Mary Lou Ross, 97, of Lewis Run, peacefully passed away Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Bradford Regional Medical Center. She had been a resident at The Pavilion at Bradford Regional Medical Center.
Born on March 28, 1928, in Gifford, PA, she was the daughter of the late David A. and Ethelyn Leola (Newton) Pytcher.
On October 16, 1948, she married Michael A. Ross, in Our Mother of Perpetual Help rectory in Custer City. They were married for 73 years.
Donna R. Nickeson “beloved mother and grandmother”
AUSTIN, PA—Donna R. Nickeson, born January 12, 1949, to Margaret Barr and Harold VanWhy, passed away after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Donna lived her life with strength, deep love, and unwavering resilience. She faced every hardship with fiery spirit, and her charm touched everyone fortunate enough to know her.
November 2025 was a somewhat normal November. It was wetter and colder than normal. We had 17 days with reportable precipitation.
Morning temperature readings were mainly in the 30.s and a few high 20’s. We did have a reading of 42 on the 26th. The days were mostly cloudy with windy conditions. We had damaging winds on the 6th.We had 4 very foggy mornings.
We received 2.44″ of rainfall and melted snow. We measured 4.4″ of snow . We recorded 2 days with one inch or more of snow on the ground with the 2″ reading on the 11th. We had a trace of snow on the ground for 5 days. Last year we received 2.57″ of rain and melted snow with 3″ of snow. Pine Creek is still low.
It has been a dry year thus far. Get ready for winter. The NWS predicts a colder than normal December with some interesting snowfall readings starting off the new month.
The mowers may be put away until spring, however I did note mowing taking place the last week of November. I am sure if the lawns remain snow free there will still be some mowing. It never stops. Get the snow shovels out.
Henry W. LushNational Weather Service Observer
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the Superior Court has affirmed the conviction of the Smethport man for Rape of a Child, Incest of a Minor, and other sex crimes against a young boy. Robert TANNER is currently incarcerated serving a state sentence of at least 20 years for his crimes. After his conviction, the Judge sentenced TANNER to a period of incarceration of at least 20 years to 40 years plus 3 years of consecutive probation.
After TANNER was charged, the District Attorney gave notice of her intention to seek an enhanced sentence that is permitted under the sentencing code for Rape on a victim under 13 and Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse on a victim under 16. The enhancement allows the Judge to impose a sentence higher than that provided for in the sentencing guidelines and the Judge imposed the enhanced penalty in this case.
TANNER appealed his case to the Superior Court and, by Opinion filed December 1, 2025, the Court affirmed his conviction. Trooper Eric Thompson, Pennsylvania State Police, investigated the case. District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.
