2025

Williamsport, Pa., February 17, 2025 – Kiersten Fairbank, CNA, Cole Place, part of UPMC Senior Communities; Hayfa Shakkour-Perez, respiratory therapist, UPMC Wellsboro; Gail Keen, CNA, Haven Place, part of UPMC Senior Communities; Angela Frear, office assistant, UPMC Primary Care in Montoursville; and Cody Funston, floor and project technician, Environmental Services, UPMC Muncy, wererecently recognized with the BEE Award for theiroutstanding support of nursing teams.

The BEE Award, meaning Be Extraordinary Every Day, recognizes the care team that supports nursing staff and works closely with them to provide patients with the compassion and care they need.

* WHAT…Lake effect snow and blowing snow. Additional snow
accumulations 3 to 5 inches in the most persistent lake snows.
Winds gusting as high as 40 to 50 mph.

* WHERE…Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Southern Erie Counties.

* WHEN…Until 1 AM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow
will significantly reduce visibility.

INSTRUCTIONS: Lake effect snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If traveling,
be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities.

Submit snow reports through our website or social media.

Issued By: NWS Buffalo NY

DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…For the Wind Advisory, west winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 to 50 mph. For the Cold Weather Advisory, bitterly cold wind
chills as low as 20 below zero expected.

* WHERE…Erie, Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties.

* WHEN…For the Wind Advisory, until 6 PM EST this evening. For the Cold Weather Advisory, from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero will cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

INSTRUCTIONS: Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

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.

Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron-Northern Clinton-Southern Centre-Southern Clinton- Including the cities of Lock Haven, Ridgway, Warren, Coudersport,
Bradford, St. Marys, Emporium, State College, and Renovo 9:31 AM EST Mon Feb 17 2025


* WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, west winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind chills as low as 17 below expected.

* WHERE...Cameron, Elk, McKean, Northern Clinton, Potter, Southern Centre, Southern Clinton, and Warren Counties.

* WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 4 PM EST this afternoon. For the Cold Weather Advisory, from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. The cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero could result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, dress in layers and cover exposed skin.

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a hig profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

Belmont, NY –  The Allegany County Democrats collected 20 bags/boxes of non-perishable food and personal care items when they met recently in West Clarksville. The goods were donated to the food pantry operated by the Cuba Council of Churches: Our Lady of Angels Roman Catholic Church, Christ Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church, Cuba Methodist Church, and North Park Wesleyan Church. This service project is one of the ways the Democratic Committee lives its motto: “Serving our Community”.

“The Cuba community never ceases to provide and amaze me,” states Claudia Little, Food Pantry Director. “When a need arises, they provide for their neighbors. The Cuba-Rushford school district is so blessed to have the support of so many.  Cuba Council of Churches Food Pantry is ready to meet the needs of those facing difficult times: offering food and gas vouchers for medical trips or job interviews, and lodging in emergency situations. The Holiday Assistance program allows many families to enjoy a happier holiday season.”

To the Editor:

As Congress considers H.R. 899, which would terminate the Department of Education (ED), rural communities face catastrophic losses. According to recently released data, New York alone would lose $5.5 billion annually ($3.2 billion state/$2.3 billion local), forcing property tax hikes—already rural residents’ heaviest burden—to fund schools.

We would also lose Federal programs like the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP), which directly supports underfunded rural districts without raising local taxes. REAP lets local leaders upgrade infrastructure, retain teachers, and expand career training—preserving community control. Thousands of rural schools depend on these funds to avoid program cuts.

This isn’t bureaucracy—it’s fiscal responsibility.

Eliminating Career/Tech Education grants would cripple programs training welders, nurses, and agricultural technicians through partnerships with employers like CABOCES. These initiatives reduce post-graduation social support reliance while strengthening local economies.

Dismantling the ED also threatens Pell Grants for workforce-bound students, school meal programs (shifting costs to states), and protections for disabled children—our most vulnerable. New Yorkers in both parties must ardently defend these lifelines or yield to those who will.

Rural schools anchor communities and economies. Without federal support, towns face grim choices: slash children’s programs or deepen family financial strains. Preserving the ED maintains local decision-making, prevents tax increases, and upholds the rural ideals of opportunity and self-sufficiency. Those who won’t fight for these principles on either side of the aisle don’t deserve rural America’s trust.

Joshua Johnston

Wellsville, NY

Mark your calendars for the 4^th Annual Coudersport Area School District’s Scholarship Fundraiser to be held on Saturday, March 15!    The Fundraiser will be held again this year at the Coudersport American Legion Post 192 with the doors opening at 4:00 PM. 

This event has become a very popular mid-winter blues buster with a terrific fun night full of good music, food, friends, drink, raffles and auction items all of which goes to benefit students from Coudersport Area School District.  The public is invited to come early just to take a chance on the many raffle items available or come and enjoy a delicious buffet dinner prepared by Eddies on Main while hearing the music of local teacher and guitarist Dana Daisley.    This well attended gathering has gained a reputation for a great night to break up the winter doldrums.    The Coudersport High School National Honor Society offers childcare for this event for a donation of the patron’s choosing so that parents can enjoy the night out while their children are involved in some fun activities with their friends at the high school.  

This event is sponsored through a partnership between district personnel and our local PTSA and provides community members with several opportunities to participate in providing scholarship funds to our students.  Community members are invited to donate their time and/or items for basket raffles or auctions as well as items for the dessert bar bake sale.

Tickets for the full event including the delicious buffet food offerings from Eddies on Main are being sold at $30 per person and $50 for a couple.   Tickets can be purchased at the school district front offices and the business office.

Donations of raffle, auction and baked items are very much appreciated and currently are being accepted by contacting the school’s business office at 274-0509.   Come join the fun on March 15^th and help our students!

Johnsonburg, Pa.:  More foxes continue to come in to Rolfe Beagle Club’s Statewide Coyote and Fox Hunt or Trap.  Josh Bizzak started off Saturday’s weigh-in with two foxes he had harvested in the wee hours of Saturday.  On his first stand Saturday morning at 12:30 a.m., Josh harvested a 10.4# male red fox on private lands in Elk County.  Josh was using an electronic call and hunts with a .17 caliber rifle. 

On Josh’s sixth stand of the morning at 5:30 a.m., Josh had just set up and ‘squeaked in’ a female red fox weighing 9.0#.  This was also on private lands in Elk County.

Josh stated, “It was a good night to be out hunting.  The moon was full and bright, but a light cloud cover moved in and it was perfect for hunting.”

Steve Krug contributed to the successful hunter list to date by bringing in an 8.6# female gray fox from private lands in Elk County.  Steve also shoots a .17 caliber rifle, and was using a Primos electronic call.  Steve harvested the gray fox at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning.

Hunters are reminded that if they choose to participate during the third weekend of this three-weekend hunt or trap, they must have their registration postmarked by Thursday, 2/20.

Weigh-in is at 4:00 p.m. every day.  Categories include coyote, fox, largest female coyote, and largest female fox.  Additional information at the Facebook Page, Rolfe Beagle Club.

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the Bradford man charged with raping a child over a several year period has pled guilty in a plea hearing before the Judge on February 13th.  

Andrew SILSBY of Bradford pled guilty to Rape of a Child and Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse for numerous incidents of sex assault against a minor child from 2016 to 2024 including intercourse with the victim 20 times when the child was between the ages of 10 and 15 and oral sex 15 times during that time period.  The District Attorney’s Office gave notice of its intention to seek the higher sentence permitted for under a special provision in the law for offenders who commit sex crimes against children.  

SILSBY will be required to be assessed by the Sex Offender Assessment Board as required by Pennsylvania law for anyone convicted of a sex offense to determine if he meets the definition of a sexually violent predator.  That assessment must be received by the District Attorney’s Office prior to sentencing.  Sentencing was scheduled for May.

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that a New York man has been sentenced to state prison for a firearms violation. Ronald BILLINSGLEY was sentenced to 50 months to 108 months in state prison after a sentencing hearing at the McKean County Courthouse on January 30th.

The charges were filed after Bradford City Police responded to a disturbance involving BILLINGSLEY at an apartment building in Bradford.

BILLINGSLEY pled guilty to Possessing a Firearm Without a License to Carry – Felony 3 and Simple Assault (against an inmate at the McKean County Jail). The Firearms’ charge carried an enhanced penalty due to the firearm being loaded or having ammunition available. BILLINGSLEY, a convicted felon, was not permitted to possess a firearm under Pennsylvania law.