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After a six year hiatus, my Only in State College page (formerly known as Only in Ann Arbor) has returned. It chronicles some of the weird, bizarre, or just plain humorous occurrences in our area. The most recent stories are at the top of the page. Enjoy!
From the Centre Daily Times, 03/02/09: "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.
"STATE PATTY'S DAY: Celebration stirs up mischief"
[list of the incidences from the police blotter]
. . . .
Police say a man was urinating on the door of Tony’s Big Easy, 1291/2 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.
Revenge of the Crows!
"Subject: CROW RELOCATION RETURNS - 2009
University Park - Invasive crows have returned to University Park in greater numbers than expected, and the Office of Physical Plant
is responding immediately. OPP crow relocation crews will begin launching noise making pyrotechnics on Tuesday evening (6 Jan) in
campus areas north of Pattee Library. This will include locations in the vicinity of the Nittany Lion Parking deck, Rackley Building,
Carpenter Building, Kern Building, Moore Building, and the Music Building. Our efforts last semester were successful in moving the
crows away from Old Main and prevented them from roosting along College Avenue. Unfortunately the crow numbers have increased and
caused sanitation problems in their new roosting areas. Our new efforts will refocus with the purpose of moving the crows north and
east completely into Hort Woods. OPP Landscape crews will pressure wash areas in that part of campus on an ongoing basis to prepare
for returning students. We will survey the new roosting patterns to monitor the results of our new relocation efforts.
The university community can expect occasional loud noises in the early evening as we attempt to chase the crows into less problematic
locations. All relocation activities are conducted by Physical Plant employees. They have been carefully trained in the use of
pyrotechnic noisemakers called "bangers" and "screamers" which will be used to scare the crows away. Since we cannot control where
the crows go, it may be necessary to continue this process for days and weeks until the crows settle into more tolerable locations.
Once the crows have vacated a location, crow effigies will be hung to dissuade the crows from returning. Physical Plant is partnering
with Penn State researchers, Borough officials, and the USDA Wildlife Services to relocate the migrating crows.
Last year about 3,000 migrating crows landed on our campus causing unsanitary and unpleasant conditions along the Allen street Mall and
the College Avenue bus stop. Our goal is to discourage this mass roosting and the accompanying sanitary problems. We have designated
"no roosting zones" on campus and will work to keep the crows away from central campus. Crows are attracted to the light and warmth
from our buildings and may fly into State College when we scare them off campus. Penn State will 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."
Sent out to the College of Education listserv on 01/06/09:
Evidently the crows have had the last laugh.
From the Centre Daily Times, 12/13/08: (Great moments in residence life)
Police allege Matthew G. Miller and another as-yet unidentified man had approached several students residing in Packer Hall on Nov. 8,
told them they were resident assistants and were searching dorm rooms for alcohol. The two approached several students and removed more
than 11 cans of beer and one bottle of Vladimir vodka from the various rooms.
Miller fled when confronted by an actual resident assistant. One of the victims told police he recognized Miller from a class the two
shared. That person turned out not to be Miller, but his twin brother, who told police where to find Miller.
Miller was arraigned before District Judge Jonathan Grine on charges of theft, theft by deception, criminal trespass and receiving
stolen property. He was released on $5,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday."
"Student accused of impersonation, theft
UNIVERSITY PARK — A 19-year-old Penn State student from Munhall was arraigned Friday after he was charged with impersonating a resident
assistant in order to steal alcohol from dorm rooms.
The Penn State Division of Student Affairs will now require all resident assistants to wear uniforms and carry badges.
Sent out to the College of Education listserv on 11/14/08:
Subject: Crow Alert
University Park - Please be aware that the Office of Physical Plant will begin a crow roosting relocation program beginning the week of November 17. This effort will be focused on the area around Old Main and the Hub with the goal to push the crows to the Northeast. The university community can expect occasional loud noises in the early evenings as we attempt to chase the crows into less problematic locations. The crow relocation activities will continue as needed and may last up to a month. Regular updates will be provided to the public as the process continues.
This activity will be conducted by Physical Plant employees. They have been carefully trained in the use of pyrotechnic noisemakers called “bangers” and “screamers” which will be used to scare the crows away. Since we cannot control where the crows go, it may be necessary to continue this process for days and weeks until the crows settle into more tolerable locations. Once the crows have vacated a location, dead crow effigies will be hung to dissuade the crows from returning. The public can expect some disturbance from the noisemaking activities and possible crow infestation if the crows re-roost in populated areas.
Physical Plant is partnering with Penn State researchers, Borough officials, and the USDA Wildlife Services to relocate the migrating crows. Last year about 3,000 migrating crows landed on our campus causing unsanitary and unpleasant conditions along the Allen street Mall and the College Avenue bus stop. Our goal is to discourage this mass roosting and the accompanying sanitary problems. We have designated “no roosting zones” on campus and will work to keep the crows away from central campus.
Crows are attracted to the light and warmth from our buildings and may fly into State College when we scare them off campus. Penn State will 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."
"FYI
Everything you've ever wanted to know about crows.
From the Centre Daily Times, 09/13/08:
"Council OK with urban chickens
Residents say birds help build positive relations
STATE COLLEGE — Borough Council told staff to draft an ordinance amendment Friday that would allow residents to raise and keep hens. . . .
Two borough residents who already keep chickens in pens, Chris Uhl and Diana Malcom, said the chickens help build positive neighborhood relations.
“The folks that do come to our neighborhood to see them love them,” Malcom said."
What's important to know here is that State College Borough is the "urban" portion of Happy Valley. So now it will be legal to raise chickens just steps from the Penn State campus (and I'm not talking about the Penn State ag school).
From the Centre Daily Times, 04/22/08:
"Urination citings increase at Blue/White
Despite an increase in portable toilets at Beaver Stadium for Saturday's Blue/ White game, 31 people, including nine women, were cited by Penn State police for
urinating in public. Mark Bodenschatz, associate athletic director for facilities, said the university placed 155 portable toilets around Beaver Stadium — an increase of
about 20 percent from the 125 toilets rented for last year’s game. . . ."
1. This is a good headline for the homophone game -- should it have been "Urination sightings increase. . . .?
2. Nine women were sighted/cited??????
From the Centre Daily Times, 04/13/08:
"Drunken man sleeps naked in hallway
STATE COLLEGE — Borough police are considering charges against a man found passed out drunk and naked in the hallway of an apartment building early Saturday morning.
The man was discovered in a hallway at 240 S. Pugh St. at 5:08 a.m., according to State College police. The man, whose name police declined to release pending filing
of charges, was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for treatment of an alcohol overdose."
Did the man have trouble producing identification?
From the Centre Daily Times, 01/08/08:
"PSU student target in marijuana sting
BELLEFONTE — A Penn State student is the target of a state Attorney General’s Office investigation into allegations he is paying for college by dealing large
amounts of marijuana, making $30,000 to $45,000 deals at a time, according to court documents. . . . '(The informant) stated that (the suspect) had told him that he was using the proceeds
of the marijuana trafficking to fund his PSU education and to purchase electronics,' an agent wrote in an affidavit. . . .Another confidential informant told police the suspect once showed
up at his residence with a money-counting machine and $45,000 in cash, according to court documents. That informant told police the suspect once told him he was selling 70 pounds per week
and made enough to pay for college, police said in court documents."
Penn State is the most expensive public university in the country, and we do have a shortage of financial aid. Credit is due to this student for finding a creative way of financing his college education.
In Centre County, EMT stands for "Equine Medical Technician"
Another candidate for the Stupid Move of the Year Hall of Fame
From the Centre Daily Times, 10/17/07:
"Woman strikes cow on road
After rounding a turn on Trout Road on Sunday, Ann Yarrish, of College Township, encountered a black cow and struck the animal.
According to State College police, Yarrish wasn't injured and contacted the cow's owner, who agreed to pay for a dent
in her roof and a damaged headlight. The cow's condition was not reported."
This news item raises a number of questions that demand answers:
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