVED A THIRD VEHICLE.  A BLOOD TEST SHOWED THAT THERE WAS ALCOHOL IN SMITH’S SYSTEM.  HE IS DUE IN COURT ON NOVEMBER 19^TH.

41-YEAR-OLD JOHN RODGERS OF REYNOLDSVILLE IS FACING DRUG AND ENDANGERMENT CHARGES AFTER HE WAS FOUND UNCONSCIOUS IN A VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 3^RD.  OFFICERS RESPONDED TO SOUTH 6^TH STREET AT AROUND 9:15AM FOR A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE IN THE ROADWAY.  UPON ARRIVAL, THEY FOUND RODGERS SLUMPED OVER AND UNRESPONSIVE.  THEY ALSO OBSERVED A HANDGUN STUFFED BETWEEN THE DRIVER’S SEAT AND THE CONSOLE THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A BB GUN.  EMS WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE FOR A SUSPECTED OVERDOSE.  WHEN RODGERS WOKE UP AFTER A STERNUM RUB, HE TOLD OFFICERS THAT BAGS IN THE VEHICLE CONTAINED A HEROIN MIX.  HE IS DUE IN COURT ON NOVEMBER 19^TH.

CHARGES WERE FILED THIS WEEK BY A SPECIAL AGENT FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AGAINST 48-YEAR-OLD DOUGLAS LARROW OF LUCINDA AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY TOUCHED A CLIENT INAPPROPRIATELY WHILE WORKING AS A MESSAGE THERAPIST AT A CLARION CLINIC.  A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CLINIC TOLD AUTHORITIES THAT LARROW TOUCHED THE CLIENT’S INTIMATE AREA WITHOUT CONSENT IN OCTOBER 0F 2024.  LARROW ADMITTED TO THE ALLEGATION AND WAS TERMINATED.  HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING IS SET FOR NOVEMBER 10^TH.

ONE OF THE MEN BEHIND THE FORMATION OF THE KEYSTONE ELK COUNTRY ALLIANCE IS BEING HONORED WITH A NEW FEATURE AT THE ELK COUNTRY VISITORS CENTER IN BENEZETTE.  KECA ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY THE CREATION OF THE TERRY BRYANT MEMORIAL TREE GROVE AT THE VISITORS CENTER.  BRYANT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FORMATION AND GROWTH OF KECA.  THE GROVE WILL FEATURE A SHORT WALKING TRAIL SURROUNDED BY A VARIETY OF NATIVE PENNSYLVANIA TREE SPECIES.

CITY OF BRADFORD POLICE HAVE ARRESTED 45-YEAR-OLD ANTWON “BABY” JACOBS ON AN ACTIVE MCKEAN COUNTY ADULT PROBATION WARRANT.  WHEN POLICE CONFRONTED HIM, JACOBS RAN AND HAD TO BE DETAINED.  OFFICERS FOUND 22 BAGGIES OF CRACK COCAINE AND TWO PACKAGES OF MARIJUANA ON HIS PERSON.  HE WAS CHARGED WITH FELONY POSESSION WITH INTENT DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, EVANDING ARREST, AND FELONY FLIGHT TO AVOID APREHENSION.  JACOBS IS IN THE MCKEAN COUNTY JAIL ON $125,000 BAIL.