NEWS

Summer brings sunshine, travel, outdoor fun — and a higher risk of dehydration. It’s something many people brush off as a minor inconvenience, but dehydration can become a serious medical issue if it’s not addressed quickly. And often, the early signs are subtle.

Whether you’re working outside, playing sports, or simply sitting in the sun, your body loses water through sweat and evaporation. If you don’t replace those fluids regularly, dehydration can sneak up on you sometimes before you even feel thirsty.

Why Staying Hydrated Matters

Water makes up about 60% of the human body and plays a key role in everything from regulating temperature to cushioning joints to helping with digestion and brain function. When you’re dehydrated, your body can’t perform these basic functions efficiently. That’s when symptoms start to appear.

Commissioner Paul Heimel’s community revitalization approach recognized at National Association of Counties’ 90th anniversary celebration

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 14, 2025) – Commissioner Paul Heimel of Potter County, Pennsylvania, will receive the Public Leadership in the Arts Award at the 2025 National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Annual Conference, recognizing his community-driven approach to addressing rural population decline through strategic arts and culture investment.

The national award, presented by NACo and Americans for the Arts (AFTA), celebrates county elected officials who use the creative economy for community development. Commissioner Heimel’s work offers a replicable model for rural communities nationwide facing similar demographic challenges.

Since 2000, Potter County’s population has declined from 18,000 to under 16,000 – an 11% decrease driven largely by youth outmigration. Rather than accepting this trend, Heimel spearheaded the revival of the Potter County Council on the Arts, building a coalition of schools, organizations, artists, and county leadership.

“Having a vibrant arts and culture environment can be a deal-breaker for a rural county looking to attract and retain young people,” said Commissioner Heimel. “But this doesn’t ‘just happen.’ It takes strategic planning and buy-in from a broad range of stakeholders. Once they recognize the potential return on investment – particularly when it comes to community and economic development – they’re eager to come aboard.”

The community-driven approach has generated significant momentum and widespread support across Potter County. The newly independent Potter County Creative Council (PC3) has secured major funding and launched initiatives including:

• Major grant wins: Creative Counties Placemaking Challenge selection and four-year, $100,000 Creative Communities Initiative grant from Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
• Strategic partnerships: Collaboration with Penn State University community development specialists for strategic planning and partnerships with Pennsylvania Lumber Museum for arts-based activities
• Community concerts: Grammy-nominated recording artists with local high school students as opening acts
• Youth engagement: Weekly writers’ workshops and mini-grants for youth-focused artisan classes
• Heritage connections: Modern approach to arts and culture led by community advocates like Art Metzger, a former school teacher who helped establish Potter County’s original arts council, agricultural partnerships and professional mentorship opportunities for youth

The approach has attracted widespread community support, with residents expressing excitement about preserving and building on their community’s creative character.

BRADFORD, Pa. – In recognition of the fifth anniversary of the death of civil rights leader and longtime member of congress John Lewis, Hanley Library at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host an educational screening and discussion event at noon on Thursday, July 17.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Marilyn Horne Museum Conference Room in Marilyn Horne Hall on Veterans Square in downtown Bradford.

The event will feature selected clips from the documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble.” The film highlights Lewis’s more than 60 years of activism and legislative leadership in the fight for civil rights and social justice.

Following the screening, attendees are invited to take part in an open discussion co-led by Dr. David Fitz, vice president of institutional integration and community engagement, and Jenelle Jensen, librarian with the University Library System.

Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch. For more information, contact Jenelle Jensen at (814) 362-7618.

An Open House was held Sunday afternoon at the Turtlepoint Park to celebrate the 90th birthday of Wilda Johnson.  Wilda was born in Olean, NY on July 13, 1935.  She was married to Paul Johnson, Sr., for 69 years.  The couple has four children – Trina Smith, Rod Johnson, Martha Bova and Paul Johnson, Jr., who hosted the party.  They have 14 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.  Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Port Allegany United Methodist Church.  She is pictured here with her children – Martha, Trina, Rod and Paul, Jr.  

Several members of the Canoe Place Historical Society are pictured with one of the banners they hung on the gazebo on the Town Square.  They are (front) Sherry Main, Dotty Anderson; (back) Jon Stehle and Joel Anderson.  Missing from the photo is Mike Main.  The buntings are available for purchase from the Historical Society.  The committee thought it would be a good way to celebrate the Semiquincentennial in 2026.  Profits realized will be used for fixing up the group’s building located on Main Street where the museum will be (the former Jean’s Casual Shop building). at 10 North Main Street.  Sizes available are 6’x3′ for $18 and 3’x5′ for $10.  The buntings can be purchased at Mike’s Mercantile.  The Canoe Place Historical Society will meet Tuesday, July 15 at 5:30 at the Port Allegany Senior Center,  216 North Main Street.  The public is invited to attend.

Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) is hosting a Scam Awareness Seminar for Seniors during Senior Day at the Tioga County Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the fairgrounds’ main building, 2258 Charleston Road, Wellsboro.

The event is co-hosted with First Citizens National Bank, C&N Bank, the PA Department of Banking and Securities, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

“Just when you think the scammers can’t get any worse, they sink to new lows, usually preying on our senior citizens with the goal of stealing their savings and possibly their identities,” Owlett said. “This event aims to help people learn to protect themselves by outlining the tactics commonly used by scammers, what to look for and how to avoid them.”

Seniors who wish to participate in the seminar are reminded admission to the fair is free for people age 62 and older until 5 p.m. that day (Aug. 5).

Registration is required and may be made online at www.RepOwlett.com or by phone at 570-724-1390 (Wellsboro office) or 570-297-3045 (Troy office).

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of July 14. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in McKean County for the coming week is as follows:

Mechanized Patching

• Route 646 between Route 4003 (Bingham Road in Keating Township and Route 346 in Foster Township. Monday, July 14, through Friday, July 18. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Mechanized patching is used to patch limited roadway areas that have extensive potholes, large areas of cracked pavement, and depressions. If mechanized patching was not performed, the damaged road surface would further deteriorate, resulting in PennDOT needing to completely rebuild the road or perform more costly corrective measures.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in Potter County the week of July 14. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in Potter County for the coming week is as follows:

Mechanized Patching

• Route 1011 (West Bingham Road/Hickox-Ulysses Road) between Route 49 in Ulysses Borough and Route 1010 (Genesee Mills Road) in Genesee Township. Monday, July 14, through Friday, July 18. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Mechanized patching is used to patch limited roadway areas that have extensive potholes, large areas of cracked pavement, and depressions. If mechanized patching was not performed, the damaged road surface would further deteriorate, resulting in PennDOT needing to completely rebuild the road or perform more costly corrective measures.

Flood Watch
National Weather Service State College PA
1032 AM EDT Sun Jul 13 2025
…FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT…

* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

* WHERE…A portion of central Pennsylvania, including the following areas, Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Clearfield,
Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northern Centre, Northern Clinton, Northern Lycoming, Northumberland, Perry,
Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Southern Centre, Southern Clinton, Southern Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Union and York.

* WHEN…Through late tonight.

* IMPACTS…Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– Very heavy rainfall is expected today from numerous, slow- moving thunderstorms. The rain and already wet ground in many
locations will cause smaller creeks and streams to flood quickly.
– http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued

Shirley “Kay” Brownell REED, 88, of Coudersport, PA, died Thursday, July 10, 2025 in her home.  Born May 4, 1937, in Coudersport, she was the daughter of Kenneth F. and Jane A. Gibson Brownell.  A 1955 graduate of Coudersport High School, she was employed by Markel Electric Products, Inc., Buffalo, NY.  On December 27, 1997, in Falconer, NY, she married Leon Baxter Reed, who predeceased her on January 31, 2019. 

Amy Lynn SETZER, 41, of Port Allegany, PA, formerly of Coudersport, died Thursday, July 10, 2025.  Born October 22, 1983, in Coudersport, she was the daughter of Bruce L. and Christine M. Crawford Setzer. 

James R. Mullaney, 94, formerly of Maurus Street, St. Marys, passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.

Joseph H. Kim, 83, of 146 Sugar Hill Road, St. Marys, passed away peacefully Friday, July 11, 2025 at Elk Haven Nursing Home.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.

June 2025 may be recorded as a fairly normal June. The month started out with a few morning temperature readings in the 30′ ( 37 and 35) however for most of the month the morning temperatures were in the mid 50’s and 60’s. Afternoons were in the  70s and mid to high 80’s. . We did experience a “heat wave” from the 21st to the 25th with temperatures topping off in the high 80’s and low 90’s. This temperature trend is not unusual for June. Last year for the same week we had a “heat wave” too. 

Some severe storms were predicted including a tornado watch but we missed all of that.
June rainfall was a normal 4.04″ even though we recorded rain on 15 days. That period of rain raised the question, “when will it ever stop raining”. Last year the rainfall was 3.72″. For the first 6 months of 2025 the rainfall total was 20.72″  which is about normal.
Pine Creek and the streams look good. The Berger Lake is full just in time for the fireworks. The borough crew did a great job getting trees out of the lake too.

Now we have July. July is the warmest month of the year. I have heard some of the “oldtimers” say “once the 4th of July is gone the summer is almost over.” That of course was before “climate change”.now we can enjoy another 5 months of mowing.
Henry W. Lush, National Weather Service Observer

ServSafe is a certification program developed by the Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The course meets certification requirements for individuals who are responsible for the safe handling of food in restaurants, schools, elder care facilities, lodges, bed and breakfasts, community centers, and other food concessions (organizations or businesses that sell or prepare food regularly). 

This course, taught by Rick Kralj, Penn State Educator, is scheduled for Wednesdays, August 27 and September 3, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Education Council’s Coudersport office. The cost is $165/person. The registration deadline is Wednesday, August 20^th. To register, go to http://extension.psu.edu/food-safety/serv-safe.

Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that Route 1006 (McCrae Road) will close between Kings Run Road in Ceres Township and Route 446 in Eldred Township on Monday, July 14, for a highway resurfacing project that will extend the service life of four miles of highway along this road and Route 219 in McKean County.