(Picture: Leaders from Dickinson Center, Inc. & Journey Health System, Dickinson’s board campaign committee, local officials and contractors turned the first shovels of ground for the new St. Marys’ building.)
Dickinson Center, Inc. (DCI), an affiliate of Journey Health System (JHS), broke ground on Wednesday for the ceremonial kick-off of their building at 28 Railroad Street in St. Marys.
Staff from DCI and JHS, members of DCI’s board and capital campaign committee, local officials, contractors and several community members attended to witness this historic milestone. The following attendees wore hard hats and wielded decorative shovels to celebrate the commencement of the construction project by breaking ground: Jim Prosper, DCI Executive Director; Guy Signor, JHS President and CEO; John Robinson, MCF Architecture Senior Architect; Barry Andrulonis, Hallstrom Construction Project Manager; Joe Haines, DCI Board Chair and Capital Campaign Committee Member; Fritz Lecker, Elk County Commissioner; Bob Ordiway, DCI Board member and Capital Campaign Committee Chair; Joe Fleming, City of St. Marys City Manager; Lyle Garner, City of St. Marys Mayor; Mike Armanini, Pennsylvania State Representative of the 75th Legislative District.
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today the number of firearms purchase denials and subsequent investigations for the first quarter of 2024.
The Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) is used by county sheriffs, chiefs of police of cities of the first class, and licensed firearms dealers to determine an individual’s legal ability to acquire a license to carry firearms or to obtain a firearm through a purchase or transfer. When an individual attempts to provide false information on a state and/or federal form, an investigation is initiated, and an investigation referral is sent to the corresponding law enforcement agency.
This girl showed up at our house in Eldred, Pa. Super sweet, but nervous. Has collar, but no tags. Trying to find her owner. Please call or text 814-558-7888.
Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that a bridge rehabilitation project that is set to begin next week on the bridge carrying Route 6 over Marsh Creek and Rails to Trails in Ansonia, Shippen Township, Tioga County. The structure is located approximately 0.25 miles east of Tioga State Forest Road and west of the intersection of Route 362 and Route 6.
BRADFORD, PA; OLEAN, NY – The Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS) Board of Directors today announced a nationwide search for a new hospital president.
Jull Owens, MD
The role is currently held by Jill Owens, MD, a Bradford native and local physician. She will return to private medical practice once a new president has been named and to help ensure a smooth and successful transition.
“When I was asked to step up and take on this role, I never imagined the challenges that we would face. Healthcare was in crisis and our two hospitals were struggling like most in the industry were,” said Dr. Owens. “With the new management team now in place and over 1,300 caring and compassionate individuals throughout the organization, UAHS is destined for future success. It’s time to hand off the baton to a seasoned healthcare leader who can take us to the next level of growth.”
Muhammed Javed, MD, Chair of the UAHS Board said, “We thank Dr. Owens for her service and stepping in at a key time for us. During her time, UAHS saw a multitude of enhancements for the healthcare system. This includes nursing and physician recruitment, improvements in quality, patient and employee satisfaction, numerous growth initiatives plus an accreditation transition to DNV Healthcare.”
Dr. Owens isn’t stepping away from UAHS entirely. She will still remain a physician on staff in the healthcare system practicing at both hospital campuses’ as a hospitalist.
Previously the system’s chief medical officer, Dr. Owens was named UAHS president in May 2022. Throughout her tenure as president, Dr. Owens built a new leadership team that helped lead the healthcare system’s financial and operational turnaround.
Dr. Owens said, “I’m so grateful for our team throughout UAHS, community members and business leaders, elected officials on both sides of the border and both sides of the aisle, the healthcare leaders in both Pennsylvania and New York, and countless others who supported me and these hospitals through this difficult journey. While there’s still work to do, the efforts of everyone working together has made it possible for our region to continue to have access to local and high-quality healthcare.”
Under the leadership of Jill Owens, MD, president, UAHS, the healthcare organization has spent two years advancing healthcare for region.
HARRISBURG – Auditor General Timothy DeFoor today announced the release of audit reports for 37 volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Chester, Clarion, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Potter, Schuylkill, Somerset, Susquehanna, Tioga, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland and York counties.
“Relief associations provide vital support to Pennsylvania’s dedicated first responders,” DeFoor said. “Our audits make sure state aid is used to equip and protect volunteer firefighters and the communities they serve.”
The Department of the Auditor General distributes state aid for VFRAs and audits how they use the funds, which are generated by a 2% tax on fire insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania by out-of-state companies. In 2023, $67.44 million went to 2,519 municipalities for distribution to VFRAs to provide training, purchase equipment and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters.
VFRAs may have future state aid withheld if they do not comply with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures. Relief associations are separate legal entities from the fire departments they support.
The department is required by law to audit volunteer fire relief associations and municipal pension plans that receive state aid through the department; liquid fuels tax usage by municipalities; various county offices and numerous other state government entities.
Galeton – To accommodate renovations at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits (FW&GS) at 15 West St., Galeton, Potter County, the store will temporarily close at 6:00 PM Saturday, April 13.
Customers are encouraged to shop for wines, spirits, and accessories at these FW&GS locations during the renovation project:
The Galeton location is expected to reopen after approximately two weeks.
Actually we will only be closed from Tuesday April 16 to Saturday April 20th here at the liquor store. We will be opened again on that next Tuesday April 23rd
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 4/08/2024 to REPSOL OIL & GAS USA LLC in Union Township, Tioga county. 78a66(b)1 – REPORTING AND REMEDIATING SPILLS AND RELEASES – Reporting releases – Operator or other responsible party failed to report spills and releases of regulated substances to the Department.
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Health is kicking off Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) by announcing today that community-based organizations can apply for grants to help address maternal health concerns across the Commonwealth through the creation of regional coalitions. Governor Shapiro secured first-ever state funding for this effort in the 2023-24 budget, and the Shapiro Administration is making up to $1.8 million available from the current budget for these efforts.
Maternal health is a concern nationally, with the rate of pregnancy-associated deaths on the rise in recent years. In Pennsylvania, there are 83 pregnancy-associated deaths per 100,000 live births. In 2020, 107 Pennsylvanians lost their lives during pregnancy, delivery, or within one year postpartum. Black women are nearly two times more likely to die during pregnancy or in the first year after a pregnancy than white women.
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 4/09/2024 to EQT ARO LLC in Plunketts Creek Township, Lycoming county. CSL 402(b) – POTENTIAL POLLUTION – Conducting an activity regulated by a permit issued pursuant to Section 402 of The Clean Streams Law to prevent the potential of pollution to waters of the Commonwealth without a permit or contrary to a permit issued under that authority by the Department.
Thomas S. “Uncle Tom” Ayers, age 79, of Wellsboro, PA, died on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. He was born on May 6, 1944 in Wellsboro, PA, a son of the late Kenneth E. and Doris A. (Shumway) Ayers.
Tom was a member of the West Jackson Baptist Church, Millerton, PA, a machinist for Corning Glassworks for over 20 years and enjoyed bowling for many years.
Mary Ann Fedus, 76, of 510 Second Avenue, Johnsonburg, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday afternoon, April 9, 2024 following a brief illness. She was born on July 6, 1947 in Ridgway a daughter to the Clarence and Margaret Fedus Mowrey. A lifelong resident of Johnsonburg, Mary Ann was a 1965 graduate of Johnsonburg High School and a longtime member of the Johnsonburg Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary.
She was a member of Holy Rosary Church, where she was active as a CCD teacher for many years, A Sunday School Teacher for many years and was a member of the Funeral Dinner Committee. Mary Ann loved working and spending time with children, she enjoyed Swedish Weave embroidery, reading, jigsaw puzzles and spending time with her beloved cat Oliver.
Mary Ann had retired from working at many offices of Elk Medical Associates in Johnsonburg and St. Marys. She had also worked at Elk Regional Medical Center.
The Commissioners of Potter County will be accepting applications for a part-time Security Guard position with the Sheriff’s Department at the Courthouse. Job descriptions/applications can be obtained from Potter County CareerLink and/or the Administrative Office, Suite 203 in the Gunzburger Building. Resumes and letters of interest should be submitted to Danielle Gietler; Executive Secretary/HR Admin. at dgietler@pottercountypa.net or at One North Main Street, Suite 203, Coudersport, PA 16915 and will be accepted until 4:30 p.m., April 24, 2024.
Position Opening
Potter County District Attorney Office
Part Time Secretary/Clerk
The Commissioners of Potter County will be accepting applications for a part-time Secretary/Clerk with the District Attorney’s Office. Job descriptions/applications can be obtained from Potter County CareerLink and/or the Administrative Office, Suite 203 in the Gunzburger Building. Resumes and letters of interest should be submitted to Danielle Gietler; Executive Secretary/HR Admin. at dgietler@pottercountypa.net or at One North Main Street, Suite 203, Coudersport, PA 16915 and will be accepted until 4:30 p.m., April 24, 2024.
Governor Shapiro is calling on other insurers to follow suit.
Governor Shapiro has always defended women’s access to reproductive healthcare – and he is calling on more insurers to expand access to this critical healthcare with or without a prescription.
Harrisburg, PA – Last week, with the launch of the first ever FDA approved over-the-counter (OTC) daily birth control pill, Opill, Governor Josh Shapirourged health insurers in Pennsylvania to make contraception more accessible and affordable without unnecessary hurdles. Within a week, major insurers CVS Health Plans and Geisinger Health Plans announced that they will cover OTC contraception with or without a prescription at no cost – and Governor Shapiro is encouraging other insurers to follow their example.
“Last week, my Administration issued best practice guidance to health insurers to cover over the counter birth control with or without a prescription – and I called on insurance companies to step up. I am glad to see that CVS Health Plans are joining Geisinger Health Plans to cover Opill without a prescription — and more insurers should follow suit,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “I’ve always fought to protect and defend access to reproductive healthcare, and my Administration will continue to hold insurers accountable and ensure that women have the personal freedom to make choices over their own bodies.”
