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At Coudersport Rotary Club’s June 16, 2025, meeting at A&W West End Grill, Rotarian Sharon Fitzgerald introduced her friends, Maureen and Tom McDonald, who run the Moore’s Run Fish & Game Preserve.

Maureen grew up on Big Moore’s Run Road outside of Coudersport and moved away after college. In 2016 Tom and Maureen took over Moores Run Fish and Game Preserve from her parents, which has been in operation for 45 years. Six years ago Maureen and Tom moved back up to Potter County from Columbia County.

Big Moore’s Run is a Class A Trout stream which flows to the First Fork of the Sinnemahoning River. The Preserve is a dual business of ecotourism and fish farming. Aquaculture is regulated by the PA Dept of Agriculture.

90% of the trout they raise are sold and delivered to streams and private individuals from late March to early April. The hatchery delivers fish to 9 counties. 80% of the fish are bought by 20% of their customers. 75% of customers are clubs and lodges. The other 25% are small derbies and people who come to get fish to stock their ponds.

They are a true hatchery, They start with adult brood fish, who lay eggs, which hatch into sac fry, which lie on the bottom, absorbing nutrients from an exterior yolk. These then develop a mouth and swim up into suspension. The McDonalds feed these a “milkshake” of ground up beef liver. Between February and April you can arrange to come and see the life cycle of the fish.

To grow from small fish to large ones, the fish need food, protection from predators, good genetics and age. Selective breeding yields the best fish. 25” trout are at least 7 years old, and not every fish can grow to this.

Commercial fishing trawlers waste a lot of fish. From their “waste fish” a paste is made which is 45% protein and high in fat. It is converted into different size pellets for different size fish.

Predators include birds of prey, mink, raccoon, bobcat, river otter and trespassers. Bears steal fish food. Elk may wallow in holding ponds, causing the fish to panic and smother.

They have one full-time employee, Danny Schoonover, who maintains the stream as well as supervising production.

Moore’s Run Fish & Game Preserve maintains 2 miles of stream for catch and release fly-fishing. Those fishing the stream must pinch the barb off their hooks to prevent injuries to fish and to people. They do need a fishing license.

The preserve offers guiding services although most customers are technically strong flyfishers.

People love the beauty of Potter County. They come to the Preserve for privacy and exclusivity. They have the stream to themselves and have the opportunity to catch big fish, which have been able to grow there under favorable conditions in pristine water. Many customers fly in or drive many hours, coming from as far as California and Texas. They patronize local B & B’s, motels, and restaurants, so there is trickle-down revenue to the community.

This is the 17th year Moores Run Fish and Game Preserve have hosted the Healing Waters program for Veterans. They also welcome local high school and conservation school programs.

Thank you Maureen and Tom McDonald for speaking before Coudersport Rotary Club.

The COTS series continued on Thursday featuring the music of Alex Cole (pictured).  There will be no concert on Thursday, July 3 due to the 4th of July holiday.  The July 10 concert will feature the music of crowd favorite Twin Tier Community Band under the direction of Diane Smith.  

Do you know someone who wants to become a Master Watershed Steward, but doesn’t have the time to meet in person? Penn State Extension is introducing an online training course for those who may fit this description. The course consists of pre-recordings, quizzes, and optional extras for those who cannot attend the weekly spring training.

What is the Master Watershed Steward Program? Travis Wingard, the Master Watershed Steward coordinator for PA Wilds, describes the program in detail.

“The Master Watershed Steward (MWS) program brings local volunteers, state-wide resources, and world-class science together to help protect and restore what makes the PA Wilds so special- clean water, healthy forests, and conservation-empowered rural communities.” Wingard states. 

 The Potter County Planning Department is hitting the road as part of the Revitalize Potter County initiative—and we want to hear from you! We’re co-planning for future community and economic development projects across the county, and your ideas will help shape what comes next.

As part of this effort, we’re hosting Community Feedback Meetings in eight towns, starting with Genesee (July 7), Roulette (July 8), and Germania (July 9), all 6-8pm. These meetings are designed to be hands-on, energizing, and full of great conversation—plus we’re bringing dinner.

This is your chance to share what you love about your community, what needs attention, and what you’d like to see built, supported, or improved. Everyone is welcome—bring your kids, your neighbors, and your best ideas.

RSVP here so we can plan for food and send you a reminder: https://forms.gle/z5z3pmwq24hd9ziX9

MISS COMMODORE PERRY IS FIRST RUNNER-UP AND MISS CONGENIALITY AND MISS MILLVILLE IS SECOND RUNNER-UP FROM 10 SEMIFINALISTS

“I couldn’t be more surprised,” said Miss Alice Ravert, the newly crowned 2025 Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen, daughter of Susan and John Ravert of Montoursville, Lycoming County.  

Night Work Continues Next Week on Continental Boulevard near Danville, Montour County

Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that a bridge replacement and roadway resurfacing project continues next week with night work on Continental Boulevard (Route 54) in Derry and Valley townships, Montour County.

Route 54 Resurfacing

• Starting on Sunday, June 29, 2025, the contractor HRI, Inc., will begin milling the existing roadway on Continental Boulevard (Route 54) between Route 642 in Valley Township and Route 254 in Derry Township near the village of Mausdale.
• Placement of new pavement is scheduled to begin later in the week.
• Motorists can expect single lane conditions with flagging where work is being performed. 
• Work will be performed Sundays through Thursdays, between the hours of 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM, weather permitting. 

Bridge Replacement

• Mill Road and Hillside Drive remain closed while the contractor continues work on the bridge replacement at the intersection of Continental Boulevard (Route 54) and Stecker Mill Road (Route 3006).
• A detour using Narehood Road (Route 3003), Broadway Road (Route 254), and Continental Boulevard (Route 54) is in place. 
• The contractor is placing backfill around the new culvert in preparation to reconstruct the roadway.
• The speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.

There will be no work performed on this project between Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 12:00 PM through Monday, July 7, 2025, at 7:00 AM. 

HRI, Inc. is the prime contractor for this $5.5 million bridge replacement and roadway resurfacing project. Work includes replacement of the existing bridge that carries Route 54 over Stony Brook with a box culvert and minor roadway repairs near the bridge. Additional work includes the mill and resurface of 5.6 miles of Route 54 between Route 254 in Derry Township and Valley Road (Route 3008) in Valley Township and 0.6 mile of Route 54 between Valley Road and the Roadside Rest Area in Valley Township. Work on this project is anticipated to be completed in December 2025.

Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that a roadway resurfacing and embankment stabilization project continues on Route 220 in Picture Rocks Borough and Shrewsberry Township, Lycoming County.

The week of Monday, June 30, 2025, the contractor, Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc., will continue making slope and roadway repairs. Work will be performed during daylight hours.

Traffic Impacts

• Temporary traffic signals have been placed on Route 220 between Deer Lake Road (Route 2083) and Barto Hollow Road.
  • The temporary traffic signals are currently in flash mode.
  • (NEW) The week of Monday, June 30, the temporary traffic signals will be placed in full operation mode.
• Motorists can expect long-term single lane conditions through the fall 2025.
• A 10-foot width restriction is currently in place.

Montoursville, PA –The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Highway Safety Network, and the Bloomsburg Police Department met today at Bloomsburg Town Park in Bloomsburg, Columbia County to remind park goers the importance of having a sober driver ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting ban soon could become a thing of the past.

House Bill 1431, which would fully repeal the ban, passed the state Senate today by a 34-16 vote. Introduced by Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, the bill passed the state House of Representatives June 11. With the Senate’s vote today, the bill now heads back to the House of Representatives for a final vote on concurrence. If approved again, it would go to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

On behalf of Pennsylvania’s hunters, Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith expressed his gratitude to the Senate, with particular thanks to Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Chair Sen. Greg Rothman, and Sen. Dan Laughlin, who has led the charge on this issue for years.