Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and melanoma is its most dangerous form. The good news is that most skin cancers are highly treatable when found early, and many cases are preventable. Skin Cancer Awareness and Melanoma Awareness months are a good reminder to check your skin, protect it every day, and know when a spot needs medical attention.

Melanoma and other skin cancers: who is at risk?

Anyone can develop skin cancer. Risk is higher for people with a history of sunburns, frequent outdoor sun exposure, tanning bed use, many moles, or a personal or family history of skin cancer. People with lighter skin tones tend to be diagnosed more often, but melanoma can occur in any skin tone and may be missed when it appears in less sun-exposed areas such as the palms, soles, under nails, or inside the mouth. If you are not sure what is normal for your skin, that is a good reason to start looking regularly.

What to look for: the ABCDEs and other warning signs

We are pleased to recognize Trey Kiser from Port Allegany High School as our Student of the Week! Trey has been a dedicated member of Mr. Finch’s Building Construction Occupations Class at Seneca Highlands CTC for three years, where he has consistently demonstrated hard work, a positive attitude, and exceptional focus.

The Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA), in partnership with Remake Learning Days, is excited to announce a family-friendly art experience, Mobiles: The Art of Movement, taking place on May 9 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the ECCOTA Gallery in Ridgway.

Led by teaching artist Caroline Fitch, this interactive art activity has participants exploring the fascinating world of 4D artwork: art that incorporates motion as an essential element. Students will learn about balance, design, and movement as they create their own unique hanging mobiles.

Designed for ages 8 and up, the class welcomes both individuals and families, encouraging participants to create and learn together in a supportive and creative environment.

Registration is encouraged and can be completed online at www.ECCOTA.com or through the ECCOTA Facebook page.

Regular and postseason playoff success have been a way of life for Penn College softball teams throughout this century.

Under coach Roger Harris from 2002-15, the Wildcats were 177-174, reaching the playoffs eight times, claiming two championships, two seconds and two thirds.

Under coach Jackie Klahold from 2016-19, teams were 76-70, with four playoff appearances and one second-place finish.

Coached by Angie Stackhouse from 2020 through last season, teams were 141-57, with three conference crowns (two United East), three trips to the NCAA Division III Regional, two conference runner-up finishes and one third-place finish.

Pamela A. Ruppert “loving wife, mother, and grandmother”

COUDERSPORT, PA—Pamela A. “Pam” Ruppert, 67, of Coudersport, passed away with her loving family by her side on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in UPMC Hamot, Erie, after a long illness.

Born on Sunday, April 19, 1959 in York, she was a daughter of James W. and Alverta Lehr Melton.  On February 14, 1981 in Sunbury, she married Kenneth E. “Ken” Ruppert, Jr., who survives.

Pam attended Red Lion High School.  She was an opening manager at McDonald’s in Red Lion for several years.

Pam was a member of God’s Country Ministries in Coudersport.  She enjoyed her flower gardens and also enjoyed taking trips on their Harley.  She loved her many dogs over the years.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 45 years; two sons, Justin R. Ruppert of Clarion and Kenneth Eugene Ruppert III of Ulysses; a daughter, Kendra R. A. (Kevin) Shaffer of Felton; eighteen grandchildren; a great-grandson to be born in 2026; a brother, James (Veronica) Melton of Portsmouth, VA; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Pam was predeceased by a son, Jammie J. Ruppert.

Family and friends may gather from 11:00am to 12:30pm on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at God’s Country Ministries, 1237 E. Second Street, Coudersport, where a celebration of Pam’s life will follow at 12:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Pam’s name may be made to God’s Country Ministries, PO Box 674, Coudersport, PA 16915.

Pam’s family has entrusted her care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

To express condolences, light a candle or share a fond memory of Pam, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.

Beverly A. MANNING, 85, of Genesee, PA, went home to be with her Lord on Monday, April 27, 2026 in Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY.  A complete obituary will be announced by Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.

St. Marys, PA — Dauch AAM’s St. Marys Manufacturing Facility recently contributed $500 to the Women Who Care Fund at the Elk County Community Foundation in recognition of Women’s History Month, observed each March. The donation honors the women employees at Dauch and reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting the local community.

Women Who Care awards annual grants to organizations throughout Elk County that serve families and children. This contribution will help strengthen the fund and enhance the impact of the upcoming granting cycle by increasing the dollars available for distribution to local nonprofit organizations.

Women Who Care extends its sincere appreciation to Dauch AAM for its partnership and continued support of local organizations dedicated to improving the well-being of Elk County families.

Businesses and organizations that would like to honor their women employees are welcome to sponsor their employees’ memberships to Women Who Care or donate to WWC in their name. Giving circles like Women Who Care amplify women’s voices and impact: members learn about issues, vet organizations, and practice grantmaking together. Women Who Care is a community-based giving initiative that pools donations to award annual grants to organizations serving families and children throughout Elk County.

Women Who Care is a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies.

At 13-4 overall, and tying its most successful regular season in program history set a year ago, the Penn College men’s lacrosse team finds itself in a familiar position as it heads into the United East Conference playoffs for the sixth consecutive season under coach Jordan Williams.

Playing a COVID-shortened schedule during their inaugural campaign in 2021, the Wildcats finished second to SUNY Morrisville. In 2022, they lost to St. Mary’s (Md.) College in the conference semifinals, and in 2023, they lost in the semifinals to SUNY Morrisville. The last two seasons in championship matches, they lost to St. Mary’s every time, but each year strides were being made.

On March 14 of this season in a nonconference outing, Penn College turned the tables on SUNY Morrisville, winning for the first time in six meetings.

Then, 14 days later in a UE matchup against St. Mary’s, the Wildcats had their best showing in their eight meetings as they led 10-8 after three periods of play before being outscored 5-0 in the fourth quarter. The three-goal final differential was the tightest ever between the two.

Carol M. Geitner

February 24, 1942 — April 25, 2026

Carol M. Geitner, 84, of St. Marys, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

She was born on February 24, 1942 in St. Marys, a daughter of the late George and Helen Wildnauer Meyer.

On April 20, 1963, in Queen of the World Church, she married the late Gerhart “Gary” Geitner, who preceded her in death on May 21, 2003.

Carol was a graduate of St. Marys High School, class of 1960. She worked for more than 25 years at Servco. Carol was a woman who found purpose in caring for others. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed the simple comforts of home, with her little dog faithfully by her side and her favorite tv shows playing in the background. For many years, she looked forward to going camping, where she found peace in nature and joy in life’s slower moments. She also had a love for cooking, always enjoying sharing a warm meal with her beloved family. She took great pride in her flowers, tending to them with the same gentle care that she showed to those around her.

She is survived by 4 children; Keith “Bootsie” Geitner of St. Marys, Scott Geitner of St. Marys, Dawn (Bob) Nasoni of St. Marys, and Christine (Rich) Kraus of Flagler Beach, FL, a daughter-in-law; Lori Geitner of St. Marys, and by her ten beloved grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother; Greg (Donna) Meyer and by numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Carol was preceded in death by her son; Richard “Hinder” Geitner who preceded her in death on Jan. 27, 2024, and by three brothers; James, Donald, and Jack Meyer.

A Memorial Service for Carol M. Geitner will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Lynch-Green Funeral Home, 151 N. Michael Street, St. Marys, PA, 15857.

Family and Friends will be received on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Lynch-Green Funeral Home from 10:00 AM until the time of service.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Elk County Humane Society.

Lynch-Green Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 151 N. Michael Street, St. Marys, PA 15857 is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.krisefamilyfuneralhomes.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carol M. Geitner, please visit our flower store.

2 Day Estate Sale! May 1 & 2, 2026

Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm

35 Pioneer Rd Emporium, PA (Sylvan Heights)

Antique Singer Sewing Machine, Tools, living-room furniture, French door refrigerator, push-mower, air compressor, player pianos, bird cages, outdoor furniture, Copper Chef, Wolfgang Puck cooking items, antique/vintage toys, vintage typewriter, shelves, stands, woodworking tools, drill presses, player piano rolls, pole saw, ramps, bedding, dressers, desks, blankets, fine china, kitchen table, hutch, outdoor swing, freezers, mini refrigerator, cameras, TVs, Crocks, clothes, clocks, and much more. Please do not block driveways and respect the neighbors.

HEADLINE: Wind Advisory issued April 27 at 11:04PM EDT until April 28 at 3:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…South winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* WHERE…Steuben and Yates Counties.

* WHEN…Until 3 PM EDT Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

INSTRUCTIONS: Secure outdoor objects.

Issued By: NWS Binghamton NY

**************************************************************

HEADLINE: Wind Advisory issued April 28 at 1:46AM EDT until April 28 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY

DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…Southeast to south winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55
mph expected.

* WHERE…Chautauqua County, including the downslope region of the
Chautauqua Ridge to the Lake Erie shoreline.

* WHEN…Until 2 PM EDT this afternoon.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Travel may be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles on
the NYS Thruway and Route 5 as wind gusts will be perpendicular to
travel.

INSTRUCTIONS: Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

Issued By: NWS Buffalo NY

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) has introduced legislation that will help increase revenue for counties, municipalities and school districts in which a significant amount of land is managed by the state.

The bill would expand upon the existing Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) currently provided by the state by requiring a portion of revenue collected from the sale of timber, oil and natural gas from state-owned land – as well as revenue from the construction or placement of radio towers and rent and royalties – to be shared with government entities in which the land is located.

“The local governments where state land is located are restricted from future economic development and continually struggle with a limited tax base,” Causer said. “While agencies do pay a small amount in lieu of taxes to these entities, it is a small fraction of what the land could be worth considering the significant revenue the state is collecting from the way they are using the land.”

Coudersport Public Library will host a special Poetry Night on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. This free community event is being held in memory of our friend, poet and writer Daniel F. “Danny” Glassmire, and will feature readings of some of his works, along with poems beloved by others.

In addition, participants will share their own writings, or recite a poem that’s personally meaningful. The public is also invited to attend and listen, and perhaps find comfort and inspiration in the words of others.

Light refreshments will be served.

For those unable to attend, this event may be viewed via Zoom. Email coudersportlibrary@gmail.com by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday if you would like the link.

Williamsport, Pa., April 27, 2026 – Electrophysiologists at UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Williamsport now offer pulsed field ablation (PFA), a new, minimally invasive treatment option for atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common abnormal heart rhythm.

“AFib is a complex rhythm disorder and is the most common abnormal heart rhythm we see in our practice,” said Suppiramaniam Sreeharikesan, M.D. (Dr. Kesan for short), electrophysiologist, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. “Adding this new procedure advances the level of heart care in the region. Studies have shown PFA can decrease the risk of complications compared with other kinds of ablation and we know there are patients who will directly benefit from it here in the community.”

PFA uses short bursts of electrical energy delivered through a specially designed catheter to target and destroy the specific heart tissue causing the irregular heartbeat. The short pulses of high-energy electricity create small holes in the cell membrane of the targeted tissue, leading to cell death. The electrical pulses are more specifically targeted, so there is a lower risk of damaging nearby structures like the esophagus and phrenic nerve than traditional catheter ablation.

“We know patients want to be in the hospital for as short of a stay as possible. An added benefit of PFAs is that they are generally same-day procedures,” said Dr. Kesan. “The length of the procedure can vary depending on factors like the size of a patient’s heart chambers and their specific type of AFib. However, most PFA procedures last between one and two hours and require a few additional hours of recovery observation, which if a patient is cleared, they are discharged to recover at home. Most patients can then return to their normal routine one week post-procedure.”

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute is one of the leading centers for cardiovascular care in the United States. To learn more about the experts and services available for diagnosis and treatment in northcentral Pennsylvania, visit UPMC.com/HeartNCPA.

Shirley Marie Tucker, “beloved mother and grandmother.”

ROULETTE, PA—Shirley Marie Tucker, 97, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at her son’s home, surrounded by the family who cherished her.

Born on March 16, 1929, in Port Allegany to Rayburn A. and Marguerite Craw Weimar, Shirley lived a life shaped by faith, devotion, and quiet strength. A graduate of Roulette High School, Class of 1947, she married Paul A. Tucker on June 30, 1948, beginning a lifelong partnership grounded in love and grace.

Shirley served faithfully in every role she embraced. She worked as a bookkeeper for Leet Lumber Company and later held accounting and finance positions with the Potter County Housing Authority, Casual Corner Stores, and the Department of Defense – Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Her love of learning never dimmed. After studying at the Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, NY, she returned to school later in life, earning her Associate Degree in Computer Programming, Class of 1990, from Columbus Technical Institute (now Columbus State Community College). She proved—beautifully—that curiosity has no age limit.

On April 27th Rew Fire Department was dispatched to S. Kendall Ave. for traffic control for a disabled school bus

On April 27th was Sabinsville Fire and Ambulance were dispatched to Second St. for a bicycle accident with possible head injuries air medical has been requested to Elkland Highschool

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing {PHWFF}, initiated and conducted by members of the Federation of Fly Fishers and Trout Unlimited, serves military personnel who have been wounded, injured, or disabled to aid their physical and emotional recovery by introducing or rebuilding the skills of fly fishing and fly tying and by using and enjoying these skills on fishing outings and as lifelong recreation.

While initially focusing on the military personnel in the Washington, DC area, the Project has expanded nationwide and is offering its services and program to active military personnel and veterans in the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals throughout the country.

The Project’s program provides basic fly fishing, fly casting and fly tying classes and clinics for the wounded and injured personnel ranging from beginners to those with prior fly fishing and tying experience who are adapting their skills to their new abilities. All activities, services and equipment are provided to the participants at no cost.

The God’s Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host its 17th nationally recognized Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing event, in cooperation with the Moore’s Run Fish and Game Preserve, Tuesday May 19 through Friday May 23. We are proud to dedicate our 2026 event to honor all “Bronze Star” Recipients. Our 12 disabled veteran guests all receive medical treatment and rehabilitaion at various PA Veteran Hospitals and sign up for our event through their respective PHWFF Programs. We are proud to enable them to enjoy the great trout flyfishing and an overall quality experience our chapter provides.”

We are working with the local American Legions and VFWs to invite all local veterans to participate in our disabled veteran guests’ 40 mile motorcycle escort/parade through Potter County. While our chapter has enough volunteer members to provide the instruction, equipment and guide services for our 12 disabled veteran guests, we are soliciting donations to offset the cost of food, lodging, fly tying tools and materials. A quote from a previous guest best explains what his visit meant:

“The trip was overwhelming!! I couldn’t believe all the people out there with signs and flags. It was really, really emotional, and they don’t know how much we appreciated that. When I returned from Vietnam 49 years ago, they didn’t do anything for us, not even in my hometown.”

Please join in the enthusiasm we feel and help provide a unique outdoor and healing experience for our wounded war veterans in the peaceful setting of God’s Country. If you consider this event worthy of your support, please forward your tax deductible contribution to the God’s Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Box 702, Coudersport, Pa. 16915. Thank you in advance for your consideration and continued support.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1NsjmskXPh

McKean County is seeking qualified and highly motivated applicants to perform the duties of Court Monitor for The Court of Common Pleas. The purpose of this position is to create verbatim transcripts of Court proceedings, ensuring a complete, accurate, and secure legal record.

The essential functions of the position include but are not limited to the following:

1.  Record court proceedings using a court monitoring system and recording equipment.

2.  Transcribe recordings in a timely fashion.

3.  Maintain recording equipment, including saving court proceedings from hard drive to CDs/ thumb drives and log notes.

4.  Index, file and maintain court recordings, tape cassette recordings, and exhibits.

5.  Maintain the printer, supplies of CDs, microphone batteries, tapes, and paper.

6.  Answer the telephone and direct calls as appropriate.

7.  Perform other duties as required for the successful operation of the department.

The qualifications of the position include the following:

Education:  Associates Degree or comparable office experience.

Experience: 1-2 years of experience in court-related field preferred but not required.

Other:  Sharp listening skills, knowledge of legal terminology, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation.  Ability to multi-task and excellent organization skills.

HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume and McKean County job application to Patricia Brown, Court Administrator, at PABrown@mckeancountypa.gov.

Applications are available in the Human Resources Department at the Courthouse or at www.mckeancountypa.gov.

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations for the interview due to a disability, please advise the interviewer of the accommodations you require well in advance of the scheduled date. 

McKEAN COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER.