NEWS

On Monday, March 3, 2025, Coudersport Rotary Club held their annual 4-Way Test competition at A&W West End Grill. Rotarian Pat Northeimer began by introducing the 4-Way-Test speakers, judges and timekeepers.

The first student speaker, Alyah DiPlato, spoke about celebrity culture. The second student speaker, Joanna Chen, spoke about mental health.

Both speakers were so outstanding that the judges’ scores gave them a tie, which according to the guidelines had to be broken by choice of content.

Joanna Chen was declared the winner with Alyah DiPlato awarded 2nd place .

After the contest, both students gave the club some of their background and activities. Rotarian Paul Herzig noted that both students have volunteered to be involved with Town Council as Junior Council People.

Joanna Chen will move on to the regional competition this weekend.

Thank you to both students for a wonderful presentation before Coudersport Rotary Club.

The excitement is building for next Saturday, March 15^th and the 4^th Annual Coudersport Scholarship Fundraiser at the Coudersport American Legion! Attached is a photo of just some of the many baskets and auction items that will be available that night. They include a flat screen tv, a Blackstone grill, fire ring, Bonnies tickets, wellness center pass, scores of baskets and bake goods. Something for everyone. Come early just to enter the raffles for baskets and prizes or make a night of it with drinks and a buffet dinner from Eddies on Main listening to the music of Dana Daisley. The doors open at 4:00 PM and if you need childcare, the National Honor Society will be available to provide a fun evening for your children at the high school for a donation.

Tickets for the full event including the delicious buffet food offerings from Eddies on Main are being sold at $30 per person and $50 for a couple. Tickets can be purchased at the school district front offices and the business office.

Donations of raffle, auction and baked items are very much appreciated and currently are being accepted by contacting the school’s business office at 274-0509. Come join the fun on March 15^th and help our local students!

Three Gator Wrestlers from Port Allegany are pictured as they headed to Hershey for the PIAA State Wrestling Championships.  All three wrestlers won their first round matches on Thursday.    Bliss won 9-2; Neely won 8-0 and Juuso won with a score of 4-2.  Quarterfinals start Friday morning at 8 a.m.  

The first planning meeting for the 2025 Port Allegany Alumni was held this week at The Little Red Diner.  Alumni Officers (pictured left to right) Makayla Alcorn, Vice-President; Edna Taylor, Treasurer; Ann DeHaven-Smith, Secretary and Phil Smith, President have announced this year’s event will be held September 27 at the Port Allegany VMI (Veterans Memorial Home).  Invited to the annual dinner are all who have either attended or graduated from PAHS.  Please share the date with family, friends and classmates.  Further details about the event will be announced as they become available.  

Theodore Coffie A.K.A. “Teddy Tickles” age 54 was arrested yesterday March 5th by the Criminal investigation unit and Street Crimes unit at the intersection of Putnam St. and N. 5th St.. for an outstanding Federal drug warrant . During a search of Coffie, Investigators located a handgun and approximately 20 Grams of Crack Cocaine. Coffie was transported by Federal agents on the outstanding warrant and charges for the Gun and Drugs are pending. A search warrant was later conducted at 126 N. 5th. where Coffie was staying and no other drugs were located.

March 9–Pennsylvania’s Birthday: Celebrate King Charles ll granting William Penn the charter to establish the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with FREE ADMISSION to the museum! Join our partner Potter County Creative Council (PC3) who will lead visitors in a tree cookie printing art project in our program room. Watch apple fritter making demonstrations in the museum’s Mess Hall from 11:30am until supplies are gone.

University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gable has selected Dr. Tony Gaskew, professor of criminal justice at the university’s Bradford campus, as a 2025 recipient of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award.

Gaskew, who is also associate dean of academic affairs at Pitt-Bradford, has taught criminal justice at the Bradford campus since 2006.

The distinguished public service awards emphasize the use of faculty expertise to address social problems through public service.

Gabel recognized Gaskew for his work with incarcerated people at the Federal Correctional Institution McKean and State Correctional Institution Forest. That work includes founding Pitt-Bradford’s Prison Education Program and successfully reaching more than a thousand students since the program’s inception; teaching postsecondary courses inside the federal and state prisons; and, in 2019, creating a first-of-its kind Life Support program, a prison education program for people incarcerated for life while still juveniles.

Recently multiple students in Mr. Bryant’s class at the SHCTC earned industry recognized certifications. Seniors Levi Howard (PASD) and Lane Crawford (PASD) earned their Ethical Hacker Certification in cybersecurity. 

Cordell Baker (Grade 10, SASD), Dylan Clancy (Grade 12, AASD),  Ean Gertzen (Grade 11, NPSD), Nathan Haight (grade 10, PASD), Nicole Hockey (Grade 12, CCSD), Mathew Morris (Grade 10, SASD), Jimmy Sneed (Grade 10, SASD), Garry Strait (Grade 12, OESD), and Richard Wojcik (Grade 10, OESD) each earned their Vivacity Student Repair Academy certificates in Chromebook Repair. Jimmy Also earned his Acer Corporation Repair Techspert certificate for the C741LT Chromebook model. 

The SHCTC provides opportunities for students to gain valuable certifications in many trade areas. Interested students should speak to their school counsellor. 

More Photos Below

Mt. Jewett, Pa.:  The Ruffed Grouse Society is proud to announce that they will offer their popular Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting Program at the Mt Jewett Sportsmen’s Club on July 19-20 and August 23-24.  Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting is a course for women and taught by women.  On both Saturdays, the course starts at noon and ends at 4:00 p.m.  On both Sundays, the course starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m.

Register by contacting bjmf989@gmail.com.   Attendance is required for both weekends to graduate from the program.  Lodging is available, if needed, but is limited.

A hunt will be offered to the graduates on Sunday, September 7, at a nearby sportsmen’s club.

The chamber is seeking nominations for the annual awards dinner. The awards provide an opportunity to recognize important businesses and community members who have a positive impact on the Bradford Area. They also remind us of the strength of our community as we support one another. 

The categories include: Exemplary Business Award, Community Spirit Award, Legacy Award and Small Business/Entrepreneur Award.  We seek nominations for these awards from both the community and chamber members.  

The Exemplary business award is given to a BACC member in good standing who has been operating for five years or more.  Nominees demonstrate criteria such as innovative and or quality product and services, provide exemplary customer service, demonstrate economic support of the Bradford business community, or exhibit sustainability and longevity.  This may include manufacturing, industrial, tourism, hospitality, retail, non-profit, church or charitable organization.  Past winners include McKean County Community Foundation, Zippo Manufacturing, Northwest Bank, Futures Rehabilitation, B&T Building Services, Graham’s Greenhouse & Landscaping, Dexter’s Service & Collision.

DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph at times.

* WHERE…Wayne, Northern Cayuga, Oswego, Wyoming, Livingston,
Ontario, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties.

* WHEN…From 11 AM this morning to 4 AM EST Friday.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

INSTRUCTIONS: Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

Issued By: NWS Buffalo NY

March 9–Pennsylvania’s Birthday: Celebrate King Charles ll granting William Penn the charter to establish the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with FREE ADMISSION to the museum! Join our partner Potter County Creative Council (PC3) who will lead visitors in a tree cookie printing art project in our program room. Watch apple fritter making demonstrations in the museum’s Mess Hall from 11:30am until supplies are gone.

$15 per meal. Door prize ticket included, additional raffles available for purchase.

Cornbeef, cabbage, potatoe, dessert, and beverages.

Please come support a great non-profit supporting the community. We provide clothing items for children along with supporting other meaningful causes that support the community. We even offer coats to children outside of Eldred, we support our area and need your support in return! Thank you.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host Dr. William Wagner, distinguished professor at the University of Pittsburgh, for a public lecture March 13 as part of the Dr. Carol A. Baker Speaker Series.

Wagner is a professor of surgery, chemical engineering and bioengineering. His free talk, “Fifty Years after the Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman – How are we Replacing and Repairing our Parts?” will take place at 7 p.m. in the Mukaiyama University Room of the Frame-Westerberg Commons. Light refreshments will be served.

Wagner is the founding editor and editor-in-chief of one of the leading biomaterials journals, Acta Biomaterialia. He has been selected to the “Scientific American 50,” the magazine’s annual list recognizing leaders in science and technology from the research, business and policy fields.

Aidan Clark, a tenor, will advance to the PMEA Region II Chorus Festival March 20-22 at McDowell High School in Erie.  Aidan is a senior at Port Allegany High School. 

CARE for Children’s Rainbow Corner Preschool will begin registration for the 2025-2026 school year on Monday, March 10^th for new students. Children who will be at least three years of age by September 1^st are eligible to enroll.

There are two preschool sessions available: The 5 day-a-week preschool (Monday through Friday; 8am to 11am) curriculum focuses on Kindergarten readiness and STEM and is suitable for students who have previously attended preschool or students who will enter Kindergarten the following school year.  This is typically a mixed age class of 4 and 5-year-old students.

The 3 day-a-week preschool (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; 8am to 11am) curriculum focuses more heavily on classroom routines, social-emotional development, and school-readiness skills, including pre-math, literacy and STEM.  This class is suitable for students who are new to preschool or for families who need the flexibility of a 3 day-a-week schedule.  This is typically a mixed age class of 3, 4 and 5-year-old students.

Registration for the Toddler Developmental Playgroup for children 24-42 months will begin on Monday, May 12^th.

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) announced he will convene a meeting of the EMS Task Force on Wednesday, March 12, starting at 6 p.m. at the McKean County Department of Emergency Services.

“With all of the health care challenges we face in rural Pennsylvania, ensuring the sustainability of our emergency medical services system is more important than ever,” Causer said. “We’ll talk about some progress made and discuss new action items under consideration. I encourage our EMS providers, local government leaders and others who are interested to join us.”

Causer will provide an update about grants awarded to local EMS agencies, property tax incentives for volunteers and relevant legislation. Reports will be offered by area emergency services directors, as well as from EMS West and the Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania.

The McKean County Department of Emergency Services is located at 17175 U.S. Route 6, Smethport.

All who plan to attend should RSVP to Rhonda Race in Causer’s office at rrace@pahousegop.com.

Michael A. Lane, age 55, of Wellsboro, PA, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes at home, Saturday, March 1, 2025. 

He was born on January 8, 1970 in Wellsboro, PA, a son of the late Walter and Verna (Hollenbach) Lane.  Mike started his career in law enforcement as a police officer in Galeton, Pa, before being selected as the Chief of Police in Bethel, Pa.  Mike had a highly decorated career as a Master Trooper for the Pennsylvania State Police, and retired in 2018 after honorably serving 25 years.  To know him, was to love him. He was the king of shenanigans. His favorite thing to do was make people smile and laugh, and he was a master at it.  He enjoyed shooting guns, blowing up things with tannerite, working on his restored 1971 Pontiac LeMans, and doing “man things”.  He was an expert on all things muscle cars.  He started working at the age of 16 at Cliff’s Collision Repair in Wellsboro Pa, where he quickly became an expert at repairing and painting vehicles. He restored a 1971 Mustang Fastback, and if you lived in Tioga County in the late 1980’s, you knew Mike Lane and that white and black pinstriped Mustang.