Man Flees on Foot After Traffic Stop
Oil City – A Pennsylvania State Police Officer arrested a man for DUI and other charges after a foot chase in Oil City.  On Saturday, December 30th, police say that Dale Provost (49) of Fairview tried to flee on foot after he was pulled over by a state police officer for a minor traffic violation. The chase ran through the parking lot of a car wash where Provost allegedly climbed a fence and dove into Oil Creek to get away from the trooper. The press release says Provost surrendered when he was lit up by the laser beam from a TASER. It is alleged Provost was in possession of cocaine and cash.

2024 Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Abatements
Meadville – Notice from the office of Crawford County’s Chief Assessor, Joe Galbo:
Crawford County Chief Assessor Joe Galbo reminded residents in Crawford County that some of them would be receiving a very important piece of mail in the next few weeks. County School Districts are mailing out Homestead / Farmstead applications to those resident homeowners who have not filled out, submitted and been approved for abatements in the last few years by the Crawford County Assessment Office. Those already approved for the Homestead/Farmstead exclusion do not need to re-apply and will not be mailed applications. It is very important that all property owners submit the application for only their primary resident property. The General Assembly also did not qualify Commercial properties for the Act 1 tax abatement. All school districts have sent out this application to individuals listed as owners of the unenrolled property as of September 1, 2023. Individuals who have purchased properties since then and all others who have acquired new properties for use as their primary residence that are not currently enrolled in the Homestead program should apply in person at the Crawford County Assessment Office located in the Crawford County Courthouse as no further applications are to be mailed. Also, all individuals wishing to apply for the Farmstead exclusion must also apply in person to the Assessment Office in the Crawford County Courthouse with documentation substantiating that they are attempting to generate agricultural income on the parcel where their primary residence is located. In the past, most have produced IRS Schedule Fs for this purpose; the forms will be reviewed by Assessment Office staff but not retained to assure the confidentiality of that information. The due date for all applications is March 1, 2024, but the school districts within Crawford County urge you to file as soon as possible.