Oswayo Valley Historical Society will be hosting a program on the Railroad Post office
NEWS
United Way Soup Lunch Slated for November 18th
The United Way of the Bradford Area, Inc. will be hosting its Annual Soup Lunch, sponsored by First Energy, on Friday, November 18th at the First Presbyterian Church. This year, the UWBA will be offering: Broccoli Cheese, Stuffed Pepper and Italian Wedding. Each soup is available for pick-up or delivery between 11am and 1:30pm at a cost of $7 for a 12oz bowl or $10 for a 16oz bowl and includes: crackers, utensils and a dessert prepared by the Zonta Club and Bradford Senior Center.
All proceeds will benefit the UWBA. Orders must be placed by Friday, November 11th to the UWBA office by calling 814-368-6181, email sarah.lonzi@uwbanews.org, fax 814-368-5300 or mail to PO Box 504, Bradford, PA. If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please contact Executive Director, Sarah Lonzi, during regular business hours of Monday-Friday, 8am – 2pm, for more information.
Potter County Receives Quarter Million Dollars From Shale Gas Tax
County and local governments received higher allotments this year from state’s tax on shale gas production. Potter County’s share was $316,800 for gas activity in 2021, far above the $207,015 received last year for 2020 activity. The county also received an additional $25,000 that can be used for certain environmental and/or recreational projects, and a $40,000 allotment for local bridge projects.
Top recipients in Potter County (2021 payments in parentheses) were: Sweden Twp., $76,838 ($46,613); Ulysses Twp., $68,120 ($43,873); West Branch Twp., $53,688 ($32,609); Summit Twp., $41,472 ($25,079); Eulalia Twp., $35,530 ($21,891); Clara Twp., $24,579 ($17,446); Coudersport, $20,641 ($13,517); Keating Twp., $19,706 ($12,197); Pleasant Valley Twp., $19,689 ($16,967); and Wharton Twp., $19,592 ($11,902).
A boom in local gas drilling kicked off in 2007-08 after companies verified deep pools of trapped two or more miles underground in shale formations. Two companies in particular – JKLM in Potter County and Seneca Resources in Cameron and other counties – became major players. Pennsylvania imposed a tax, described by politicians as an “impact fee,” on shale gas in 2012. Sixty percent of fees collected from energy companies go to counties and local governments and 40 percent to the state.
County and local governments can use the money for preservation and reclamation of water supplies; improvements to roads and bridges; construction and repair of water and sewer systems; delivery of social services; local tax reduction; housing; conservation districts; emergency preparedness and flood plain management.
The state’s share is used for emergency response planning, training and other activities; water, stormwater, and sewer system construction and repair; infrastructure maintenance and repair; as well as environmental initiatives.
Funds also go county conservation districts, Pa. Conservation Commission, PUC, DEP, Fish and Boat Commission, Emergency Management Agency, Dept. of Transportation and Office of State Fire Commissioner.
Roulette, Austin EMS Dispatched To Angel Lane
At 10:42 AM on Friday, Roulette & Austin ambulances have been dispatched to Angel Lane in Sweden Township for a patient with difficulty breathing.
Roulette & Austin RECALLED.
Franklinville Dispatched to Fire Alarm at Church
At 10:26 AM on Friday, Franklinville Fire Dept. has been dispatched for an activated fire alarm at the church basement at 25 South Main Street.
Coudersport Ambulance To Locust Street
At 10:22 AM on Friday, Coudersport ambulance has been called to Locust Street for a female fall victim with a hip injury.
Game Commission Applauds Change in Law for Antlerless License Sales
The way hunters apply for Pennsylvania antlerless deer licenses is about to change for the first time in decades.
Senate Bill 431, which would allow hunters to buy antlerless licenses through the HuntFishPA automated licensing service, was signed into law this week. When it takes effect with the 2023-24 license year, antlerless licenses will be available for purchase online or in person at any license issuing agent.
The Game Commission, hunting organizations including the National Deer Association, Pennsylvania Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists and others, and everyday hunters supported the bill, championing it as the final step to fully modernizing license sales.
“Allowing for the sale of antlerless deer hunting licenses through other means such as online or through issuing agents will make it far more convenient for hunters,” said Dan Laughlin, the Erie County Senator and Chairman of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, who sponsored of Senate Bill 431.
Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans agreed.
“We thank Pennsylvania’s legislators, and in particular Chairman Laughlin, for tackling this issue and look forward to implementing a system that provides great customer service to our hunters,” Burhans said. “Our mission here at the Game Commission is twofold, to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats, but also to promote hunting and trapping for current and future generations. Modernizing how we sell antlerless licenses helps us achieve both.”
Until now, hunters applied for antlerless licenses via mail, sending those familiar pink envelopes to county treasurers, the only entity permitted to sell them. They had to do so according to a set schedule, with various deadlines based on state residency and rounds of sales, using a self-addressed stamped envelope and paper checks, something increasingly foreign to some hunters.
There were, in short, a lot of variables in play, and that occasionally led to problems with hunters getting licenses or not.
Given all that, the pink envelope system was seen by many as a barrier to hunting participation, especially when it comes to recruiting new hunters. Allowing for antlerless license sales through HuntFishPA will address those issues.
Wellsboro, Middlebury Dispatched For Garage Fire
At 9:50 AM on Friday, Wellsboro & Middlebury Fire Depts. have been dispatched to Rt. 287 for a garage fire reported by a passerby.
Hold units in quarters per Chief 11R40. Possibly just a wood stove.
Confirmed wood stove. No fire. RECALLED.
PA Permit Violations Issued
| PA Permit Violation Issued to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County |
| Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 11/01/2022 to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna county. 78a86 – CASING AND CEMENTING – DEFECTIVE CASING OR CEMENTING – Operator failed to report defect in a well that has defective, insufficient or improperly cemented casing to the Department within 24 hours of discovery. Operator failed to correct defect or failed to submit a plan to correct the defect for approval by the Department within 30 days. |
| Incident Date/Time: 2022-11-01 00:00:00 |
| Tags: PADEP, frack, violation, drilling |
| PA Permit Violation Issued to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Terry Twp, Bradford County |
| Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 10/28/2022 to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Terry Twp, Bradford county. 78a85(a)5 – CASING AND CEMENTING – CEMENT STANDARDS – The operator failed to prevent gas flow in the annulus. In areas of known shallow gas producing zones, gas block additives and low fluid loss slurries shall be used. |
| Incident Date/Time: 2022-10-28 00:00:00 |
| Tags: PADEP, frack, violation, drilling |
| PA Permit Violation Issued to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Terry Twp, Bradford County |
| Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 10/28/2022 to CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC in Terry Twp, Bradford county. 78a86 – CASING AND CEMENTING – DEFECTIVE CASING OR CEMENTING – Operator failed to report defect in a well that has defective, insufficient or improperly cemented casing to the Department within 24 hours of discovery. Operator failed to correct defect or failed to submit a plan to correct the defect for approval by the Department within 30 days. |
| Incident Date/Time: 2022-10-28 00:00:00 |
| Tags: PADEP, frack, violation, drilling |
November 5th Potter County Farmers Market is CANCELLED
The November 5th Potter County Farmers Market is CANCELLED as many of our vendors are attending Christmas festivals in the area. However, we will be at Riley Gallery the following week. The fall and winter market schedule is as follows:
Fall market: November through the week before Christmas we will be in the Riley Gallery next to the Crittenden on Saturdays 10am to 2pm.
Winter market: First Saturday (10am to 2pm) of each month beginning in January and continuing to May.
If you have any questions please call me. Netra Baker 814-544-7313 or netrabaker@hughes.net. Thank you for your faithful support of the vendors at the market this year.
Causer Bill Removing Prohibition on Manufacture, Ownership of Automatic Knives Now Law
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) to end the state’s prohibition on automatic knives was signed into law Thursday by the governor.
“This change in law will benefit the Commonwealth’s outdoor enthusiasts and tradespeople who find automatic knives helpful in their work and activities,” Causer said. “It will also benefit knife manufacturers here in the state who have been at a competitive disadvantage with manufacturers in 43 other states where there was no prohibition on these tools.”
Prior law prohibited individuals from repairing, selling, dealing, using or possessing an “offensive weapon.” Included in the definition of an offensive weapon, along with bombs, grenades and machine guns, was automatic knives. The new law authored by Causer simply removes automatic knives from the list of prohibited offensive weapons.
However, someone in possession of an automatic knife with the intent to employ it criminally would still be in violation of the state’s Crimes Code, ensuring there is a mechanism in place to continue to protect the community while also removing an outdated restriction on law-abiding people.
Act 119 of 2022 takes effect in 60 days.
Veteran Resident Honored at The Laurels
Wellsboro, Pa., November 3, 2022 – Clifford Murray, a resident at The Laurels, part of UPMC Senior Communities, and a World War II Navy veteran was recently honored by Family Hospice, part of UPMC Home Healthcare of Central Pennsylvania, and U.S. Veterans Affairs. During the ceremony, Clifford was pinned with an American flag, given a certificate in honor of his service and presented with a star of a retired flag. This was made possible by UPMC’s We Honor Veterans program. Pictured is Clifford and representatives of UPMC. To learn more about We Honor Veterans at UPMC in North Central Pa., call 570-320-7691.
Beautiful weather welcomed the annual Coudersport Rotary Halloween Parade
Beautiful weather welcomed the annual Coudersport Rotary Halloween Parade on October 29, 2022. Thank you to everyone who participated and all our First Responders who helped to make it a reality! More photos are on their Facebook page.
Port Allegany Dispatched for Natural Gas Smell
At 3:20 PM on Thursday, Port Allegany Fire Dept. dispatched to 110 North Main Street for a smell of natural gas outside.
Head-On Crash on South Kendall Avenue near Bradford
At 2:47 PM on Thursday, Rew Fire Dept. & City Ambulance have been called to the intersection of South Kendall Avenue & Garlock Hollow for a head-on crash with possible serious injuries. Road is CLOSED. Derrick City to scene. Air medical on standby. 2 ambulances responding.
Coudersport Ambulance to South West Street
At 2:30 PM on Thursday, Coudersport Ambulance has been dispatched to South West Street for a woman ill.
