August 2024

You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me!

by

Pastor B.J. Knefley

Sound familiar? How many times have you uttered those words? If you’re like most of us you’ve said them before, and you’ll probably say them again.

Often, we’ve said that phrase in desperation to an event or situation that we’re suddenly facing and wasn’t planned. You know the scenario, a flat tire, a sudden break down of an appliance or your vehicle. Perhaps even a news report that catches you completely off guard. Whatever the case it usually is something we were not expecting, and it takes us by surprise. For some it’s followed up with “Now what?” or “What’s next?” Times like these we feel like we’re never going to get a break. But it’s life, isn’t it?

We get surprised by life. Things that we didn’t see coming suddenly appear. Our best developed plans can’t foresee that untimely event. It is why I often say that life happens while we’re making other plans. But in the end, it’s not what happens to us but rather what we do with what happens to us. When we allow the events of life to control us, we give our control away. Although it’s true that we often can’t control what happens, we can control our responses. When we see ourselves as the victim, we become powerless, but it’s always a choice.

Have you ever wondered if God has ever used that expression? Do you think He has looked down at your life and shook his head and uttered, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Yeah, probably not. I have though wondered if he’s laughed at my shenanigans. I’m really good at taking one step forward and two steps back. Finding that I’m on my second or third trip around the same mountain seems to happen much too much.

Perhaps we’re looking at the problem or situation from the wrong position. Maybe what has taken place is there to teach us something, something that we wouldn’t have learned otherwise. Perhaps it’s happened for me rather than to me. Think about it 

Johnsonburg, Pa.: There’s a saying we just learned about buckthorn: “It consumes all the nutrients and space, and doesn’t contribute to habitat”.  The thirty plus attendees at Part 2 of the Buckthorn Workshop in Johnsonburg, sponsored by the Allegheny Forest Health Collaborative (AFHC), left the workshop with that saying burned into their brain.

The AFHC started day 2 of their workshop by reiterating the biology of buckthorn and a few other highly invasive plant species, and different herbicide methods that can potentially manage these plant pests in our woods.  The attendees then traveled to the Rolfe Beagle Club to view the different herbicide work done a month earlier at the club.  Lots of dead leaves to look at, but as instructor Art Gover stressed, “Managing buckthorn is a double treatment process.  The first treatment gets a majority of the buckthorn if done properly, but you have to come back the next growing season and treat the new shoots coming in.  Double treatment is a strategy you need to incorporate into your buckthorn management”.

​Motorists are advised that a two-year roadway improvement project continues on Water Street (Route 414), Blockhouse Road (Route 2005), and Williamson Road (Route 2007) in Liberty Borough and Liberty Township, Tioga County.

The week of Monday, August 5, 2024, the contractor, Glenn O. Hawbaker, will be performing drainage work on Williamson Trail Road (Route 2007) between Blockhouse Road and Mase Road (T-800).  Motorists can expect single lane conditions with flagging.

Motorists are advised a two-year construction project continues on Route 6 and Main Street (Route 2005) in Tioga County.

The Week of Monday, August 5
The contractor will continue rehabilitation work on the bridge that carries Route 6 over the Tioga River. Work includes repair of the sub-structure, deck repairs, and epoxy overlay.

Long-Term Detour
Route 6 will remain closed to westbound traffic at the intersection of Main Street.

• Route 6 westbound traffic will use South Main Street and Route 15.
• Route 6 eastbound traffic will be maintained through the work zone.

Program Title: Awesome Amphibians

Date: Saturday, August 10^th

Time: 3:00 – 4:30 PM

Location: Environmental Learning Center

Description: Do you know all the different types of amphibians that PA has to offer? Come out to this program and find out information on frogs, salamanders, toads, and newts. Short talk followed by exploring the park to try and find some of these cool critters!

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Due to the risk of inclement weather, the Big 30 parade is canceled. Unfortunately the weather does not look too promising given the rain and we want to be as safe as possible for our participants and the community. Game is still a go at this point! Gates open at 5pm.

Summer is in full swing, but Fall is around the corner! Do your future plans include postsecondary education? Northern PA Regional College (NPRC) brings affordable education to you. Their Fall 2024 semester begins Wednesday, August 14^th. Courses being offered include Introduction to Psychology, Music Appreciation, Introduction to Early Childhood Education, Accounting I, Business Technology, Business and Professional Communication, and many more. These courses are part of five associate degrees: Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Liberal Studies, and Social Sciences. If you are not interested in pursuing an associate degree at this time, NPRC’s team will help you select courses or training that meets whatever goal you would like to achieve.

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Watch
National Weather Service State College PA
1214 PM EDT Sat Aug 3 2024
…FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

* WHERE…A portion of central Pennsylvania, including the following
areas, Adams, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Clearfield, Columbia,
Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata,
Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northern Centre, Northern
Clinton, Northern Lycoming, Northumberland, Perry, Potter,
Schuylkill, Snyder, Southern Centre, Southern Clinton, Southern
Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Union and York.

* WHEN…Until 10 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– National Weather Service Meteorologists are forecasting heavy
rainfall over the burn scar, which may lead to flash flooding
and debris flows.
– http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

The Seneca Resources Company, LLC reported to DEP that at 4:00 p.m. on July 3, 2022 a plastic pipeline ruptured and spilled an estimated 18,000   gallons of shale gas drilling wastewater in Shippen Township, Cameron County.

On the morning of July 4th, about a mile away and downhill from the spill, John and Paige Rosenberger knew nothing about the spill, all they knew was their well pump wasn’t working.

John is a retired State Trooper who was on the force for 25 years.  He hunted in Cameron County with his father when he was young and really liked the area.

He and his wife Paige bought their home and 46 acres and moved in after he retired in May of 2018 and became part of the community.  

John serves as president of the local Rotary Club.

“We knew this was our forever home, the home and property you work your entire life for and we truly loved living here,” John said.

July 5

On July 5, they called their plumber in Emporium and he came and pulled the pump out of the 220 foot deep well; he said it had bad wiring.  By 4:30 that evening they had a new pump and wiring installed.

Contact David @ 814-274-9763, Coneville area

The owners called, but still looking for her mate…