April 2023

Olean, NY – Christopher Mallavarapu, MD, FACC, SCAI, was presented the golden stethoscope award on Tuesday, March 21.  Dr. Mallavarapu, also known throughout the organization and community as “Dr. Chris”, is a cardiologist and medical director of the cardiology program at Olean General Hospital (OGH).

The golden stethoscope award is a result of nominations from employees and presented semi-annually to a physician who exhibits an exceptional level of professionalism, integrity, and teamwork in caring for patients and families, as well as interacting with hospital staff members and fellow physicians. 

The award is presented to one physician throughout the entire Upper Allegheny Health System who meets the high standard of providing high quality patient care. 

“Since the cath lab’s inception in 2013 until 2021, Dr. Mallavarapu was the sole provider performing life-saving procedures, taking calls 24/7, and providing all the cardiac care to patients during that time.  He’s an effective communicator and has phenomenal bedside manner by putting his patients at ease answering all their questions and he thoroughly discusses diagnoses, procedures, and results with patients and their families,” according to his nomination.  “He’s very knowledgeable, kind, compassionate, caring, and a great asset to the community and the organization.”

Dr. Mallavarapu has been at OGH since 2013 and has helped to expand the current interventional catheterization laboratory program, a valuable life-saving program for a rural community.  He has performed over 12,000 cardiac catheterization procedures throughout his career. 

Under his direction, the cardiac catheterization program has performed roughly 5,000 heart catheterization procedures, over 1,300 Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) procedures and over 730 ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) procedures.  Though Olean’s population is a little over 13,000, under Dr. Mallavarapu’ s leadership, the cardiac catheterization program at OGH performs roughly 1% of all emergency heart attack procedures in New York State! 

Dr. Mallavarapu earned his medical degree at State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn, NY, completed his residency at SUNY Stony Brook in Internal Medicine.  He also has completed fellowships in clinical cardiology, electrophysiology, and interventional cardiology all at University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia, Pa.  Dr. Mallavarapu is American Board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and interventional cardiology. 

Coudersport Vol FireDept 

4/5/2023

0638 – 48,49 ,McKean 3 RIT Dispatched to Box 48-76 133 N Main St, Hotel Crittenden for a reported structure Fire.

0639 – Chief 48 Phelps responded and was immediately given updated information of 911 receiving numerous calls of heavy fire and smoke visible. Chief 48 was already on Main Street and could see the large column of smoke that had already filled the streets and immediately requested a second alarm assignment.

0640 – Chief 48 Phelps arrived on scene confirming a working fire on the third floor corner A/D with heavy smoke pushing out the eves of the whole building and established command . Chief 48 then entered the front of the building to division 3 and was unable to go beyond the stairs between floors 2/3 due to heavy smoke and fire. Chief 48 then began banging on and forcing doors to wake the occupants ( fire alarms were already sounding )and evacuated 6 safely from the 2nd floor. By the time all occupants of the second floor were evacuated the stairs back to the first floor were difficult to see/locate from the smoke and fire that had made its way down the stairwell.

0644 – AC Brad Tucker Roulette Chemical Engine #1 46 had arrived and met Chief 48 in the street and was assigned side C( back). Once AC Tucker got to the back he reported to command that he had several injured victims with people still on the 2nd story roof and fire escape. At this point Command requested 3 additional aerial trucks( Emporium, Genesee and Wellsville)to the scene due to the growing fire and due to the fact crews had not gained access to the 3 floor.

Engine 48-1 had arrived and crews secured their own water supply and went to work to get to the third floor to locate the fire. While crews were stretching attack lines Engine 48-1 utilized their Deck Gun to get large volumes of water on the fire.

0656 – Interior crews reported that they had located the fire and had water on it, needing additional FF’s. Truck 48-9 arrived and set up and vented horizontally the third floor, then immediately went to the roof where crews split with some going interior to assist the Engine crew.

Station 46 – Roulette secured their own water supply in side C and immediately began assisting the injured and stretching lines to the fire from that side.

0705 – Port Allegany 3 arrived and was assigned search responsibilities of division 2( command was uncertain if all had escaped.

0706 – Ambulance 46 transported 2 Pts to UPMC – Cole. Where all crews on scene were hard at work with patient care, rescue, fire suppression before all second alarm companies had arrived.

0719 – Command requested a Third alarm. In the next hour and a half fire and ambulance crews worked hard and transported a total of 5 Pts with one of them being transferred to a surgical unit in Williamsport.

0837 – Command reported that the fire was under control with heavy overhaul needed and in progress.

1241 – Command reported the fire and all operations complete and terminated command; returned all units.

In all 9 individuals were either rescued or self rescued to safety. 5 transported to the local hospital (1 transferred on )and 4 refused treatment. None of the injuries are considered life threatening.

In all 34 members from our department and approximately 110 from other departments where on scene. Their were no injuries to any First Responders during this incident.

The building was occupied by 4 businesses that are effected by this fire either by fire, smoke or water damage:

Hotel Crittenden

Jeff’s Barber Shop

Potter County Democratic Office

Maureen Cracknell’s Studio

The building is insured and an investigation into the fire by our department and the PSP Fire marshals unit determined that the fire began on the third floor and is undetermined at this time but still under investigation.

A huge Thank you to the following agencies that assisted on scene:

49 Coudersport Amb/Medics, 44 Austin, 46 Roulette, 10 Galeton, 3 Port Allegany, MA3 Amb/Medics, 39 Shinglehouse, 47 Ulysses, 20 Harrison Twp, 37 Genesee, 5 Westfield, 14 Emporium, 2 Smethport, 15 Bradford Twp, Drone 50,Red Cross, PEMA, Coudersport Boro ( Police, Public Works and Water Authority), PSP Coudersport, PSP Fire Marshals Unit, Potter Co DES, UGI, West Penn Power and Tioga Co 911 and dispatchers for meeting all of our needs.

The following businesses and individuals provided food/refreshments during and after the incident and there are some that we didn’t know and some that didn’t want to be known –

Thank you to the following:

Cream ‘n Sugar, Mama Made, Vinny’s Bar and Grill, Coudersport Fox’s Pizza Den, Jake Wilson Enterprises, Kaytee’s Family Restaurant and Marketplace, Subway Of Coudersport Inc., Wagner Ace Hardware, Sheetz, Sweden Valley Methodist Church, Coudersport Shop n Save, Moore Nutrition, Hershey Farms Market, Steve Green, Todd Brown – Ultimate Power, Mr. and Mrs. John Leete, C&N Bank and Kerry Ehrensburger.

We thank each and everyone of you that supported us during incident.

            BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold its inaugural Solar Conference on April 10 in the George B. Duke Engineering and Information Technologies Building.

            Co-sponsored by the American Refining Group/Harry R. Halloran Jr. Energy Institute and the Pitt-Bradford Sustainability Committee, the conference is free and will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Those who wish to take part in all or part of the conference can see the full schedule and register at upb.pitt.edu/solar-conference-2023.

            “This is a great chance for community leaders and landowners to learn the ins and outs of large-scale solar developments,” said Dr. Matt Kropf, director of the energy institute, who organized the conference with Christy Ruffner, executive director of philanthropy and strategic partnerships.

            “Community members and students who are interested in learning more about solar issues in general will also be able to learn a lot here.”

            The keynote speaker is Tom Murphy, Team Pennsylvania’s senior managing director of strategic initiatives.

            Other presenters include Tim Mills, a senior project developer for New Leaf Energy; Daniel Dotterer, a sheep farmer; Dr. Beth Rezaie, assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology; Dr. Julia Morgan, assistant professor of philosophy; Kropf; Pitt-Bradford students; representatives of utility companies; and Navajo Power.

By Megan Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Terah Bryant,

NORFOLK, Va. – Seman Aaron Haskins, a native of Coudersport, Pennsylvania, supports versatile missions while serving at Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HM) 12.

Navy Office of Community Outreach

Haskins joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Haskins serves as a logistics specialist.

Haskins attended Coudersport Jr/Sr High School and graduated in 2017.

Skills and values similar to those found in Coudersport are similar to those required to succeed in the military.

“My hometown taught me to have pride in my work, to have respect and to learn something new every day,” said Haskins. “You should always be expanding on your job in the Navy. In the Navy, a day without learning something is a day wasted.”

These lessons have helped Haskins while serving with the Navy.