NEWS

Harrisburg – The PUC will hold its regular public meeting on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Hearing Room 1 on the second floor of the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg.  

Livestream of the Public MeetingThe PUC will be streaming video of its regularly scheduled public meetings live on its website.

Public Meeting AgendaHere is the link for the Public Meeting Agenda on January 29, 2026.

Archived Audio and VideoA link to the archived audio will be accessible at the Public Meeting Video page and will be posted shortly after the conclusion of the public meeting.

For more information about the PUC visit our website at puc.pa.gov.

Have you ever considered how different you are from everyone else on the planet? Your fingerprints are uniquely yours. Family members may share similar DNA markers, but they’re not identical. Even identical twins aren’t always 100% identical. There can be minute differences. Surprisingly, there are reportedly 5.2–100+ differences between identical twins. 

There are no two of you. Now, I suppose, there are some who might be happy there aren’t. We might share similarities and traits, but we are all different. So, if we’ve been created with this uniqueness, is it possible that there are other aspects of our uniqueness we should be looking at? For example, were we created for a unique purpose? A purpose that no one else is suited for or created for? Consider, for the moment, the life of Moses. He was born at a time when all the baby boys were being put to death, so he should not have lived. Yet he did. As a young man, he seemed somewhat aware of a calling, as evidenced by his attempt to protect his countrymen from the abuse of the Egyptian rulers. If you read his story, you’ll know that he was a reluctant leader, as seen throughout the Book of Exodus. Yet it was Moses that God used to bring freedom to his people. Moses might have been happy tending sheep on the back side of some mountain, but God had other plans.

The Apostle Paul is another whose life was turned around by an encounter with God. Anyone reading his story will quickly realize that God had a specific plan for his life, and that it was not what Paul had thought it would be. When you consider that Paul was a man educated in Judaism and that a relationship with Gentiles simply didn’t exist, according to everything he had been taught, and yet there he was, an Apostle to the Gentiles. 

So what about you? Have you been uniquely created for something you haven’t explored or even thought of? Is it possible? How would you know? Perhaps the starting point for anyone who is unsure is simply to ask. Think about it.

Local Community Foundation CEO

For more than half a century, Pennsylvania law quietly imposed a harsh outcome on a small but important group of people. When a Pennsylvanian died without a will and without a surviving family, their entire estate was claimed by the Commonwealth and absorbed into the state budget.

That changed on January 23, 2026. 

Thanks to Act 50 of 2025, Pennsylvania has ended what many have described as a “100% tax” on dying without family or a will. Instead of assets going to Harrisburg, those estates will now remain in the communities where those individuals lived, supporting local charities and public good forever.

Daniel J. WILBER, 74, of Port Allegany, PA, died Monday, January 26, 2026 in Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY.  He was born September 1, 1951, in Cleveland, OH.  On September 27, 2008, in Eldred, he married Minerva “Minnie” Bacon, who survives.  

He graduated from high school in Cleveland and served honorably with the U.S. Army from 1969 – 1971 during the Vietnam War.  He was an independent owner/operator truck driver for 47 years.  He drove for Dave Buckler for 16 years of those years.  Dan was a member of the American Legion and Port Allegany Moose.  He was an avid Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Guardians fan.  Dan enjoyed his days chilling on the porch with Minnie.  

The Bingham Township Supervisors are seeking applications for a part-time Secretary/Treasurer.  Experience in bookkeeping with QuickBooks, Computer skills, and Secretarial skills are needed.  Duties would include:

Payroll, Quarterly Taxes, Annual W-2’s, Reconciliations, Paying & Recording Invoices, Making Deposits, Balancing Bank Statements, State Reports, DCED Reports, Grant Applications, Attending monthly meetings, Taking & Recording Minutes, providing Financial Records, Assessment Building Permits, Driveway Permits, Road Bonds & Permits, Open Record Requests, and Budgets.

Position will begin June 1^st, 2026

For more information, please call 814-848-9863

Resumes may be mailed to: Bingham Township

843 Bingham Center Road,

Genesee, PA 16923

The To Fill A Backpack program is having a “12 Days Of Cash” raffle to benefit our 2026/2027 distribution.  Now reaching out to 9 different counties which will add approximately 500 to 600 additional children in need, we will need all the help we can get.

If you are interested, feel free to send your payment through one of the online payment options (Please see info in red) and be sure to note the Pay Code shown in the notes with your payment.  Please mark your payment accordingly so that we do not get charged fees if possible. Feel free to send a check to the following address:

TFABP
Attn: 12 Days

85 Burleson Av

Roulette, PA  16746

Or feel free to give us a call at (814) 544-5802 for more information

Andy KulpTo Fill A BackpackEmail: info@tofillabackpack.org

Allegany-Limestone Central School students interested in learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom are encouraged to apply for the Ratana Ratanawongsa Scholarship, administered by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

The scholarship supports ALCS students in grades 7–10 who wish to participate in enrichment programs during the school year or over the summer.

This year, awards of up to $1,000 are available.

The scholarship was established by the family of Dr. Ratana Ratanawongsa, a former pathologist at St. Francis Hospital and Olean General Hospital, to honor her memory and to help students explore new interests and experiences before college.

Previously, the fund has helped students take part in opportunities such as leadership conferences, college-level coursework and other unique educational programs.

Applicants are required to submit a brief, 200-word essay explaining why they chose their enrichment program, along with a recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor.

As the colder months drag on and heaters continue to blast, many people notice their skin turning itchy, flaky, tight, or even cracked. If it feels like your skin transforms overnight once winter hits, you’re not imagining it. Dermatologists see a surge in dry-skin complaints every year, and the good news is, a few simple changes can make a dramatic difference.

Why Winter Zaps Your Skin’s Moisture

Winter creates the perfect storm for dryness. Cold air outdoors holds far less humidity than warm summer air. Then, when we heat our homes, we strip even more moisture from our environment and our skin.

On top of that, winter winds can disrupt your skin barrier, the protective layer that keeps hydration in and irritants out. When that barrier breaks down, water evaporates faster, leaving your skin feeling rough and stressed.

Plans for Hybrid In-Person and Virtual Meeting

on Tuesday, February 10, 2026

HARRISBURG – A total of 468 disciplinary actions, including 202 education requirements, and $473,375 in administrative penalties, have been taken against 290 underground facility owners, excavators and project owners in the latest enforcement actions by the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC’s) Damage Prevention Committee (DPC).  These actions were taken during the DPC’s January 2026 meeting.

The next meeting of the DPC is Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 9 a.m. Members of the public, the media and others are invited to join the meeting virtually by clicking on this Microsoft Teams event link or by calling into the telephone conference by dialing 267-332-8737, and then entering phone conference ID 156 325 933# to listen to the meeting. The meeting agenda will be made available here.

About the DPC

The DPC is a peer-based group of 13 representatives, nominated by their industry or affiliated organizations and appointed by the PUC. Creation of the committee was authorized by Pennsylvania’s Underground Utility Line Protection Law – also known as the “One Call Law.” The focus of the DPC is to reduce the number of …

View this press release on our website

Andrew A. MONROE, 77, of Sayre, PA, formerly of Westfield, died Friday, January 16, 2026 in Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre.  Born November 26, 1948, in Sunderlinville, he was the son of Harold and Mayjol Snay Monroe.  

He was married to Regenia B. Manning Richardson, who predeceased him on April 18, 2016.  He was employed by Ingersoll-Rand, Painted Post, NY and Patterson Lumber in Galeton.  

Surviving are: three children, Andrew Monroe, Jr., Julie Monroe , and Mary Monroe; several grandchildren; three sisters, Crystle Thorne of Wellsboro, Carolyn Setzer of Wellsboro, and Cynthia Swimelar of Westfield; a brother, Alan Monroe of Westfield; nieces and nephews.  

In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by three brothers and six sisters.  Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.

CEC Makerspace Issues Call for Local Talent to Spark Innovation

ST. MARYS – The CEC Makerspace is officially scouting for community members with a passion for “doing” to help inspire the next generation of creators. Whether you are a retired tradesman, a weekend hobbyist, or a digital native, the CEC Makerspace wants your expertise.

But what is a Makerspace you ask? A Makerspace is a collaborative workspace where people of all ages and backgrounds gather to create, invent and learn using a variety of “no-tech to high tech tools”, according to Google. Makerspaces are increasingly vital for developing 21st-century skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability. They provide equitable access to expensive equipment, allowing anyone in the community to transform a creative idea into a tangible object/product.

The Bingham Township Supervisors are seeking applications for a part-time Secretary/Treasurer.  Experience in bookkeeping with QuickBooks, Computer skills, and Secretarial skills are needed.  Duties would include:

Payroll, Quarterly Taxes, Annual W-2’s, Reconciliations, Paying & Recording Invoices, Making Deposits, Balancing Bank Statements, State Reports, DCED Reports, Grant Applications, Attending monthly meetings, Taking & Recording Minutes, providing Financial Records, Assessment Building Permits, Driveway Permits, Road Bonds & Permits, Open Record Requests, and Budgets.

Position will begin June 1^st, 2026

For more information, please call 814-848-9863

Resumes may be mailed to: Bingham Township

843 Bingham Center Road,

Genesee, PA 16923

Smethport Area School District is operating under a 2 hour delay tomorrow, January 27th.

The City of Bradford Police and Fire Department are on scene of a 2 car motor vehicle crash on Seaward Avenue. The roadway is temporarily closed. Please use detours around this location.

HEADLINE: Cold Weather Advisory issued January 26 at 12:32PM EST until January 27 at 1:00PM EST by NWS Binghamton NY

DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…Very cold wind chills as low as 15 to 20 below expected, especially in southwestern portions of the county.

* WHERE…Steuben County.

* WHEN…From 10 PM this evening to 1 PM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

INSTRUCTIONS: Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.

Keep pets indoors as much as possible.

Issued By: NWS Binghamton NY

Dickinson Center, Inc. (DCI), an affiliate of Journey Health System (JHS), is pleased to announce the appointment of Lindsey Johnston, CPRP, as the new manager of their Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program in Coudersport. This transition marks a significant step forward as the office relocates to its new home at 221 North Main Street in Coudersport, Pennsylvania.

Johnston is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Furthermore, her certification as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) highlights her commitment to the field and her capability to support individuals facing mental health challenges.

Rita Kraus, the Senior Director of Site-Based Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services at DCI exclaimed, “We are thrilled that Lindsey has joined our team to provide high-quality service to our consumers. Her seven years of experience in managing psychiatric rehabilitation services will undoubtedly enhance the care provided to the community.”

The new Coudersport site is more than just an office; it is a sanctuary for adults diagnosed with severe mental illnesses who are working toward achieving independence and personal goals related to living, working, learning and social engagement. DCI’s Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program serves residents of Cameron, Elk, McKean and Potter counties with offices in Coudersport and Ridgway.

Due to the expected weather conditions, frigid temperatures, and for the safety of our volunteers and food pantry neighbors, the Duke Center UMC Food pantry is postponed until Tuesday February 3rd.  

HEADLINE: Cold Weather Advisory issued January 26 at 12:57AM EST until January 27 at 1:00PM EST by NWS Buffalo NY

DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…Bitterly cold wind chills as low as 24 below zero expected.

* WHERE…Southern Erie and Wyoming counties and the western
Southern Tier.

Smethport Schools are CLOSED TODAY 1/26/26.

The Bingham Township Supervisors are seeking applications for a part-time Secretary/Treasurer.  Experience in bookkeeping with QuickBooks, Computer skills, and Secretarial skills are needed.  Duties would include:

Payroll, Quarterly Taxes, Annual W-2’s, Reconciliations, Paying & Recording Invoices, Making Deposits, Balancing Bank Statements, State Reports, DCED Reports, Grant Applications, Attending monthly meetings, Taking & Recording Minutes, providing Financial Records, Assessment Building Permits, Driveway Permits, Road Bonds & Permits, Open Record Requests, and Budgets.

Position will begin June 1^st, 2026

For more information, please call 814-848-9863

Resumes may be mailed to: Bingham Township

843 Bingham Center Road,

Genesee, PA 16923

Monday, January 26, 2026, we will be operating on a 2 hour delay.

CASD Schools are closed tomorrow, Monday January 26th, and after school activities are canceled. Stay safe, stay warm!