Speed Limit Change On Route 6 West, Coudersport
Earlier this month the speed limit was reduced leaving town on Route 6 West. Starting at Sheetz it was reduced from 35mph to 25mph and remains 25mph until reaching the borough line going west. Today we started enforcing this change. Please take note and slow down. You can see the area of change on the map below in yellow. Thank you.
Original Post: 5/23/26 (20+) Facebook Coudersport Borough Police Department
PUC Schedules Hearings to Gather Public Input on Proposed Rate Increase Request by Peoples Natural Gas
Early June in-person and telephonic public input hearings scheduled in Cambria, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) will hold a series of in-person and telephonic hearings to gather public input on the proposed rate increase request by Peoples Natural Gas Company LLC (Peoples Gas), which provides natural gas distribution service to approximately 700,000 customers across Southwestern Pennsylvania.
On March 27, 2026, Peoples Gas filed a request to increase annual operating revenues for natural gas distribution service by approximately $163.2 million (13.8%). On April 16, 2026, the PUC voted to suspend and investigate the company’s request which as proposed, would increase the average bill for a residential customer using 86 Mcf per year of natural gas from $122.20 per month to $138.23 per month (13.1%).
In-Person Public Input Hearings
In-person public input hearings will be held at the following locations and times:
- Tuesday, June 2, 2026 – Cambria County
Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.
Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center
301 Napoleon Street
Johnstown, PA 15901Wednesday, June 3, 2026 – All…
Barbara J. VanSickles, 82, Of Port Allegany
Port Allegany – Barbara J. VanSickles, 82, of Port Allegany passed away Friday (May 22, 2026) at Sena Kean Manor, Smethport PA unexpectedly. She was born August 7, 1943, in Denison, TX, the daughter of Ted Leroy Farmer and Esther G. Jacks and was the step-daughter of Paul Petteys. She was first married to Donald L. Black and later married Kenneth F. VanSickles on August 8, 1981, in Wrights, PA.
Mrs. VanSickles worked at Jaguar Jeans Company in Smethport in her 20s. While her children were young, she spent most of her time tending to her family’s needs until they were school age, at which point she went to work at the Port Allegany school cafeteria. In retirement, Barb also worked as a bus driver for Culver’s bus garage, where she enjoyed transporting school children.
She was an active member of the Senior Center of Port Allegany and the VFW Auxiliary. One of her favorite things to do was to play BINGO and visit with her friends at the Senior Center.
She is survived by:
– Two daughters: Patricia (Lloyd) Williams of Eldred, PA, and Karen (David) Hobbs of Port Allegany, PA.
– Two sons: Donald (Theresa) Black of Lima, NY, and Billy Jack VanSickles of Port Allegany, PA.
– Grandchildren: Keith (Ashley Long) Homell, Chasiti Homell, Darin (Tarra) Kisko, and Cory (Tori Windsor) Kisko.
– Several step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
– Two brothers: Teddy Wayne Sharp of Alabama and Eugene Jones of Utah.
– One sister: Mary Farrell of Duke Center, PA.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Lawrence Jacks, daughter-in-law Laura Black, and a granddaughter Erin Black.
Following Barbara’s wishes, there will be no visitation or services at this time. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Port Allegany Senior Center.
Online condolences may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., Port Allegany.
OGH Auxiliary Honors Veterans Through Annual Flags of Honor Display
OLEAN, NY — The Olean General Hospital (OGH) Auxiliary proudly concluded its annual Flags of Honor display, recognizing military veterans past and present through a tribute supported by members of the community.
Displayed on the front lawn of Olean General Hospital, a Kaleida Health facility, the American flags served as a visible symbol of gratitude and remembrance throughout Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day. Community members purchased flags in honor or memory of veterans, creating a meaningful tribute to service, sacrifice and patriotism.
BEACON LIGHT AND JOURNEY HEALTH SYSTEM HONOR BOARD AND DONORS
BRADFORD, Pa (May 21, 2026)— Beacon Light Behavioral Health System, Beacon Light Adult Residential Services and Journey Health System, held their annual board and donor appreciation event with nearly 60 people on May 21 at the Pennhills Club in Bradford. Agency leaders thanked board members for volunteering, along with the donors in the community for providing philanthropic support toward the agency’s mission.
The program commenced with a prayer by Father Leo Gallina. Joseph Yaros, Journey Health System’s Board Chair, delivered a warm welcome message, followed by an introduction of all of the Board members. Their Boards’ combined total of 335 years of service was applauded.
Pennsylvania PUC Chairman DeFrank Reflects on Service, Sacrifice and National Unity Ahead of Memorial Day
DeFrank Honors Veterans, Public Service and the Lasting Meaning of Memorial Day During Public Meeting Remarks
HARRISBURG –Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Steve DeFrank reflected on the meaning of Memorial Day during remarks delivered at the Commission’s May public meeting, honoring the sacrifices of fallen service members while encouraging Pennsylvanians to reflect on the responsibilities that accompany the freedoms Americans enjoy today.
DeFrank noted that Memorial Day is more than the unofficial start of summer, calling the holiday “a reminder of real people, real families, and real sacrifices made in service to something larger than themselves.”
https://pa.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9bdc73a148614b80a53685a79&id=d09cd247ae&e=c414e2997a
“Memorial Day reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy today came at an enormous cost,” DeFrank said. “Those freedoms are not abstract concepts. They include the freedom to speak openly, to disagree respectfully, to advocate for change, and to raise concerns when people feel unheard or overlooked. Honoring those freedoms does not require all of us to agree on every issue, but it does require us to continue seeing one another as fellow citizens who share responsibilities to each other and to the future of this country.…
WPSU’s Whiskey Rebellion To Screen At Kane Family Drive In, May 27
Free screening includes whiskey tasting & director talk back, rain or shine!
BRADFORD, PA —The new WPSU documentary screening of the Whiskey Rebellion will be shown at the Kane Family Drive-In on Wednesday, May 27, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. This screening is open to the public and is free to attend.
Gates open at 7 p.m. with Rebellion Row, featuring local whiskey distillers offering samples. The screening begins at 8:30 p.m. Director Kristian Berg will host a behind-the-scenes Q&A before the film.
The Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau and Kane Development Center has partnered with WPSU to present this half-hour documentary, which explores a defining and often overlooked moment in Pennsylvania and U.S. history. Whiskey Rebellion examines the early struggle to balance federal authority with individual liberties.
Whiskey Rebellion tells the story of the nation’s first major domestic crisis, sparked by Alexander Hamilton’s 1791 tax on domestic spirits. The tax placed a heavy burden on western frontier farmers who relied on distilling grain into whiskey for economic survival. Resistance in western Pennsylvania escalated into violence, including attacks on tax collectors by protestors, many of them Revolutionary War veterans. When negotiations failed in 1794, President George Washington led 13,000 troops to suppress the uprising, marking the only time a sitting U.S. president personally commanded troops in the field. The Whiskey Rebellion ultimately affirmed the supremacy of the Constitution and the federal government’s authority to enforce its laws.
WPSU is a public media organization serving communities across Central Pennsylvania with news, education, and cultural programming.
The free showing is sponsored in part by the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau and the Kane Family Drive-In.
For more information, contact the Kane Area Development Center at 814-837-6565 or director@kanepa.com.
Safe Kids McKean Partnership Provides 400+ Free Bicycle Helmets to Local Kindergarten Students
CARE for Children, through its leadership of the Safe Kids Pennsylvania- McKean County Partnership, has successfully completed its 2026 Kindergarten Bicycle Safety Program, providing more than 400 free bicycle helmets and bicycle safety education to Kindergarten students across McKean County and in Coudersport, PA.
The initiative delivered age-appropriate bicycle safety programming in six local school districts: Bradford Area, Kane Area, Smethport Area, Port Allegany, Otto-Eldred, and Coudersport Area. Every child who participated received a properly fitted bicycle helmet, a helmet identification sticker, and bicycle safety materials to take home to parents and caregivers.
“This program gives children the opportunity to learn important bicycle safety habits early while also ensuring they have access to a properly fitted helmet,” said Kimberly Engstrom, M.Ed., CARE Preschool Director and Child Safety Educator. “We want children and families to understand that helmets save lives and that safe riding habits can make a lasting difference.”
The CARE-led program featured the book “Play It Safe” by Mercer Mayer to teach students the basics of bicycle safety, including proper helmet use, hand signals, and obeying traffic signs. The effort aimed to increase helmet use and encourage lifelong safety habits.
The project exceeded its goals: 95% of local Kindergarten students received a helmet; students expressing willingness to wear helmets increased by more than 50%; 100% of the Kindergarten teachers agreed the program was age-appropriate and beneficial.
“Programs like this are especially important in rural communities where families may face barriers to purchasing safety equipment,” said Tina M. Martin, Executive Director of CARE for Children. “By working together with funders, schools, volunteers, and community partners, we are helping children stay safe while building positive lifelong habits.”
Pennsylvania law requires children under the age of 12 to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle or while riding as a passenger in a bicycle restraining seat or trailer. The law is intended to encourage helmet use and reduce preventable head injuries among children.
The Safe Kids Pennsylvania – McKean County Partnership first launched the initiative in 2016 and has since expanded countywide, reaching hundreds of students annually. In communities with higher poverty rates, the program helps remove financial barriers to safety equipment while reinforcing important injury prevention education.
This year’s success was made possible through partnerships with local school districts, members of the Safe Kids Pennsylvania – McKean County Partnership Advisory Council, volunteers, and community partners including representatives from the United Way, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, PennDOT, the Highway Safety Network, and the Rotary Club of Port Allegany.
This project is funded, in part, through grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Port Allegany and Smethport Campaigns for United Way, and the Kane United Fund. Additional Safe Kids programming is supported by the CARE for Children Trust, the ARG- Our Legacy Fund, held at the McKean County Community Foundation, the United Way of the Bradford Area, Inc., grants, sponsorships, and individual donations.
Safe Kids Pennsylvania – McKean County Partner is a collaborative effort of local organizations, businesses, and individuals working together to support child safety and injury prevention efforts targeted to local needs. CARE for Children provides leadership, fiscal oversight, and administrative support for the program.
For more information about CARE for Children programs or to support local child safety initiatives, please visit www.careforchildren.info.
PREREGISTER BY NEXT FRIDAY OR SATURDAY MAY 29 OR 30 FOR LAUREL FESTIVAL 10K TO GUARANTEE A FREE EVENT T-SHIRT AND BE ENTERED IN EARLY BIRD DRAWING
Those who preregister for the Laurel Festival 10K Foot Race on or before next Friday, May 29 at 4 p.m. at the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office or online by Saturday, May 30 at the chamber website at www.wellsboropa.com and pay the $25 entry fee will be guaranteed a free event T-shirt courtesy of First Citizens Community Bank on race day, Saturday, June 20 and be entered in the June 20 “Early Bird Drawing” with a chance to win $25 in Wellsboro Chamber Dollars to spend at any of the participating businesses.
10K registration will continue online at www.wellsboropa.com from Sunday, May 31 until 11:59 a.m. Wednesday, June 17 and in person at the chamber office on weekdays from Monday, June 1 until noon on June 17. Those who register for the 10K on those dates will not be guaranteed a free event T-shirt and will not be entered in the “Early Bird Drawing.”
Registration for the Two-Mile Fun Run/Walk, including payment of the $5 entry fee, is also being held on all those dates from May 29 through June 17 in person at the chamber office and online at the chamber website.
Kettle Cuisine Issues Allergy Alert For Undeclared Shrimp In Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup
Kettle Cuisine of Lynn, MA is recalling 24oz cups of Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup which may contain undeclared shrimp. People who have allergies to Crustacean Shellfish (Shrimp) run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.
The recalled retail cups of soup were distributed to the following states; AL, CT, DC, FL, GA, MA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, in Whole Foods retail stores and nationwide through online sales on the Whole Foods and Amazon website.
The recalled product is packaged in a 24-ounce, clear plastic cup marked with a Lot Code: 1762181 Use By 05/27/26 on the top rim of the cup, and with the UPC identifier of 099482502065 on the back label.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this soup.
PUC Marks National Electrical Safety Month with Reminder to Always Stay Alert Around Power Lines
Spring Projects, Outdoor Work, and Everyday Electrical Safety Remain Key Focuses Across Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG – As Pennsylvania observes National Electrical Safety Month this May, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is encouraging residents, contractors, and businesses to stay alert around electrical equipment, overhead power lines, and underground utilities during the busy spring and summer work season.
The PUC noted that warmer weather brings an increase in outdoor home projects, landscaping work, construction activity, storm cleanup, and utility maintenance — all of which can create serious electrical hazards if proper precautions are not followed.
“Electricity powers nearly every aspect of modern life, but it also requires constant awareness and respect,” said PUC Vice Chair Kimberly Barrow. “Whether you are trimming trees, using ladders, digging for a home improvement project, or cleaning up after storms, it is important to stay aware of nearby utility lines and energized equipment.”
Outdoor and Worksite Safety
The PUC reminds consumers and contractors to always be aware of overhead and underground utility lines before beginning any project.
Key safety reminders…
OGH’s Mildred Milliman Radiation Medicine Center Reopens With Advanced Technology
Olean, NY — Olean General Hospital (OGH), a Kaleida Health facility, is proud to announce the reopening of the Mildred Milliman Radiation Medicine Center and the return of radiation oncology services, anchored by a new state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam 4.1 linear accelerator. Following months of renovation and investment, the center is now welcoming patients and delivering advanced radiation therapy close to home for residents across the region.
The reopening goes beyond a technology upgrade. The project completely reimagined the patient experience — pairing leading-edge treatment technology with a thoughtfully redesigned healing environment centered on comfort, dignity and compassionate care.
Democrats Deliver to Rushford Food Pantry
Rushford, NY – When the Allegany County Democrats met for “Coffee with Democrats” in April, they
collected pounds and pounds of non-perishable food and personal care items to be donated to the Rushford Food Pantry.
According to Pantry coordinator Bonnie Cady, “We serve nearly two dozen families each month, and are always grateful for donations like this one, particularly cereals, desserts, and snacks. We can serve our community because others support us.”
The Rushford Food Pantry is located on Lower St. in Rushford and is open every 3rd Saturday of the month from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Those needing assistance can call 716-801-5415 for more information.
SPRINGTIME ALERT: LEAVE YOUNG WILDLIFE ALONE
HARRISBURG, PA – With Memorial Day being the unofficial kickoff to summer, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reminds those spending time in the great outdoors to leave young wildlife alone.
While some young animals might appear to be abandoned, usually they are not. It’s likely their mothers are watching over them from somewhere nearby. When encountering young wild animals, whether deer, birds, raccoons or something else, the best thing you can do is leave them alone.
“Mid-to-late spring and early summer are popular times of the year for humans to encounter newborn and young wildlife on the landscapes,” said Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management Director Matthew Schnupp. “Whether enjoying their backyards or recreating in the woods or water, it’s common for humans to witness the new generation of wildlife in their natural habitats. The best thing people can do when encountering any wildlife is to simply let them be.”
McKean County CACMS Is Seeking A Family Advocate
The Children’s Advocacy Center of McKean County (CACMC) is seeking qualified candidates for the Family Advocate position. Reporting to the Director of the Center, the Family Advocate serves as the primary contact for children and non-offending caregivers, providing trauma-informed support, guidance, and resources throughout the investigative and healing process.
In addition to direct services, the Family Advocate contributes to community prevention efforts and maintains the organization’s social media presence to support outreach, education, and awareness.
Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
- Greeting and orientation of children and their families to the CACMC. Explain the CAC process, including forensic interviews, medical exams, and legal proceedings in a clear and compassionate manner.
- Provide crisis intervention, ongoing emotional support, and victim supportive counseling to children and non-offending caregivers.
- Connect families with appropriate community resources and make referrals for follow-up. Maintains regular follow-ups with families to ensure continued support and access to services.
- Keep families informed about the status of criminal proceedings and offer court advocacy, including accompaniment and preparation for legal proceedings when appropriate.
Education and experience qualifications include:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience equal to a minimum of three (3) years working with child victims of abuse.
- A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience working with children and families, preferably in trauma-informed or advocacy settings. The successful candidate must have the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
Interested applicants are invited to apply by completing a McKean County job application and submitting a resume. Please forward to: Michele Jubon, Director of Human Resources, McKean County Courthouse, 500 West Main Street, Smethport, PA 16749 or by emailing to: HR@mckeancountypa.gov. Applicants may also apply online at Indeed.com. We are an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V.
Sizerville State Park Environmental Education Programs
Sizerville State Park
Environmental Education Programs Weekend of May 29th Program Title: Skins & SkullsDate: Saturday, May 30th Time: 3:00 PMLocation: Environmental Learning CenterDescription: At this program, we will look at different skulls and furs of animals and birds common to the PA Wilds. There will be a variety of skulls and furs to look at and ask questions about. This program is open for all ages!
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Program Title: Film in the Forest: OspreyDate: Saturday, May 30th Time: 8:00 PMLocation: Campground AmphitheaterDescription: Did you know that Ospreys live on every continent except Antarctica? Join the park educator for a program to learn all about this fish hawk. Short talk followed by a movie—feel free to bring snacks and a blanket!
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Additional Information: To register for a program, go to the DCNR Calendar of Events website, search Sizerville State Park, find the program listed, and click on the Register button right under the program date, time, and location. For more information or questions about registering, please contact the Environmental Learning Center at (814) 486-5609.