HARRISBURG - Rep. Martin T. Causer (R-Turtlepoint) would like to inform residents that the application deadline to file for the 2005 Property Tax/Rent Rebate has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31. By extending the deadline, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue expects an additional 36,000 applicants to apply for the rebate program.

Eligible participants can receive a rebate of up to $500 based on their rent or property taxes paid in 2005. The 2004 Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Property Tax/Rent Rebate report shows that more than 321,000 claims were paid for that year.

The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years or older with disabilities.

The household eligibility income limit is $15,000, excluding 50 percent of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is one of four programs supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery, which dedicates its proceeds to support programs for older Pennsylvanians. Since the program began in 1971, more than $3.21 billion has been paid to qualified applicants.

Residents are reminded to provide all the necessary income, property tax or rental information required to process claims quickly and accurately.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms are available by contacting Causer's office at (814) 362-4400 or by visiting the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Web site at www.revenue.state.pa.us.

A Port Allegany man called State Troopers after an incident last week. Karl
Renner told Police that Jeffery Campbell and Michelle Fillhart yelled
obscenities at him. Harassment Charges have been filed.

A 9.39 million dollar budget will proceed in the Otto Eldred School District
this year. The School board gave the budget the green light, with no
necessary tax increase. Included in the budget is a proposal to advertise
for a new auditorium roof.

Changes are coming to the staff at the Port Allegany School District. Sharon
Daniels will be transferred from her post as Assistant Principal to Social
Studies teacher. The School Board also decided to pass the 2006-2007 school
year budget of 13.6 million dollars.

An incident of cruelty to animals in Hamlin Township Thursday have police
searching for clues.
Officers say someone took Debra Carpenter’s pet rabit from it’s cage. It was
found under a tree along Church Street, with two BB gun holes in it.

Mt. Jewett is about to go up in smoke. Or at least, see quite a bit! Pipe
Eye Sewer Systems of Bradford will be using smoke to test the boro’s storm
water and sewer systems. Mt. Jewett Sewage Treatment operator Rod Peterson
says the smoke should go out residential roof vents. If smoke comes through
a Mt. Jewett Basement, it could mean the storm drains are connected
improperly. Residents should be advised to contact the boro if any problems
arise. Dates and times of the smoke testing have not been announced.

Free Lunches are being offered to Otto-Eldred School District Students
through the summer. Students under 18 will be served from 11:30-12:30 at the
Elementary School and 11:30-12:45 at the Recreational Park. For more
information, contact the Otto-Eldred Elementary School office.

The Route 219 Bypass work in Bradford continues to snag up traffic. Main
Street near the Route 219 Bridge was closed this weekend. Pile driving for
the Elm Street Bridge will begin Monday. Elm Street will be closed from
Monday through Wednesday, and the Southbound Forman Street off-ramp and
southbound off ramps at Kendall and Seaward will be closed.

Pitt Bradford has announced that several offices are being relocated on
campus. Admission, Enrollment, Financial Aid, and Outreach Services will all
be moving as a result of the new downtown property at the Seneca Building.

A Rixford woman was injured Thursday in a crash on Route 346. State Police
report that 76 year old Edna Dubetsky was turning left when she was struck
by a truck driven by 22 year old Christopher Spencer of Duke Center.
Dubetsky’s vehicle was sent spinning into the other lane. She was cited and
taken to the hospital.
Spencer was not injured.

A Ludlow man was injured Thursday in a crah on Route 6 in Hamilton Township.
State Police say Reuben Nearing was driving a truck owned by James Sluga of
Mount Jewett. The truck struck a guiderail and spun around. The road was
closed for three hours while PennDOT cleared out the guiderail. Nearing had
to be flown to Hamot Medical Center in Erie.

The Guidance Center in Bradford recently passed all of its reviews. The
annual license review was completed, with evaluations in its family based
programs, wraparound services, outpatient services, and crisis intervention.

The search for fugitive Ralph James "Bucky" Phillips has become national. A segment on "America's Most Wanted" Saturday night focused on Phillips' escape from custody early in April and probable involvement in the recent shooting of a New York State trooper. Read the complete story in the Bradford Era Online.

The attorney for the two women convicted of perjury last month believes the jury was tainted when former McKean County District Attorney Michele Alfieri "blurted out" that Becky Lucrezi Olson passed a polygraph test. West Chester attorney Sam Stretton, who represents Marian Kay Nersinger and Michele Nelson, both from New York state, filed a motion claiming his clients should receive a new trial due to Alfieri's testimony.
By: SANDRA RHODES Era City Editor
Read the Complete Story in the Bradford Era Online.

Faced with a growing high grass problem, the borough of Kane is vowing to take the violators to court.

According to Police Chief Brian Hillard, there is “high grass all over town.”
Read the Complete Story in the Kane Republican Online.

23 year old Kevin Lunn of Coudersport was sentenced in McKean County Court
for Aggravated Indecent Assault Charges. Lunn will serve 2-1/2 to 5 years in
prison for numerous sex charges involving a girl under 13 years old in
Bradford. When Lunn is released from prison, he'll have to register as a
Megan's Law offender for 10 years.

25 year old Ryan Abbott of Port Allegany was found lying in the roadway on
Pine Grove Road this week. He was cited for public Drunkenness.

Bradford Post Office Patrons should be prepared to find a better parking
spot next week!
According to the postmaster, the Parking Lot will be undergoing renovation
this week. The job should be completed by the following week.

The City of Bradford has received a sizeable grant for recycling. Governor Ed Rendell announced the grant was part of 3.7 million bucks awarded to 195 towns in PA.

The performance grant is used to preserve natural resources.

The individual who called police to the scene of what has been ruled a homicide-suicide Thursday morning was not at all related to the victims or in any way aware of the events that led to the couple's deaths, investigators said. Read the Complete Story in the Bradford Era Online.

By: MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER/Era Reporter
A 10-to-1 margin of business owners in the downtown area believe the Historic District designation and the Main Street Manager do not benefit their businesses, according to a survey conducted by City Councilman Tom Riel. Read the Complete Story in the Bradford Era Online.

WARREN - Allegheny National Forest officials report that zebra mussels have been discovered in the Allegheny River near Warren and urge boaters to extra precautions to prevent infestation. Read More in the Bradford Era Online.

A 6-year-old boy died when an all-terrain vehicle rolled on top of him Tuesday night. According to Kane-based state police on Wednesday, Devon DuPont of Lewis Run died after a child-sized ATV he was driving rolled over onto himself. The accident occurred at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on Bingham Road. Read the Complete Story in the Bradford Era Online.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall is currently on display at Hamlin Lake Park in Smethport. There is no admission charge and the Memorial is open 24 hours a day through Monday, June 5th. The Moving Wall is a half-scale reproduction of the Vietnam Vets Memorial Wall in Washington,D.C. and has been touring the country since the early 80's. If you haven't seen this yet, you should. For more info about the Memorial, click HERE.