Matthew Reeves, 29, of Second Avenue, Johnsonburg, passed away December 14, 2024 at Penn Highlands, DuBois. He was born on August 26, 1995, in St. Marys, PA a son to Jana Miller and Robert W. Reeves, Sr.
A lifelong resident of Johnsonburg, Matthew was a 2016 graduate of Johnsonburg Area High School.
To say Matthew was anything but a grumpy old soul would be a lie. He had a tender heart with his selected few and fiercely protected those lucky enough to be loved by him. He was a dedicated athlete and enjoyed wrestling, track and going to the gym regularly. He was a fearless BMX rider.
Matthew loved to work with carpentry and other artistic outlets.
The Chamber Singers are pictured as they perform under the direction of Ms. Camille Baptiste.
The program began with two numbers from the Chamber Singers – Eatnemen Vuelie and the second song was Et In Terra Pax.
The Elementary Ensemble also performed two numbers – Once Upon a December and December Lullaby.
The Fourth Grade Chorus sang Santa Wants a Brand New Bag with special guest, Santa Claus. The Fifth and Sixth Grade Chorus sang African Noel and Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls Parody.
The Fourth Grade Chorus and Fifth and Sixth Grade Chorus joined to perform Stille Nacht.
The Fourth Grade Chorus and Combined Chorus was led by J.T. Madison. The Fifth and Sixth Grade Chorus and Elementary Ensemble were led by Jen Guncheon.
The Junior High Chorus sang Hanukkah Shalom, Carol of the Sheep Bells and Aurora Borealis with trio Aliyah Bennett, MaKayla Freeman and Marlena Smith and quartet by Molly Barber, Phoenix Keilmeier, Lena Skinner and Delaney Stromberg.
The Senior High Concert Choir performed Stil, Still, Still, Y’mei haChanukah, Carol of the Bells and Hodie Christus natus est. The Combined Choirs sang Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain.
Director for the Junior High Chorus, Senior High Concert Choir and the Chamber Singers was Camille Baptiste. Accompaniests on piano included Mrs. Carey Boyer and PAHS Senior Lily Madison. Also accompanying on clarinet was Raelin Meacham and on percussion Trace Kazimer, Holden Nance and Lily O’Rourke.
The Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra is presenting its popular annual Holiday Jazz Concert twice, first this Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at its home in the Trachte Music Center at Lycoming College and this Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.
Tickets for the Trachte Music Center concert in Williamsport on Dec. 20 are $20 and available at the door only. Students with ID are admitted free.
The Deane Center concert in Wellsboro on Dec. 21 is BYOB with audience members encouraged to reserve a table, bring their own favorite beverages and snacks and sit with family and friends to enjoy the music. There will be room for dancing. Admission is $20. For tickets and to reserve a table, visit www.deanecenter.com or call 570-724-6220.
The concert will include big band holiday favorites. Among them are: the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra’s “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, Gordon Goodwin’s “The Little Drummer Boy”, the Overture from Shorty Roger’s “Swingin’ Nutcracker”, Trombonist Kevin Henry’s “Jazzige Nacht”, “O Holy Night” with Eddie Severn on trumpet, and vocalist Suezie Cioffi singing arrangements of holiday jazz classics “Cool Yule,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Frosty The Snowman.”
PAHS Seniors Ella Moses and Bailey Rupert visited the Port Allegany Rotary Club and were introduced to the club by Rotarians Ink Young and Charlie Cox. Ella is the daughter of Chad and Jennifer Wallace Moses and has two brothers – Carter and Blaine. Her school activities include Concert Choir, National Honor Society, Student Council, Varsity Club and sports. Ella is a member of the Lady Gator Volleyball team and was selected as a Northern Tier/ League All Star/ two years. She is also a member of the Lady Gator Basketball team and was selected as a Northern Tier League All-Star/three years and a Big 30 All-Star/two years. Her hobbies include knitting and photography and she works at Fox’s and as a babysitter. Her future plans are to attend a 4-year college, (Pitt-Bradford or Penn State Dubois), major in Psychology and play volleyball and basketball.
Bailey is the daughter of Rhonda Windsor and Lee Windsor. She has eight siblings and is the second youngest. She lives on a farm in Turtlepoint. In school, she is on the academic track. She has played volleyball and has been a cheerleader, was in chorus and used to play trombone in the band. Her hobbies include riding bikes, hunting, fishing, drawing and painting and doing puzzles. Bailey plans to take a year or two off and then go to school to be a Vet-Tech and move to Arizona.
On December 17, at 6:43 pm Port Allegany Fire Dept. was dispatched to Champlin Hill Rd. and Open Brook Rd. for a brush fire. All units recalled it is a controlled burn
The final Ministerium Advent luncheon for this year will be held at noon tomorrow at St. Eulalia’s Roman Catholic Church fellowship hall promptly at noon on Wednesday, December 18. All are invited, a free will offering will be collected to support the work of the ministerium throughout the year in the community
Barbara Claire: Loving Wife Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Friend
Barbara Claire, 88, formerly of 69 Plum Street, Bolivar, passed away Sunday, December 15, 2024 at Wellsville Manor Care Center after a lengthy illness.
Born on March 9, 1936, at home in Allentown, she was a daughter of Ronald O. and Hilda M. Meyers Adams. She was married to Lou Claire who predeceased her on July 22, 1997.
Barb was a proud graduate of Allentown Union School Class of 1953. When her children were young, she worked at ACME Electric and then was the Co-owner and Office Manager of Allegany Printing Company in Bolivar with her husband until her retirement.
Barbara Kirby, 79, of Coudersport, passed away, Monday (December 16, 2024) at Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., Port Allegany, are incomplete and will be announced with a full obituary.
Deborah L. Cole, 72, formerly of Bolivar Drive, Bradford, passed away, Friday December 13, 2024, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home.
Born March 11, 1952, in Bradford, she was a daughter of the late Charles Lee Cole and Peggy Ann Kramer.
She was a 1970 graduate from Bradford High School and attended Edinboro University.
Deb worked for Charles Day Interior Designer for a short time before being employed by W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery. She retired from KOA Speer Electronics, Inc. in 2016 after 29 years.
Deb was an avid knitter and was a member of the knitting group at St. Francis.
Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center’s Homeland Security program is proud to announce Meloney Benson as the SHCTC’s “Student of the Week” for the week of December 16th. Meloney is a 10th grade student at Otto Eldred School District and a first year student here at CTC.
Meloney is very musically talented. She plays the trumpet and clarinet in her personal time at home. Meloney plays alto saxophone & clarinet in the high school band, as well as percussion & alto saxophone in the marching band. She is a member of the track & field team. Meloney also participates in the IU9 reading camp. While here at CTC, Meloney is active in her class and has completed OSHA 10 and Stop the Bleed certifications. She is an active member of the Eldred Borough Fire Department.
Thank you to the organizers and riders who participated in the 2024 Ride Into Christmas Parade in Smethport. The group donated money to the K9 Unit of the McKean County Detective Bureau at the DA’s Office. The K9s work with law enforcement with their specialty – with K9s trained to find drugs, explosives or missing people. Thank you! Your donation is greatly appreciated! Pictured is K9 Izzy with some of the participants.
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that, after a two day jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse, Tammy ROBERTSON, was convicted of the reckless shooting of a Kane man, resulting in his paralysis. Police were dispatched to report of an accidental shooting at a residence in Kane on March 3, 2022.
The victim had been shot and was being flown to an out of area hospital for treatment. ROBERTSON reported that the gun accidentally discharged after she racked the slide prior to putting the gun away. She told police she had been drinking all day, the gun had been on her kitchen table for several days and was loaded. She decided to rack the slide so there was a bullet in the chamber before she put the gun in her safe out of the reach of a minor child who resided at the residence. She told police the gun accidentally discharged when she racked the slide. A firearms’ expert with the Pennsylvania State Police testified to the amount of pressure required for the gun to fire and the sequence of steps that must occur prior to the gun firing – all that disproved accidental discharge.
ROBERTSON was charged and convicted of Recklessly Endangering Another Person and a Kane Borough ordinance of discharging a firearm in the borough. The Commonwealth sought – and the jury found- an enhancement related to the use of a deadly weapon during the crime. Officer William Nichols of the Kane Borough Police Department investigated the case. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Coppolo prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. Sentencing was scheduled for January 30th.
Paul R. Plants “beloved husband, father, grandfather, and servant of the Lord”
Paul R. Plants went to be with Jesus Christ his Savior surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, December 15, 2024 at the age of 87 after a short illness.
He was born on September 28, 1937 in Kane, PA to Ruben and Grace Tanner Plants. On July 19, 1958, Paul married the former Eloise Babcock and for 67 years they worked to build a family, run a farm, and start a business.
Paul enlisted in the Army in 1958 where he was stationed in Fort Benning, GA and was recognized for several accomplishments during his active duty.
When he returned to Champlin Hollow after serving in the Army, he and Eloise bought the farm owned by his parents and began six decades of raising kids and cattle. Also at this time, Paul returned to his job at Acme Electric in Allegany, NY, where he would work second shift for the next 27 years. The last several years at Acme he served as plant manager.
Coudersport, Pa., December 16, 2024 – With the new year approaching, many of us strive to set resolutions to improve our family’s health. UPMC is committed to addressing pediatric obesity through innovative prevention and treatment programs that promote healthy lifestyles for children and their families. Our multifaceted approach combines education, personalized family-centered care, and collaboration with specialists to support children, youth, and families on their journey to better health.
“At UPMC Cole, we are dedicated to helping children build healthy habits for life. Through our evidence-based programs and partnerships, we provide families with the tools and resources they need to lead healthy and active lives,” said Mary Ann Rigas, M.D., UPMC Pediatrics. “Our pediatric providers participate in quality improvement education programs through the American Academy of Pediatrics, ensuring they stay up to date on the latest in pediatric obesity and treatment.”
Charles E. “J.R.” BACH, Jr., 82, of Galeton, PA, died Friday, December 13, 2024 in Sena-Kean Manor, Smethport.
Born April 12, 1942, in Johnstown, he was the son of Charles E. and Clara May Burkhart Bach. On October 22, 1988, in the First United Presbyterian Church, Coudersport, he married Joy Conable, who survives. A 1960 graduate of Johnstown Central High School, he served honorably with the U.S. Army from 1960 – 1964. He attended Robert Morris Junior College and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from the University of Iowa, where he played on the football team.
He was employed by the PA Fish Commission, Potter County Children and Youth, and was the Vice President of Human Service Providers in Mansfield. J.R. served on the Potter County Board of Commissioners, Galeton Area School Board, and Cole Hospital Authority. He was a member of the Galeton and Ulysses Masonic Lodges and the American Legion.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners’ Wildlife Management Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. to discuss and recommend proposals for the 2025-26 hunting and trapping seasons.
The Wildlife Management Committee was formed this fall, with the purpose of reviewing and recommending proposals to be included on the agenda for the board meeting that will take place in January 2025.
The committee is comprised of Commissioners Dennis Fredericks, Scott Foradora, Kristen Koppenhafer, Allen DiMarco and Bob Schwalm.
The committee is slated to discuss a number of proposals, including expanding “Ag Tag” seasons and making the application process easier; creating a general unit antlerless deer license that could be used in multiple Wildlife Management Units; removing the requirement for mentored youth under 7 years old to receive big-game tags by transfer; limiting the number of elk licenses that can be drawn by nonresidents annually; establishing an early archery season for antlerless deer; allowing fall turkey hunters to use single projectile muzzleloading firearms; allowing any muzzleloading firearm to be used on properties enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program during the flintlock deer season; and raising the number of antlerless licenses that an individual can be in possession of in Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D.
A proposal that is approved by the committee will be included on the agenda for the commissioners’ January 2025 meeting, at which 2025-26 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits will be preliminarily approved.
The Dec. 19 virtual meeting will be livestreamed on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s YouTube channel, which can be accessed through www.pgc.pa.gov. Those unable to watch on Dec. 19 will be able to view thereafter.
The full Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet Jan. 24 and 25 at the Game Commission’s headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. The agenda for that meeting will be posted online prior to the meeting.
