Only in State College

It's time to pass the mantle

2012-01-20T23:14:00.000-05:00

Having left State College, it's very hard to keep up with all the exciting and unique goings-on in the area. But luckily, my friend Drew Frank of Meadow Lane Photography, has agreed to pick up this blog. Drew's a keen observer of life in Centre County, so I know he won't miss a beat and will keep everyone posted. So it's time for me to say, "So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu."

Great moments in small town crime, Grange Fair edition

2011-10-14T13:56:00.000-04:00

From today's Centre Daily Times:

Man charged in theft from Grange Fair ice cream stand

12:01am on Oct 14, 2011; Modified: 12:09pm on Oct 14, 2011

BELLEFONTE — State police have charged a Mifflin County man with theft after they said he took $104 from an open cash register drawer at an ice cream stand during the Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair in August.

Police said Kevin W. Green, 57, of Reedsville, drove by the ice cream stand Aug. 29 on his motor scooter, saw the cash register drawer was open and that the stand’s owner was attending to someone. Police said Green reached over the counter, took the money and started to drive away on the scooter.

A vendor nearby saw Green take the money and put it in his pocket, police said. When the vendor yelled for Green to stop, he did, and he returned the money to the stand’s owner.

Green waived his right to a preliminary hearing on misdemeanor charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. He was released on his own recognizance.

Of all the gas stations, in all the towns, in all the world, he walks into his own. . . .

2011-09-24T17:20:00.001-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times:

Port Matilda man pleads guilty to robbing former employer

Posted: 5:09pm on Sep 22, 2011

A Port Matilda man pleaded guilty this week to using a knife to rob a Patton Township gas station where he used to work.

Caleb M. Black, 19, entered his plea before Judge Bradley P. Lunsford on Tuesday. Black is scheduled for a pre-sentence investigation on Oct. 11.

Township police said Black robbed the Sheetz at 1781 N. Atherton St., State College, around 3 a.m. May 28. Police said he was wearing dark-colored clothes and had a dark bandana over his face when demanded money and displayed a knife from the clerk.

That clerk told police she recognized Black but thought he was joking until he showed her a knife, according to the affidavit filed by township police.

Police said they located him soon after in the wooded area between Walmart and Woodycrest Street. He admitted to the robbery, telling police he needed the money for “everyday things,” police said.

How could anyone take offense to a stuffed pig? They're so cute

2011-09-04T09:18:00.000-04:00

From today's Centre Daily Times:

Stuffed pig reportedly sparks fight in State College

Posted: 12:03am on Sep 4, 2011

A 20-year-old man told State College police he was jumped by other men because they took offense to him carrying a large stuffed pig at 2:45 a.m. Saturday.

Police said the man suffered a laceration from a fight, which happened at University Drive and East Foster Avenue.

Police said the man carrying the stuffed pig had been drinking.

Exclusive! Only in the CDT!

2011-09-04T08:33:00.001-04:00

I turn to the Centre Daily Times website this morning, the source of all news about Penn State sports, to read about yesterday's football game. And there it is, of course, the lead story on the homepage is about the game. So I click on the link, and here's what I saw:

In case you can't read it, it says, "Unfortunately, we are unable to locate the page you have requested. This could be due to content on our site having expired, a broken link, an outdated bookmark, or a mistyped address. Please use the site map provided on this page."

Nice job, guys. You can't even manage to have a working link for the one story everyone's going to want to read this morning, the lead story on your website. I'm sure by the time many of you try it, it will have been repaired, but trust me - it wasn't working at 8:30 in the morning.

"You ate more than I did." "No, I didn't." "Yes you did." "No I didn't, asshole." SMACK

2011-09-01T14:23:00.000-04:00

From today's Centre Daily Times:

Hot wings spark heated debate, altercation

By CDT staff reports

Posted: 12:01am on Sep 1, 2011; Modified: 6:16am on Sep 1, 2011

A man is being accused of harassment after an argument over hot wings.

Shawn Stevenson, of Philipsburg, is accused of poking Rick Schreffler, also of Philipsburg, in the eye and pushing him on the back of the head Tuesday at 11:11 p.m., at 211A N. Centre St. in Philipsburg.

Charges of harassment have been filed against Stevenson.

Call the HazMat team! Call the HazMat team!

2011-08-31T09:27:00.001-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times:

PSU freshman to be cited for sex
By CDT staff reports — State College - Centre Daily Times
Posted: 8:41am on Aug 30, 2011; Modified: 11:29am on Aug 30, 2011
A Penn State female freshman will be cited for disorderly conduct and charged $285 in cleanup costs after she and a partner were caught twice having sex at Beaver Hill apartments, 340 E. Beaver Ave, just after 7 a.m. Saturday.

State College police said A.W. & Sons staff caught the pair having sex in the third-floor laundry room, and asked them to leave. The couple moved to the seventh floor, where they continued to have sex, resulting in a biohazard cleanup.

Police said the partner’s identity was not clear in surveillance video footage.

Let's hear it for one freshman who got acclimated to college very quickly. The police will be taking butt-prints to identify the other suspect as the investigation continues.

File this under "Only at the Grange Fair"

2011-08-31T09:27:00.000-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times:

Man charged with tasering estranged wife at Grange Fair

State College - Centre Daily Times

Posted: 2:42pm on Aug 30, 2011; Modified: 3:06pm on Aug 30, 2011

A man used a taser on his estranged wife Friday night at the Grange Fair during a dispute over a child custody issue, state police at Rockview said.

Steven L. Peters, 27, of Chesapeake, Va., is charged with Simple assault, a misdemeanor, and harassment, a summary. He was released Saturday from the Centre County jail on $7,500 bond.

Police said the alleged assault happened shortly after 11 p.m. Friday near the maintenance facility on the fairgrounds in Potter Township. Peters had gone there to get the couple’s children, but an altercation involving pushing and shoving resulted, said police. Police didn’t say who did the shoving and pushing.

But they said that’s when Peters used the taser on the woman, stunning her arm and leaving red marks.
Peters is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

How to throw a wedding party on the cheap

2011-08-26T09:49:00.000-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times on Wednesday. And yes, that is the happy couple shown above - note the link from the picture in the CDT to buy a copy of the photo. Maybe Mr. Phillips and Ms. Lurch would like to purchase a few copies as a remembrance:

Newlyweds charged with shoplifting supplies for wedding reception

By CDT staff reports

Posted: 11:26am on Aug 24, 2011; Modified: 10:37am on Aug 25, 2011

A newlywed couple is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from Wegmans Saturday that police say they intended to use at their wedding reception later that afternoon. The value of the stolen items totaled $1,049.26, police said.

Arthur Phillips III, 32, and Brittany M. Lurch, 22, both of Centre Hall, married Aug. 18, and scheduled their wedding reception for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, police said. But at 2:30 p.m., Patton Township police were called to Wegmans in the Colonnade shopping center for a report of a retail theft.

They watched the couple on surveillance camers put items in their shopping cart, and walk out to their car without paying, according to an affidavit filed by police. They then arrested Phillips and Lurch, who told police the items were intended for their reception.

The couple didn’t make it to the reception. Charged with retail theft and receiving stolen property, both misdemeanors, Phillips and Lurch remain in Centre County jail in lieu of $2,500 bail.

When searching their car for the stolen items, police said they found a glass smoking pipe with marijuana residue, and Phillips also was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

They each waived their right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Great moments in small town crime, part 4. . .

2011-08-13T09:32:00.000-04:00

From StateCollege.com last Thursday:

Police: Candy-Bar Thief Identified after Losing Driver's License

by Adam Smeltz on August 11, 2011 3:56 PM

A man who stole about 10 candy bars from an Atherton Street convenience store was identified after he left his driver's license behind, State College police said.

Police said the incident happened about 4:15 a.m. Thursday at a Minit Mart, 106 N. Atherton St. The man reportedly put the candy bars in his pockets, then tried to buy a bag of potato chips before leaving the store, a police report shows.

He was tracked down after his driver's license was discovered in an aisle of the Minit Mart, having fallen from his person, police said.

Charges in the matter are pending. The man's name was not immediately released Thursday.

Now see, if like most young men in college towns he had had a fake ID, this wouldn't have been a problem.

Alcohol involved?

2011-07-23T09:17:00.002-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times:

Rollerblader cited after State College police say he rolled into pool

CDT staff reports

A man was issued a citation for trespassing Thursday night after State College police said he rode on his rollerblades into a hotel, then into its outdoor swimming pool because he was looking for a cold drink.

The man, a 28-year-old who police didn’t identify by name, was rollerblading on South Atherton Street about 10:15 p.m. and went into the Ramada at 1450 S. Atherton St. still on his rollerblades. He went through the kitchen, jumped a wall, and went into the hotel’s outdoor pool, still wearing his rollerblades, police said.

He wasn’t injured or overheated, police said.

Great moments in laundry

2011-07-17T21:10:00.001-04:00

From this morning's Centre Daily Times:

Small fire caused by socks heating on stove
From CDT staff reports
July 16, 2011 6:50pm EDT
Socks heating in a pan on a stove caused a small fire in a College Township mobile home Friday morning.

State College police said a neighbor reported smoke coming from the mobile home at 620 Centre Ave. When police arrived, no one was home and police had to force their way inside. That's when they discovered a pair of socks heating in a pan on the stove in the kitchen.

There were no damages to the mobile home.

Firefighters from Alpha Fire Company extinguished the fire.

Most people would just hang their laundry outside to dry, especially when it's in the high 80s and sunny.

Drool central

2011-07-08T09:23:00.001-04:00

From this morning's Centre Daily Times:

Raccoon wandering on Penn State campus tests positive for rabies
July 7, 2011 4:58pm EDT
A raccoon that was seen drooling and falling to the ground on the Penn State campus has tested positive for rabies.

According to the state Department of Agriculture, the raccoon was seen wandering around the central part of campus on June 30. It had trouble walking, was falling to the ground and running into things and appeared to be drooling. Campus police shot the raccoon and submitted it to Penn State’s Animal Diagnostic Lab for rabies testing.

This behavior could describe any of thousands of college students on campus during any Friday or Saturday night during the semester.

Breaking story: Animal cruelty

2011-06-23T13:22:00.000-04:00

From StateCollege.com:

Police: Dyed, Clothed Shih Tzu Found Wandering in State College

posted @ 3:22 p.m. June 22:

A Shih Tzu dog that had been dyed hot pink was found wandering about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in State College, borough police said.

Police said the lost dog, also sporting a camouflage-style bandana, was picked up at 532 W. College Ave.

The dog was taken into custody as authorities tried to locate its owner, police said.

It wasn't immediately clear Wednesday whether the dog has been returned.

UPDATED @ 3:39 p.m. June 22: The lost Shih Tzu, named Miata, has been returned successfully to her owners, State College borough health officer Lori Sowash said. They live on the 500 block of South Allen Street.

"They are very, very relieved to get the dog back -- and, yes, they did dye it pink," Sowash said.

She said a passer-by on West College Avenue initially mistook the lost dog for a stuffed animal Tuesday morning.

When he realized it wasn't a toy, Sowash said, he held onto the dog and called the police.

Sowash took the dog to a local animal clinic, where her owners were already waiting for her, Sowash said.

A borough-provided photo of the dog is posted to the right.

UPDATED @ 10:15 a.m. June 23: A number of StateCollege.com readers have inquired about whether the dye job on the Shih Tzu amounted to animal cruelty.

Lori Sowash, a State College borough health officer, relayed that a State College veterinarian saw the dog Tuesday and said the dye job was not harmful.

"It appeared to be just a spray-on type of dye like you see some of our creative students wear," Sowash wrote in an e-mail message. "The owners were very kind to the dog and extremely happy to have gotten the dog back.

"I guess you have to think like a teenage college student to know why someone would dye their dog, but apparently in California or New York City, it's the 'in' thing to do," she noted.

Remedial driving instruction

2011-06-01T10:05:00.000-04:00

From this morning's Centre Daily Times:

Woman injured after trying to stop drifting car
From CDT staff reports
June 1, 2011 8:10am EDT
A Julian woman was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for treatment after state police said she tried to stop a car from coasting, driverless, down High Street in Port Matilda Monday night.

Helen Greenland, 59, was treated at the scene by Port Matilda EMS before being transported to Mount Nittany with what state police said were moderate injuries.

Police said Greenland, driving a Chevrolet S-10, had parked it along the 500 block of South High Street about 10:55 p.m. Monday. She attempted to drive away when she noticed the parking brake was on. Police said she pulled what she thought was the parking brake release, but actually pulled the hood release.

Greenland got out of the vehicle to close the hood, leaving it in neutral. She then pulled the parking brake while standing outside the vehicle, which began to coast down the hill on South High Street, police said. She tried unsuccessfully to stop the vehicle and was dragged for about 10 feet.

The S-10 coasted down South High Street, through the intersection with Beckwith Road, and struck a utility pole. State police said the investigation is ongoing.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I would have thought about getting into the car before releasing the parking brake.

Revenge of the groundhog

2011-05-23T16:50:00.000-04:00

Okay, this is not quite in State College, but any groundhog story qualifies for this blog. From today's Centre Daily Times website:

Groundhog hitches ride with unsuspecting Pa. man

The Associated Press

May 23, 2011 2:46pm EDT

WHITEHALL, Pa. — A stowaway groundhog created quite a mess, not to mention a neighborhood ruckus that drew police, a state wildlife officer and even the mayor, when it became trapped inside a car in suburban Allentown.

The fat, furry rodent tore up the back seat of a 1995 Pontiac Bonneville and used the car as a toilet.

Tyler Duncan, 20, of New Tripoli, made the unpleasant discovery Sunday afternoon when he returned to the car following a sleepover at a friend's house in Whitehall Township, according to The Morning Call of Allentown.

"I screamed," he said.

He called his mother, Sharon Duncan, who was brave enough to get in the car and start cleaning it. As she was picking up pieces of cushion and animal feces, Duncan's friend's mother caught a glimpse of the buck-toothed varmint trying to escape from underneath the front passenger seat. She, too, began screaming.

Township police and a state wildlife officer worked together to catch the woodchuck, which was put in a cage and released to the wild. Authorities believe the critter had traveled with Duncan from New Tripoli to Whitehall, a distance of about 15 miles.

Whitehall Mayor Ed Hozza Jr. joked that he gave a "direct order" to take the groundhog back to New Tripoli.

Brotherly love

2011-05-16T13:23:00.001-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times website:

Provocative fruit display causes sibling dispute

May 15, 2011 8:40am EDT

An argument over bananas has led to charges of harassment against a pair of siblings in Blair County.

Lester J. Helsel, 57, of Roaring Spring, and Julianne K. Stalter, 55, of Altoona, got into an argument at Helsel’s house at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, police said.

According to police, Helsel accused Stalter of eating and hiding his bananas. The argument escalated as he discovered she had arranged the fruit “to resemble the human male anatomy on his computer.”

Helsel then approached Statler and, in response, she shoved him, police said. He then repeatedly punched her in her head and upper torso, police said

Great moments in small town crime, part 3. . .

2011-05-13T13:21:00.000-04:00

. . .or, how not to escape from the police. From this morning's Centre Daily Times:

Police: Men arrested after failed window escape

May 13, 2011 9:18am EDT

State College police said two men vandalized a State College apartment early Thursday before one fell out a three-story window and both were arrested.

Police said officers heard a loud crash at 1:48 a.m. and found Robert O’Mahoney, 23, of Caldwin, N.Y., face down and unconscious between the Shandygaff bar and the Tavern Restaurant.

After O’Mahoney regained consciousness minutes later, not knowing his name or location, officers went to the apartment, where Eric Paulson, 21, of Ferguson Township, was with employees of the landlord, police said.

According to court documents, Paulson said he and O’Mahoney, after drinking all night, entered the apartment with the key code intending to wreck it in retaliation for damage they said the apartment owner had done to their place.

Police said the apartment had about $1,000 in damages, including several holes in the walls, paint poured on the floor and walls, overturned furniture, fire extinguisher foam, and a destroyed closet door.

Paulson told officers that after he and O’Mahoney heard knocking at the front door, O’Mahoney wanted to jump out the window, police said.

Paulson said he started to help lower him from the window but let go when O’Mahoney said he was OK, police said.

O’Mahoney was treated at Mount Nittany Medical Center for unspecified injuries and released, police said.
Both men were arraigned on charges of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal mischief, criminal trespass and tampering with fire apparatus.

What is it about wandering emus and Central PA?

2011-04-22T06:21:00.000-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times (again):

Police shoot and kill wandering emu in central Pa.

- The Associated Press

April 21, 2011 5:48pm EDT

MANHEIM, Pa. — Police in central Pennsylvania have shot a stray emu that had been wandering around for days and eventually headed into a residential area.

The large, flightless bird had been criss-crossing the Penn Township and Manheim areas for more than a week. Police say that initially it was mostly in the countryside, so they weren't concerned about it bothering people with its sharp claws.

But the Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era reports police decided to shoot it Tuesday after it wandered into a residential area and children were chasing it near a school.

Penn Township police Chief Larry Snavely says authorities shot the animal to protect residents from getting hurt.

He says the emu's carcass has been donated to a wolf sanctuary.

Does your state have a porcupine hunting season?

2011-04-17T14:56:00.000-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times this week:

Pa. porcupines picked by state for hunting

The Associated Press

April 12, 2011 6:55pm EDT

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Gaming Commission says pesky porcupines can be hunted, giving its approval for a nearly six-month hunting season.

Commissioners approved the proposal Tuesday but favored a hunting season from Sept. 1 to March 31 instead of the initial year-long season.

According to the agreement, the daily limit is just six of the small, slow-moving, razo[sic]-sharp rodents and hunters who go after them can use any legal sporting arm to kill them.

Porcuplines were a protected species in the state, but residents had been allowed to kill them if they were causing damage to property. The rodents can cause problems because they're attracted to wood and salt, sometimes damaging homes or even chewing through brake lines.

“I’ve done bear, deer, dogs — you name it. I’ve never chased an emu”

2011-03-26T10:11:00.001-04:00

CDT/Abby Drey

One of Eddie Agostinelli's emu's in a trailer outside of his home in Boalsburg on March, 25, 2011.

From this morning's Centre Daily Times. Note that it took two reporters to cover this story.

Emu escape ends bittersweetly

Anne Danahy and Ed Mahon

March 26, 2011 1:40am EDT

COLLEGE TOWNSHIP — Eddie Agostinelli spent most of this week chasing down emus — long-legged birds that resemble ostriches and are native to Australia. He bought them, hoping to turn a farming hobby into a profession.

But early Sunday morning, shortly after they’d arrived at his Shingletown farm, the two female emus and one male emu escaped.

The search ended somewhat sadly Friday afternoon, when the last nomadic emu was captured — but died shortly after, apparently from the stress and physical exertion of the chase.

But Agostinelli said he felt relieved that the six-day search was over — and that no person was hurt.

“I’m glad they’re not running free,” said Agostinelli, “I was more worried about them getting hit by a car or someone getting distracted by them” while driving.

The chase began after a lightning storm scared the gray birds from their new home. Agostinelli said they blew through a weak spot in the fence. Emus are known for their strong legs and sharp toenails, which can cut through fencing. And they can run up to 40 mph.

Residents of Harris and College townships had been calling in sightings of the feathered friends. Agostinelli said the two females were rounded up Thursday, and they still seem to be in good health. The male proved to be a trickier catch.

But by Friday, they were closing in on him. A friend of Agostinelli along with Lori Sowash, a health officer for State College borough who also works in animal control, nearly caught him on the bike path where Branch Road crosses U.S. Route 322. But he was elusive.

“I’ve done bear, deer, dogs — you name it. I’ve never chased an emu,” Sowash said.

Police closed in on him behind a backyard garden on Charles Street. Rose Williams said she and her husband, Joseph, were sitting in their sunroom when they saw the tall bird.

“I couldn’t believe it. He said, ‘There’s that bird,’ ” Rose Williams said.

For Joseph Williams, it was the second bird sighting of the day.

“I saw him over in Boalsburg this morning, when I went to get a haircut,” he said. “He’s been around.”

It took four people to capture the 125-pound bird and return him to the trailer where the two females that had been acting as bait were peeking out curiously.

“This is our education,” said Agostinelli, as he caught his breath, shortly after the chase ended. Police said Agostinelli does not face any fines or penalties.

Agostinelli has worked in a variety of fields, including running a restaurant, selling real estate and working in construction. He said he had just gotten the three birds, and six more are on the way. They can grow to 5 or 6 feet tall and 150 pounds, and they can be farmed for meat, leather and oil.

Once one of Agostinelli’s business partners finished chaining up the trailer to a truck, Agostinelli turned to the birds.

“All right,” he said, “time to go home, kids.”

But the male emu died a few hours later, a possibility that Agostinelli had been bracing for since the three escaped.

“I wasn’t sure how he was going to make out. He ran a lot today,” he said, adding that the bird appeared drained after the chase. “He never really came to.”

Still, Agostinelli said the experience hasn’t deterred him from pursuing farming. The financial loss is only about $150, and he is still fascinated by emus.

“They’re really cool animals,” Agostinelli said. “They’re kind of like pets.”

Anne Danahy can be reached at 231-4648. Ed Mahon can be reached at 231-4619.

A tragic end to the emu story

2011-03-25T18:34:00.000-04:00

Captured emu dies after he was taken home

March 25, 2011 5:47pm EDT

The emu that had been on the run after escaping from the fenced in area where he was kept died after being taken home today.

The male emu and two females ran out of the fenced area in Shingletown Sunday after being frightened by a lightning storm. The two females were captured Thursday.

The owner, Eddie Agostinelli, along with animal control and police were able to capture the male today after chasing him through several neighborhoods in Harris and College townships.

He died after being brought home.

and the latest emu update is now in. . . .

2011-03-25T13:04:00.000-04:00

An image of the actual emu in question

Breaking News

Loose emu captured near Branch Road

March 25, 2011 12:56pm EDT

A loose emu was captured a few moments ago on Branch Road.

Police were searching this mornign [sic] for the emu, one of three that escaped Sunday from a local farm and the only one that had not yet been recaptured. It had been spotted earlier this morning, near Panorama Village Elementary School, and then was spotted around noon near East Branch Road.

A pursuit began that ended with the bird's capture.

Check back in a few moments for an update with more details.

"The powerful bird, they said, could be dangerous"

2011-03-25T12:28:00.001-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times website today:

Breaking News

Centre Region police on the lookout for loose emu

March 25, 2011 12:13pm EDT

Local police departments say they are on the lookout for an emu that got loose from a local farm.

It's been spotted in a couple places this morning in the area of Panorama Village Elementary School, and a few moments ago near East Branch Road between Lemont and South Atherton Street.

Police, who said it could be in College or Harris townships, urge anyone seeking the emu to call them, but not to approach the large bird. The powerful bird, they said, could be dangerous.

A headline you won't see too often

2011-03-04T22:54:00.000-05:00

From the Centre Daily Times

Butts waives hearing in Boob murder case

From CDT staff reports

September 2, 2010 12:45pm EDT

The man accused of helping a Bellefonte man escape from the scene of a homicide will face trial on the charges, after waiving his right to a hearing in court Wednesday.

Kermit Butts, 26, of Madisonburg, is charged with hindering prosecution and aggravated assault.

Police said Butts knew that his friend, Ronald Heichel, was planning to shoot and kill 29- year-old father Samuel Boob, at Boob’s wife’s request.

Both Heichel and Mirinda Boob are charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Samuel Boob on Aug. 23, 2009.

Police said Butts knew Samuel Boob was in danger when he drove Heichel to the Boob family house the morning of the shooting.

Butts told police last week that he heard two shots ring, and Heichel later admitted to his friend that he shot the father of four.

Police said they came across the new information linking Butts to the case when concession stand workers returned to town for the Grange Fair. Heichel and Butts were both carnival workers at the fair last year.

Shhh - don't tell anyone!

2011-01-07T20:06:00.001-05:00

Well, I guess this is one way to "improve security." From the website of the Schlow Centre Region Library (click the image to see it full-sized):

Nothing says "romantic" like a bronze JoePa

2010-12-19T10:32:00.000-05:00

From today's Centre Daily Times:

How to identify a flasher

2010-12-18T10:57:00.001-05:00

From today's Centre Daily Times:

PSU campus flasher adds to spree
Sara Ganim
December 18, 2010 8:30am EST

UNIVERSITY PARK — Police have knocked on doors, increased security, and put up fliers.

Residence assistants and coordinators are talking to students, but nothing seems to be convincing them to take seriously a growing number of indecent exposures, police said.

And the masked man victimizing mostly Asian women on campus is continuing to get away with the crime without police being able to get any description of his face.

No, but I bet the police are getting some damn good descriptions of other body parts. And no, the CDT article did not contain a police drawing of the suspect.

A new high school sport - full contact chess?

2010-12-18T10:52:00.000-05:00

Just when you thought the chess team was just for skinny, asthmatic, little nerds.

Trying to figure out how to get rid of that pesky farm smell?

2010-12-07T10:56:00.001-05:00

Penn State, as a large and complex university, has a variety of centers, institutes, and laboratories dedicated to many different forms of research. But who would have known that we have one dedicated to assessing smells? Yes, our College of Agriculture has its own Odor Assessment Laboratory whose mission is "To study air emissions for the development of improved agricultural management strategies." In other words, help figure out ways to alleviate that pesky manure smell we all hate about living in a rural area like State College.

Here's a video about the lab's work.

Just in time for Thanksgiving - pyrotechnic bangers and screamers

2010-11-24T17:29:00.000-05:00

I once dated a woman who was a pyrotechnic banger and screamer. Sorry, no names.

From: College of Education List [mailto:L-EDUC@LISTS.PSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Gerald K. Henry Jr
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 4:38 PM
To: L-EDUC@LISTS.PSU.EDU
Subject: FW: Crow Relocation - Fall/Winter 2010

Subject: Crow Relocation - Fall/Winter 2010
CROW RELOCATION – FALL/WINTER 2010

University Park - The Office of Physical Plant (OPP) crow relocation program will begin as early as Monday, November 29 and will last throughout the late fall and winter as necessary.   Pyrotechnic bangers and screamers will be employed as in past years. These noise-making activities will occur early in the evening shortly after dusk and could continue for a couple of hours each night. Specific dates and locations will be determined based on roosting patterns and will occur only if needed. All relocation activities will be conducted by highly-trained and experienced Physical Plant employees.

Last year about 3,000 migrating crows landed on our campus causing unsanitary and unpleasant conditions. Our goal is to discourage this mass roosting and the accompanying sanitation problems.

Physical Plant is again partnering with Penn State researchers and the USDA Wildlife Services to relocate the migrating crows. Penn State will also work closely with the Borough to jointly find solutions to this continuing problem.   This year OPP will not make announcements each time harassment activities are scheduled to take place, but will provide occasional updates as needed.

OPP crews are already monitoring crow concentrations as they return to campus. The public can report bothersome crow activity or clusters by contacting Paul Ruskin at pdr2@psu.edu or by calling 863-9620.

The intersection of porn, church, and lotteries

2010-11-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

Okay -- this one is nowhere near State College. But it is from Detroit, not far from Ann Arbor, where we used to live. And the story was in today's Centre Daily Times. . . .

Ticket bought at Michigan porn shop worth $129M
By TIM MARTIN
- Associated Press
November 12, 2010 9:41pm EST
LANSING, Mich. — A group of friends and family is obscenely rich after winning a nearly $129 million jackpot with a lottery ticket bought at a Detroit-area porn shop. And some of the money will be devoted to sacred purposes.

Mike Greer, a member of the group, came forward Friday to claim the Powerball winnings on behalf of the others, who chose to remain anonymous. Greer - who said only that the group has more than two members and fewer than 100 - indicated some of the riches will be going to a church.

"The only thing I can assume is that the Lord trusted us to do certain things with the money that He bestowed upon us," he said. "That's the only thing that I can gather."

Um, yeah. And did the lord pick the winning numbers himself?

The world's largest urinal

2010-11-08T17:03:00.000-05:00

From today's Centre Daily Times -- another great moment in post-game celebration, but not from a student this time.

CATA reports man urinated on bus

From CDT staff reports

November 8, 2010 8:25am EST

A Centre Area Transportation Authority employee reported an intoxicated man urinated while on board a bus near Beaver Stadium at 11:58 p.m. Saturday.

The man was identified as a Penn State employee and was transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center by Penn State EMS.

A spliff for the band

2010-11-07T20:39:00.001-05:00

From today's Centre Daily Times.

High school football players fight after game
A fight broke out between several players on the State College Area High School and Central Dauphin East High School football teams as the teams walked off the field after the game Friday night. No one was injured or charged in connection with the incident.

Separately, a member of Central Dauphin’s band was found by police to be in possession of 11 grams of marijuana. He was charged with drug possession.

Makes those cold November night games go a little quicker if you can light up between reps of the school's fight song.

It's been a tough year for the Nittany Lion mascot

2010-11-02T10:12:00.000-04:00

From today's Daily Collegian:

Nittany Lion mascot permanently dismissed

By Kathleen Loughran
Collegian Staff Writer

Nittany Lion mascot Clint Gyory has been permanently released from his duties as mascot after he violated a team rule, Penn State Cheerleading Coach Curtis White said in a statement.

Gyory (junior-business management) could not be reached for comment by press time Monday, and the specifics of which team rule was violated were not released.

The Penn State Athletic Department previously suspended Gyory for one month as a result of a citation for public drunkenness and criminal mischief on Aug. 1.

Though Max Levi took the place of Gyory during the suspension, no information regarding the current mascot replacement could be released by press time Monday.

Levi (senior-mathematics and economics) declined comment.

Levi handed back the position of mascot to Gyory on Sept. 28, when the suspension ended.

Though Steven Herb — who co-authored the book “The Nittany Lion: An Illustrated Tale,” which chronicles the history of the mascot — said people have “stepped down” from the mascot position for “a variety of reasons,” he said he does not recall anyone ever being dismissed.

“In my recent memory and in my research, I don’t recall that that’s happened, so I guess that’s why I’m surprised,” said Herb, who is also the head of the Education and Behavioral Sciences Library at Penn State. “He was a terrific mascot while he was a mascot, and I’m sorry to see him go.”

During the spring semester of his freshman year, Gyory was named mascot, which made him the first freshman to serve as mascot in 15 years.

Before Gyory, James Sheep — who was also previously cited for alcohol-related problems — claimed the title as the Nittany Lion mascot

On November 2, 2008 then-mascot Sheep was found to be under the influence of alcohol while driving.

Sheep was later suspended and did not attend the 2008 Rose Bowl because of a violation of team rules.

Just another Saturday night at the nation's number one party school

2010-11-01T19:42:00.002-04:00

And you thought the Oompa Loompa smackdown was the only excitement in State College last weekend? Here's a sampler of other entries from the police blotter, all from today's Centre Daily Times:

Man cited after hitting police horse
A Virginia man struck a state police horse at 6:25 p.m. Saturday along Curtin Road near Beaver Stadium. Gary Nader, of Charlottesville, Va., was cited for disorderly conduct and released, police said.

PSU fan attacked for wearing Michigan colors
A Penn State fan dressed in a blue and yellow Halloween costume sustained a possible broken nose Saturday at 9:25 p.m. after he was assaulted by four unknown Penn State fans at Beaver Stadium, police said. The men attacked, police said, because they thought the victim was a University of Michigan fan.

The victim was treated and released from Mount Nittany Medical Center, police said.

Women tossed from bar, cause scene

Police were called to the 100 block of South Garner Street around 10:20 p.m. Saturday after two women began causing a disturbance outside the Lion’s Den. The women said bar staff kicked them out of the Lion’s Den because they were making out, police said. While exiting the bar, the women began yelling for everyone waiting in line to not go inside, police said.

Man detained after running up bar tab
A man reported he was held against his will at the Mezzanine, 420 E. College Ave., at 11:30 p.m. Saturday, police said. It was later discovered the man owed $415 in unpaid bar tabs, police said.

Officers advised bar staff to take civil action against the man, police said.

Student punched during chat with Wolverine fans
A Penn State student reported being punched in the mouth around 2:25 a.m. Sunday after starting conversation with three or four unidentified men wearing Michigan shirts in the area between Redifer Commons and Beaver Hall on campus, police said.

The student was transported by ambulance to Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Fan injured during national anthem
About midnight Sunday, a visitor reported being struck twice in the mouth by a fan who was flailing his or her arms during the national anthem at Beaver Stadium, police said.

Penn State police were unable to find a suspect.

Pedestrian struck by tow truck in State College
A 19-year-old woman was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center to treat an injured arm she suffered after being hit by a tow truck as she crossed the street at 300 West Hamilton Avenue at 3:45 a.m. Saturday.

An Oompa Loompa smackdown, right here in State College

2010-11-01T12:05:00.002-04:00

From today's Centre Daily Times (thank you, Margaret):

Man dressed as Oompa Loompa smacked vehicle, police said

October 31, 2010 6:43pm EDT

A man reported that his vehicle was smacked by an unknown male dressed as an Oompa Loompa in the 400 block of East Calder Way around 10 p.m. Saturday, police said.

A fictional character from the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, an Oompa Loompa is usually portrayed as a short, orange-skinned person.

The man, police said, remains at large.

Man vs. bear; bear wins

2010-10-20T09:34:00.000-04:00

From to today's Centre Daily Times - just one more reason why you should go walk the mall instead of hunting.

Bear attacks hunter in tree

Man injured after falling 15 feet during encounter

Sara Ganim

October 20, 2010 7:13am EDT

SPRING MILLS — An archery hunter was attacked by a black bear Monday night as he sat perched in a tree stand in Gregg Township, a Game Commission official confirmed Tuesday. The hunter, who wasn’t identified, was flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, but is expected to recover, said Rick Macklem, a Game Commission law enforcement supervisor.

The severity of his injuries weren’t known, but the head, neck, face and arm trauma was mostly the result of a 15-foot fall from his tree stand, which happened when he lost his balance during the struggle with the bear, Macklem said.

An officer was able to talk to the man Tuesday at the hospital and put to rest some rumors that were swirling around the Internet. The hunter told the officer that it was around 6:30 p.m. that he noticed a mother bear and four cubs approach the tree where he was sitting, in a wooded area off of Upper Georges Valley Road.
One cub climbed the tree, and the hunter shooed it away.

“The cub turns around and got off of the tree.” Macklem said. “At some point the (mother) for whatever reason ... protective instincts come into play, she thought something was happening to one of her cubs. She went to the tree ... climbed the tree, bit him or swatted him. The hunter was able to situate himself, sort of away from the bear and was able to kick at the bear. By doing that, the bear went back down the tree.”
The hunter lost his balance and fell onto a rocky area. He threw rocks at the bears, frightening them away so he leave the area. He was able to call 911 and walk out of the woods, Macklem said.

“When he fell out of the tree, supposedly nothing happened,” Macklem said. “The bear did not bite him or swat at him on the ground.”

Reports that he fell on top of the bear, or was hanging from the tree by his foot, were not true, Macklem said.
Black bears are, by nature, shy creatures that tend to avoid people, and attacks by the bears are rare. There are no known records of a free-ranging Pennsylvania black bear killing a human, and there have been fewer than 25 reported injuries resulting from black bear encounters during the past 10 years in the state, according to information from the Game Commission. Pennsylvania’s bear population is estimated at 17,000.
Macklem said there was nothing to indicate this was an overly aggressive bear.

In the event of a bear attack, the Game Commission says the person being attacked should fight back while trying to leave the area. As apparently happened Monday night, bears have been driven away with rocks, sticks, binoculars, car keys, or even bare hands, according to information distributed by the Game Commission.

This week is the beginning of muzzleloader season, which overlaps with archery season for deer. The bear archery season in Pennsylvania is in mid-November and is followed by the traditional rifle season.

This one gives the Dairy Princess a run for her money

2010-10-19T09:03:00.000-04:00

From today's Centre Daily Times. There's now a beauty queen title for pretty much every young woman in Central Pennsylvania.

Bellefonte girl takes home title of Miss Flaming Foliage

Connie Cousins
October 19, 2010 2:50am EDT

A very excited Chelsea Bowes, of Bellefonte, was crowned Miss Flaming Foliage at the 62nd annual Flaming Foliage Festival at the Bucktail Area High School in Renovo on Oct. 10.

The Bellefonte Area High School senior, who was crowned Miss Bellefonte in her junior year, has family roots in the Renovo area. Her greatgrandfather, Lester Geise, lived in Renovo until his death two years ago. And her great-grandmother until recently lived in South Renovo, where Chelsea’s grandfather, Jim Bowes, grew up. Jim Bowes brought Chelsea’s father, Ken Bowes, to the festival every year when he was a child, and Chelsea has also attended since she was a child.
“I always wanted to be there and be a princess like all those girls,” she said.

The 31 contestants had submitted applications listing their academic information, accomplishments and community service. In a two-hour interview, poise, character and personality were judged.

All the girls competing for Miss Flaming Foliage stayed with host families for the weekend and Bowes spoke enthusiastically about her host couple, Wendy and Vitto Janerella from North Bend. Bellefonte senior Brad Grieb accompanied Bowes on her walk through the pageant walkway to her crowning.

In my interview with Bowes, I asked her, “Was it all that you expected?”

“Oh it was even more thrilling!” she said, her eyes shining. She said she likes to think her greatgrandfather was watching her from heaven.

Bowes is a busy young woman who is a cheerleader for football, basketball and wrestling. She is a vice president of her class, vice president of Key Club, a member of National Honor Society, and sings in both school and church choirs. I met her at the Bellefonte Waffle Shop where she works. Her twin sister, Ashley, a member of the state championship softball team, plans to attend Lock Haven University, and her older sister Amanda attends Penn State.

Bowes plans to study nursing at Lock Haven University in Clearfield. She dressed as a nurse for Halloween one year and that started her thinking; now she says she just wants to help people.

Lovely camo ware for your family

2010-10-18T12:38:00.000-04:00

These from my friend Dana Mitra, who spotted this nice camo lingerie and kids' clothes at the Way Fruit Farm Fall Festival this weekend.

Another risk of gambling

2010-10-17T13:37:00.000-04:00

From today's Centre Daily Times:

Man Reportedly Streaks After Losing Bet

A 19-year-old man was taken to the hospital and cited for underage drinking after State College police witnessed him running naked down West Highland Avenue at 3:22am Saturday. A Breathalyzer test revealed a .24 blood-alcohol level. The man said he had lost a bet on Game 1 of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers.

The obvious question is, What would he have received if he had won the bet?

Safe acorns

2010-09-29T16:43:00.001-04:00

Thanks to my friend Dana Mitra who pointed this one out to me, from today's Centre Daily Times. Look carefully at the headline and then the lead. Did the judge hand out condoms filled with acorns, or acorns filled with condoms? And more importantly, why?

Police say judge passed out acorn-filled condoms

The Associated Press

September 29, 2010 12:42pm EDT

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Police say a district judge from Intercourse, Pa., hid condoms inside acorns and handed them out to women in the state Capitol complex last week.

A summary charge of disorderly conduct was filed Tuesday against Isaac H. Stoltzfus, who presides over low-level cases as a district judge in Lancaster County. The citation from Capitol Police says the 58-year-old jurist gave the acorns to unsuspecting women, who were offended when they discovered the contents.

Stoltzfus' office referred questions to defense attorney Heidi Eakin, who didn't immediately return a phone message Wednesday.

Update 9/30: The CDT must have realized its error in the headline, because the website was changed:

Dump and run

2010-09-28T09:27:00.000-04:00

Kudos to the Centre Daily Times headline writer on this one. As you can see, there are 33 comments -- you can only imagine what people had to say. Here's a link to the story if you want to see for yourself.

Entry in the "Least Competent Criminals" contest

2010-09-25T15:30:00.001-04:00

This happened a little outside of State College, but I loved the headline on this story in today's Centre Daily Times, the idea of robbing an "adult" store with a "toy" gun:

Pa. adult store clerk foils 2 'armed' with toy gun

- The Associated Press

September 24, 2010 5:57pm EDT

DUNCANSVILLE, Pa. — Police say two women who tried to rob a central Pennsylvania adult book store with a toy gun didn't fool a clerk, who told them to "get a real gun."

Authorities say 28-year-old Shannon Cheripka, of Glasgow, and 26-year-old Angela Crook, of Coalport, attempted to rob the Adult World store in Duncansville around 1 a.m. Thursday.

Cheripka told police the clerk said, "First, if you're going to rob someone, get a real gun. Second off, you're not getting any money."

Authorities say the clerk chased away the women before police in nearby Logan Township arrested them in a van the clerk had described. The women remained in the Blair County Jail on Friday on robbery and other charges. It was unclear if they had lawyers.

Great moments in pooper scoopering

2010-09-23T22:22:00.000-04:00

This post should probably be titled "Only in Cambridge." But it was in our local paper here in State College, so it qualifies.

Dog poop has bright side: Powering Mass. park lamp

By JAY LINDSAY- Associated Press Writer

September 22, 2010 5:51am EDT

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — It stinks and it's a hazard to walkers everywhere, but it turns out dog poop has a bright side.

Dog poop is lighting a lantern at a Cambridge dog park as part of a monthslong project that its creator, artist Matthew Mazzotta, hopes will get people thinking about not wasting waste.

The "Park Spark" poop converter is actually two steel, 500-gallon oil tanks painted a golden yellow, connected by diagonal black piping and attached to an old gaslight-style street lantern at the Pacific Street Park.

After the dogs do their business, signs on the tanks instruct owners to use biodegradable bags supplied on site to pick up the poop and deposit it into the left tank. People then turn a wheel to stir its insides, which contain waste and water. Microbes in the waste give off methane, an odorless gas that is fed through the tanks to the lamp and burned off. The park is small but has proven busy enough to ensure a steady supply of fuel.

AP Photo

In this Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010 photo, Boston artist Matthew Mazzotta poses at a Cambridge, Mass., dog park next to a gas light powered by the "Park Spark" poop converter he devised, background left. Microbes in the droppings deposited into the Park Spark give off methane, an odorless gas that is fed through the tanks to the lamp and burned off.

Another classic from the archives

2010-09-20T16:55:00.001-04:00

As I earlier promised, I will on occasion repost what I consider classic entries from my Only In State College blog that I used to maintain on my website at work, and thus are not accessible here on Blogger. Here's one from almost three years ago:

From the Centre Daily Times, 10/19/07:

"Man charged with DUI after self-incrimination

BELLEFONTE — A Howard man was bound over for trial Wednesday on DUI charges in a bizarre arrest in which state police said he incriminated himself at a traffic stop with his own portable breath test.

Michael Andrew McClenahan, 58, 231 Swamp Poodle Road, was stopped along state Route 150 in Boggs Township about 2:20 p.m. Sept. 15, according to a criminal complaint. He was spotted swerving by a state conservation officer, who called state police at Rockview.

When McClenahan got out of his car, he smelled strongly of alcohol and refused to take any field sobriety tests, police said. McClenahan then volunteered he was probably at a .12 percent blood alcohol content, above the .08 percent legal limit, police said.

When the trooper asked how McClenahan knew this, he pulled out his own portable breath tester, reset it, blew a .09 percent blood alcohol content and showed it to the trooper, according to court documents. He was arrested on a DUI charge."

Another candidate for the Stupid Move of the Year Hall of Fame

Watch out Detroit -- Happy Valley is now HockeyTown!

2010-09-18T09:38:00.000-04:00

It's an historic day here at Only in State College. For the first time, there's a crossover with my other blog, The Itinerant Professor. All you puckheads in Detroit, Boston, or Pittsburgh have to watch out -- Happy Valley is about to become the center of the hockey universe. Penn State announced yesterday the largest gift in the university's history, $88 million, for the building of a hockey arena and to move the university's men's and women's hockey teams from club status to Division 1. Woo hoo!!!

So Penn State - long known for being a cow town, or the home of The Creamery, or most notably, a football school - is going to become known as HockeyTown. Here's how the Centre Daily Times covered the story.

Family gives $88 million | Arena to seat at least 5,000 | NHL games possible

Gift brings hockey to PSU

Gordon Brunskill

September 18, 2010 8:10am EDT

UNIVERSITY PARK — Ice hockey is returning to Penn State. After more than a half-century of waiting, and the last four decades as a club sport, the university announced Friday it would be bringing back varsity men’s and women’s programs.

CDT/Christopher Weddle

Kim and Terry Pegula, center, receive hockey jerseys and sticks from Joe Battista, left, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and PSU president Graham Spanier after a news conference announced the university's plans to begin NCAA division I men and women's hockey at the Nittany Lion Inn on Friday, September 17,

The return comes thanks to the largest single private gift in the university’s history, $88 million from Terrence M. and Kim Pegula to fund a multi-purpose arena and establish men’s and women’s varsity programs on campus.

“It’s a new turning point for Penn State, made possible by an unprecedented act of philanthropy,” university President Graham Spanier said during a press conference at the Nittany Lion Inn. “... The Pegula’s unparalleled generosity will make it possible for Penn State to serve our region and our student athletes in exciting new ways.”

The arena, which does not yet have a name and is expected to have 5,000-6,000 seats, will have two sheets of ice and will not only be home to Nittany Lion hockey, but also figure skating programs, public skating sessions, youth camps, high school games and recreation leagues. The university also hopes the arena will play host to NHL and AHL exhibition games.

Click to read the rest of the story.

Bad kitty

2010-08-31T13:56:00.002-04:00

A shoutout goes to Charles, who pointed this out to me and coined the title. From today's Centre Daily Times:

Nittany Lion mascot issued citation for public drunkenness

August 31, 2010 1:36pm EDT

The Nittany Lion mascot, Clint T. Gyory, was issued citations charging him with underage drinking, public drunkenness and criminal mischief for incidents that occurred early the morning of Aug. 1, the day after his 20th birthday.

The citations, filed by State College police on Aug. 20, say that at about 3 a.m. on Aug. 1 in the 200 block of East Fairmount Avenue, Gyory was under the influence of alcohol to the degree he endangered himself, others or property.

In particular, the citation says he broke a rearview mirror off of a vehicle and took it, and “was intoxicated to the point that he crawled into the bed of a pickup truck and passed out.”

According to the citations, a breathalyzer test measured his blood-alcohol content at .187. If found guilty of the charges, Gyory would pay fines totaling more than $1,000.

More details will be provided as they become available.

Great moments in small town crime, redux

2010-07-20T11:05:00.001-04:00

From yesterday's Centre Daily Times (thank you Christian Anderson and Kip Sorgen):

State College pedestrian hit by flying corncob

From CDT staff reports

July 19, 2010 5:01pm EDT

State College police cited a female driver with disorderly conduct after they said she threw a corncob at a pedestrian while driving near the intersection of Beaver Avenue and Pugh Street at 8:40 p.m. Saturday.
The airborne corncob struck the pedestrian in the head, police said. A third party reported the incident, police said.

Great moments in small town crime

2010-07-12T15:49:00.000-04:00

From yesterday's Centre Daily Times:

Man accused of tossing horse droppings at State College officer

July 11, 2010 7:27pm EDT

A 21-year-old Manheim man was arrested after allegedly throwing horse feces at a State College police officer. David R. Woodson, of Manheim, faces one misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct and several summary offenses, including harassment and public drunkenness.

At about 11:40 p.m. Saturday, Woodson allegedly threw a paper cup and plate filled with horse feces through the window of a marked patrol car, striking an officer in the chest. Police say they caught Woodson after a foot chase and that his back, buttocks and hands were covered in horse feces.

Police believe Woodson may have fallen into a pile of horse feces, before deciding to throw some at a police officer. Police used mounted patrols Saturday, with officers riding on horseback.

Life imitating art?

2010-07-12T09:40:00.000-04:00

From today's Centre Daily Times:

Amorous couple caught in festival tent

From CDT staff reports

July 12, 2010 8:15am EDT
State College police found two people making out inside in one of the exhibitor tents at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

The couple was caught in a tent on the 100 block of West Fairmount Avenue about five minutes after midnight on Sunday. The two were charged with criminal trespass and underage drinking, both summary offenses.

Performance art in State College

2010-06-13T11:09:00.000-04:00

From today's Centre Daily Times

Police: Masturbating man surprises woman in Waupelani Drive apartment

June 13, 2010 12:37am EDT

STATE COLLEGE — Police are searching for a man who hid his face with a surgical mask and broke into a woman’s Waupelani Drive apartment, naked from the waist down, masturbating while she sat at her kitchen table.

The 5-foot 7-inch tall man apparently fled after the woman ran to a neighbor for help. Police, who arrived soon after, couldn’t find him.

He’s described as slender, white, and wearing a green surgical mask and a dark hat, with a dark-colored shirt pulled up to his chest at the time of the incident.

The woman wasn’t hurt during the incident, but police are treating it as a burglary and indecent assault investigation.

It happened around 10:10 p.m. Friday. The woman told police she was sitting at her kitchen table when she felt someone touch her shoulder. When she turned around, the man was standing behind her, performing his act.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the State College police 234-7150 or Centre County Crimestoppers at 877- 992-7463. "Anonymous tips" can be submitted to the police website at statecollegepa.

Follow-up: Great moments in gender equity

2010-06-13T11:04:00.000-04:00

Back in March I posted about the Beer Pong Tournament held at a local bar. Well, turns out the bar was cited by the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission for gender discrimination:

G-man faces charges over beer pong event

From CDT staff reports

June 8, 2010 9:59pm EDTThe Gingerbread Man, 130 Hiester St., State College, will face liquor law violations related to a beer pong tournament that took place March 23.

According to the state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the event was sponsored or co-sponsored by someone other than the Gingerbread Man licensee. The tournament also violated the Human Relations Act. According to the bureau, the event charged women $25 to play beer pong while men and co-ed teams were charged a $50 entry fee.

According to the bureau, the charges will be brought before an administrative law judge.

Hey, idiot: Look up the word "blackmail" in the dictionary, next time!

2010-05-20T22:02:00.001-04:00

From today's Centre Daily Times:

Student accused of assaulting girlfriend

From CDT staff reports

A Penn State student from New Jersey who came to court Wednesday to face a simple assault charge was handcuffed and carted from court by police who said he had taken at least eight photos of himself assaulting his girlfriend to use as blackmail.

Maxwell A. Young, 21, of Voorhees, N.J., told the woman "he took the photos and kept them in case she ever ratted him out on his pending marijuana charges," according to State College police.

The eight photos the woman stumbled upon, which police later recovered from the memory card of Young's camera, showed her asleep, naked, and being assaulted by Young, according to court papers.

When she found the photos, police said Young threw her against a wall and continued to harass and threaten her and told her she'd be committing a federal offense by calling police.

Young had been charged with simple assault and harassment for throwing the woman against a wall. But when he showed up in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing, he was arrested on aggravated indecent assault and invasion of privacy charges.

He is also accused of selling marijuana.

How (not) to perform mouth-to-mouth on a possum

2010-03-26T18:59:00.000-04:00

[Thanks to my friend Diane Twomley for pointing this one out to me]

From today's Centre Daily Times:

Police: Drunk Pa. man tried to 'revive' opossum

- The Associated Press

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — State police have charged a central Pennsylvania man with public drunkenness after he was seen giving mouth-to-mouth "resuscitation" to a long-dead opossum along a highway.

Trooper Jamie Levier says several witnesses saw 55-year-old Donald Wolfe, of Brookville, near the animal along Route 36 in Oliver Township Thursday about 3 p.m. The trooper says one person saw Wolfe kneeling before the animal and gesturing as though he were conducting a seance, while another saw the mouth-to-mouth attempt.

Levier says Wolfe was "extremely intoxicated" and "did have his mouth in the area of the animal's mouth, I guess."

The Associated Press could not locate a home telephone number for Wolfe. Oliver Township is about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Great moments in gender equity

2010-03-22T14:44:00.000-04:00

From today's Daily Collegian:

Beer Pong tour to visit PSU

Beer pong has prompted more than a few naked laps and lost memories, but Penn State students now have a chance to win $50,000.

The World Beer Pong Tour (WBPT) is making a stop Tuesday at Gingerbread Man, 130 Hiester St., where up to 64 teams will go head-to-head to make it to the World Beer Pong Championship in Atlantic City. This is the second-annual tournament and the first time the tour has made a stop in State College on its 70-city tour. . . .

Kapoor said there will also be a beer pong diva competition, where women will compete in a series of events to win a spot in the WBPT calendar sold nationwide.

"It's to get more estrogen involved because [the tournament] is predominately male-based," he said. "Guys always appreciate good-looking girls at the venues."

Nice to know that women have opportunities open to them in the world of beer pong.

Winter frolicking in Happy Valley

2010-02-09T17:32:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my friend Mike Dooris for pointing these out to me, from this morning's Centre Daily Times:

Police also responded, at 5:37 a.m. Saturday, to a report of a young man “frolicking in the snow, wearing only his underwear,” in the 300 block of East Foster Avenue.

Police said the man left the area before officers arrived.

One wonders who was more drunk, the underwear-clad frolicker, or the person who supposedly witnessed this and called the police.

A Philipsburg man who was attempting to start a fire in a fireplace was flown Monday to a burn center in Pittsburgh after his clothes caught on fire.

According to state police at Rockview, Rodney Curtis, 49, of 1012 Locust St., suffered from burns to the upper part of his body and face. Police said Curtis was trying to use gasoline to light the fire at 5:30 p.m. when the gasoline ignited, lighting his clothes on fire and engulfing him in flames. Family members put out the fire, police said.

He's never heard of newspaper and kindling?

Crows - in multimedia!

2010-02-01T13:51:00.000-05:00

Haven't gotten enough of the story of the crow relocation at Penn State? Now watch it on YouTube.

Yes, it's made out of butter

2010-01-08T17:18:00.000-05:00

From today's Centre Daily Times:

Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Krystal Wasson, of State College, helps unveil this year’s butter sculpture Thursday at the Farm Show in Harrisburg.

The crow saga continues

2010-01-06T12:48:00.000-05:00

From an email sent to all College of Ed employees today:

CROW RELOCATION – WINTER 2010

University Park - The Office of Physical Plant (OPP) crow relocation program for winter semester will begin Wednesday night (6 Jan 2010). Large groups of crows have been detected in the vicinity of Ford, Moore, Cedar, and Chambers Buildings, West Halls, Rec Hall, the Hub, and Pond Lab. Occupants of these buildings may experience the loudest noises as our harassment effort gets underway.

Physical Plant anti-crow forces will muster on the north side of Old Main at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night and proceed with re-location operations. Jeremy Smith, OPP Trades Supervisor will be in charge of the launch team. The campus community can expect to hear loud noises in the early evening as university employees launch anti-crow pyrotechnic noisemakers called "bangers" and "screamers". These activities will continue until the crows move to less problematic locations. Pyrotechnic operations may continue for several weeks until this objective is met.

This year’s preferred roosting location is a stand of trees east of the Visitor’s Center. Small groups of highly trained OPP employees will be conducting the relocation operation and will be wearing distinctive green safety vests.

Once the crows have vacated a location, crow effigies will be hung to dissuade the crows from returning. Light towers will be erected in the targeted relocation woods east of the Visitor’s Center to make the area more appealing to crows.

No crows will be harmed in this operation. The public can expect some disturbance from the noisemaking activities and possible crow infestation if the crows attempt to re-roost in populated areas.

In addition, The College of Agricultural Sciences is employing propane cannons at two locations, the Dairy Barns and the Organic Materials Processing and Education Center (OMPEC). These cannons produce a loud bang to scare crows away from those locations. These cannons may be used for most of the day, seven days a week throughout the rest of the fall and winter.

Last year about 3,000 migrating crows landed on our campus causing unsanitary and unpleasant conditions. Our goal is to discourage this mass roosting and the accompanying sanitary problems.

Physical Plant is partnering with Penn State researchers and the USDA Wildlife Services to relocate the migrating crows. Penn State will also work closely with the Borough to jointly find solutions to this continuing problem. For further information please contact Paul Ruskin, Physical Plant Communications Coordinator at 863-9620 or at pdr2@psu.edu.

The risks of streaking

2009-12-11T10:31:00.000-05:00

From Tuesday's Centre Daily Times:

Mifflin Streaker sues PSU, alleges police assault

WILLIAMSPORT — A Penn State student who participated in the 2008 “Mifflin Streak” claims he suffered serious injuries when “blind-sided” by a university police officer and then assaulted.

Christopher Ferry, of West Chester, is seeking more than $150,000 in compensatory and punitive damages in a lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. Middle District Court.

He claims he was one of approximately 1,000 people who participated, on May 5, 2008, in what has become an annual event, and that he was assaulted for no reason as he entered the Pollock quad.

The Mifflin Streak, held the Sunday before spring finals, involves up to several dozen students who take part by running nude or in various states of undress, and hundreds more who turn out to watch. Ferry was nude, according to the court complaint.

The suit contends the university, by allowing it, condones the event.

Ferry alleges Officer David E. Bjorkman, who was wearing dark clothing, jumped out of a concealed location and knocked him to the ground. Ferry claims he staggered to his feet in a startled and dazed state in severe pain when he was viciously tackled a second time. . . .

You can read the full CDT story here.

More on the crow menace

2009-12-07T14:20:00.000-05:00

In an earlier post I described the massive crow problem we have here at Penn State. This was an e-mail sent to the College of Education listserv today:

The Office of Physical Plant (OPP) crow relocation program will begin tonight (7 Dec 09) at 5:30 p.m. and continue until 9:00 p.m. The campus community can expect to hear loud noises in the early evening as university employees launch anti-crow pyrotechnic noisemakers called "bangers" and "screamers". These activities will continue Monday through Friday night until the crows move to less problematic locations. Pyrotechnic operations may continue for several weeks until this objective is met.

This year’s preferred roosting location is a stand of trees east of the Visitor’s Center. Small groups of highly trained OPP employees will be conducting the relocation operation and will be wearing distinctive green safety vests.

Once the crows have vacated a location, crow effigies will be hung to dissuade the crows from returning. Light towers will be erected in the targeted relocation woods east of the Visitor’s Center to make the area more appealing to crows.

No crows will be harmed in this operation. The public can expect some disturbance from the noisemaking activities and possible crow infestation if the crows attempt to re-roost in populated areas. Crows are currently roosting in areas around Ag. Science and Industries, Ag. Administration, East Halls, and Nittany Apartments. Occupants and residents of these buildings may experience the loudest noise as the harassment effort gets underway.

In addition, The College of Agricultural Sciences is employing propane cannons at two locations, the Dairy Barns and the Organic Materials Processing and Education Center (OMPEC). These cannons produce a loud bang to scare crows away from those locations. The cannons may be used for most of the day, seven days a week throughout the rest of the fall and winter.

Last year about 3,000 migrating crows landed on our campus causing unsanitary and unpleasant conditions. Our goal is to discourage this mass roosting and the accompanying sanitary problems. Physical Plant is partnering with Penn State researchers and the USDA Wildlife Services to relocate the migrating crows. Penn State will also work closely with the Borough to jointly find solutions to this continuing problem. For further information please contact Paul Ruskin, Physical Plant Communications Coordinator at 863-9620 or at pdr2@psu.edu.

My favorite part is the part about the "crow effigies."

Just one more tragic hunting story

2009-12-04T19:49:00.000-05:00

From this morning's Centre Daily Times:

Friday, Dec. 04, 2009

Man admits to shooting woman, 55, in accident
Sara Ganim
A Boalsburg man has admitted to mistakenly shooting a woman while hunting for turkey in May. Donald D. Lansberry pleaded guilty to both charges brought against him after the hunting accident and is scheduled to be sentenced in January.

The state Game Commission said Lansberry mistook 55-year-old Elizabeth Strickler for a turkey when he failed to identify his target before shooting his rifle and didn’t help the woman after hearing her screams.

In June, the Game Commission charged Lansberry, 53, with two misdemeanors, saying he violated a basic rule of hunting by not identifying his target, and didn’t immediately render aid after the accident.

It happened around 6:45 a.m. May 13 on wooded land owned by Biddle Farm that borders the Tussey Mountain Ski Area in Harris Township. Lansberry told police he saw something blue moving through the brush “like a turkey would,” and fired his shot. Lansberry said he heard screaming, but “didn’t know” why he didn’t go to help, court papers say.

The subhead in the print edition of the paper made it an even better story: "Hunter mistook victim for turkey, didn't render aid."

Let's all give thanks and pray for dead deer

2009-11-30T13:26:00.000-05:00

No school today in State College, and the municipal offices are closed. Why, you ask? First day of deer season. And what better way to prepare than a special prayer service for hunters. From today's Centre Daily Times:

LIVONIA — The night before the hunt, the men gather inside the small, two-door chapel to tell jokes, pray and sing.

The Penns Valley Men's Chorus at the "Hunters' Service" at the Grace Reformed Chapel in Livonia on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009.

“These next several selections sort of reflect on that feeling of hunting camp being almost like paradise,” choir director Daniel Warntz told the audience of about 45 people gathered in the Grace Reformed Chapel.

Then the 18 members of the Penns Valley Men’s Chorus — many dressed in camouflage gear or orange jackets — sang “Walk to Jerusalem.”

The swallows return to San Juan Capistrano (State College version)

2009-11-17T19:07:00.000-05:00

For the last three years, Penn State has struggled with a massive crow problem, which I've documented in the past here and here. Well, turns out the problem is still around, even as the greatest minds of the university have struggled with how to defeat the nasty varmints. Last year's efforts included the use of fireworks known as "bird bangers" (I kid you not). The lead story in today's Centre Daily Times details the new efforts underway.

Stay tuned and I'll be sure to give an update on the plan's success.

Does your high school homecoming parade have these?

2009-10-24T09:57:00.000-04:00

A dairy princess

and a Future Farmers of America float

But at least the high school has a GSA

Not exactly unique to State College, but. . . . .snow in mid-October?

2009-10-15T15:29:00.000-04:00

Today's Centre Daily Times website:

It's official: Record set for earliest snowfall; PV cancels parade, Paternoville closes

It’s official. According to the National Weather Service in State College, the earliest local snowfall in recorded history has a new mark -- Oct. 15, 2009.

“We talked to the official weather station on the Penn State campus ... and they reported three-tenths of an inch already,” said Aaron Tyburski, a meteorologist with the weather service. “To get this kind of snow, during daytime hours, this early in the year is historic -- I don’t know any other word for it.”

It's not quite Cooperstown. . . .

2009-10-14T10:52:00.000-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times, 10/14/09:

Farmer inducted into hall of fame

Ed Mahon

- emahon@centredaily.com

Jesse M. Darlington grew up on a Delaware County dairy farm that was land granted to his family in 1683 by William Penn. “My parents were in the farming business, as were their parents. It just carried on,” said Darlington, a 1955 Penn State graduate. A former general manager of Dunlap Motors Ford dealership, Darlington now lives on 215 acres of farmland and woodland south of Centre Hall with his wife of 46 years, Bonnie Dunlap Darlington.

Earlier this month, Darlington was named the 41st Pennsylvania Livestock
Association Hall of Fame inductee. He received the honor during the opening ceremony of the Keystone International Livestock Exposition, held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg.

Complete story

Does your state have a Livestock Association Hall of Fame?

A classic from the archives

2009-10-13T14:03:00.000-04:00

Every now and then I'll bring back some of my favorite "Only in State College" entries from the archive. Here's one:

From the Centre Daily Times, 03/02/09:
"STATE PATTY'S DAY: Celebration stirs up mischief"
"STATE COLLEGE — State Patty’s Day, an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration started by Penn State students, took place on Saturday. Police said they began to see an uptick in reports, most of them alcohol related, on Friday evening.
[list of the incidences from the police blotter]
. . . .
Police say a man was urinating on the door of Tony’s Big Easy, 129 1/2 S. Pugh St., at 6:50 p.m. Saturday. He was pushed by another man, and injured his nose."

He should consider himself extremely fortunate it was only his nose that was injured.

Watch out for crashing silos

2009-10-08T20:19:00.000-04:00

From the Centre Daily Times, 10/8/09:

Silo collapses into barn

Sara Ganim

HARRIS TOWNSHIP — Eight hundred tons of silage collapsed on a centuries-old barn Wednesday morning, killing about 15 animals and devastating the Wasson family, whose members have worked in that barn for five generations.

Complete story

How many of you city folk get to see collapsed silos like this?

Welcome to. . . . . . .Only in State College

2009-10-08T20:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my new blog, which chronicles some of the weird, bizarre, or just plain humorous occurrences in our area. If you're not familiar with State College, it's a relatively small, geographically isolated university town (Penn State University) located smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania. The news tends to be dominated by the university (mostly sports), agriculture, rural life, and weather.

I had been chronicling these news items on my website at work - you can access the earlier postings here. All new items will be posted here.

Enjoy!

Only in State College

It's time to pass the mantle

Great moments in small town crime, Grange Fair edition

Of all the gas stations, in all the towns, in all the world, he walks into his own. . . .

How could anyone take offense to a stuffed pig? They're so cute

Exclusive! Only in the CDT!

"You ate more than I did." "No, I didn't." "Yes you did." "No I didn't, asshole." SMACK

Call the HazMat team! Call the HazMat team!

File this under "Only at the Grange Fair"

How to throw a wedding party on the cheap

Newlyweds charged with shoplifting supplies for wedding reception

Great moments in small town crime, part 4. . .

Alcohol involved?

Great moments in laundry

Small fire caused by socks heating on stove

From CDT staff reports

Drool central

Raccoon wandering on Penn State campus tests positive for rabies

Breaking story: Animal cruelty

Remedial driving instruction

Woman injured after trying to stop drifting car

From CDT staff reportsJune 1, 2011 8:10am EDT

Revenge of the groundhog

Groundhog hitches ride with unsuspecting Pa. man

Brotherly love

Provocative fruit display causes sibling dispute

Great moments in small town crime, part 3. . .

Police: Men arrested after failed window escape

What is it about wandering emus and Central PA?

Police shoot and kill wandering emu in central Pa.

Does your state have a porcupine hunting season?

Pa. porcupines picked by state for hunting

“I’ve done bear, deer, dogs — you name it. I’ve never chased an emu”

Emu escape ends bittersweetly

Anne Danahy and Ed Mahon

A tragic end to the emu story

Captured emu dies after he was taken home

and the latest emu update is now in. . . .

Loose emu captured near Branch Road

"The powerful bird, they said, could be dangerous"

Centre Region police on the lookout for loose emu

A headline you won't see too often

From the Centre Daily Times

Butts waives hearing in Boob murder case

From CDT staff reports

Shhh - don't tell anyone!

Nothing says "romantic" like a bronze JoePa

How to identify a flasher

PSU campus flasher adds to spree

Sara Ganim

A new high school sport - full contact chess?

Trying to figure out how to get rid of that pesky farm smell?

Just in time for Thanksgiving - pyrotechnic bangers and screamers

The intersection of porn, church, and lotteries

Ticket bought at Michigan porn shop worth $129M

By TIM MARTIN

The world's largest urinal

CATA reports man urinated on bus

From CDT staff reports

A spliff for the band

It's been a tough year for the Nittany Lion mascot

Nittany Lion mascot permanently dismissed

Just another Saturday night at the nation's number one party school

An Oompa Loompa smackdown, right here in State College

Man dressed as Oompa Loompa smacked vehicle, police said

Man vs. bear; bear wins

From to today's Centre Daily Times - just one more reason why you should go walk the mall instead of hunting.

Bear attacks hunter in tree

Man injured after falling 15 feet during encounter

Sara Ganim

This one gives the Dairy Princess a run for her money

Bellefonte girl takes home title of Miss Flaming Foliage

Connie CousinsOctober 19, 2010 2:50am EDT

Lovely camo ware for your family

Another risk of gambling

Safe acorns

Police say judge passed out acorn-filled condoms

Dump and run

Entry in the "Least Competent Criminals" contest

Pa. adult store clerk foils 2 'armed' with toy gun

From CDT staff reports
June 1, 2011 8:10am EDT

Connie Cousins
October 19, 2010 2:50am EDT