William E. “Bill” COON, 78, of Galeton, PA, died Saturday, November 8, 2025 in his home. Friends may call at Valley Alliance Church, 4858 Route 6, Wellsboro, PA 16901 on Friday, November 14, 2025 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM and on Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, with Funeral Services following at 11:00 AM. A complete obituary will be announced by Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.
Margaret A. “Peggy” KUMP, 86, of Wellsboro, PA, formerly of Knoxville, died Thursday, November 6, 2025 in Country Terrace, Wellsboro. Born October 26, 1939, in Elmira, NY, she was the daughter of James Aitken and Esther Marian Edgcomb Smith.
On June 14, 1958, in Westfield, she married Eugene J. Kump, who survives. She was a graduate of Cowanesque Valley High School. Peggy enjoyed sewing and gardening.
June E. Hullihen, 88, of 128 Comet Road, St. Marys, passed away peacefully Friday, November 7, 2025 at her residence surrounded by her family.
She was born July 27, 1937 in Ridgway, daughter of the late Carl and June Rose Carlquist Nelson. June was a lifelong resident of the area and a graduate of Ridgway High School. She spent her working career at Pure Carbon until 1958 and then as a real estate broker at St. Marys Real Estate.
(MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania; November 9, 2025): District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the woman who was convicted at a June jury trial of shooting in the direction of Troopers at a camp in Marshburg, resulting in a 9-hour stand-off in 2024, has been apprehended and extradited back to Pennsylvania. Sharon VANDRISH failed to appear at her scheduled sentencing hearing on August 14th.
A bench warrant was issued for her. She was captured in New York and held in custody until she was extradited back to Pennsylvania through a Governor’s warrant obtained by the District Attorney’s Office. A bench warrant hearing was held on November 6th as required following the apprehension of an offender on a bench warrant. At the hearing, the District Attorney argued that VANDRISH’s bail should be revoked given her failure to appear and flight and announced that there is a warrant for VANDRISH from a Federal agency seeking to remove her from the United States as she is a Canadian citizen. VANDRISH remains incarcerated, and her sentencing has been rescheduled for January. A motion to forfeit the monetary bail previously posted has been filed by the District Attorney’s Office and is pending.
John Patrick Amato, 87, of Coudersport, passed away Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport.
John was born on January 9, 1938 in Philadelphia, the son of the late Joseph Amato and Louise (Lucarella) Amato. He is the husband of Agnes McGlinchey Amato and have shared 36 years together.
Last week in review: Seasons came to a close for the soccer and women’s volleyball teams, but first, the men’s soccer team made modern history by reaching the United East Conference Championship match for its first time ever.
Also, the basketball seasons got underway, with the women’s team off to its best start in 17 seasons, and the wrestling team had two individual champions at an invitational.
On the horizon: Penn College’s cross-country runners close out their season on Saturday in the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship at Big Spring High School in Newville. A year ago at regionals, the men finished 22nd of 29, and the women were 29th of 30. In the team’s last outing a week ago at the United East Championships, the top five Penn College men were Mitchell Campbell, of Riegelsville,Chase Ebeling, of Bellefonte, Ben Causak, of Lebanon, Holden Furey, of Williamsport, and Aaron Guerrisky, of South Williamsport. The top five women were Alexis Durn, of Spring Mills, Elaina Brady, of McConnellsburg, Ellie Miller, of Hughesville, Natalie Greiner, of Mount Joy, and Gwynn Johnson, of Staunton, Virginia.
Sally A. Kasper, artist, collector, and curator of beauty, passed away peacefully of natural causes on November 8, 2025, at the John & Orpha Blair Hospice House, surrounded by her family and the original artwork of her lifelong best friend, Anne (Finley) Fallin. The scene was so very Sally: love, laughter, art and color everywhere you looked.
Sally grew up in North Warren and spent nearly her entire life in Warren, PA, filling every inch of it with art, energy, and enthusiasm. After graduating from The Ray Vogue School in Chicago (later the Illinois Institute of Art), she enjoyed all forms of visual expression — paint, clay, pottery, and anything else she could get her hands on. Her small unfired clay sculptures earned critical acclaim, her bold gestural paintings pulsed with vitality, and her “chard-work” pottery was, in true Sally fashion, both colorful and delightfully offbeat.
CERES, PA—Donald C. Monroe, 96, a longtime resident of Ceres, passed away on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport, after a long illness.
Born on Thursday, August 8, 1929 in Rixford, he was a son of Royal Clifford and Mary Harmon Monroe. On August 20, 1950 in the Ceres United Methodist Church, he married Dolores D. Mix, who passed away on March 27, 2014.
George E. HILLIARD, 88, of Genesee, PA, died Wednesday, November 5, 2025 in his daughter’s home in Genesee. Born January 21, 1937, in Confluence, he was the son of Harry D. and Margaret E. Warrick Hilliard.
He served with the U.S. National Guard from 1953 – 1962. George moved to Potter County while working for Penn Lines, installing the first phone lines in the area. He was employed as a mechanic by the Ford garage in Wellsville, NY for 26 years and owned and operated Hilliard’s Garage in Genesee since 1993. George was honored as Genesee Citizen of the Year in 2023.
ERIE, Pa. — Students and faculty from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford attended and presented their research this week at the Regional Science Consortium at Presque Isle held at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle State Park.
Students presenting were Kenneth Alford, a mechanical engineering major from Braddock; Thomas Burk, a physical sciences major from Greencastle; Dylan Crawford, a pre-dental student from Olean, N.Y.; Kaua Dos Santos Da Silva, a biology major from Williamsville, N.Y.; Madhav Ellini, a pre-medicine student from Bradford; Cassidy Elton, a chemistry major from Landenberg; Madison Foote, a biology major from Titusville; Ridge Gray, a biology major from Phoenixville; Peyton Haight, a pre-pharmacy student from Bradford; and Isaias Sanchez, a biology major from Brodheadsville.
Stephen C. Bennett, of Hinsdale, N.Y., passed away in his home suddenly from unforeseen circumstance on November 4th, 2025.
Stephen was born December 29, 1970, in Olean, New York, to Stephen L. and Bonnie A. Bennett. He graduated from Olean High School in 1989. He was employed by Great Lakes Cheese for 36 years. He often made jokes of his employment yet loved the job and the people he had the pleasure of working with.
ROULETTE, PA—William H. “Bill” Grandin, 87, a lifelong resident of Roulette, passed away peacefully in his home with his loving family by his side on Friday, November 7, 2025.
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.
June E. Hullihen, 88, of 128 Comet Road, St. Marys, passed away peacefully Friday, November 7, 2025 at her residence surrounded by her family. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.
Dona M. Brown, 89, of Crookerhouse Lane, Bradford, passed away Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Bradford Regional Medical Center, surrounded by her loving grandchildren, and great grandchildren, by her side.
Dona was born in Bradford, on April 30, 1936, she was a daughter of the late Duane and Alice E. (Feely) Vaughn. She was a 1954 graduate of Bradford High School.
On April 26,1952, she married George E. Brown, who preceded her in death on April 5, 2009.
Richard E. “Rick” Grasser, 64, a resident of Elk Towers and formerly of Kersey, passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
He was born on October 9, 1961 in St. Marys, a son of the late Richard Grasser and Laura Beldin Fragale.
Rick was a free spirit who enjoyed living a simple life. With a great love for the outdoors, Rick could often be found hunting or camping. He also enjoyed the quiet solace of a fishing trip, and delighted in sharing his catches with his family and friends.
Rick is survived by three sisters; Pam Franklin of Richburg, NY, Pat (David) See of Thornton, CO, and Joanne (Joe) Pearson of Emporium, as well as by some dear friends who were a great help to Rick; Wade (Denise) Wilson and Debby Penfield.
Marvin N. Waggoner, 95, of Warren, PA, died on Thursday November 6 th , 2025, in his home. Services will be private and held at the convenience of the family through the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home Inc.
Donald C. Monroe, 96, a longtime resident of Ceres, passed away on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport, after a long illness.
Born on Thursday, August 8, 1929 in Rixford, he was a son of Royal Clifford and Mary Harmon Monroe. On August 20, 1950 in the Ceres United Methodist Church, he married Dolores D. Mix, who passed away on March 27, 2014.
He attended Bolivar Central School. Don was employed for many years at the former Ethan Allen Furniture Company in Eldred until his retirement.
SHINGLEHOUSE, PA—Esther Ruth Ray, 87 yrs old, passed away on 11/4/2025 in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport PA, after a long illness.
Esther was born on August 22, 1938 to Mabel and Melford Donaldson, in Meadville PA. She was the youngest of 4 children. She spent her early years on a dairy farm until the family moved into Linesville Boro, and attended Linesville First Baptist Church. She graduated from Linesville/Conneaut /Summit High School. She worked as a counselor at Camp Judson during summers as a teenager. She really enjoyed Home-Economics Class, as she hoped to someday be a homemaker and mother, and she loved going to the Farm Show in Harrisburg with her classmates every year.
SHINGLEHOUSE, PA. Mr. Erich Zaun, Principal, has announced that the following students, grades six through twelve, have been named to the Honor Roll for the first nine-week grading period at the Oswayo Valley Jr./Sr. High School. Students named to the High Honor Roll have maintained an average of 93% or above, while those on the Honor Roll have averaged 87% or above.
HIGH HONOR ROLL
GRADE 12: Jude Colbey, Lucas Dickerson, KayLynn George, Luke Karr, Trevor Miller, Soi Sang Nguyen, Kole Parrish, Rachel Rathbun, Mia Shaffer, Wynter Turek GRADE 11: Ella Bee, Travis Coriaty, Payton Danforth, Sage McCleaft, Aubrey Resig, Dana Williams, Jenna Wylie GRADE 10: Evalyn Abdo, Amberdale Burks, Olivia Fetzer, Makiah Jandrew, Jessica Pitts, Ella Resig, Bowen Taylor, Reese Thompson GRADE 9: Olivia Metcalf, Camdyn Shaffer, Lane West GRADE 8: Jonathan Aumiller, Mackenna Evingham, Sharlotte Tucker GRADE 7: Ayce Geiger, Lela Thompson GRADE 6: Troy Allen, Willow Vincent
Visitors spend record-breaking $2.1 billion in PA Wilds in 2024
Every county in region sees growth in visitor spending, taxes collected from tourism categories
Visitors spent a record-breaking $2.1 billion while visiting Pennsylvania Wilds in 2024, while the total economic impact of the visitor economy hit $3.29 billion for the region, according to the recently released Tourism Economics report.
The travel sector is an important piece of Pennsylvania’s economy. Each year, Tourism Economics releases a report in conjunction with the PA Department of Community and Economic Development to highlight key economic data for the Commonwealth and its eleven official Tourism Regions. According to the most recent report, 201.6 million visitors generated $83.9 billion in total economic impact in Pennsylvania in 2024.
Bessie I. Buckingham “beloved and loving wife, mother, and grandmother”
AUSTIN, PA—Bessie I. Buckingham, 90, a longtime resident of Austin, passed away with her loving family by her side in her home on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, after a brief illness.
Born on Sunday, April 28, 1935 in Laceyville, PA, she was a daughter of Claude F. and Anna Price Decker. On February 21, 1953 in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, she married Robert G. “Bob” Buckingham, who survives.
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Do you have a picture you’d like to share, maybe your home’s outdoor decorations or last year’s Thanksgiving dinner table? If so please send your photos (JPEG files preferred) to us through our email address. You’ll find our address on the left sidebar. We can’t wait to see your festive photos and share some community cheer!
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CERES, PA—Donald C. Monroe, 96, a longtime resident of Ceres, passed away on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport, after a long illness.
Friends are invited to attend Donald’s funeral at 2pm on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials in Donald’s name may be made to the Ceres United Methodist Church, 9287 School Street, Shinglehouse, PA 16748.
A complete obituary will follow.
Donald’s grandson entrusted his care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, PA.
To express condolences, light a candle or share a fond memory of Donald, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.
Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that a flood damage repair project will begin tomorrow on Route 220 in Davidson Township, Sullivan County.
Between Friday, November 7, 2025 and mid-December 2025, the contractor, Mitchell Knorr Contracting, Inc., will begin repair work between Fairman Road (Route 3003) and approximately a half mile south of Gavitt Road (T-320). Work includes removing trees, clearing debris, and repairing rock line ditches throughout the project area. Additional work includes replacing damaged pipes on Main Street (Route 2002) in Sonestown. Motorists can expect single lane conditions with flagging during daylight hours where work is being performed.
