There was a shooting in North East PA last evening shortly after 11 pm. A North East Police officer responding to a domestic dispute shot a man in the left side of the chest. The man is in Hamot in critical condition. Pennsylvania State Police took over the investigation because it was an officer involved shooting. DA Brad Foulk was called to the scene and said he would hold a press conference at some point on Thursday.

181 years ago today: On February 22, 1826 “The Active Fire Company of Erie” was founded. It was the first company of the Borough of Erie, PA. (Erie didn’t become a city until 1851.) It’s membership roll included “nearly all the male residents of the borough who were old enough to be of any assistance.”

Presque Isle Downs and Casino will be celebrating their opening with an entire month of prizes and cash give-a-ways. Enter every time you visit between February 28 and March 28 to win. Every Thursday in March, they’ll be awarding $5000 over 4 hours to play in any of their 2000 slot machines. If you’re there between 5 pm and 9 pm on Thursday March 8, March 15 , March 22 and they call your name, you’ll be a lucky winner. On Thursday March 19 they’re upping the award to $10,000.

Bryan Keith Fisher of Erie PA has now been missing for 24 years. Missing Since: February 21, 1983 from Erie, Pennsylvania; Date Of Birth: March 31, 1966; Age: 16 years old; Height and Weight: 5’9, 180 pounds; Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian male. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Fisher has a scar between the middle and ring fingers of his right hand. He has a tattoo of a cross on his right arm. Fisher has a tattoo of a skull on his upper arm which may have been altered to the image of a rose. His nicknames are Bry and/or Fish. Fisher was last seen leaving his family’s residence in Erie to go fishing on February 21, 1983. He has never been heard from again. If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: Erie Police Department 814-870-1120. You can also call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League announced that Bob Sanders of the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts will be honored prior to the Otters game against the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday at 6 pm at the Tullio Arena. The event marks the only opportunity for the general public to recognize the accomplishments of Sanders, an Erie native who helped carry the Colts to their first title. In addition, two lucky fans in attendance at Sunday’s game will be selected to meet Sanders in a private suite during the game. The grand prize winner will also receive an autographed Bob Sanders Indianapolis Colts jersey while the runner-up will win an Bob Sanders autographed football.

Opening Day is just 41 days away and the Erie SeaWolves announced that individual game tickets will go on sale Saturday, March 10, 2007 at Jerry Uht Park from 10 a.m. until 2 pm. The third annual event will once again feature FREE Smith’s Hot Dogs, Pepsi Products, Troyer Farms Chips, hot chocolate and coffee for SeaWolves backers buying tickets. In addition, fans will also have the opportunity to visit with SeaWolves mascot “C. Wolf,” win great prizes, and watch college basketball on the SeaWolves main video scoreboard while enjoying their first trip to the ballpark in ’07. Teaming with the Erie City Mission once again, fans who donate two (2) unopened boxes of cereal to the Erie City Mission will receive a FREE ticket to Opening Day (April 5 vs Altoona). Last season, 76 boxes of cereal were donated to the Mission benefiting their After School Program. In addition, fans can become a “City Mission Slugger.” For just $40, fans receive four (4) Club Seats (Seats located in the NEW Right Field addition in 2007), four (4) SeaWolves T-shirts and four (4) SeaWolves caps. All proceeds from “City Mission Slugger” packages will be donated to the Erie City Mission. $40 will feed and clothe an Erie family of four for an entire month at the City Mission. “The Erie City Mission is always looking for new and creative ways to work with businesses and groups to raise money for our programs that help the homeless and the needy. Bravo to our neighbors the Erie SeaWolves” – Lisa Zompa-Nietupski, Erie City Mission Director of Development. The 13th season of SeaWolves baseball begins Thursday, April 5 against the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates). First pitch is set for 6:35 pm.

The Erie Engineering Societies Council EXPO Erie continues through Thursday at the Erie Civic Center Tullio Arena. Admission is free.

Zanny Minton Beddoes, The Economist’s Washington-based economics editor, will speak at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, this evening. Minton Beddoes’ address, “Fragile Prosperity: The Outlook for the US and World Economy,” is part of the college’s annual Speaker Series. It will be held at 7:30 pm in the Reed Union Building’s McGarvey Commons and is free and open to the public.

Roger Knacke, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the School of Science at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will discuss “Astronomy of the Maya” at the college’s next Open House Night in Astronomy. Knacke will speak at 7:30 pm, this evening, Thursday, February 22, in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. Admission to the open house is free and his non-technical lecture is suitable for ages 8 and older.

The United Way of Erie County Week of Thanks offers a variety of FREE and DISCOUNTED events to everyone. Today at the Family First Golf Dome, you get a buy one/ get one discount on: small bucket of golf balls or a round of indoor miniature golf. The Big Green Screen at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center offers $2 off any regularly priced movie ticket through Friday, February 23. Coventina Day Spa, 10747 Route 19, offers 15 percent off any service booked through Friday.

The 5th annual Harry T Burleigh Heritage and Legacy Weekend will be held February 22-24. Performances celebrating the legacy of Harry T. Burleigh will be held in the Edinboro university Louis C Cole Auditorium and at Shiloh Baptist Church in Erie.

The 9th Annual MECA United Cerebral Palsy Barstool Open is set to take place on Saturday, February 24, 2007. Last years event had 1200 participants and raised $30000. Yes, 1200 people out drinking in downtown Erie on a cold February afternoon. Teams of 4 will compete in golf at 9 bars in downtown Erie PA. The putting exhibition contest takes place on holes with wacky designs. This year there are 14 bars participating. Mail the registration form and enclose your check for $100, $25 per person, made payable to: MECA United Cerebral Palsy, 3745 West 12th St, Erie, PA 16505.

The Great Lakes Film Association invites you to the bigest party of the year – The 2007 Film Fest Kick off Cabaret at the Roadhouse Theatre, 145 W 11th Street, on Saturday February 24, 2007 at 10 pm. Admission is $5 and you must be over 21 as the price includes draft beer. In addition to some of the best music in town including Final Rest, Greg Ropp of The Void, Viotech and Weirdo Theater, they will also have comedians, magicians, poets, and give-a-ways. They will also have wrestling star “The Blue Meenie” as a special guest that night.

On February 24-25, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center will be the location of the 2007 Erie Winter Carnival, a fun-filled event weekend for all ages. Highlights include professional ice carvings, carved by some of the greatest ice carvers in the world! Watch the Speed Carving Competitions or check out delicate ice-art carvings created with chain saws and fine carving tools. Amazing pieces of art right created before your eyes! Take in one of the great featured films that weekend including Everest, Lewis and Clark, or the special weekend featured film, March of the Penguins. All on the BIG Green Screen. Children can also enjoy special activities including face painting, winter craft, storytelling and a magic show. Walk through the local artist Art Show and stop into the Nature Shop and Gallery for unique shopping options and great winter gifts. Check out all the great exhibits highlighting Presque Isle State Park. And remember to grab a bite to eat with specialty carnival-type foods and other great items from the Sunset Cafe.

On Feb 25, the Brewerie at Union Station in Erie hosts the Erie Illusion women’s football team Beer Fest.

The 25th annual Erie Sport and Travel Expo will be held at Family First Sports Park in Erie, Pa March 2-4. The show features fishing and hunting lodges, guides, outfitters, fishing charters and sporting goods vendors and boat and recreational vehicle dealers. General Admission $6 with children under 10 free.

Allegheny College’s Gator Activities Programming organization and Allegheny Student Government will host comedian and actor Wayne Brady for a live one-man show on Saturday, March 3 at 8 pm in Shafer Auditorium. Brady is widely recognized for his work on screen and stage. He is perhaps best known for his improvisational comedy on the television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Brady won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series for his work on that show. Brady also starred in his own ABC variety show, “The Wayne Brady Show,” in 2001 and a daytime talk show of the same name that aired in 2002. He has also guest-starred on “The Drew Carey Show” and in 2004 was chosen to play the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the Broadway musical “Chicago.” Tickets are available now. Allegheny students are $10 and $20 for the general public All seating is general admission. For more information go to http://www.allegheny.edu/waynebrady or call 814-332-2754.

Music lovers are invited to follow Road to the Isles, and take in the sights and sounds of traditional Celtic folk music and dance along the way. Road to the Isles is a Pittsburgh-based quintet of pipe, guitar, fiddle, and two dancers that will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Wednesday, March 7 at 12 pm. Their presentation of Scottish and Irish music and dance is part of college’s Rhythms of Life cultural series and begins at noon in the Reed Union Building’s Bruno’s Cafe. It is free and open to the public.

The concert band and jazz ensemble at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will play favorites “From Stage and Screen” at their annual joint spring concert. The performance will be held at 8 pm on Thursday, March 8, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Erie Art Museum’s annual end-of-winter bash is heading for Motown, or at least Motown is heading for Just My Imagination, Saturday, March 10 at the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel, 2800 West 8th Street. Just My Imagination will replace the Museum’s very popular mARTi Gras Bash, but organizers say it will truly be one night to boogie down. “Live Motown music from Cleveland’s Tony Quarles and the Discovery Band, great food, elaborate decorations and costume prizes are all planned for this event,” said event Chairwoman Rebecca Styn. Tickets are $45 and all proceeds benefit the Erie Art Museum. For tickets call (814) 459-5477.

The Northwest PA Maple Association 2007 Northwest PA Maple Taste and Tour Weekend will be held March 17-18, 10 am to 4 pm daily. Ten sugar houses in Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Warren and Venango counties open their doors during the height of maple sugaring time.

Meadowmount Trio, a frequent contributor to National Public Radio hailed as “an ensemble of seamless rapport” by The Strad magazine, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Wednesday, March 21. Meadowmount Trio appears as part of Music at Noon: The Logan Series. Its performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held at noon in the Reed Union Building’s McGarvey Commons.

The Erie Micro Brew Festival presented by WQLN will be held April 21 at Union Station at 14th and French Streets. There will be 2 sampling sessions 1-4 pm and 5-8 pm. All proceeds support public broadcasting and all PLCB laws apply. Attendees must be 21. Tickets will be available soon at many Erie area locations. Scheduled to attend are: The BrewErie at Union Station, The Erie Brewing Company, Southern Tier Brewing, Pennsylvania Brewery, Voodoo Brewery, The Flying Bison, Ellicottville Brewing Company, North Country Brewing Company, Hereford and Hops, Sprague Farm and Brew Works, The Buffalo Brew Pub, Magic Hat Brewing and the East End Brewing Company.