NEWS

Wellsville, NY— More than 40 people gathered outside at 84 N. Main St., Wellsville on Monday, July 1^st to celebrate the official opening of the Allegany County Democratic Committee’s (ACDC) 2024 Election Headquarters.

ACDC Vice Chair Mark Holt welcomed guests, saying “this headquarters in historic downtown Wellsville will serve us and the electorate well as we head into this vitally important election.”

Hank Nowak, sitting NYS Supreme Court Justice serving the 8^th Judicial District, briefly remarked on the headquarters space and the power of grassroots organizing. He offered his support to Tom Carle of Fredonia, NY, our candidate for NYs 23^rd Congressional district.

Five area students were recently awarded scholarships stewarded by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

Aubrey Luce and Colton Boser received the Chipmonk Community Hall Scholarship for $600 each.

This scholarship fund supports awards for graduating students of Allegany-Limestone Central School, with preference given to a current resident of or a relative of a current resident of the Allegany, NY area of Chipmonk.

Closures: The library will be closed on Thursday, July 4th. We will resume regular hours on Friday, July 5th.

Gertrude Hawk Candy Bar Sale: The library is selling Gertrude Hawk candy bars in various flavors. Stop at the library or Sprout’s Drug Store and get some today!

Adventure Begins at Your Library! Children: Summer reading begins June 1st and runs until August 31st. This year we have three fabulous ways to have a summer filled with adventure for the kids! We have the Reading Adventure, the Activity Adventure, and the Adventure Camp at the Library. Please call or stop in at the library for more information. Registration can be done at the library or on our website.

Do you have what it takes to become the Grand Champion Bark Peeler? Is your beard the envy of all your friends? Or maybe you bake the greatest apple pie this side of the Mississippi? No matter the reason, the Bark Peelers’ Festival, July 6-7, 2024, is the place to be!

Join us for the BIGGEST event of the year and celebrate Pennsylvania’s lumbering heritage. Enjoy live music, food and craft vendors, demonstrations, and more. The two-day festival is full of competitions and fun for the whole family. Be there – July 6-7, 2024 from 9 AM – 5 PM – and release your inner lumberjack!

Potter County Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Robert Rossman and Paul Heimel continue to seek volunteers willing to serve on any of several county authorities, commissions and advisory boards. In an effort to broaden diversity, geographic representation and background knowledge, the Board of Commissioners periodically issues call for volunteers. Goal is to build a roster of qualified individuals who have a willingness to serve. As vacancies arise or incumbents’ terms expire, the commissioners rely on that these rosters to determine potential appointees for agencies such as:

Potter County Planning Commission. Administers subdivision and land use/development regulations; countywide comprehensive planning; regional advocacy on transportation funding priorities and other initiatives; GIS services; reliable resource/liaison for township and borough governments.

Potter County Redevelopment Authority. Economic development; support services for business and industry; administration of federal/state grants and loans for economic development.

Potter County Housing Authority. Administration of programs meeting needs for safe, healthy and affordable housing.

Potter County Human Services. Multiple advisory boards to guide administrators on meeting local social service needs.

Potter County Solid Waste Authority. Operation of transfer station/recycling center in Gold; administration of state-approved solid waste management/flow ordinance.

Potter County Hospital Authority. Public agency assisting UPMC Cole in acquisition of funds for capital improvements and implementation of long-term planning objectives.

Farmland Preservation Board. Responsible for purchase of development rights to preserve agricultural land.

Local Emergency Planning Committee. Coordinates activities of firefighters, emergency medical services, fire police and related responders; liaison with Potter County Department of Emergency Services for training, funding opportunities, drills/exercises to test preparedness.

Those wishing to be considered for appointment should contact Paige Barroqueiro at 814-274-8290, ext. 214 or pbarroqueiro@pottercountypa.net.

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After a Year of Contract Negotiations, Potter County Commissioners Still Refuse to Acknowledge Workers’ Concerns of Economic Instability.

The Potter County Commissioners’ comments imply that human services workers are being offered a generous wage package with a modest healthcare contribution. This is far from the reality of what Potter County is offering workers. 

None of the starting raises for any bargaining unit position will reach $20 an hour. We have been deadlocked on wages for months. Many full-time employees with children are so poorly paid they qualify for public assistance, even as public workers. With so many vacancies across agencies, why work for Potter County when Mckean County will pay 30% more for the same job?

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reimburses Potter County for approximately 90% of our salaries. The Commissioners want you to think they’re following principles of fiscal responsibility, but in reality, they’re spending tens of thousands of dollars on a union-busting law firm so they can continue suppressing wages in Potter County and neglect public services.

The healthcare contribution the Commissioners referenced in their statement conveniently leaves out that they are proposing that employees pay 25% of the County’s portion. This will negate the wage increases for multiple people over the life of the contract. It should also be noted that there are no in-network healthcare providers in Potter County under this healthcare plan.

“We have been in contract negotiations for over a year. We need a contract that will allow us to do our job and put food on the table for our families. I’m a breadwinner in my family, and so are many of my co-workers. The cost of living in Potter County has risen dramatically, and the current economic proposal is not enough to close the gap for many working families. How do the Commissioners expect us to make ends meet?” stated Lacey Crawford, SEIU Local 668 Shop Steward.

Attached is a chart of the current starting rates for select Potter County positions, with the County’s proposed wage proposal and the corresponding rate to comparable positions in Mckean County.

The McKean County Penn State Extension team is asking
for assistance to kickstart agricultural education programs for the producers
of McKean County. Extension is surveying local farmers to pinpoint interests
and better understand the needs of the county.

McKean County Agricultural Assistant Riley Thompson
says, “It is super important that we have opinions of the farmers we serve so
we can better tailor our programs to fit the interests of our agriculturalists”.

A link to the survey can be found on the McKean County
Penn State Extension Facebook Page. Please fill out the survey and provide some
insight on things you would be interested in learning more about. This
information will be used to provide educational workshops throughout the summer.
The team can’t wait to hear from you! If you have any questions, please contact
McKean County Agricultural Assistant Riley Thompson at

rst5310@psu.edu
or 814-887-5613 ext. 101

Penn State Extension strives to provide the community
with the most current agricultural research and assist in using science to
address real world issues. Your Extension team here in McKean County seeks to
aid community individuals and local businesses in managing challenges of the
industry and bring opportunities to McKean agriculturalists.

            BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, including Hanley Library, will be closed Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.

            The Commons Café in the Frame-Westerberg Commons will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, July 5.

            The Marilyn Horne Museum and Gift Shop and museum café in Marilyn Horne Hall on Veterans Square in downtown Bradford will be closed Thursday, July 4. The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, however, the gift shop is closed for inventory. The café will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. For regular weekend hours, visit marilynhorne.org.

            Normal business operations will resume on campus Monday, July 8.

• To celebrate World Watercolor Month, artist Laurie Angood, will be teaching beginner level classes on two different days in July:  Thursday, July 11, 2024 from 1 – 3pm and Friday, July 26 from 6-8:00 pm.  Artist quality materials provided.  Price of the class is $35.00.
• Cross stitch artist, Julia Overton-Healy will be teaching a beginner cross stitch on Tuesday, July 16 from 6:30-8:30pm.  Students will be offered a choice of two colors to complete their worth.  All materials provided. Please bring a small pair of scissors.  Price of the class is $25.00.
• Staci from Fox & Fern Co. will be teaching a Succulent Dish Garden Workshop on Tuesday, July 2, starting at 6:00. This class is currently full.  Look for more classes from Staci in the coming months. 
• The monthly Young Artisan Class with Laurie Angood will be held on Thursday, July 18, from 1 – 2:30 pm.  Appropriate for Grades 2 through 6.  Supplies and snacks provided.  Price of the class is $25.00.
• Spa Night returns on Thursday, July 18 from 5 – 8:00 pm.  Cover is $10.00.  Spa services, including Reflexology, Foot Detox, Massage, and Facials, are an extra fee.  Refreshments served.  For more information, please call the co-op at 814-274-8165.

To register for these classes and events, please call the Potter County Artisan Co-op at 814-274-8165.  The co-op is located at 227 N. Main Street and is open from 9 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday.

Events and classes are supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Elk County Council on the Arts, state agencies funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Classes are supported in part by the Potter County Creative Council (PC3). 

Martha “Betty” Kinkead, 93, died suddenly on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Jefferson Manor Personal Care in Brookville.

She was born on April 12, 1931, in Ridgway, the daughter of the late William and Ada Brockleburst Kindkead.

Martha was a lifelong member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. Over the course of her working career, she was employed with Dr. Mawn, Olson and Larson, Ridgway Area School District, and the Elk County Housing Authority.

Martha was heavily involved with the Red Hats Society and the American Cancer Society being a two-time breast cancer survivor. She was a well known seamstress and knitter of which she made items for herself, family, and others.

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION INTO REPORT OF ABUSE TO DOG IN PORT ALLEGANY (PORT ALLEGANY, July 3, 2024): 

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the Pennsylvania State Police have been investigating a report of a dog thrown from a vehicle in the vicinity of Napa in Port Allegany. 

Upon investigation, including review of video surveillance, the investigating Trooper with the State Police has determined that the dog was hit by a passing semi-truck as it was crossing the road and was not thrown from a vehicle.  A good Samaritan provided care to the dog but the dog passed away. 

Thank you to the public for your assistance on the case.  Photo obtained from Facebook.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://mckean.crimewatchpa.com/da/136029/post/update-investigation-report-abuse-dog-port-allegany

Wellsville N.Y. Police Department

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Wellsville Police arrested Kevin J. Tyler, age 52 no permanent address, charging him with Forcible Touching (Class A Misdemeanor). The charge stems from an incident that took place on Park Avenue in the Village. Tyler was processed and transported to the Allegany County Jail pending arraignment in the Allegany County Centralized Arraignment Parts Court (CAP). Tyler is due to appear in Wellsville Village Court at a later date.

Monday, July 1, 2024

Wellsville Police arrested Zachary A. Willetts, age 25 no permanent address, charging him with Menacing 2nd (Class A Misdemeanor), Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd (Class D Felony) and Reckless Endangerment 2nd (Class A Misdemeanor). The charges stem from an incident that took place on North Main Street on June 30th. Willetts was additionally charged with Criminal Mischief 3rd (Class E Felony), for an incident that took place at the David A. Howe Library on June 27th. Willetts was processed and transported to the Allegany County Jail pending arraignment in the Allegany County Centralized Arraignment Parts Court (CAP). Willetts will be due to appear in Wellsville Village Court at a later date.

Do you have what it takes to become the Grand Champion Bark Peeler? Is your beard the envy of all your friends? Or maybe you bake the greatest apple pie this side of the Mississippi? No matter the reason, the Bark Peelers’ Festival, July 6-7, 2024, is the place to be!

Join us for the BIGGEST event of the year and celebrate Pennsylvania’s lumbering heritage. Enjoy live music, food and craft vendors, demonstrations, and more. The two-day festival is full of competitions and fun for the whole family. Be there – July 6-7, 2024 from 9 AM – 5 PM – and release your inner lumberjack!

Wellsboro, PA.  The third annual Wellsboro Comic Con will take place Saturday, August 10th, and is now free and open to the public throughout all venues, including The Deane Center for the Performing Arts, The Warehouse Theatre, The Deane Center Lawn, and Central Avenue in downtown Wellsboro, PA.

This year’s event will feature over 100 artists and vendors, panels and presentations, a cosplay contest, crafts and family activities, photo ops, and more. Featured guests this year include Stephanie Williams (Wakanda #1, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, My Little Pony), Adam Gorham (Godzilla, Darth Vader, Archie, Rocket, New Mutants), Arielle Jovellanos (Monster High, Captain Marvel, Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story, Adventure Time), and Alexis Frederick-Frost (Adventures in Cartooning, Maker Comics, Team Unihorn and Woolly), among others.

Prior to the convention, on Friday, August 9^th, Pop’s Culture Shoppe is sponsoring a workshop at the Gmeiner Art and Cultural Center with popular Webtoon creator “66 Shark Teeth” (whose Webtoon, “City of Blank,” has over 49.5 million views and 729,000 subscribers) on the subject of “Asset Creation for Webtoons – How to Optimize your Workflow.”  Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding web comic creation, and will receive a limited-edition poster signed by the artist.  Additional information and tickets for this workshop are available online at www.wellsborocomiccon.com/tickets. 

Visit www.WellsboroComicCon.com to see the full guest list, schedule of activities, cosplay rules, and volunteer perks, as well as to purchase workshop and VIP tickets, and plan your visit – including local events like the Tioga County Fair, Hamilton-Gibson’s production of “Puffs” and many other local events and activities happening throughout the week!

​Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that the contractor for an Interstate 80 preservation project between mile markers 97 and 120 in Clearfield County will start work on Monday, July 8. This project will improve the ride quality and extend the service life of nearly 24 miles of roadway and six bridges along this I-80 corridor.

Beginning Monday, the contractor will close the left (passing) lane on I-80 westbound between mile markers 118 and 116. Crews will be milling away the shoulder rumble strips in preparation to set concrete barriers that will be in place as the contractor completes full-depth reconstruction at the Goshen Road and Flegal Road overpasses.

Coudersport—Susquehannock State Forest is announcing temporary road closures in the State
Forest. The road closures are due to the Paver Placing of DSA on State Forest Public Use Roads
listed below.

• Red Ridge Road (East Fork Twp) July 8-14th 2024
• Portage Road July (Portage Twp) July 22-28th 2024
• 
  If you are planning on traveling these routes during the dates listed, please plan an alternate route
  accordingly. For more information or questions, please contact the Susquehannock State Forest
  District Office at (814) 274-3600.

PennDOT Announces Bridge Preservation Project in Potter County

​Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced a bridge preservation project will begin in Roulette Township in Potter County on Wednesday, July 10. The bridge is situated on Route 4003 (Pomeroy Street) over the Allegheny River and this will improve safety and ride quality for motorists by improving the overall condition rating of the structure from poor to good.

Route 4003 will be closed, and work will begin under a detour. The detour will utilize Burleson Avenue, Maple Street, River Street, and Main Street for a length of approximately 1.7 miles. The structure is 114 feet long and carries an average of 1,010 vehicles daily. PennDOT anticipates completion in early September, but all work is weather dependent.

John Nastase Construction, Inc. is the contractor for this $2 million project. The Route 4003 bridge is one of three bridges to be improved under this contract, with the other two to be worked on through 2025.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

Do you have what it takes to become the Grand Champion Bark Peeler? Is your beard the envy of all your friends? Or maybe you bake the greatest apple pie this side of the Mississippi? No matter the reason, the Bark Peelers’ Festival, July 6-7, 2024, is the place to be!

Join us for the BIGGEST event of the year and celebrate Pennsylvania’s lumbering heritage. Enjoy live music, food and craft vendors, demonstrations, and more. The two-day festival is full of competitions and fun for the whole family. Be there – July 6-7, 2024 from 9 AM – 5 PM – and release your inner lumberjack!