Rene’ A. Barnard, 67, of Port Allegany, PA, passed away Sunday, January 19, 2025 in her home surrounded by her family after a short illness.
Born November 27, 1957, in Coudersport, PA, she was a daughter of the late Albert Rees, Oaka Rees, and Rita Rees.
Rene’ was a 1975 graduate of Port Allegany High School. Rene’ started her professional career at Pittsburgh Corning. She was the owner of Everyday Happy-nings of Port Allegany. Rene’ finished her professional career working at Cutco, where she retired in November of 2024.
Austin musicians, from left, Kellie Crumrine, Brennan Ogden and Lillian Clinger
Austin Area School is hosting a fun and arts-filled event, free to the public, at 6 pm on Saturday, Jan. 25. It’s the latest project of the Potter County Creative Council (PC3).
Focus will be on trivia fun, with questions based on local themes. Gift cards will be presented as prizes.
Among the musical performers will be Austin Area School students Brennan Ogden, Lillian Clinger and Kellie Crumrine, as well as Coudersport Area High School’s Ronan Bray. Former faculty member Katie Sasala will be the emcee.
A supervised craft activity will be provided for those ages 5 to 12. They’ll be creating novelty guitars and percussion instruments.
Locally sourced food from God’s Country Creamery and Sons of Dunn Farm/God’s Country Kettle Corn will be available.
PC3, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, was formed in 2022 as a successor to the Potter County Council on the Arts. That followed Potter County’s selection as one of just six applicants nationwide for the Creative Communities Placemaking Challenge, a project of the Americans for the Arts. Focus was on using arts and culture to support community and economic development.
Coudersport’s Ronan Bray with guitar
Later, PC3 was one of eight organizations picked from a field of nearly 200 for the Pa. Council on the Arts’ Creative Communities Initiative. A multi-year grant has been approved by the state agency to support the ongoing work.
Last May, PC3 sponsored a well-attended free concert at the Presbyterian Church in Coudersport featuring the chamber music group, Felix Piano Trio, joined by student musicians Elizabeth Crawford (Northern Potter) and Ty Woodard-Furman (Coudersport).
Most recently, PC3 presented a free concert at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum by the nationally renowned California Guitar Trio. Also performing were student musicians Lillian Vought from Northern Potter and Ronan Bray from Coudersport. The audience was a broad cross-section of county residents as well as visitors to the area.
Details on PC3 activities are being shared on the organization’s Facebook page.
Larry Eugene Craley, 79, of Coudersport, passed away Friday, January 17, 2025, at his home. He was born May 23, 1945, in York, PA, to Elwood C. and Dessie Mae (Duncan) Craley. He graduated from Eastern High School in York, in the class of 1963. He joined the US Army, and on October 31, 1968, he married Phyllis Ann Bridgette, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage. He worked as an electrician, and was a member of the American Legion, Larry also assisted his wife with her duties as VP of the Pennsylvania Association for Retired State Employees.
Grace Pollock is the Student of the Week for the week of January 13th, 2025. She is a senior at Northern Potter High School. Grace Pollock stands out as an exceptional student in the Culinary Arts program. Known for her dedication and strong work ethic, Grace ensures that all lab work is meticulously organized and completed to the highest standard. Her commitment to excellence extends beyond the kitchen, as she consistently finishes her bookwork ahead of schedule.
What makes Grace’s achievement even more impressive is her accelerated path—she is on track to complete the rigorous three-year culinary program in just two years. Grace’s attention to detail, responsibility, and passion for culinary arts make her a role model for her peers and a deserving recipient of Student of the Month.
Hamilton-Gibson Productions will present Miss Holmes Returns by Christopher M. Walsh on February 14, 15, 21, and 22 at 7:30pm and February 23 at 2:30 pm at the Warehouse Theatre in Wellsboro. This is the sequel to Miss Holmes, which HG performed to acclaim in 2019 and features the original cast returning to the roles of Sherlock, Watson, Mycroft, Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson. The play opens on Valentine’s Day, when a special Valentine’s Gimlet cocktail will be available for purchase and can be brought into the theater.
(NOTE: You are receiving this sports information release because one or more athletes from your coverage area compete on a team at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.)
Penn College women continue to roll on court
For the second time this season, the Pennsylvania College of Technology women’s basketball team put together a five-game win streak, and, after a 3-0 week, stood alone in second place in the United East Conference standings.
This Saturday, the college’s archery team opens its season at the Easton Collegiate Tournament in Manheim. A preview will be forthcoming.
DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…Bitterly cold wind chills 15 below to 20 below zero expected.
* WHERE…Southern Erie and Wyoming counties and the western Southern Tier.
* WHEN…From 4 PM Monday to 11 AM EST Wednesday.
* IMPACTS…Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Such wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
INSTRUCTIONS: This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
HARRISBURG – Reps. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Wyoming) and Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) today announced a state grant of more than $125,000 has been awarded to Supporting Area Families Everyday (SAFE) to expand its supervised visitation and parent education program in Bradford and surrounding counties.
“This funding will help to ensure parents have the support they need to foster healthy relationships with their children,” said Pickett. “By investing in these vital services, we are not only improving outcomes for families today but also building a safer, more stable future for our local communities.”
Dr. Obinna Ezeihuoma, assistant professor of criminal justice, holds the book, “Criminology in Nigeria,” in which he published a chapter.
BRADFORD, Pa. — Faculty at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford were busy during the fall semester publishing and presenting research at conferences in the areas of criminal justice, engineering, chemistry and biology.
Dr. Behnaz (Beth) Rezaie, assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology, was a keynote speaker at the 4th International Conference on Modeling, Simulation and Optimization at the National Institute of Technology Silchar in India. The title of her talk was “Modeling District Cooling System for Enhancing Sustainability.
Including the cities of Emporium, Ridgway, Warren, Laporte, St. Marys, Renovo, Mansfield, Bradford, Wellsboro, Coudersport, and Trout Run 338 AM EST Sun Jan 19, 2025
...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM MONDAY TO NOON EST WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero expected.
February Hearings Will Gather Public Input on PPL Proposals for Transmission Line Construction, Improvements and Other Related Work
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC’s) Office of Administrative Law Judge has scheduled public input hearings to gather feedback on multiple applications filed by PPL Electric Utilities Corporation (PPL) for electric transmission line projects.
These projects involve constructing, rebuilding, and upgrading key transmission lines and associated facilities in parts of Chanceford, East Hopewell, and Hopewell townships in York County, which PPL says are necessary to address transmission reliability issues associated with data center load growth in the mid-Atlantic region.
Commissioner Carol Duffy swore-in McKean County Conservation Directors on January 10th. Commissioner Tom Kreiner will serve a one-year term as a Commissioner Director. This will be his second term as a Conservation District Director
Kimberly A. (Wetherbee) Warriner, 61, of Wellsboro, passed away Friday January 17, 2025, surrounded by family, at UPMC Williamsport.
She was born August 29, 1963 in Blossburg, to Gordon A. and Marjorie G. (Mudge) Wetherbee, she earned her Associate’s Degree and on October 15, 1988, married Timothy Warriner. Kim worked at Dunham’s Department Store in Wellsboro, and for more than 20 years managed the Sporting Goods and Automotive Departments at Walmart, and was a Teachers’ Aide in the Wellsboro School District. She loved community events, especially Dickens and Laurel Festival, and enjoyed photography especially taking pictures of people who weren’t her, Kim also enjoyed bird watching. Kim was an avid sports fan, and served as an assistant coach of the Wellsboro Middle School softball team and the Wellsboro High School volleyball team, and was very supportive of the school teams and enjoyed the high school band performances. But most of all Kim loved her family and was a devoted mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.
Heavy snow will begin in Northern Cattaraugus County tonight, January 19. Between 1-2 feet of snow expected with a snowfall rate of 1 inch per hour at times. Heavy snow will begin in Jefferson, Lewis, and Oswego Counties Monday afternoon, January 20. Between 2-3 feet of snow expected with snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour at times. Visibility will be low and travel will become dangerous. Temperatures will feel as low as 15-20 degrees below zero during this time. Winds of 25-35 mph are expected which may knock down trees and power lines. The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning for Cattaraugus County until Wednesday, January 22, at 10:00 a.m. The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning for Oswego County until Wednesday, January 22, at 1:00 p.m. The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning for Jefferson and Lewis Counties until Wednesday, January 22, at 7:00 a.m. Please see the following link for more information on the Weather Warnings: https://alerts.weather.gov/search?area=NY
Avoid travel if possible. Expect delays and closures. If you can’t avoid traveling: clean off your vehicle before driving. Drive slow, and don’t use cruise control. Roads can be slick even if they just look wet. Leave extra distance between vehicles and don’t crowd the plows!
Practice safe shoveling: Dress warmly, stay hydrated, move only small amounts of snow, and take frequent breaks.
If you’re stranded in a vehicle, avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by running the motor for 10 minutes every hour. While your car is running, open the windows slightly for fresh air. Keep your exhaust pipe clear of snow.
Watch for signs of hypothermia: confusion, shivering, difficulty speaking, sleepiness, and stiff muscles. Seek medical attention if you experience these symptoms. If no help is available, the victim should be warmed slowly with warm liquids along with dry clothing and blankets.
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that several people appeared in McKean County Court for sex crimes. Daniel MERRICK of Smethport appeared at a scheduled plea conference on January 16th and pled guilty to possessing nearly 700 counts of child pornography. He was charged after an investigation by Trooper Robert Whyel of the Computer Crimes Unit of the Pennsylvania State Police.
MERRICK pled guilty to Possessing 698 images of child pornography of prepubescent children – 499 of which depicted indecent contact. District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer: “These crimes carry a sex offender registration requirement of at least 15 years. However, Pennsylvania law requires every defendant convicted of this charge (and several others) to undergo an assessment by the Sex Offender Assessment Board to determine if he meets the definition of a sexually violent predator (or “SVP”). SVPs must register for lifetime. The Board has 90 days to complete the assessment which must occur prior to sentencing.”
Sentencing was scheduled for May 29th. John HODGDON of Wilcox appeared for sentencing before the Court on January 10th. He was sentenced to 13 years to 26 years in state prison plus 3 years of consecutive probation on charges of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Aggravated Indecent Assault, and Child Pornography/Sexual Abuse of Children. He is not eligible for any early parole programs. He is to have no contact with the victim or the victim’s immediate family or unsupervised contact with juveniles, provide DNA, register as a sex offender for lifetime and other terms. He was charged following an investigation by Trooper Anthony Tettis of the Pennsylvania State Police-Ridgway.
Harold KAGARISE of Bradford was sentenced on January 9, 2025 to 15 years to 30 years plus 3 years of consecutive probation for charges of Rape of a Child and Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child. He is not eligible for any early reentry program. He was previously found to be a sexually violent predator and must register as a sex offender for lifetime. District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer: “Sex offenses against children are the most horrific cases police and prosecutors handle and I applaud the officers for their investigations into these cases. Most importantly, we must always recognize the bravery of the children involved in bringing the crime to the attention of police.
Sentences often do not reflect the true horror the crime has caused. A Court, in imposing a sentence, must follow the sentencing guidelines set by the legislature for the crime. The sentencing code does allow us to seek a higher sentence than that already set by the legislature for some sex offenses including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and rape of a child for which we can seek a 10 year sentence. The District Attorney’s Office sought the enhanced penalty in these cases to maximize the sentence given the nature of the crimes and the enhanced penalty is reflected in the Court’s sentence. In Pennsylvania, a Court must give a minimum and a maximum sentence that is at least double the sentence. The parole board determines if an offender will be released prior to the expiration of their maximum term but they must serve at least their minimum term.”
Thomas J. Cleary, Jr., 89, of Emporium, PA passed away at Penn Highlands DuBois, DuBois, PA on Friday evening (January 17, 2025). He was born February 10, 1935 in Emporium, PA a son of the late Thomas J. and Julia Hout Cleary.
Tom graduated from Cameron County High School and served with the US Navy from 1956 through 1960. He retired from Cameron County School District where he worked for many years and also was a bus driver for over 38 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 990, Emporium, Christabelle Club, the VFW and St. Mark Catholic Church.
The Allegany County Democratic Committee (ACDC) delivered a dozen bags of non-perishable food and personal care items to the Blessing Box on the grounds of the Methodist Church on Park Circle, Angelica. Donations were collected at the recent “Coffee with Democrats” event. This is one way the Democratic Committee lives its motto: “Serving our Community.”
The Blessing Box is a ‘little free pantry’ for the community. It is a mission of the Methodist Church and supported by all of Angelica’s churches and members of the community. It makes available nourishing food and personal care items for anyone in need 24 hours a day.
Martin E. “Marty” Watson, 90 years young, of Sanford, NC, a former longtime resident of Millport, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2025, in his home with his loving family by his side.
Funeral arrangements, entrusted to the care of Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, are incomplete and will be announced with a full obituary.
