NEWS

If you love trout fishing, there was a sure sign of spring today, as annual trout stocking operations got underway ahead of Pennsylvania’s spring trout season!  Opossum Lake in Cumberland County received the first stocking of the year, which included cutting a hole into the ice with a chainsaw.  This year, the Fish and Boat Commission, with the help of volunteers, will stock 3.2 million trout into 684 streams and 130 lakes.  Trout stocking occurs in all 67 counties.

The most common species being stocked is Rainbow Trout, but anglers will also have the chance to catch Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and golden Rainbow Trout. 

All waters managed as Stocked Trout Waters are now closed until 8 a.m. on the Opening Day of Trout Season on Saturday, April 4, with the exception of Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 28^th. 

For the 2026 trout stocking schedule, regulations, and more information on trout fishing, visit Fishandboat.com.

PA Wilds Champion Award nominations due by April 6

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. (PA Wilds Center) is pleased to announce that DuBois Country Club in DuBois, Clearfield County, will be the location for the 2026 PA Wilds Dinner & Awards. Planned for Thursday, July 30, this special event is the premier networking opportunity in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The theme for this year’s event is “The Power of Partnerships.”

Located along the I-80 Frontier landscape within the Pennsylvania Wilds region, the DuBois Country Club served as the venue for the annual PA Wilds Dinner in 2017 and 2019. The nonprofit will return to the venue for 2026, using its spacious facilities and convenient location as the backdrop for the night’s celebration.

Recognizing outstanding people, groups, and communities along PA Route 6!

The PA Route 6 Alliance is requesting nominations for their 16th Annual “Do 6” Awards, which recognize
individuals, groups, projects, and communities that exemplify and advance the Alliance’s mission of
protecting, preserving, and promoting the scenic, cultural, historic, and recreational resources across
the 11-county corridor of PA Route 6.

Johnsonburg, Pa.:  Ron Holly, new hunter at Rolfe Beagle Club’s Statewide Coyote and Fox Hunt or Trap this year, showed he was having a good time at his camp in McKean County over the last weekend by bringing in three coyotes.  Ron shoots a .243 rifle with a thermal scope and uses a Fox Pro electronic call.  He hunts private lands predominantly. 

Ron started off Friday evening near 9:00 p.m. by harvesting a female coyote weighing in at a hefty 37.6#.  On Saturday evening near 10:00 p.m. he was able to harvest a pair of coyotes that came in together.  The male coyote weighed in at 33.0# and the female weighed 33.8#.  Congratulations, Ron.

Hunters are reminded that if they choose to participate during the second weekend of this hunt or trap from 2/20-22, they must have their registration postmarked by Thursday, 2/19.

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.

Penn College is scheduled to open its season on Saturday, hosting Juniata College at the Lycoming Valley Intermediate School in a doubleheader starting at noon.

Last season: 18-18 overall, 11-7 all UEC, 11-5 UEC regular season.

Coach: Chris Howard, 19^th season. Career record: 377-283.

Top returning position players (last season’s key stats): Junior outfielder Dallas Griess, of Williamsport (.369 BA, 3 HR); junior shortstop Shawn Townsend, of Hatboro (.410 BA, 50 hits, 13 doubles, 33 RBIs); senior infielder Ethan Stahl, of Cogan Station (.381 BA); junior third baseman Jaydon Goebel, of Honey Brook (.372 BA, 42 runs scored, 3 HR); junior outfielder Matt Munoz, of Tobyhanna (.336 BA, 1.000 fielding %); junior outfielder John Croasdale, of Milford, New Jersey (.360 BA); sophomore infielder Levi Purnell, of Snow Shoe (.343 BA, 5 HR, 32 RBIs); junior second baseman Jaiden Augustine, of Dillsburg (.296 BA).

Tionesta, Pa.:  Garrett Baker, Habitat Coordinator for the RGS Upland Bird Hunt Chapter here in NC PA said, “We could still use a few more volunteers for the alder cutting we have planned on March 1 (Sunday) at the Army Corps of Engineers Tionesta Lake.  Volunteers do not need to have any special skills.“

If volunteers are willing to help on this project, please contact Garrett Baker at bakgar42@yahoo.com because we need to know what kind, and how many, of tools to bring to support the volunteer effort.     

Johnsonburg, Pa.:  Brady Nussbaum and Reese Ehrensberger, predator hunters from St Marys, combined to bring in four predators to Rolfe’s weigh station on Sunday, 2/15.  Reese started off their success by calling in an 8.8# female red fox on Friday at 11:00 pm just outside of the City of St. Marys.  Reese continued his successful shooting on Saturday near 2:00 a.m. with the harvest of another red fox, this time a male, weighing in at 9.4#.  This red fox was harvested on another piece of private land in Elk County. 

Dense Fog Advisory issued February 17 at 6:41AM EST until February 18 at 7:00AM EST by NWS Buffalo NY

* WHAT…Visibility as low as one quarter mile at times in dense fog.

* WHERE…Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Northern Cayuga, Oswego,
Jefferson, Lewis, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario,
Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties. Greatest duration
of dense fog expected across hill tops, and near the eastern Great
Lake shorelines.

* WHEN…Until 7 AM EST Wednesday. Visibilities may improve slightly
this afternoon and evening before lowering again tonight.

* IMPACTS…Hazardous driving conditions due to low visibility.

INSTRUCTIONS: If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of
distance ahead of you.

Issued By: NWS Buffalo NY

Superintendent of Schools

CARE for Children held its annual Adaptive Ski Outing at Holiday Valley Ski Resort on Monday, February 16, with seven children in attendance. Each child was paired with one or more volunteer instructors and received expert instruction through the Holiday Valley Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program, a chapter of Move United.

Pictured is Isaac Goro, age 10, along with volunteer Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program instructors Carole Fierle (left) and Beth Slater (right). 

Allegany County, NY –  The Allegany County Democratic Committee is pleased to announce that applications are open for the second annual Student Civic Engagement Award. This annual award recognizes students in grades 11 and 12 residing or attending school in Allegany County for their civic engagement in the community. It is a monetary award of $500.00 unrelated to academic performance and need not be applied to the cost of secondary education.

Coudersport, Pa., February 16, 2026 – UPMC Cole is taking a bold step toward a greener future. Beginning in early 2026, the hospital will break ground on a 5.5-megawatt solar farm, the first of its kind within the UPMC system. This project will transform the Coudersport campus and set a new standard for sustainability in health care. 

“This project is more than an energy solution, it’s a reflection of our values,” said Ron Reynolds, president, UPMC Cole and UPMC Wellsboro. “By investing in renewable energy, we’re reducing our carbon footprint, strengthening the local grid, and ensuring a healthier future for our patients, staff, and neighbors.” 

On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will begin its annual operations to stock approximately 3.2 million trout in hundreds of lakes and streams in preparation for the spring trout season.

Executive Director Tim Schaeffer will join staff and volunteers to stock the first trout of the season at Opossum Lake, Cumberland County, beginning at 10 a.m.

CLEARED:Crash on NY 417 both directions South Main Street; NY 19 (Wellsville) All lanes closed MVC SR 417 roadway closed Both EB/WB detour EB to Trapping Brook Rd to Truax Rd to SR 417/ WB to CTY Rte 28/ E State St T/ Wellsville

Visit 511NY.org for more information

Crash on NY 417 both directions South Main Street; NY 19 (Wellsville) All lanes closed MVC SR 417 roadway closed Both EB/WB detour EB to Trapping Brook Rd to Truax Rd to SR 417/ WB to CTY Rte 28/ E State St T/ Wellsville

Visit 511NY.org for more information

Shift 1 took advantage of the nice weather and performed a physical fitness drill. Each member performed the physical agility test to be put on the job. Each member was timed to the standard to get hired.