62-acre forest fire on ANF 40 percent contained, officials say

November 7, 2023

Federal officials say that a forest fire that broke out Monday on the Allegheny National Forest is only 40 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon. The fire is estimated at 62 acres, according to Allegheny National Forest Public Affairs Officer Christopher Leeser. It was 40 percent contained as of 3 p.m. “The Sugar Bay Wildfire is located in the Bradford Ranger District of Allegheny National Forest and is burning on Forest Service land on the eastern side of Allegheny Reservoir just north of Sugar Bay and west of Polly’s Run,” Leeser explained. He said that ANF staff are ...

Inmate provided sheets, measurements for Burham escape

October 30, 2023

A Warren County Jail inmate has been charged with assisting in Michael Burham's escape from the facility in the early morning hours of July 6. George A. Flasher, 21, was charged with permitting or facilitating an escape and conspiracy to permit or facilitate an escape. Flasher was ...

Pittsfield parking lot thefts under investigation

October 29, 2023

PITTSFIELD -- Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a theft that occurred in a parking lot across the street from the Kwik Fill near Main Street and Old Pittsfield Road. The incident occurred between 5 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday involving vehicles belonging to Penn Lines tree service. Multiple pad locks were cut with a Husqvarna chain saw, two hydraulic pole saws, a pair of chaps and tree-climbing gear taken. Anyone with information is asked to call the Warren barracks at 814-728-3600.

Laid to rest: Fire service honors county chief with procession

October 21, 2023

A county fire chief was laid to rest Saturday. Pleasant VFD Chief Timothy “TJ” Johnson suffered a heart attack shortly after responding to an EMS call last Monday evening. ”Upon returning to the station approximately an hour later, he complained of indigestion and an upset ...

EXCLUSIVE: Burham escape ‘unfortunate situation’ per Prison Board

October 12, 2023

When Michel Burham escaped from the Warren County Jail, kicking off a 10-day manhunt, a familiar refrain was “how could this possibly happen?” In the months since the escape, county officials have been largely tight-lipped about what happened, how it happened, and what’s been done at ...

Proposal centralizes tracking of $1.08 billion opioid fund

October 10, 2023

County governments will spend the majority of the $1.08 billion in Pennsylvania’s opioid trust. How that spending gets tracked and accounted for is likewise dispersed. A proposed bill, however, would require the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to publish an annual report on how counties and local governments spend the money. House Bill 1694, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Kuzma, R-Pleasant Hills, aggregates the reports filed to the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust to give a broad overview. “By reviewing how counties and local governments are putting ...