NEWS

Available Position: Full-time IT Support Technician in the Port Allegany School District

Overview:

Seneca Highlands IU9 is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic IT Support Technician to join our team supporting Port Allegany School District. This position offers an excellent opportunity to start a rewarding career in technology within an educational environment.

Job Title: IT Support Technician

Location: Port Allegany, PA

Type: Full-time

New clearances upon hire and Pre-employment drug testing will be required for successful employment.

Key Responsibilities:
Provide first-level technical support for devices, networks, apps, and classroom technology.
Troubleshoot and resolve hardware, software, and network issues.
Assist in maintaining and updating IT documentation and inventory.
Ensure excellent customer service by being courteous, polite, and service-oriented.
Collaborate with other team members to enhance overall IT support.

Qualifications:
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
A positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
Basic troubleshooting skills for devices, networks, and classroom technology, or the ability to learn these skills quickly.

Any questions regarding this position, please email Mr. Ed Bell at: ebell@iu9.org EOE

[State College, PA] This Monday, November 17th, Samuel Friday, a 67-year-old resident of Tyrone, was arrested and remains in custody on denied bail. After receiving a report that Mr. Friday was soliciting underage teenagers for sexual conduct, Trooper Jonathan Hodges and a team from the Pennsylvania State Police quickly obtained a search warrant for Mr. Friday’s Tyrone residence, located in Centre County, and found photographs, video tapes, and electronic storage drives containing sexually explicit material.

Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that the Columbia County Rest Areas on Interstate 80 eastbound and westbound, located at mile marker 246, are opened to traffic.

The rest areas were closed on Thursday, February 20, 2025, to accommodate renovation and construction efforts. Work on the project included updating utilities and bathroom fixtures, installation of a new generator, and the construction of a new sewage treatment plant and buildings. Work on the project was completed under four contracts totaling $6.7 million.   

Montoursville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is advising motorists in Sullivan County that the entire length of Ellis Road (Route 4006) in Fox and Elkland townships will be posted with a permanent, year-round, 10-ton weight restriction.

The posting is being made based on a traffic-and-engineering study indicating that this highway may be damaged by vehicles that exceed the restriction. School buses, emergency vehicles, and local-delivery trucks are exempted from the postings.

The restriction will be in effect once the required signs are erected by a PennDOT maintenance crew in the upcoming weeks.

We’re pleased to announce that our Citizens of Tomorrow program in which students from Coudersport High School join us for lunch and tell us about themselves and their future plans has resumed.

At our November 17, 2025, meeting, our first group of students joined us at a special luncheon coordinated by Rotarian Julie Jeffers at Sweden Valley Manor. Past Rotary President, Walter Baker, resides at the Manor and was happily able to join us.

Students Alex Duell, Aidan Sandersen and Landin Pekarski, joined us for a pizza and wings lunch and told us about their current activities and future plans.

We look forward to meeting more Citizens of Tomorrow at our future meetings!

(Pictured: Citizens of Tomorrow [not in order] Alex Duell, Aidan Sandersen and Landin Pekarski)

Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that Route 61 is closed in both directions between Eighth Street and Coal Street in the city of Shamokin, Northumberland County, due to a vehicle crash with downed utilities.

A detour using local roads is in place. The roadway is expected to be closed for several hours. Motorists are urged to drive with caution in the area.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is giving an inside look at how it keeps one of its most unique fisheries going strong year after year.  Today, volunteers helped to collect hundreds of steelhead (a large form of Rainbow Trout) from the PFBC’s Trout Run nursery water along Lake Erie in Fairview Township.  The stream is protected from fishing, but it’s filled with huge steelhead trying to get upstream to spawn. Once netted, male and female fish are separated and sedated so that eggs and milt can be collected.  The adult fish are unharmed in the process and are returned to Lake Erie, while the eggs will be taken to the nearby Fairview State Fish Hatchery, where they will hatch.  After about a year, the small steelhead, known as smolts, are then stocked into the many tributary streams along Lake Erie, where they will imprint on the water as if they were born there naturally.  They will then swim out to Lake Erie to grow into adults, and after about 2 to 3 years, the large steelhead will follow their natural instinct to return to their home stream to spawn, which is what creates the world-class steelhead run each fall and winter.  The PFBC aims to produce about one million steelhead annually to sustain the fishery and ensure good numbers of fish return to the tributaries each year.  It is estimated that steelhead fishing generates about $11 million dollars in economic impact annually for Erie County.

More information on Pennsylvania’s steelhead program is available on the PFBC website.

Change is a constant in everyone’s life. Although we might not like the change we’re currently experiencing, it is still with us. Some change happens because of our own actions or those of others. Sadly, we can find ourselves victims of others’ choices and behaviors. Whether it involves our own actions, the choices and behaviors of others, or even our pets, our lives are always shifting to adapt to what is happening around us. Because of this, I wonder if we all might be better off with anchor points in our lives. 

Anchor points are things that keep us centered. You’ll find them in many areas of life. If you’re building any kind of structure, you’ll have anchor points. These points keep the building square and also provide structural stability and strength. Without them, a strong gust of wind can cause the structure to crumble. Perhaps you’ve read about buildings and bridges collapsing because their foundational anchor points were not secure. Often, it’s because they were not anchored into the bedrock. When change causes our lives to crash or our emotions to crumble, it’s because our anchor points are not solidly attached to bedrock.

Youngsters ages 3 to 12, their parents and grandparents are invited to participate in a free Deane Little Beans event at noon next Saturday, Nov. 29 in the lobby at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. Featured will be Ron Bianco, who has lived in Wellsboro for the past 18 years as well as in Greenville, South Carolina.

“From 1968 to 1975, The Band was one of the most popular and influential rock groups in the world,” wrote Bruce Eder in an article published in the “All-Music Guide.” “Their music was embraced by critics as seriously as the music of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones,” Eder continued

Next Friday, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, 14 musicians will recreate The Last Waltz, the 1976 Farewell Concert of The Band, a Canadian-American roots rock group formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1968.

One of the most spectacular events in rock history, their concert was on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1976 in the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California. The Band’s show began at 9 p.m. and ended at 2 a.m.  It was not only a celebration but also the last time they would ever all perform together live.

The Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center is offering a Pennsylvania State-approved motor vehicle inspection course for passenger cars, light trucks, motorcycles, medium/heavy trucks, and buses. This program includes classroom and hands-on instruction. Participants must provide a valid driver’s license to register for this program. This course will be held on December 3, 4, 8, 9, and 11, 2025, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. The Tactile Exam is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information or to register, call the Education Council at (814) 274-4877.

Hunters Have Opportunity for Popular Buck and Doe Raffle

Bradford, Pa.:  The Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative (KQDC) announces that they will once again offer their popular buck and antlerless deer raffle at their TWO DEER CHECK STATIONS this year on SR 59 and SR 346.   All deer will be weighed, measured, and aged for FREE for hunters.  Each hunter bringing in a deer for checking will also receive a ticket on a cash raffle.  Hunters bringing in antlerless deer will be eligible for a $500 raffle.   Hunters bringing in an antlered deer will be eligible for a $250 raffle.

Coudersport — The Coudersport Rotary Club geared up for the Rotary District Conference and Foundation Dinner, set for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 14th to 16th, at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Alvin C. Bush Campus Center, 200 College Avenue, Williamsport.

Coudersport Rotary members Deb and Brad Rinehart attended the conference and delivered the club’s maple syrup themed basket. Rotarian Mike Rigas brought the basket to Monday’s meeting for members to preview before it headed to Williamsport. The basket was featured in the evening auction at the Foundation Dinner, helping raise funds to support Rotary’s ongoing service projects.

Coudersport Rotary is proud to contribute to the district-wide effort celebrating service, fellowship, and community impact.

At Coudersport Rotary Club’s November 10, 2025, meeting at A&W West End Grill, Rotarian Ruth Sallade introduced this week’s speaker, her nephew Judge Steve Minor, also a Coudersport Rotarian, who shared an overview of Potter County’s Treatment Court and ongoing mental health initiatives. Minor, who has served on the bench for 16 years, said he and Judge Leete first explored Treatment Court in 2011 after noticing generations of families cycling through the criminal system, often due to addiction.

Potter County launched its Treatment Court in 2013 and has since graduated 100 participants with a very low rate of reoffending. The program combines counseling, 12-Step recovery, regular check-ins with the judge, and trauma therapy. Minor described the program as a supportive “Court of Mercy,” where participants receive encouragement as they work toward recovery. Monitoring devices such as drug patches may be used until participants demonstrate trustworthiness.

Rotary Club was pleased to host Sarah Wagner and her fiancee, Jesse Faulder, at our October 27, 2025 meeting at A&W West End Grill.

Wagner Hardware, a century-old family business with roots dating back to 1913, has officially reopened its doors following several months of extensive renovations and updates. The grand opening, held May 8, carried special meaning for the family—it fell on the birthday of Wilbur Wagner, great-grandfather of current manager Sarah Wagner.

Wagner Hardware began in Ulysses before relocating to Coudersport and has remained in the Wagner family for generations. The store was previously operated for a time by Jenny and Chris Tilton, but leadership shifted in recent years as Sarah Wagner returned to the region. Wagner moved from California to Potter County two years ago and now co-manages the business with her fiancé, Jesse Faulder.

Henry Hayes, Jr. (‘Pen’) of Cherry Springs, Pennsylvania, passed on to be with the Lord on November 13th, 2025. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his immediate family who loved him dearly.

Henry was a beloved husband, father, and a friend to many who remember him as the “Mountaintop MacGyver.” It was always said, “If Pen can’t fix it, then it can’t be fixed.”

Henry is survived by his wife Janis Hayes of Cherry Springs, PA, his Daughter Patricia Keil and her husband Scott Keil, of Fort Lupton, CO, his son, Hank Hayes, of Enola, PA, and granddaughter Jenna of Elkton, Maryland. Lastly, his beloved dog “Stitch,” which him and Janis had many adventures with.

On a warm July morning, Benjamin Balin, M.D., saw his first patient in Wellsboro as part of the new UPMC Rural Family Medicine Residency. By the end of the month, he had cared for dozens more, from newborns to lifelong Tioga County residents.

Just an hour west in Coudersport, Nick Ihnatenko, M.D., was doing the same at UPMC Cole. In his first few weeks, he had already seen about 70 patients, an impressive start, said John Boll, D.O., program director, UPMC Rural Family Medicine Residency.

“Nick jumped right in,” said Dr. Boll. “They were short-staffed at the time, so he was immediately able to make a real difference.

”Drs. Balin and Ihnatenko make up the inaugural class of the residency, which launched in 2022 to help address a growing physician shortage in rural areas. Each doctor spent the first year of training at UPMC Williamsport and is now completing the final two years at UPMC Wellsboro and UPMC Cole. The program was created with the goal of training and retaining family physicians in rural Pennsylvania communities.

“About 20% of Americans live in rural areas, but only around 9 or 10% of physicians work there,” said Dr. Boll. “In our region, many rural doctors are nearing retirement age, and the need for new physicians is urgent.”To help fill that gap, the residency takes a “place-based” approach, training doctors directly in the communities they’ll one day serve. “It’s equal in quality to a university setting, but more personal and hands-on,” Dr. Boll said. “It teaches residents to be resourceful, adaptable, and deeply connected to their patients.

”Residents begin their first year at UPMC Williamsport, gaining experience in inpatient care, obstetrics, pediatrics, and emergency medicine. In their second and third years, they move to one of UPMC’s critical access hospitals, UPMC Wellsboro or UPMC Cole, to immerse themselves fully in rural practice. “When you move out here, you’re not just a resident, you’re part of the care team,” said Dr. Balin. “You see the direct impact of your decisions on patients you might also run into at the grocery store or gas station. It’s meaningful.

”That sense of community is something Dr. Ihnatenko, a Philadelphia-area native, has quickly come to love. “People have been so warm and supportive,” he said. “They’re excited about the program and what it means for their community. It’s rewarding to know you’re helping fill a real need.

”Outside of work, he has been enjoying the small-town lifestyle, hiking the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, attending high school football games, and chatting with neighbors at community events. “I said to my wife, ‘You can’t get this anywhere else,’” Dr. Ihnatenko said.

Residents say they’ve felt supported not just by patients but by local businesses and hospital staff, too. “The communities have just adopted them 100%,” said Dr. Boll. “Everyone understands how important this is.

”Next year, the program will expand to include two residents at each site, meaning more patients cared for and more physicians learning the heart of rural medicine where it matters most. For Dr. Balin and Dr. Ihnatenko, that heart is already clear.

“This experience has reaffirmed everything I love about medicine,” said Dr. Balin. “You’re not just treating patients, you’re becoming part of a community.

”And for Dr. Boll, that’s the program’s greatest success. “We’re training physicians who will stay, who will build their lives here, and serve their neighbors,” he said. “That’s the future of rural health care and it’s happening right here in north central Pennsylvania.”

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford was named one of the Best for Vets: Colleges by Military Times, the premier dedicated independent news source for active-duty military, their families and retirees.

Pitt-Bradford was among 14 Pennsylvania colleges and 33 across the Mid-Atlantic region to earn the recognition.

To figure out its list, Military Times looks at success metrics, military-specific resources and the level of financial aid schools offer. It also considered admissions and registration policies.

The Women’s Giving Circle of McKean County (WGC), a project of the McKean County Community Foundation, granted a total of $9,000 to five nonprofit organizations at their annual business meeting held on November 13th at The Bradford Club. Along with the grant presentations, voting, and awarding of grants, the women enjoyed hearty appetizers, basket raffles, and a fun evening socializing with friends old and new.

Our Hearts are heavy as we mark one year without the man we love and miss so deeply, James Jones, beloved husband and father. Not a day goes by that you aren’t thought of and greatly missed.

The legacy you left behind lives on in all of us and will remain for eternity.

Until we meet again in heaven…..

We love you, Dad.

November 2, 1940 – November 18, 2024