NEWS

McKean County Fair

Good luck to Miss McKean County, Jaidyn Goodman, as she competes this weekend for the title of Miss Pennsylvania State Fair Queen!

BRADFORD, PA – Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), a member campus of Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), held a community relations breakfast on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.  Jill Owens, MD, president, UAHS, gave an organizational update and introduced Thomas Langan, MD, MBA, RPVI, vascular surgeon, who provided an overview of his services.

Dr. Langan presented the various diseases that he specializes in treating at BRMC as well as at Olean General Hospital. He specializes in the treatment of carotid artery disease, occlusive peripheral arterial disease, aortic aneurysmal disease, venous disease, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolisms (PE). 

Procedures he will be conducting include carotid endarterectomy, transcarotid artery revascularization, endovascular aneurysm repair, thoracic endovascular aortic repair, peripheral vascular bypass surgery, endovascular angioplasty and stenting, phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, endovenous ablation, suction and mechanical thrombectomy, and embolectomy. 

Dr. Langan earned his medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo, NY.  Once credentialed in Pennsylvania, Dr. Langan will be seeing patients at BRMC.

Caption: Thomas Langan, MD, MBA, RPVI, vascular surgery, presents at the community relations breakfast at the Bradford Club on January 10.

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 on a regular basis).

This course, taught by Rick Kralj, Penn State Educator, is scheduled for Wednesdays, February 14 and 21, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Extension office in the Gunzburger Building, 1 North Main Street, Coudersport, PA. The cost is $165/person. The registration deadline is Friday, February 9^th. To register, call 877-345-0691 or go to https://extension.psu.edu/servsafe .

Winterfest is offering free, fun, family-friendly snow and no snow, and no ice events this Saturday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hills Creek State Park at 111 Spillway Road, eight miles from Wellsboro
 
Visitors with specific interests should check the event schedule. Some programs are ‘drop-in’ and others are at definite times.
 
Two small storms are forecast for this week and should provide enough snow for sledding, and hopefully, cross country skiing, according to organizer Tim Morey. “We will make the call this Friday when the second storm is forecast.”
 
If snow conditions allow, there will be Winterfest tubing, tobogganing, and sledding on Beach Front Hill from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. there will be 30-minute cross-country ski mini-clinics for all ages. Those who have their own equipment are encouraged to bring it.
 
Free hot dogs and hot chocolate will be available to everyone from 11 a.m. until gone. Fire rings and burn barrels will help visitors stay warm.
 
Each family can build one bluebird box to take home for free from 10 a.m. until the boxes are gone. 
 
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families will enjoy a free ‘make and take’ craft, including the ever-popular pinecone bird feeder.
 
During on-land, 30-minute Get Started Ice Fishing demonstrations led by Tackle Shack staff from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., learn some tips and tricks to pull fish through the ice and find out how much fun and rewarding it can be.
 
A Hot Tent demo by Scott Lee will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Camping in winter doesn’t need to be cold. With the right gear and a small woodstove, find out how to rough it in style.

Smethport Fire Department Inc. is in Smethport, PA.

1/16/24 … At 1205, SFD was dispatched to a MVA, Vehicle into a building at W Water & Franklin Streets with possible entrapment. Upon arrival firefighters on Engine 24 found a vehicle that had crashed in to an out building containing oxygen and other tanks that were scattered at the crash scene from the impact. The driver was removed on a backboard and loaded in to MA-17a to be evaluated by medics from MA-3, and then transported to Olean General. Representatives from the company were called to the scene to handle and secure the tanks. After the scene was cleared the vehicle was removed by McKeirnan’s Towing. Investigation was done by Smethport Borough Police and Chief 220 had command. All units were back in quarters at 1315.

(Photos by Jim Dougherty SFD)

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will meet Jan. 26 and 27 at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters.

The meeting on Friday, Jan. 26 begins at 1 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is for the board to hear reports from staff. Public comment will not be accepted at this meeting.

Public comment – limited to five minutes – will be accepted at the Saturday, Jan. 27 meeting on a first-to-register, first-to-speak basis. Registration begins when the doors to the Harrisburg headquarters open at 7:45 a.m. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. PowerPoint presentations are not permitted during public comment.

HARRISBURG – Responding to concerns raised by area students and teachers, Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) has introduced legislation to improve students’ access to taking their learner’s permit exam.  

“With limited hours at our local DMV and busy schedules for parents, many teens are unable to take the knowledge test necessary to obtain a permit, which then prevents them from earning their driver license,” Owlett said. “Especially in rural areas like ours, not having a driver license limits a person’s independence…and the ability to hold a job.”  

The issue was brought to Owlett’s attention by Cowanesque Valley High School teacher Jamie-Jo Sickler, who was concerned about the number of students who graduate without a license, creating a barrier to enter the workforce. 

On January 16 at 12:29 pm Smethport Fire Dept. was dispatched to Franklin and West Water Street for a motor vehicle accident vehicle into a building

HARRISBURG, Pa. (January 12) — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is recruiting the 26th class of Waterways Conservation Officer (WCO) Trainees.

The State Civil Service Commission (SCSC) will begin accepting applications now through February 5, 2024.  The class of up to 24 trainees will undergo a comprehensive training program at various training sites in the Commonwealth, including the PFBC’s H.R. Stackhouse School of Fishery Conservation and Watercraft Safety in Bellefonte, Centre County.  Trainees will study law enforcement principles and practices, fish and boat laws, watercraft safety, environmental protection, and other related content.  The class of trainees is expected to report for training later this year and graduate in the summer of 2025.

US National Weather Service State College PA 

Tuesday, Jan 16 @ 7:00 AM | Light snow will continue this morning, with an additional inch or 2 accumulating through most of central PA, highest east. Even colder air will move in tonight, with wind chills as low as -10 to -20 F across the Laurels and northern Alleghenies tonight into Wed Morning!

The student of the week for Health Assistance is Alexis Morgan. She is an exemplary student who demonstrates a high level of integrity. Academically, she maintains very high grades in her health assistant class. Her assistance to other students in the lab setting is also admirable. In clinical settings, Alexis is always professional and performs her job very well. 

​HARRISBURG, Pa. (January 16) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will hold its quarterly business meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. at its Harrisburg headquarters, located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110.  The meeting is open to the public.

The complete schedule and agenda for this meeting and information on how to provide public comment is available on the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com).

This meeting may be viewed remotely by joining the webinar from your internet browser using this link: https://bit.ly/Jan24CommMtg

If prompted, enter the webinar access number code: 2630 759 7868
Password: public (782542 from phones)

​HARRISBURG, Pa. (January 16) — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is once again seeking applicants for grants to support education programs that promote new and renewed interest in fishing and boating in Pennsylvania through the recruitment of new participants, retention of existing participants, and reactivation of former participants – collectively known as “R3.”

The grant application period is open beginning today, January 16, 2024, through March 1, 2024.

OLEAN, NY – Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), the healthcare system consisting of Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), presented Erin Langworthy, LPN, the fourth quarter Nightingale Award. Langworthy, a nurse in the practice of Joseph Staszel, MD, pain management and physical medicine, has been a nurse for almost 20 years.

“Erin is an outstanding nurse! She will go out of her way to do the very best for any patient. Whether that would be taking an extra minute or step to make sure patients are more comfortable, providing reassurance and talking them through any procedure. She’s an effective, compassionate communicator,” according to her nomination. “Erin gives all patients the utmost respect no matter what. As Erin’s co-worker, she is the type of nurse who reminds me of how as nurses we can truly make a difference in all our patients’ lives.”

The Nightingale Award is a result of nominations from medical providers and other team members throughout UAHS. The prestigious award is presented quarterly to one nurse who provides exceptional patient care, excels in patient and family teachings, creates an environment of efficient open communication with patients, as well as serving as a role model for peers.