Whitesville’s Memorial Day Celebrations Itinerary


Robert D. Bowers, 87, of Marienville, PA passed away Wednesday May 21, 2025 at Snyder Memorial Health Care in Marienville. He was born July 7, 1937, in Blossburg, to George Charles and Anna Rebecca (Watkins) Bowers. Robert graduated from high school, and served in the US Air Force as an aircraft mechanic.

Wellsville- Jacob T. Brown “Loving Son and Brother”
Jacob T. Brown of 689 Trapping-Brook Road, passed away on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at his home.
Jacob was born August 3, 2002 in Wellsville and was the son of Heidi R. Casey and Timothy J. Brown.


BRADFORD, Pa. – Beginning this fall, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will offer its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program online to make it more convenient for working registered nurses to earn the degree.
The new online program is open to registered nurses who have earned an Associate of Science in Nursing degree and passed the registered nurse licensure exam.

John M. Sticklin, 87, of Wellsboro passed away unexpectedly Thursday, May 15, 2025, at home.
He was born February 19, 1938, in Wellsboro, the son of the late Jesse and Ila (Faulkner) Sticklin. He is survived by his wife Janet E. (Obourn) Sticklin.
John was a graduate of Wellsboro High School (Class of 1956). He retired from Dresser Manufacturing and prior to that worked for A&P grocery store. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Wellsboro, Ossea Lodge #317 F&AM, Wellsboro, and was active with the Masonic Lodge’s blood drive. He served 23 years on the Wellsboro Borough Council. He currently served on the Planning Commission and the Airport Authority. John was an avid New York Yankees fan and enjoyed hunting, fly fishing, and woodworking.

Memorial Day Services in Port Allegany have been announced by the Veterans Memorial, Inc. On Monday, May 26, at 11 a.m. there will be a short ceremony on the Brooklynside Bridge in memory of those lost at sea. A second ceremony will be held at the VMI Pavilion beginning at noon. A luncheon, hosted by the Auxiliary will follow the VMI service. Pictured are members of the Port Allegany Honor Guard during the Brooklynside Bridge Ceremony in 2024.

Non-perishable food donations or cash donations are being collected at Shop n Save in Port Allegany on June 7th from 9 am-1 pm. This is being collected for Spruce Pine NC. The community got hit hard by Helene. A table will be set up in front of the store. Steve and Ann Tanner will be taking the supplies down to NC.

Environmental Education Programs
Weekend of May 31st
Program Title: Rainbow Rendezvous
Date: Saturday, May 31st
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Environmental Learning Center
Description: Did you know that the Earth is the only planet in the solar system that has rainbows? Stop by the ELC for a short talk on rainbows and go on a rainbow scavenger hunt through the park after. Feel free to bring binoculars, a water bottle, and comfy shoes to walk in!

J. Jolene PITTS, 84, of Punxsutawney, PA, formerly of Harrison Valley, died Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Mulberry Square, Punxsutawney. Born March 5, 1941, in Potter Brook, she was the daughter of Walter “Pete” and Evelyn Kilbourne Smith.

Ray Nero, 96, of St. Marys, passed away peacefully at his home with his family by his side on Friday, May 23, 2025. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Lynch-Green Funeral Home.

Registration now open for July 24 Dinner & Awards to be held at Brass 16823 in Bellefonte
The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. (PA Wilds Center) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Champions of the PA Wilds Awards. The 2025 Champions are –
The winners will be honored at the 2025 PA Wilds Dinner & Awards, to be held on Thursday, July 24. The theme for this year’s dinner is “Wild Yet Welcoming,” nodding to the Declaration of Principles for the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Johnsonburg, Pa.: “It was awesome to have great training grounds and access to people with the training skills I wanted,” said Mike Dietz, a bird dog handler attending the Individual Bird Dog Training offered at the Rolfe Beagle Club in Johnsonburg, Elk County, on Saturday, 5/17. Mike is the proud caretaker of a 10-month-old Boykin Spaniel named Peach. The training was offered at the club by “Birddoggers” consisting of volunteers from the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS), American Woodcock Society, Pheasants Forever, and beagle club members.
Eight dog handlers were provided with two hours of one-on-one instruction in any area they wanted to receive training for their bird dog. Handling, search, steadiness, pointing, whatever – a perfect opportunity to tighten those skills between a bird dog and the handler. Four trainers provided the knowledge needed for two hours of instruction. The first session was from 8:00 to 10:00, and the second session started at 10:30 to 12:30.
I urge our community to look beyond the sirens and flashing lights—to see the real people behind the uniforms. Our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals are the first on the scene when life hangs in the balance: car crashes, heart attacks, overdoses, and disasters. They carry not just equipment, but hope.
These heroes perform under crushing pressure, racing against time to save lives and ease suffering. Yet while we celebrate their courage, we must also confront an uncomfortable truth: the very system they serve is pushing them to the brink.
Our EMS teams face a perfect storm of underfunding, relentless workloads, low pay, and emotional exhaustion. They witness trauma day after day, often without adequate mental health support. Many are burning out, and some are leaving the profession altogether, leaving communities like ours more vulnerable.

On May 20, 2025, at approximately 0830 hours, City of Bradford Police responded to the intersection of East Corydon Street and Chestnut Street regarding a report of a male using drumsticks on motor vehicles, potentially causing damage to property he did not own. Upon arrival, officers located the individual, identified as 47-year-old Brian M. Hill of Friendship, NY. Through investigation, it was determined that Hill was involved in the drumstick incident and had also entered St. Bernard’s Church, which was open to the public. However, Hill entered a separate rear part of the church not open to the public and stole clothing not belonging to him.
Officers took Hill into custody on scene and found him to be in possession of Schedule I Controlled Substances. Hill was arraigned by Magistrate Luther and bail was set at $50,000, which was not posted. He remains in McKean County Jail awaiting preliminary hearings. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The City of Bradford Police Department is committed to protecting the community and ensuring public safety. If you have any information regarding this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact us at [insert contact information]. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

The Potter County Farmers Market will be outdoors AT OUR NEW LOCATION on the Courthouse grounds, at the corner and across the street from the square, every Friday (weather permitting) from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The next market will be this Friday, May 23rd. Below is a list of who plans to be there and what they plan on bringing to the Market:
We’re back on our summer schedule of Friday markets, BUT AT OUR NEW LOCATION due to renovations on the square. We’ll be across the street from the square, along the sidewalk to the right of the courthouse entrance, and around the corner on East Street to the driveway.
* The outdoor market is held each Friday from May through October (weather permitting; on very rainy days, we will relocate into the Riley Gallery (if available)). In November, the farmers market goes indoors for the winter market.
* Market times have been established after many trial times over the years. If you are not able to visit us and would like something particular from one of the vendors, please contact them directly. They are willing to try to accommodate your request.
* If you are interested in joining the market this year or have any questions please contact …. Netra Baker, 814-598-0649 netrabaker2@gmail.com]
HAY HOLLOW GARDENS AND GREENHOUSE will be there weather permitting with hanging baskets, flowering pots and veggie plants. We accept cash only. Thanks.
BLUE MARBLE FARM will hopefully be at the market with local, organically grown beautiful produce and plants. For produce we will have Rhubarb and Lettuce Heads. We will have garden vegetable plants and herb plants. We accept cash, checks and credit cards. For more information, contact Lisa at bluemarblefarm@outlook.com, 814-320-1308 or bluemarblefarm.weebly.com
ME AND MY BOYS SOAP will be there on Friday. (weather permitting) We will have a selection of goat milk based products. We accept cash or card payments.
QUIET ACRES will be at market this Friday May 23 (weather permitting). We have our line of Haldeman Mills 2 lb bags of: Gluten Free Buckwheat Flour and Teff (dark and ivory) as well as Buttermilk and Buckwheat Pancake mixes, Shortcake/Cobbler mix, Soft Pretzel and Funnel Cake mixes and Brinser’s and Stauffer’s Corn Meal.
GRILLED HELLO will be attending this Friday’s farmers market, and we are bringing grilled cheese sandwiches and hot dogs, along with handmade scrunchies, tote bags, and egg aprons.

Patricia S. Crooks, 90, of Cornen Street, Bradford, passed away, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at home, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on April 2, 1935, in Warsaw, NY she was a daughter of the late William M. and Marion (Axtell) Stephenson.
She was a 1953 graduate of Shinglehouse High School.
On October 7, 1965 in Custer City, she married William H. Crooks, who passed away, October 29, 1992. She later became a companion with James “Banjo” Johnston who died February 4, 2004.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken soup products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The products contain wheat, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

by
Pastor B.J. Knefley
Whether you realize it or not, you’re getting older. It can’t be helped; no matter how hard you try, aging will inevitably happen. But I’m not sure whether it’s the aging that bothers me or all the changes that time brings into my life. For example, I used to type this out on a typewriter, but today I’m using a computer. More specifically, I’m using an iPad with a portable wireless keyboard. When I’m finished, I can simply send it wirelessly to the people who need to receive it—all while sitting in a coffee shop.