NEWS

The Seneca Resources Company, LLC reported to DEP that at 4:00 p.m. on July 3, 2022 a plastic pipeline ruptured and spilled an estimated 18,000   gallons of shale gas drilling wastewater in Shippen Township, Cameron County.

On the morning of July 4th, about a mile away and downhill from the spill, John and Paige Rosenberger knew nothing about the spill, all they knew was their well pump wasn’t working.

John is a retired State Trooper who was on the force for 25 years.  He hunted in Cameron County with his father when he was young and really liked the area.

He and his wife Paige bought their home and 46 acres and moved in after he retired in May of 2018 and became part of the community.  

John serves as president of the local Rotary Club.

“We knew this was our forever home, the home and property you work your entire life for and we truly loved living here,” John said.

July 5

On July 5, they called their plumber in Emporium and he came and pulled the pump out of the 220 foot deep well; he said it had bad wiring.  By 4:30 that evening they had a new pump and wiring installed.

Contact David @ 814-274-9763, Coneville area

The owners called, but still looking for her mate…

Montoursville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), District 3 today announced that 37 acres of vacant land located along Frost Road in Covington Township, Tioga County is for sale. The property is bounded on the west by Route 15 and on the north by Frost Road. The estimated Fair Market Value is $144,500. ​

For bidding information, contact PennDOT, District 3 Right-of-Way Unit, at 570-368-4318.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of August 5. 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:

Bridge Maintenance & Cleaning

• Route 346 (Willow Creek Road) at a bridge spanning Cobbs Hollow Run approximately eight miles west of Bradford in Corydon Township. Monday, August 5, through Friday, August 9. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact.

Pennsylvania has some of the oldest bridges in the country, with an age of more than 50 years on average. Preventive maintenance is vital in extending the life of the structures. As such, PennDOT maintenance crews perform some bridge deck patching and structural repairs.

Mechanized Patching

• Route 46 in Foster Township. Monday, August 5, through Friday, August 9. 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.

Pipe Replacing & Cleaning

• Route 4001 (Big Shanty Road) in Lafayette Township and Lewis Run. Monday, August 5, through Friday, August 9. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Pipe replacement and cleaning are essential in maintaining water flow around state roadways. Controlling water flow is one of the most important aspects of maintaining pavements. Uncontrolled water flow will damage both the pavement surface and the area under the pavement, which causes deterioration across the length of the pipe.

Shoulder Maintenance

• Route 44 in Ceres Township. Thursday, August 8, and Friday, August 9. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 446 between Route 155 and the Pennsylvania-New York Border. Monday, August 5, through Wednesday, August 7. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Shoulder cutting removes excess material and debris from unpaved shoulder areas. Shoulder grading involves the shaping and stabilizing of those same areas. Both operations improve drainage, allow water to leave the roadway, and eliminate shoulder drop-offs. These are crucial highway maintenance operations because when drainage systems do not function properly, water collects on the road, weakens pavement, accelerates the formation of potholes, and creates the potential for icing conditions in the winter months.

This schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, emergencies, or other unforeseen interruptions.

Customers can report road concerns by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD. If calling after hours, please leave a name and phone number.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in Potter County the week of August 5. 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:

Bridge Maintenance & Cleaning

• Route 3002 (Cowley Hill Road) at a bridge spanning Cowley Run approximately five miles west of Austin in Portage Township. Monday, August 5, through Thursday, August 8. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact.

Pennsylvania has some of the oldest bridges in the country, with an age of more than 50 years on average. Preventive maintenance is vital in extending the life of the structures. As such, PennDOT maintenance crews perform some bridge deck patching and structural repairs.

Mechanized Patching

• Route 244 between the intersections of Rose Lake Lane in Allegany Township and Route 1010 (Academy Street) in Genesee Township. Monday, August 5, through Friday, August 9. 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.

Pipe Replacing & Cleaning

• Route 6 between the intersections of Route 44 in Sweden Township and School Street in Galeton Borough. Monday, August 5, through Thursday, August 8. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 1003 between the intersections of Route 49 in Ulysses Borough and Route 6 in Pike Township. Monday, August 5, through Thursday, August 8. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 44 between the intersections of Route 6 in Sweden Township and the Lycoming-Potter County line. Tuesday, August 6, through Friday, August 9. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Pipe replacement and cleaning are essential in maintaining water flow around state roadways. Controlling water flow is one of the most important aspects of maintaining pavements. Uncontrolled water flow will damage both the pavement surface and the area under the pavement, which causes deterioration across the length of the pipe.

Surface Treatment

• Route 44 between the intersections of Pleasant Street in Shinglehouse Borough and Route 4008 (Branch Road) in Hebron Township. Monday, August 5, through Friday, August 9. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours. PennDOT urges drivers to build extra time into their travel schedules as delays are anticipated.
• Route 244 between the intersections of Route 4025 (Brizzie Hollow Road) and New York-Pennsylvania border. Monday, August 5, through Friday, August 9. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours. PennDOT urges drivers to build extra time into their travel schedules as delays are anticipated.
• Route 4008 between the intersections of Route 44 in Hebron Township and Route 4011 (Peet Brook Road) in Allegany Township. Monday, August 5, through Friday, August 9. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours. PennDOT urges drivers to build extra time into their travel schedules as delays are anticipated.

Commonly known as “oil and chip” or “sealcoat,” this operation is a preservation strategy used to maintain mainly low-traffic-volume roads for five to seven years. It is also used on high-volume roads to extend pavement life between resurfacings. Generally, it takes stones about two days to fully bond in the hardened asphalt. Motorists should reduce their speed on these roads until the stones fully adhere to the asphalt. This maintenance seals the road surface to keep water out, restores the friction of the surface to enhance traction, and is very cost-effective.

Sweeping utilizes a mechanical broom attachment on a piece of mobile highway equipment used to remove loose debris from the roadway, improving safety and surface traction for motorists.

This schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, emergencies, or other unforeseen interruptions.

Customers can report road concerns by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD. If calling after hours, please leave a name and phone number.

For more information on PennDOT’s maintenance activities, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/about-us/maintenanceactivities.

The Coudersport Gospel Tabernacle Back-To-School Block Party has been rescheduled for Sunday from 2:30-6 pm due to inclement weather.

UPMC Expert: Limit Screen Time to Get Kids Moving this Summer

Jenna Farquhar, M.D.
UPMC Williamsport Family Medicine Residency

With screens virtually everywhere, monitoring a child’s screen time can be challenging. To complicate matters, some screen time can be educational and support children’s social development. It is important to pull your kids away from the screen and get them outside and moving. The healthiest children have a balance between outdoor and online play. So how do you manage your child’s screen time?

Parents Should Model Screen Time

The first thing all parents should do is look at their actions. Your children learn first by watching you. Are you binge-watching your favorite show, scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, and posting every action on X or Facebook? Then, you shouldn’t be surprised when your child is obsessed with comments and loves on Instagram or binge-watching YouTube videos. They are modeling your behavior and following in your footsteps. You have a responsibility to watch what you’re teaching.

Penn Dot Retirees Picnic

 Come join us on August 8^th 2024

At Frosty Hollow

 Meeting is at 12:00

Lunch to follow at 1:00

Please bring your own table service, beverage, and a dish to pass

Smethport, PA – A new provider has joined the Smethport Family Health Center, a primary care practice owned and operated by Olean General Hospital (OGH) and Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC). Sarah Schwab, CRNP, joins Cory Mathias, DO, primary care, at the Smethport practice.

As a primary care provider, Schwab will be able to address patient health concerns from annual wellness checks and preventative care to addressing acute and chronic illnesses. Schwab will be able to provide care and treatment for diabetes, hyperlipidemia, thyroid disorder, hypertension, depression, heart disease, GERD, obesity, skin conditions, and acute illnesses such as upper respiratory infections (URI).

“I was born and raised in the area, I’m excited to become part of a team of healthcare experts that help make a difference in our community,” said Schwab. “I truly want to make a difference in my community by caring for neighbors and friends by helping to improve their quality of life.”

Schwab earned her nursing degree from University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and continued on to receive her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Purdue University Global. Purdue University Global is also where she earned her master’s degree in adult/gerontology primary care as a nurse practitioner. This is a homecoming for Schwab as she was previously employed by BRMC as a registered nurse on the med-surg unit.

“My years of experience as a registered nurse have helped build a strong foundation as a provider. I am committed to providing my patients with the best care possible,” added Schwab.

Schwab is currently accepting new patients at the Smethport Family Health Center located at 406 Franklin Street, Smethport, PA. Appointments can be made by calling (814) 887-5655.

Lucille and Harriet Rutkowski-Hood, members of the Famous Wabbit Club 4-H Club in Potter County, daughters of Michelle Rutkowski and Hank Hood participated in the 2024 Potter County Fair. 

Endless Mountain Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. kicked off fundraising for a popular program which provides gifts to children during Christmas. For decades the chapter adopted the program. For John Overturf it was his favorite campaign and over the years it included a chicken BBQ, collection of gifts outside of a business and recently vehicle rides featuring A.B.A.T.E. members.

PORT ALLEGANY – Northern Pennsylvania Regional College’s Workforce Development department is providing an opportunity for McKean County area residents to receive training to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The cost of this course is $350.00, but McKean County residents are eligible for assistance to help make the course available at no-cost, thanks to support from the County of McKean. Residents from outside of McKean County are also welcome to sign-up for this course offering. Before beginning the course, students are required to complete a placement test to determine class eligibility.  

The course will begin on the evening of Thursday, August 22, 2024, and will continue each Tuesday and Thursday evening through Tuesday, February 18 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. The class will meet at the Port Allegany Volunteer Fire Department located at 28 Maple Street. 

According to projections, the Emergency Medical Technician career will experience a growth rate of seven percent through the year 2031 and full-time workers in this position earn an average pay of around $50,000 per year nationally. The 200-hour program teaches technical knowledge and skills needed to become a certified Basic Emergency Medical Technician. This includes all skills necessary for the individual to provide emergency medical care at a basic life support level with an ambulance service or other specialized service. After successful completion of this course, individuals are eligible to take the National Registry exam for Emergency Medical Technician. Currently, NPRC has an above industry average cumulative pass rate of the National Registry exam at over 90 percent. 

NPRC’s Vice President of Workforce Development, Adam Johnson, shared, “NPRC and the County of McKean recognize costs can be a barrier to training. Therefore, NPRC has launched a program to offer low or no cost EMS training programs throughout its 10-county region. We are grateful for the County of McKean and Star Hose Fire Company #1’s support to help fill the need for trained public safety professionals in McKean County and surrounding areas.” 

To register for this opportunity and for more information, visit NPRCEvents.org. 

Roulette Township 

ATTENTION ROULETTE WATER CUSTOMERS- you are now on a

Voluntary Water Restriction

and we will be closely monitoring the situation should we have to go on a mandatory water restriction you will notified. The well is at 36 feet presently. Thank you

The Potter County Farmers Market will be outdoors on the square across from the county jail, every Friday (weather permitting) from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The next market will be this Friday, August 2nd. Below is a list of who plans to be there and what they plan on bringing to the Market:

[NOTICES: 

*  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, 814-544-7313 netrabaker@hughes.net]

DIXON DESIGNS, aka Tina Dixon will be there with handcrafted jewelry.  Earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. Accepting cash and Venmo.

BLUE MARBLE FARM will be at the market with local, organically grown beautiful produce and plants.  We will have Romaine Lettuce, Heirloom Tomatoes, White Cucumbers, Pickling Cucumbers, Candy, Red and Golden Beets, Round Zucchini, Green Snack Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Eggplant, White and Candy Onions,  Snap Peas, Dragon’s Tongues Beans, and Haricot Verts and Velour (French Green and Purple Beans), Soft neck Garlic Braids and more.  And we will have Green Basil, Purple Basil, Thia Basil and Parsley plants.  We accept cash, checks, FMNP and credit cards. For more information, contact Lisa at bluemarblefarm@outlook.com, 814-320-1308 or bluemarblefarm.weebly.com

MIKE THOMPSON  will be a vender on Friday 8/2. bringing Yellow Squash, Zucchini, Leeks, Cucumbers, Hungarian Hot Peppers, and some Tomatoes.  Accepting FMNP CHECKS.   KNIFE SHARPENING WHILE YOU WAIT OR SHOP OTHER VENDERS.

Galeton had another very nice summer month. It was somewhat warmer than normal and drier. Morning temperatures were in the 50’s and 60’s. Most afternoons warmed up with readings in the 80’s. A few days it approached 90 degrees.

Rainfall for this year was 2.67″. This is about 1.33″ below the average. The rain arrived thanks to the 4 thunderstorms during the month. Most of the month was rain free. Last year we received 4.37″Pine Creek looks good, however, lawns were starting to look dry.  We had 13 foggy mornings and above average humidity.

Keep mowing. It is amazing to see that even camp lawns keep being mowed down just like golf courses. I guess that’s what you do these days when you come to Potter Co. for the weekend.
Before you know it we will be getting the snow shovels out. 

Henry W. Lush National Weather Service Observer