E. Gene KOSA, 80, of Ulysses, PA, died Wednesday, August 26, 2026 in Wheaton’s Private Care Home, Westfield. Friends may call Sunday, August 30, 2026 from 2:00 – 4:00 and 7:00 – 9:00 PM at Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM, Monday, August 31, 2026 in West Union Mennonite Church, 1347 County Route 84, Rexville, NY. Rev. Edward Babcock will officiate. Burial will be in Ulysses Cemetery. A complete obituary will be announced. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – Legislator Kevin S. LaForge
INVOCATION – Legislator Gretchen Hanchett
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Board Meeting Minutes of August 12, 2026 – motion to approve
Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of August 19, 2026 – motion to approve
PUBLIC COMMENT
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS, REPORTS, ETC.
Correspondence from the Village of Canaseraga notifying us that the Village is acting as Lead Agency for the environmental review of the Refuse, Garbage, and Trash Law under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).
Town of Wethersfield sent their Notice of Intent to Serve as Lead Agency under SEQRA and Request for Comment on Proposed Action dated August 11, 2026, regarding the approval of a revised decommissioning plan for the Valcour Wethersfield Windpark, LLC Repowering Project.
Harrisburg – The PUC will hold its regular public meeting on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Hearing Room 1 on the second floor of the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg.
Livestream of the Public MeetingThe PUC will be streaming video of its regularly scheduled public meetings live on its website.
Public Meeting AgendaHere is the link for the Public Meeting Agenda for August 27, 2026.
Archived Audio and VideoA link to the archived audio will be accessible at the Public Meeting Video page and will be posted shortly after the conclusion of the public meeting.
For more information about the PUC visit our website at puc.pa.gov.
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) today called on the Shapiro administration to withdraw proposed regulations reminiscent of COVID lockdown-era government policy that would infringe upon constitutional norms and civil liberties.
“Oppressive COVID-era policies were viewed with skepticism by Pennsylvanians of every demographic. Submitting these regulations seems to be devoid of any understanding of our recent history of dangerous government overreach and the resulting public backlash,” Topper said.
“Government policy that can result in serious interruptions to student success, individual privacy, and how our economy operates should be handled through the legislative process instead of through regulation. We learned that during COVID and we should be practicing that now. As such, I call on the Shapiro administration to immediately withdraw these proposed regulations and work collaboratively with the legislature on their vision for public health management.”
The Elk County Council on the Arts will present Delivered, a collaborative exhibition of artwork created during Julie Mader’s 2026 Arts in Education residencies, celebrating the creativity of regional senior participants and honoring Mader’s work as a teaching artist.
The exhibition highlights artwork made by participants at Ridgway Senior Junction in Ridgway, Bradford Ecumenical Home and Chapel Ridge in Bradford, and Guy and Mary Felt Manor in Emporium. The residencies were led by Mader through the Arts in Education program, a former grant program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in partnership with ECCOTA that has brought professional teaching artists into schools, senior centers, care facilities, and community spaces for years.
Enhanced Digital Mapping Tool Now Available for Hunters
HARRISBURG, Pa – The Pennsylvania Game Commission reminds hunters that opening day for Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 hunting seasons is Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, marking the beginning of statewide seasons for both Canada goose and mourning doves. The agency has also upgraded its online mapping center to enhance user experience for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
“For hunters, we’re entering the best time of the year,” said Game Commission Executive Director Stephen Smith. “The early season is upon us, marking the beginning of the new license year, a time when hunters across the state are making plans and preparing for all our exciting seasons ahead. On behalf of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, we wish all hunters a safe and successful year ahead.”
Melissa A. Berkheimer “faithful servant of the Lord”
ROULETTE TOWNSHIP, PA—Melissa A. “Missy” Berkheimer, 58, a longtime resident of Roulette Township, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 23, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on Tuesday, February 27, 1968, in Cheyboygan, Michigan, she was a daughter of Art E. Clark and Judy A. Sylvester Clark Davis. On August 2, 1992, in Roulette Township, she married P. Joel Berkheimer, who survives.
Missy was a graduate of Oswayo Valley High School in Shinglehouse. For a brief time she had been employed at a pickle factory as a packer. Later she was employed for several years as a waitress. Missy then began working along side her husband in the family business, Berkheimer Log Homes. Not only the company bookkeeper, Missy peeled logs and was a talented log skidder. She very much enjoyed working with her husband.
For a number of years, Missy was a member of the Roulette Baptist Church. She was also a regular attendee of the Chestnut Street Baptist Church in Port Allegany. Missy and Joel sang and played their instruments, accompanying Evangelist Leon Foote, following to Alaska, Florida, and many other places far and wide. She was a talented crocheter, having made many blankets for friends and family. She also made many baby blankets. She was a gardener and loved to can the fruits of her labor. She was a deer hunter whose shooting talents far exceeded that of her husband’s shooting skills. She loved and adored her family, especially her grandchildren. Her greatest love was her devotion to the Lord.
Missy will be remembered as a very helpful, kind, compassionate, and loving person. She read her Bible cover to cover several times. She knew Jesus as her Savior and was quick to share the reason why she knew Jesus through God’s word. Missy was strong and persistent. She was always prepared for the unknown and never complained of any hardship.
Left to cherish her memory are her devoted husband, Joel; her mother, Judy A. Davis of Roulette; three daughters, Danielle M. (Jon) Jeffers of Terri Hill, PA, Megan A. (Douglas) Bell of Shinglehouse, and Deborah Davenport of Somerville, TX; a sister, Erika L. Clark of Bradford; five grandchildren, Hunter Bell, Xander Jeffers, Iva Bell, Ian (Mandy) Brodrick, and Mallory (Jeremy) Lindsey; nine great-grandchildren; and a nephew, Amir Patel.
Missy was predeceased by her father.
Family and friends may gather from 9:30am to 11am on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the Roulette First Baptist Church, 152 Main Street, Roulette, where funeral services will follow at 11am with Pastor James Richards, of Chestnut Street Baptist Church, Port Allegany, officiating. Burial will be in Hill Cemetery, Roulette.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Missy’s name may be made to the Roulette First Baptist Church School, 152 Main Street, Roulette, PA 16746 or to the Mission to Amish People at www.mapministry.org
Missy entrusted her care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.
To express condolences, light a candle or share a fond memory of Missy, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.
“Sift You Like Wheat.” What does that phrase mean? The phrase comes from the Gospel of Luke 22:31, as noted below:
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
Peter, like many of us, believed he could withstand the sifting. In fact, he even boasted that he would never deny Christ and would even die with him. Sadly, as many already know, Peter found out what he was really made of. His strength wasn’t there. What he thought he would never do, he did. Like many of us, we’ve done things we never thought we were capable of.
No one wants to be sifted, but in some ways it’s a good thing. It’s good because we all need to know what we’re really made of and what we’re capable of. Things we said we’d never do or say are sometimes proven false. Much like any test, it shows us what we don’t know. Many of us have found that we’ve made choices we thought we’d never make, compromises we thought we were incapable of. Yet we’ve done them anyway. Some walk away from these events having learned and taken steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Some didn’t learn anything.
Note in the passage quoted above that Jesus told Peter to strengthen his brothers when he turned back. In other words, after you pick yourself up from what you thought you’d never do, use that experience to help others who may have gone through the same thing or are now going through their own sifting. Perhaps you’re going through or have gone through your own sifting and need to take that experience to help someone else. Think about it.
Members of Fr. Eric Vogt’s family gathered to present a $500 grant from the Fr. Eric Vogt Memorial Fund to Special Olympics of Elk and Cameron Counties following the annual Fr. Eric Vogt Memorial Golf Tournament. Also pictured are Aaron Fox, a dear friend of Fr. Eric; Robbie Wehler, Fr. Eric’s cousin and a Special Olympics Elk & Cameron Counties athlete; and Michael Kronenwetter, representing Special Olympics.
The family of Fr. Eric Vogt is continuing his legacy of caring for others through the annual Fr. Eric Vogt Memorial Golf Tournament. This year proceeds from the tournament helped provide a $500 grant to Special Olympics of Elk and Cameron Counties through the Fr. Eric Vogt Memorial Fund, a donor advised fund administered by the Elk County Community Foundation.
Fr. Eric was a beloved and active member of the community whose kindness, faith, friendship, and genuine care for others touched many lives. Following his passing, his family established the Fr. Eric Vogt Memorial Fund to keep his memory and spirit of service alive.
Dr. David Godfrey, urologist, continues to provide urology services inside Bradford Medical Park, Suite 31. Dr. Godfrey with his practice team.
BRADFORD, PA — Bradford Medical Park (BMP) became a center for outpatient services this past May, while continuing to provide a long-standing service to the Bradford community. For the past 36 years, patients in Bradford have had access to urologic care under the leadership of Dr. David Godfrey. Today, Dr. Godfrey continues to provide urology services to patients at Bradford Medical Park.
Maintaining access to specialty services remains an important part of supporting the Bradford community. Urologic conditions can affect people of all ages and can have a significant impact on comfort, quality of life, and an individual’s overall health. Having access to a local urology provider gives patients an opportunity to address concerns without having to travel outside the community for every appointment.
PennDOT Job Fair in Monroe County to Include Same-Day Interviews for Winter Positions
Allentown, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will host a job fair at the PennDOT Monroe County office, 1586 North Ninth Street, Stroudsburg, PA on Wednesday, September 2nd from 8 AM to 2 PM.
The event will include onsite interviews with job offers.
Those interested in a career with PennDOT are encouraged to attend the event to learn about the opportunities available. District and county employees will be on hand to answer questions regarding employment and assist attendees with the application process.
PennDOT is looking to fill a variety of positions in the county, including CDL operators. CDL operators should bring their current driver’s license and medical card.
Applicants can see the current available positions by going online to www.employment.pa.gov.
Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.
Any person requiring special accommodations are requested to contact the PennDOT Monroe County office at 570-424-3024 prior to the event.
NYS Missing Child Alert for JASE ROBINSON on August 25, 2026, at 11:52 pm has been cancelled.
The New York State Missing Child Alert on behalf of the Buffalo City Police Department for JASE ROBINSON is now cancelled as of 10:05 am on August 26, 2026.
Sandra M. “Sandie” VanSlander, 84, of Daguscahonda, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Monday, August 24, 2026.
She was born on March 5, 1942 in St. Marys, PA, a daughter of the late Peter and Margaret Yonker Scott.
Sandie was a graduate of Ridgway High School, Class of 1960, and later continued her education at the Clearfield County Vo-Tech, where she proudly earned her LPN degree. In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting, diamond painting, tending to her garden, and gathering around the table for game nights. Above all, she treasured visiting with her family and spending time with those she loved. A wonderful cook, she had a knack for making meals that brought everyone together and was always someone you could turn to for sound advice, a listening ear, and a little bit of wisdom. She could certainly be feisty when the occasion called for it, and those who knew her best wouldn’t have had her any other way. She loved listening to old country music and, in her younger years, enjoyed square dancing as a member of the Elk County Cloggers. She will be remembered for her strong spirit, her caring nature, and the many ways she made life a little warmer for the people fortunate enough to know and love her.
She is survived by four daughters; Lisa (Dave) Starr of Kersey, Tami (Dave) Vakiener of Ridgway, Kari (Jeff) Smith of Ridgway, and Rhonda (Chuck) Krobot of Daguscahonda, and by one son; DJ (Cindy) VanSlander of St. Marys; and by her 13 beloved grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters; Donna Flanagan of Colorado, and Jane Shellnut of Missouri, and by numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and her former husband and best friend; Dave VanSlander, she was preceded in death by two brothers; Donald Scott and Daniel Scott.
A Memorial Service for Sandra M. VanSlander will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Lynch-Green Funeral Home with Pastor Missy Smith officiating.
Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens.
Family and friends will be received at the Lynch-Green Funeral Home on Thursday, September 3, 2026 from 10:00 AM until the time of the service.
Lynch-Green Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 151 N. Michael St., St. Marys, PA 15857 is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.krisefamilyfuneralhomes.com
The Canyon Pilots Association Labor Day Weekend All-You-Can-Eat Fly-In Breakfast is next Sunday, Sept. 6 from 8 a.m. to noon indoors in the corporate hanger at the Grand Canyon Regional Airport in Delmar Township at 112 Runway Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901. The breakfast is open to the public and will be held rain or shine.
On the menu are ham, eggs, buckwheat pancakes, orange juice, coffee and tea. Also provided are: salt, pepper, sugar, artificial sweetner, milk, butter, maple syrup and ketchup. Tables and chairs will be available so people can sit and eat.
Requested is a donation of $10 for adults and $5 for youngsters 4 to 8 years old. Children ages 3 and under are admitted free.
Parking, including handicapped parking, is available for free.
Next Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m., The Cadillac Cats, a high-energy, five-piece “funky blues” band based in Williamsport, will be performing live as part of the Deane Center’s Free Outdoor Concert Series at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to the Coolidge Theatre.
This free concert is being held in conjunction with Wellsboro’s last First Friday, a community street festival on Main Street that will be open from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 with local vendors, live music, food, artisan goods and special activities for kids.
Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and sit in the grassy area in front of the outdoor stage or on Central Avenue, which will be closed to motor vehicle traffic between the side of the Warehouse Theatre building and Main Street.
This Friday, August 28, the members of Cadillac Cats are releasing their new, album “Swamp Funk” on all major digital and streaming platforms. They physically released the album on August 21 at the Back Alley Bar and Grill in Williamsport.
CUBA, NY – Cuba Memorial Hospital (CMH) announces the appointment of William Robinson as chief executive officer (CEO), effective August 5, 2026.
After serving as interim CEO since July, Robinson steps into the CEO position permanently while continuing to serve as nursing home administrator, a position he has held since April 2026. In his expanded role, he will be responsible for overseeing the daily hospital operations of CMH, including the 61-bed skilled nursing facility. CMH employs more than 140 employees and generates more than $16 million in annual revenue. Cuba Memorial Hospital is a nonprofit critical access hospital, serving Allegany County and the surrounding region. The hospital provides a comprehensive range of services, including a 24/7 Urgent Care Center, acute inpatient care through its Medical Care Unit, long-term care and skilled nursing, inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy, palliative care, radiology and ultrasound, laboratory services, social work and nutritional services.
The Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania has raised questions about the way chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is understood and managed in Pennsylvania. In an article titled “Chronic Wasting Disease, Myth and Hoax,” the organization challenges some commonly accepted explanations of the disease and questions whether current management practices are the best way to protect Pennsylvania’s deer herd.
Unified Sportsmen has supported an alternative theory that a bacterium called Spiroplasma, rather than abnormal proteins known as prions, may be responsible for CWD. The organization has argued that further investigation of alternative causes could potentially lead to treatments or other methods of controlling the disease, rather than relying primarily on reducing deer numbers.
That position differs from the current conclusion of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and federal health authorities. The Game Commission identifies CWD as a fatal disease caused by abnormal prions, and says infected deer can spread the disease before showing visible signs of illness.
At the same time, there are legitimate questions that remain unanswered. CWD has not been shown to infect humans, and no human cases have been reported. However, the CDC says scientists are continuing to study whether exposure to infected animals or eating meat from an infected animal could pose a risk.
For hunters and those concerned about Pennsylvania’s deer herd, the debate raises an important question: Are enough different approaches being investigated to understand CWD and find effective ways to control it?
Regardless of where someone stands on the controversy, continued research is important. The goal should be to determine what causes CWD, understand any potential risks to people, and find the most effective way to protect Pennsylvania’s deer herd without relying on measures that may not ultimately solve the problem.
Sources: Pennsylvania Game Commission; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania.
Missing Child Alert, 10 years old black/male walking last seen wearing a red shirt and red pants
DESCRIPTION: At the request of the Buffalo City Police Department, a New York State Missing Child Alert has been issued relating to the disappearance of JASE ROBINSON; age 10; from BUFFALO, NY at 11:52 pm on August 25, 2026.
School starts today, and Solomon’s Words wants to see those first smiles. Send us your first day of school photos 📸so we can help celebrate our students. shurfine40@gmail.com
Wishing all of our students, teachers, and families a wonderful first day and an awesome school year ahead!! ❤️
Go Gators, Falcons, Green Waves, Panthers, Owls, Hubbers, Wolves and Crusaders! 🎉🏫
The Potter County Housing Authority has immediate availability for a 2 bedroom apartment:
Honeoye Haven apartments, located in Shinglehouse, PA
This apartment is a 2-bedroom with wall to wall carpeting, central heating and air conditioning, range and refrigerator included. This apartment is not available to a single person.
To be eligible you must be 62 years of age or older or disabled. Rent is based on 30% of your income. Includes electric, trash, water and sewer.
For more information please call the Potter County Housing Authority at (814) 274-7031 TTY/TDD #711 or stop by our office at 109 Market Street, Coudersport.
The Potter County Housing Authority does not discriminate against any person because of Race, Color, Sex, Religion, National or Ethnic Origin, Familial Status, Gender Identity or Handicap.
Coudersport, Pa., August 25, 2026 – Cole Foundation invites the community to light up the night in support of UPMC Cole at its 3rd Annual Cole Foundation Gala, themed Neon Lights, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 5:30 to 9 p.m., at the Coudersport Consistory, 111 E 2nd St., Coudersport.
The 21-and-older event will feature casino games, a live band, cash bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a photo booth, silent and live auctions, and additional opportunities to support UPMC Cole and the patients, families, and communities it serves. Tickets are $50 per person.
“Let’s glow and make some money for our hometown hospital,” said Andrea Streich, director, Cole Foundation. “This gala is a fun way for our community to come together, celebrate local health care, and make a direct difference close to home.”
Edward D. Wintermute, 58, of Bradford, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, August 22, 2026, at his residence.
Born on March 28, 1968, in Newton NJ, he was a son of the late Frank and Mary (Bogatko) Wintermute. He was a 1987 graduate of Kittiany High School.
Ed worked for Amada Hess in Newton NJ and then for Stull Industrials in Somerset, NJ.
He enjoyed volunteering in his community and helping people. He loved to bowl, play miniature golf, going to county fairs and hosting cookouts. He was a member of the Moose Lodge in Newton, NJ.
Surviving is his fiancé, Victoria (Kieffer) Schmidt, two step sons Robert Schmidt, of SC and Jimmy George Wilson, of Bradford, one nephew, Christopher Flatt, who he was raising,and two uncles, Paul Bogatko and John Bogatko.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Susan Wintermute and Diana Wintermute and one niece, Vanessa Wintermute.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in New Jersey.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2115 West 38th St., Erie PA, 16508, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
